My Lola Story

In the last post I shared a project that I'm currently working on, and the yarn I'm using is a Lola from Garnmanufaktur.

What makes it special, is that I chose the colours - and the 'Emma' Lola is available to order at Yarnish! (At the time of this post, they are currently sold out, but will be re stocked)

Today I'd like to share the inspiration of my colours.

My palette is based on Eucalyptus leaves.

The deep wine red might be a surprising choice, but if you look closely you'll see the colour of the new shoots and leaves.

I like to think I have two colour themes - bright yellows and pinks, or these Aussie bush colours (There might be another blog post dedicated to my 'bright' palette)

Last Christmas I made a table runner - as part of the Yarnish Advent MCAL - and had the same colour inspo.

The wildflower necklace kit is also based on the same theme! With other native flower variations available.  

I'm very excited to have my own yarn colourway, and equally excited to share it with you! If you do grab an 'Emma Lola' please share a picture with what you make! You can Tag #ewdmakes, #yarnishandco or #yarnishmakes and I'll see it on Instagram, or send via a direct message!

As my shawl progresses, I'll be sharing more pictures here.

Thanks for Reading, and Happy Crocheting,

Emma.

Two Shawls in Progress

As I use Instagram daily, I don't share much of my crochet progress here - but I thought I'd make a bit of a change.

At the moment I'm making two shawls, both are my own patterns, and both are in very different yarn to the original patterns, and both are asymmetrical designs.

EDIT: See the follow up post here

The first I'm making is the Cromulent Shawl. The original pattern called for Stonewashed by Scheepjes. I love wearing this shawl, it's comfortable and the grey works with most things I wear. The yarn is a unique cotton and acrylic blend, that looks just like stonewashed jeans!

I'm making a new version from a Lola by Garnmanufaktur. A stranded cotton that is handmade and beautiful - and I picked the colours! As part of my design work for Yarnish, I was asked to pick a colour for the exclusive colour range 'Yarnish and Co' Lolas.

My new cromulent shawl will flow from the green through to the scarlet.

The second shawl I started is the Bracken Scarf. Originally made in Abbey Road cotton, a thick chunky cotton, I'm now using a Frosted Whirl from Scheepjes. I started making something else from the whirl and didn't quite like it. I have cut the first colour from the centre out and started at the end of the solid blue. I'm reserving the cut section for the stripes, and this means once I've finished the cake, and if I feel I need a second, I'll be at the outside for one colour sequence and the inside of the other, and can seamlessly join the next cake! (way to make it super complicated!)

I'll be posting my progress on these two projects here on the blog as I become a little more active here!

In the meantime - as both patterns as my own - I'd like to add a discount for you -

Add both patterns to your cart and only pay for one! This offer will end on the 31st of August (2019) Midnight. (Sydney Aust. Time) No code needed for this one!

To make it even easier - use this link - to place them in your cart. 

Thanks for Reading and Happy Crocheting!

Emma. 

Granny Square Day!

Today is Granny Square Day! It's an event that takes place on Instagram. The idea is to create a virtual blanket, by lots of people filling up their photo square with a granny square. When you view the hashtag, you should see a sea of granny squares! Over the last few days, I have begun posting my crazy daisy pattern, which you can find here. The full pattern is being slowly added to the post.

If you'd like to look at some other Granny Square Patterns of mine -

Granny Heart

Nebula Square

Big Granny Square

Happy Crocheting!

Emma

Granny Square Day 2019,

August 15th is Granny Square Day! And to celebrate - I'm releasing a brand new square pattern. I'll
admit, it's a bit of a crazy design. It's a nice big square, and I think that 4 together could be big enough for a pillow or cushion.
Edit: I've now entered an entry on the Ravelry database for this pattern - Dahlia Pinnata - please consider adding a project!

Please note - the asymmetrical border has not been included in the pattern.

I did block the circle before working on next section

Before we begin - gather your materials.

