Swirl Flowers

Ch 55 (or 70 for a bigger flower) loosely.

4 dc in 3^rd ch from hook, *skip next ch, 5 dc in next ch* across.

Note: after you have made 5 dc in one ch, the next ch will become hardly visible (that’s the one that must be skipped). Make sure you don’t skip 2 ch instead of 1.

Finish off but leave a yarn tail long enough to stitch the flower together. Wave in the short yarn tail. Roll the flower and stitch together using a tapestry needle.

If you need more help on how to roll the flower, see this tutorial. 

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Thinking of Spring Doily

The holidays are behind us, but spring is still some time away. I feel like I’m ready for it though. I love it when crocuses and tulips push through the soil and start blooming.

This doily’s design reminds me of crocuses. I like how many different stitches are used in its design creating an elaborate, spring look.

The few flowers in the pictures are from my yard. The pink hydrangeas are so pale from the lack of sunshine. But white primroses are doing well in such weather.

The pattern (symbol chart) was from Coats Crafts UK (click below)

The pattern is available here: Symbol Chart  

What are you crocheting and thinking of these days?

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Lacy Braids Baby Blanket

So many people keep asking me to write the pattern for the lacy baby blanket that I shared on my blog last year. However, I am not a professional crochet pattern writer and it’s going to be a difficult task for me. It’s one thing to crochet elaborate items yourself and totally different to explain it in writing to others.

So before I start working on writing that pattern, I thought I ought to practice with simpler ones. Here is a baby blanket that I designed and wrote the pattern for.  I named this blanket Lacy Braids.

The pattern is somewhat easy. Once you crocheted three rows, you will repeat the third row over and over. For the trim I used crab stitch (also known as reverse single crochet). I prefer this stitch for blanket trimming because it helps prevent the item from stretching and losing its shape.    

Here’s a picture of the main stitch. It looks identical on both sides.

This pattern is my original design. It cannot be posted on other sites or distributed in any other form. If you would like to share this pattern, you can post ONE image on your site with the link to my original post. You can use this pattern to make items for personal use or for sale. If you sell finished items from this pattern, you must give design credit to Lacy Crochet blog (lacycrochet.blogspot.com). Please, respect my work. Thank you!

Finished Size: Approximately 33” (84 cm) square

Materials:

Pound of Love by Lion Brand, Antique White, 1 ball

Crochet hook US size E/4 (3.50 mm)

Gauge: In pattern, 4 repeats = 5”

10 rows = 5”

Ch 145 loosely.

Row 1: Sk 4 ch, * dc2tog in next 2 ch, (dc, ch 3, dc) all in next ch, sk 2 ch * 28 times, dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn.

Row 2: (dc3tog, ch 3, sc) all in next 3-ch space, * ch 2, (dc3tog, ch 3, sc) all in next 3-ch sp * 27 times, dc in 3^rd ch of turning ch-3. Ch 3, turn.

Row 3: (dc3tog, ch 3, sc) all in next 3-ch sp, * ch 2, sk next ch-2 sp, (dc3tog, ch 3, sc) all in next 3-ch sp * 27 times, dc in 3^rd ch of turning ch-3. Ch 3, turn.

Repeat Row 3 sixty-five times. At the end of the last row, do not make turning ch 3.

For the trim, use crab stitch. Go backwards working over the last row, make one stitch into each ch-2 sp and each ch-3 sp. Make two stitches in corner.

Continue  working in end of rows, make one stitch into each ch-3 sp. Make two stitches in corner. 

Continue  working over beginning chain, make stitches skipping 2 dc at a time. Make two stitches in corner. 

Continue working in end of rows, make one stitch into each ch-3 sp. Make two stitches in corner. Sl st to first st to join. Fasten off.

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February, 2013 Update:

One thing I didn’t point out about this pattern is that the clusters in the first row don’t look the same as in the following rows. Somehow I just couldn’t figure out a good way to start and make all the rows look the same. Perhaps in the future as my crocheting skills improve I’ll be able to fix it. But for now I’m leaving this pattern as it is.

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March, 2015 Update:

One of the readers of my blog came up with the way to start this blanket so that the first row matches the rest. I haven't tried her suggestion, but I read through it and it makes sense. I post it below. Thank you Jeniffer!!!

Row 1: Sk 4 ch, dc3tog in next 3 ch, ch 3, sc in last ch of the dc3tog * ch 2, sk 2 ch, dc3tog in next 3 ch, ch 3, sc in last ch of the dc3tog * 28 times, sk 2 ch, dc in last ch. Ch 3, turn.

More blanket patterns from my shop:

 

Reindeer Filet Crochet Doily

The pattern for this filet crochet doily was nothing else but a picture from an old gift bag. When I came across it last year, I thought that I’d better save it as it can easily be used as a pattern for cross-stitching or filet crochet.

I used it for both. The cross-stitch reindeer design was perfect for a small Christmas card. And a matching filet crochet doily only took two evenings to make. I didn’t have much time to come up with any fancy edging, so I just used two rounds of shells.

This will be my last post this year as I’m taking a holiday break from both crocheting and blogging until January.

Happy Holidays!