I am using a 4 mm crochet hook, and raided my stash for this project. The colours I used are:

• yellow,
• lime green
• light pink,
• dark pink,
• grass green,
• aqua,
• silver green.

I mixed and matched yarn brands, but they are all cotton or cotton blends. Some brands I used are Scheepjes Catona, Ricorumi and Birch cotton. There are minor weight differences, but they have all worked for me.

US terms used. Fasten off each colour after each row.

Part 1: Round Medallion

With YELLOW make a magic ring.
Round 1: Ch 3, 11 dc into ring, secure and sl st to 3rd ch. (12 dc)
Round 2: LIME Standing sc into any st, *ch 2, sk 1 st, sc in next, rep from * around, ch 2, sl st to 1st st. (6 sc, 12 ch)
Round 3: AQUA Standing hdc in any ch-2 sp, ch 2, hdc in same sp, *ch 2, (hdc, ch 2, hdc) in next ch-2 sp, rep from * around, ch 2, sl st to 1st st. (12 hdc, 24 ch)
Round 4: LIGHT PINK Standing trcl in any ch-2 sp, *ch 3, trcl in next ch-2 sp, rep from * around, ch 3 and sl st to 1st st. (12 trcl, 36 ch)
Round 5: DARK PINK Standing trcl in any ch-3 sp, *ch 4, trcl in next ch-3 sp, rep from * around, ch 4 and sl st to 1st st. (12 trcl, 48 ch)

Part 2: Squaring off the circle

Round 6: LIME  (standing dc, 2 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in any ch-4 sp, *(ch 1, 4 hdc) in next ch sp, twice, (1 ch 3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in next ch sp, rep from * around, sl st in 1st st. (32 hdc, 24 dc, 24 ch) 
Round 7: GRASS GREEN (standing dc, 2 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in any ch-3 sp, *dc in next 17 sts, (3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc) in next ch-3 sp, rep from * around, sl st in 1st st. (92 dc, 12 ch) 

Part 3 - Leaf Detail

Row 8: Leaf - SILVER GREEN Join yarn to BLO of any corner chain with a sl st - and work following in the BLO of - sc, hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc (9 sts) sl st into next st; turn your work 180 degrees, and work back into the FLO of the same stitches just worked - 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc, sl st into corner sp, and continue in the FLO,  2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, hdc, sc, (9 sts) sl st in next st, Turn work 180 degrees and work tin the BLO of stitches just worked, sc, hdc, 3 dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc , and sl st back into corner. Fasten off green 

Row 9: WITH AQUA With the Leaf sitting at the top leaf hand corner, join yarn to the corner at the top right- (Ch 3, 2 dc) in corner sp, ch 1, sk next dc, 15 dc, (last dc will be in same st as leaf sl st) ch 12, dc in corner sp of Row 7, 12 ch, sk 9 sts, dc in same st as leaf sl st, 14 dc, ch 1, (3 dc) in corner sp. (37 dc)

ABBREVIATIONS USED:
Ch - Chain
Sc - single crochet
Dc - double crochet
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
Sk - Skip
Sl St - Slip Stitch
Sp - Space
trcl - treble cluster (4trtog)
YO - yarn over



Standing stitch: YO once more than usual (one YO for sc, two YO for dc), insert hook into st/sp, YO pull up loop, and continue stitch as usual.  

Treble Cluster: *YO twice, insert hook in sp, YO and pull up loop, YO and pull through two loops twice. (two loops remain on hook) Rep from * 3 times, all in same sp, YO and pull through 8 loops on hook

Standing Treble Cluster: YO three times, insert hook in sp, YO and pull up loop, YO and pull through two loops twice. (two loops remain on hook), *YO twice, insert hook in sp, YO and pull up loop, YO and pull through two loops twice. (two loops remain on hook) Rep from * 2 times, all in same sp, YO and pull through 8 loops on hook

Thank you for reading,

and Happy Crocheting!

Share the Link - a few thoughts on free patterns.

Free patterns. Free patterns and their distribution.

I have free patterns, and I'd say most designers have at least one.

Sometimes they are released as a taster - get a feel for the designers writing style. Sometimes they are a designers first foray into writing and they don't feel like they are ready to charge. Sometimes it's just free for a limited time. Sometimes the designers are paid by another party (like a yarn company)  Or paid in another way - the advertising or 'click' revenue they receive. Maybe it's none of those reasons, but whatever it is, the designer or still owns the copyright and distribution rights to it. (if a third party has paid the designer for the pattern, the ownership may be transferred, but the following still applies.)

Ownership and distribution rights. What does that mean? It means you can't copy or redistribute the pattern anywhere, which includes digitally. Uploading the file to another location is the same thing as redistributing. You might think that you are doing the designer a favour, by getting their name out there, but you aren't. Exposure isn't a legitimate currency - it *can* be a nice added bonus, but it shouldn't be the motivating force.

So what can you do? Share the Link! Copy and paste the URL. (That's the web address - www. etc) If there is a share button on a blog post, that is fine too. You wouldn't copy and paste this whole blog post if you wanted to share it - too much work! You would copy the link and share that! Same goes for patterns, it's actually the least amount of work - and, at the end of the day - the legal way to share.

Yep, legal way. Designers aren't being precious, they just want to fairly stand up for their legal rights.

Share the Link!

Designers do want their patterns to be shared, and made, and enjoyed.

Do you like free patterns - you might enjoy these! Click the link to be taken to the blog post, and share the link with a friend! And for what it's worth - I'm not a lawyer :)

Wind rose Heart

Chunky Hexies

Blueberry washcloth

Denimberry Washcloth

Strawberry Fields Beanie 

Big Circle Granny

Thistle Beanie

Summer Vibes Wall Hanging 

Thank you for reading today! Do you have a favourite pattern? Share the link with me in the comments. 

Heart Wall Hanging 'Summer Vibes'- free crochet pattern

One day this past week, while I was sorting and cleaning my yarn stash, I found some chunky yarn left over from a beanie I made.

The yarn is Papatya Mouline Chunky in colour 5981 - which  self stripes!

The beanie I made was the thistle beanie - which you can find here

I had enough yarn to make a heart and tassel, and combine them to make a beachy wall hanging. I've called it Summer Vibes.

Click here to purchase the ad free PDF 

or continue for the free pattern

The heart measures 10 inches or 24.5 cm in height, with another 5 inches/ 12 cm for the tassel.

Chains are not counted as stitches -  US terms used. 8mm crochet hook.

Chain 4

Row 1: Sk 2 sts, hdc in next, 2 hdc in last ch, turn (3)
Row 2: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same st, hdc in next, 2 hdc in next, turn. (5)
Row 3 - 9: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same st, hdc in every st until one remains, 2 hdc in last st, turn. (17)
Row 10 - 11: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in every st to end, turn (17)
Row 12: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same st, hdc in every st until one remains, 2 hdc in last st, turn. (19)
Row 13: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in every st to end, turn. (19)
Row 14: Ch 2, 2 hdc in same st, hdc in every st until one remains, 2 hdc in last st, turn. (21)
Row 15 - 16: Ch 2, hdc in same st, hdc in every st to end, turn. (21)

Rows 17 - 21 can be worked in two ways - complete the whole right side before completing left side, or if you want to continue colour sequence of Mouline Chunky; work R(ight) Rows 17 and 18, L(eft) Rows 17 - 20, R Rows 19 - 21, L Row 21.

Right
Row 17: Ch 2, hdc2tog, 7 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (9)
Row 18: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in every st to end, turn (9)
Row 19: Ch 2, Ch 2, hdc2tog, 5 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (7)
Row 20: Ch 2, hdc in same st,  hdc in every st to end, turn. (7)
Row 21: Ch 2, hdc2tog, dc in next 4 sts, hdc in last st. (6)

Left
Join Yarn  to 11th st/centre. (last worked stitch from other half of Row 17)
Row 17: Ch 2, hdc2tog, 7 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (9)
Row 18: Ch2, hdc in same st, hdc in every st to end, turn (9)
Row 19: Ch 2, Ch 2, hdc2tog, 5 hdc, hdc2tog, turn (7)
Row 20: Ch 2, hdc in same st,  hdc in every st to end, turn. (7)
Row 21: Ch 2, hdc in same st, dc in next 4 sts, hdc2tog. (6)

Fasten off and weave in ends.


Tassel:

Follow these instructions, or use your preferred method - I used a 5 inch/12 cm piece of card.


Using a stick or dowl, attach to the top of the heart, and attach a final length of yarn to hang.


Abbreviations Used
ch - chain
hdc- half double crochet
dc - double crochet
sk - skip
st - stitch

If you are in a position to donate - please consider buying me a coffee. Your support allows me to produce free patterns.

Dino a Long - Part 1

Part 1 is now live!

From now until 11th of June, the pattern is avaliable at the discounted price of $3 (AU) So grab a copy, it's not too late to join in!

Don't forget to use #dinoalong on social media to share!

KNIT VERSION HERE

CROCHET VERSION HERE

Dino A long - colours and materials

I had hoped to have a full list of colours available the same time the pre order went live, but sometimes things don't go to plan. One colour I was planning on using was out of stock, causing a last minute switch!

Today we also get a sneak peek at part 1; one of the pages of the cloth picture book. it's a big book for little hands - but the individual squares could also be joined to make a blanket - or make individual cushions. Finished size - 33 x 25 cm*. Each page will depict a different dinosaur.

EDIT* since posting this list of materials, I have decided to reduce the size of the book - switching to a smaller hook and/or needle. If you'd like to use the graph to make a cushion or blanket, you may choose to stick to a 3.5 - 4 mm.

I will be using 6 colours. I have gone for a retro inspired palette. The yarn I have chosen uses place names as the colours, and so I have included a colour description. As per last post, colour substitutions and alterations are welcome.

Yarn - Scheepjes Colour Crafter (300m/100g 100% acrylic)

2 x balls of each:

Back ground
Blue                    - Texel*           #1029
Light  Grey         - Helmond       #1724
Moss Green        - Enschede       #1824

*not used in the sample.

1 x ball of each**

Dinosaurs
Mustard yellow    - Coevorden    #1823
Chocolate Brown  -Haarlem        #1054
Light Olive Green -Assen            #1065

**partial balls used

Ameland (sage green #1725) and Middleburg (sky blue # 1003) are used for some embellishment and only a few meters required.

Also required

• 3 mm hook or 3.25 mm needle set
• darning/wool needle,
• scissors,
• and a love of dinosaurs!

Optional - you may wish to add some quilting batting between pages

and
a button to close the book. 

Remember the first part of the pattern will be released at midday (AEST - GMT +10) 30th of April, and this is when the price will go up to $3 (AU) where it will remain until 11th of June; 1 week after the last part is released, whereupon the price will be the usual price of $8 (AU) 

Thank you to all those who have bought a copy so far!

knit link


crochet link


Keeping up to date: It can be hard to keep up with a make a long. Each week will be a square that consists of 70 rows. That's only 10 rows per day to keep up to date! I estimate most will take a  few hours in total for each section - depending on the speed of your stitching! Pattern is rated Easy/Beginner, crafters will need to know how to change colour.

Gauge and finished sizes will be provided on 30th April

Dino Along! Revealed.

Recently I posted this teaser:

Today I announce what it is and how you can be involved.

The Dino a long will be both a crochet a long and a knit a long; and so it will be officially a MAL - make a long!

As promised in the teaser, it will be for younger children. I'm making mine for my 3 year old son. It will be a cloth book of dinosaur pictures!

The make a long will go for 6 weeks, and the first part will go live on the 30th of April, at midday Australian Eastern Standard Time. The pattern will work from a graph, but also include written instructions.

The pattern will be available on Ravelry as a paid pattern for the course of the Dino MAL - and released onto other selling platforms after. During the MAL the pattern will be set up as the reduced price of $3 (AU) and on the 11th June (1 week after the last section released) it will go up to the usual price of $8 (AU) - However if you pre order from now until the 30th of April it will only cost $1.50 (AU) Which is an absolute bargain - and my way of thanking you for trusting me that this pattern will be awesome! (it will :) )


PRE ORDER LINKS - read to the bottom of the page before clicking!

• KNIT PATTERN    

• CROCHET PATTERN

Materials Required I will be using Scheepjes Colour Crafter (100% acrylic 100 g/300 m per ball.)
I will be using 6 colours, which will be announced by the 18th of April.

You are free to colour match in another brand - or go rouge with whatever colours and fibres you wish!

I am also using a 4 mm hook.

And what about knitters? 4 mm needles are required.

Will you also need darning/wool needle, scissors and a love of dinosaurs!


I hope that you choose to dino a long with me!

Keeping track of projects - Ravelry tip

A question I see often in Facebook groups is 'How do you keep track of projects?' Sometimes it's just a case of someone picking up a project that's been packed away for a while and forgetting the hook size.

I use Instagram partially as a visual journal. I almost always include a hook in my photos of wips (work in progress) and that's for exactly that reason! I can scroll back and see which hook I used.

I can also use the hashtag #Ravelry and it will automatically link to my account so I can start a project page there. There are many uses of Ravelry, and I will admit I am still learning them all. By using the hashtag, I will get a message in my inbox to ask if I want to add the photo to a project, or start a new one. If you would like to link your Instagram account to Ravelry, and be able to keep track of your information check out this blog post on Ravelry

I have included a screen shot of my projects page on Ravelry. The yellow circle is my inbox - which is where a notification will be if I use the Instagram hashtag.

In red, I have circled which tab in Ravelry you need to click on 'my notebook' and then projects. If you haven't used Instagram to import a photo, you can click  the 'add project' button and begin from there. You don't need to add a photo for a project, but I do feel like so much information can be included visually.

It doesn't take much to link things, and I prefer using this feature of Ravelry than a notebook, because it's available to me online or via my phone (yes, I do require internet access) rather than one location that could be forgotten.

Adding projects also has the added bonus of adding to the database - Ravelry's primary function.

What are your tips and tricks for keeping track of projects?

Coming Soon - Dino a Long

Coming soon.. a Dino a Long! I'm not revealing much information right now, but I will say it's a crochet a long, for something for younger kids. 

A crochet a long can take several forms, but in this case, I'll be releasing sections of a brand new pattern in parts. There will be a discount for pre sales, and if you sign up for my newsletter here, you'll receive all the information as it is released. 

Hope to see you joining in a long!  

Welcome

A few weeks ago I would have said that everyone is welcome here, but I'd like to now say that I don't welcome some things; Racism, sexism, abelism and homophobia.

This goes for any of the 'spaces' I host. Facebook, Instagram etc. I won't allow comments of this nature. I am just a small fry designer, and maybe this won't make a huge impact, but it something I want to go on record as saying.

Image shown : The wind rose heart

This might seem like an obvious statement, but it's something I've been thinking about a lot as discussions continue within the fibre community, and I want to add my voice to those who are saying that it's time to do better and speak up.

Thanks for reading. I know this is something a little bit different to my usual crochet content.

Easy Beanies for Tricky Yarn

PIN FOR LATER

Since we are entering the cold months (here in the Southern hemisphere) it's time to get some warm things made! I have two very easy beanies - that use 'tricky' yarns. They are only tricky as the can be intimidating! Fluffy yarns seem to be saved for knitting, but these two crochet patterns are a fun way to get some things made!

This time last year I published the Strawberry Fields Beanie - which used a fluffy mohair yarn. The yarn was a little challenging, but using moss stitch easily identifies where your hook should go. The easy repeats also mean it works up quicky

Over on the Yarnish Blog - where I am also blogging! I have just published a pattern for the Thistle Beanie. It has a similar construction, and similar challenges - the Softie yarn is also very fluffy, but makes an incredibly soft and comfortable beanie.

Both these beanie patterns are free, are worked flat and seamed, and can be made in a very short amount of time.

Each pattern is linked above - but if you'd like to add a project on Ravelry, or maybe just show some love by adding it to your favourites, the entries are here:

Thistle Beanie

Strawberry Fields Beanie 

I look forward to seeing your beanies!


Happy Crocheting

Emma

Half Hexagon - in collaboration with Yarnish.

Back in December I was involved in an advent crochet a long that was hosted by Yarnish. The patterns remain on the Yarnish blog: 'What's on the blog' You can also find the Ravelry entry here, which includes projects added by users. The photo above shows the table runner in progress.

I have been since asked about a half hexagon and here it is!
The pattern is joined using the 'join as you go' method, and this takes place in row 4, in the open picots.

Yarn: Scheepjes Catona, 100% cotton, 10g/25m
Hook: 4 mm
Gauge: Motif width 10 cm, and half hexagon 5cm height
1 x 10g ball will yield 4 half hexagons or 2 full motifs.

Written is US terms and works in rows.

Abbreviations used:
ch – chain
sc – single crochet
dc – double crochet
dc2tog – double crochet two stitches together (see below)
dc3tog - double crochet three stitches together (see below)
BL/O – Back loop/ only
OP - open picot (see below)
sl st – slip stitch
st/s – stitch/es
sp – space
YO – yarn over (hook)

Special Stitches:
dc2tog – Starting cluster *YO, insert hook into st/sp, YO pull up loop, YO and draw through 2 loops, rep from *, 3 loops remain on hook, YO and draw through 3 remaining loops on hook.

dc3tog – Cluster. *YO, insert hook into st/sp, YO pull up loop, YO and draw through 2 loops, rep from * twice, 4 loops remain on hook, YO and draw through 4 remaining loops on hook.

open picot - (sc, ch 2, sc) into same st or sp, except when joining; work as (sc, ch 1, sl st to other motif, sc) See this blog post at Yarnish for more information on joining motifs. 

Pattern:
Start with a Magic Ring.

Round 1: Ch 2, dc2tog, (ch 2, dc3tog) 3 times, turn.(4 clusters).

Round 2:  Ch 3 (counts as dc), 5 dc next  sp, (ch 1, 5 dc in next sp) twice, dc in top of cluster, turn. (17 dc, 2 ch)

Round 3: Ch 3 (counts as dc) BLO dc in same st, BLO dc in next 4 sts, 2 BLO dc in next st, ch 1,     2 BLO dc in next dc, BLO dc in next 3 sts, 2 BLO dc in next dc, 2 BLO dc in next st, ch 1, 2 BLO dc in next dc, BLO dc in next 4 sts, 2 BLO dc in next dc turn. (23 BLO dc, 2 ch)

Round 4: Ch 1, OP in 1st st, *sc into next 3 dc, OP in next st, sc into next 3 dc, OP in next sp, rep from * twice more, with the final OP in the final st.

Fasten off. For best results I recommend blocking.

Celestial Square - Free Pattern.

A long, long time ago.....
*music starts*

A long time ago, I started a blanket, and even began joining it! Then I decided I wanted it to be just a big bigger, so the joins were undone and the squares packed into a box.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Emma Wilkinson Designs (@emma_crochets) on Jan 22, 2019 at 5:43pm PST

Eventually I got some more yarn, and decided to introduce a new subtle element to the blanket, and the Celestial square was born!

The original square was the Nebula square, and the Celestial square is her companion. I have almost 100 nebula squares, and will be making approximately 30 celestial squares to join into a blanket (it will be a square number!)

The yarn I am using plays a fairly integral part of the design- Papatya Batik #31. Which can be purchased in Australia at Yarnish.

I am not joining as I go (which is why I had to unpick) as they overall layout is colour based. I will have a complete post on the blanket once it is finished, an I have a deadline, so it won't be long!

This pattern is just for the new square, but I will write out a separate post explaining all the steps to make the blanket. The front post stitches create a 'dip' in the sides of the squares, but they flatten out once joined.

This pattern uses US terms and contains fpdc - front post double crochet, an explanation is given at the end.

Celestial Square - the pattern:

Yarn: Paptya Batik #31. 100% acrylic, 8 ply/dk, 360 m
Hook: 5 mm

Make a magic ring - or chain 5 and sl st join.

Round 1: Chain 3 (counts as dc) 2 dc, *3 ch, 3 dc, repeat from *twice more, sl st  into the top of the first dc. (12 dc, 12 ch)

Round 2: Chain 3 (does not count as a stitch) dc into same st (centre dc from round 1) fpdc around next dc; *(2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, fpdc into next dc, dc in next st, fpdc in next st, rep from * twice, (2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, fpdc around ch 3 from round 1, sl st into top of first dc. (20 dc, 8 fpdc, 12 ch)

Round 3:  Chain 3 (does not count as a stitch) dc into same st (centre dc from round 2) fpdc around next fpdc, 2 dc, *(2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, 2 dc, fpdc into next fpdc,  dc in next st, fpdc in next fpdc, 2 dc; rep from * twice, (2 dc, 3 ch, 2 dc) in corner sp, 2 dc, fpdc in next fpdc, sl st into top of first dc. (36 dc, 8 fpdc, 12 ch)

ch - chain
dc - double crochet
fpdc - front post double crochet:
st/s - stich/es
sp- space
yo - yarn over

front post double crochet: yo, insert hook front to back around crochet stitch post, yo and pull through, yo, pull through 2 sts, twice.

If you are in a position to donate - please consider buying me a coffee. Your support allows me to produce free patterns.

Changes!

I've been slowly updating the blog in small ways this month.

I'm hoping that it is more accessible to those who struggle reading on a screen, by changing the background to white, and a font change. If it causes any issues, this is something I would love to know about.

I have added a few links in the bar at the top of the blog, and some of those are works in progress. There are a couple of ways to help support the blog - which you can find in the 'support me' section. Some are free, like sharing a free pattern online, or  signing up as a pattern tester, but a couple of ways to support by making a purchase.

I'll have a free pattern available in early February, right here on the blog, and currently have a Valentine's day special running on the Hug cushion (pictured above) You can grab the pattern, no code necessary, by clicking here

If you would like to get the pattern AND all the yarn to make it, you can on LoveCrochet. Two of the colours have been discontinued, but I have added substitutes.

Thanks again for reading and your continued support!

Emma.

Solid Granny Square

Back in 2013 I was experimenting with ways to create a solid block of colour.  This afghan block
works between stitches rather than the traditional method of top loops.

A fun way of breaking the rules and seeing what works! Somewhere along the line, the original post got lost, but I have been able to retrieve the pattern. 
A bit of an experimental block, that has worked! 


Excerpt from the original post:

'Simple solid square, written in US terms. What makes this pattern different is that instead of crocheting under the top loop, you crochet between each dc of previous row. I was able to get 18 squares from 1 x ball of 100 g 8 ply/dk weight yarn using a 4 mm hook.


Make a magic square.

Start with a magic ring.

1st round: 3 ch, 2 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc, 3 ch, 3 dc, and slip stitch into third chain from start, 
and slip stitch  between the 3 ch and first dc.

2nd round: 3 ch, *dc between each dc of previous row until you reach the corner, 
(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into cr-sp, repeat from * (you should have 6 dc on each side) 
sl st into third chain from start, slip stitch between the 3 ch and first dc.

3rd round: 3 ch, *dc between each dc of previous row until you reach the corner, 
(2 dc, 2 ch, 2 dc) into cr-sp, repeat from * 
(you should have 9 dc on each side) slip stitch into third chain from start, slip stitch between the 3 ch 
and first dc.

ch - chain

dc- double crochet

sl st - slip stitch

cr-sp - corner space

st dc.

s

 and then I'll show you how I'm joining them.

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