Flaming Stripe throw and Giant Flower for wrap

 REALLY WORRIED!

I'm trying the Magic Knot in a few projects just lately, always been very fearful of these teeny tiny knots coming apart so I've resisted using them. This blanket is quite a loose stitch and ends tend to reappear so thought it was time I gave Magic knots a go....fingers crossed they work.

I'm also going to show you a new method of using a start chain....often a tight row that makes your start tight and often your work curve a bit.   

THE FLAMING STRIPE THOW

US Terms

10mm Hook

Black for the border only. 100g

Gold for the border 100g

2 Strands dk worked as one

1: A short dye spaced yarn 300g [from Home Bargains]

and

2: A longer dye spaced yarn of similar colouring 300g [Ice yarn rainbow shade]

I'm always buying short dye space yarns and then don't like how they crochet. Working a short dye space yarn with a similar coloured long dye spaced yarn or a plain colour from the first yarn helps to give a smoother transition through the colours.

PATTERN: 

Very simple hdc stitch worked into the spaces NOT THE STITCHES. This will give you the look of moss stitch without doing the chain stitches between.

ch 90

ROW 1: hdc in the 2nd ch, from hook, hdc in the next ch, miss the 3rd, repeat hdc in next 2 sts, miss the next ch, repeat to end of row finishing with hdc, in last 2sts. [60hdc]

ROW 2: WORK INTO THE SPACES only

ch1 turn, hdc in the first and every sp, to the end of the row. [60hdc]

alternative pastel colour 

ROW 3 - 100: Repeat Row 2. [60hdc, each row]

EDGING/BORDER

ROUND 1 & 2: IN BLACK, hdc in every sp, hdc ch2 hdc in each corner

ROUND 3: PLAIN COLOUR FROM YOUR CHOSEN SPACE DYED YARN: 

hdc in every sp, hdc, ch2 hdc in each corner.

ROUND 4 & 5: IN BLACK, hdc in every st, hdc, ch2, hdc in each corner.

You could leave this throw without a border, it would be the usual to do so. Most multi stranded throws don't have borders, the edges are quite neat and straight.

GIANT POPCORN FLOWERS

I am also adding giant flowers to this blanket, the pattern for these will be added next week, when I've completed the throw and decided exactly where they will go...

GIANT FLOWER PATTERN TO DECORATE THE BLANKET 

OR 

JOIN AT POINTS TO MAKE A WRAP

How to do popcorn stitch, but for this project use dc not tr,

US Terms

dk weight rainbow yarn

Charcoal dk yarn 

4mm hook

ch4, sl st, into a circle

ROUND 1: Ch2 counts as first dc, 4dc into first st, to make a popcorn st, popcorn st, of 5dc in next 5 sts, with ch2 between each. [6 popcorns of 5dc]

  

ROUND 2: ch2 [counts as first dc, 4dc into first st, to make a popcorn st, ch2, between, 5dc for next popcorn st, repeat a popcorn st, in each st. [6popcorn sts, of 5dc, ch2 between each]

ROUND 3: 1popcorn sts, of 5dc, ch2, second popcorn st, in same ch2 sp, ch2, repeat in each ch2 sp. of round below. [12popcorns of 5dc, ch2 between each]

ROUND 4:1 popcorn, ch2, 1popcorn, in the middle ch2 sp, of pairs of popcorn ch2, 1 popcorn, ch2, between pairs of popcorn. [18 popcorn, of 5dc, ch2 between each]

ROUND 5: 1popcorn ch2, 1popcorn in each sp, between pairs, ch2, 1popcorn in next 2 sps, repeat, to end [24 popcorn of 5dc, ch2 between]

ROUND 6: Att. CHARCOAL, for petals. 

sc, in first sp, 2sc, in next sp, sc, ch9, sc in next sp, *2sc in next 3sps, sc, ch9 sc, in next sp, repeat from * to end finish with the 2nd sc, in first sp, sl st to complete [2sc in every st, with ch9 in every 4th st]

ROUND 7: cont. in charcoal. 8dc, into the ch9 loop, ch3 picot at the point, 8dc in same loop, sl st, in the sp between 3rd and 4th sc,  repeat  to end [6 petals of 16 dc, with a ch3 picot at point]

Make as many large flowers as required to decorate your blanket. Sew onto blanket with small stitches so as not to show on the reverse side. 

OR

make a wrap of 3 rows of popcorn, join as you go replacing the middle ch, of the popcorn as the joining stitch.

4th Adult Hex Jacket

Loving these cosy Hex Cardies especially the granny shell version.

The plain colour solid granny i started is a bit boring to make, love the yarn but struggling to keep working on it for long periods so i've started the 4th version in  

James C Brett Marble dk, in the white/grey colour way

SLIMMER SLEEVE 

US Terms

For this version i'm doing a different stitch reduction for the sleeve section.

The usual basic pattern is 3dc [granny shell], ch1, for all 6 sides 

I am using 3dc, ch1 for 5 sides and 3dc, ch3, 3dc in corners, 

but for the sleeve section, I'm using 2dc, in each space and no chain with the corners of 3dc ch3, 2dc, the 2dc is on the sleeve section, 

this reduces the width of the sleeve section when folded into the 'L' shape for half the cardy. These stitches are mostly under the arm so its hardly noticeable that its a smaller stitch 

I'm also using a double sided version for this one, by turning every row so it will be reversible too.

Approx. 20 rows, join on the sleeve top seam, adding the back section before joining the 2 identical pieces together.

finishing with a few border rows and sleeve edging stitch of hdc.

BEFORE FOLDING INTO AN 'L' SHAPE

FOLDED INTO AN 'L' SHAPE 

100g is doing almost 14 rows. 

First version i tried with a slimmer sleeve

link to first post about Adult Hex Jacket/cardy

with links to the original designer 

Elizabeth Zimmermann

Adult Crochet Hexagon Jacket

I've made 2 adult version of the Hexagon Jacket this last week and have started a 3rd but in a plain cotton mix yarn.

 This pattern has been around since the 60's and was originally a Knitted childs jacket. 

Many have made their version in crochet since then but the link below is to the original pattern link from Elizabeth Zimmermann

Its called a

Baby Surprise Jacket and was first published in 1968 by Elizabeth Zimmermann

added to Ravelry in April 2007

I made my Adult version in Robin Paintbox [red/coral] and Hayfield Bonus Breeze yarn [blue/green]

Both are quite a thick dk and to give the floppy feel to the cardy, i've used a 5mm and 6 mm hook and used an extended stitch, this stitch uses slightly less yarn and I've finished the edges with hdc.

Both cardies are made with different combinations of panels and have had the stitches reduced on the sleeve section to create a narrower sleeve, not keen on the very wide sleeve you get by making just 2 basic hexagons.

There is also an additional narrow back panel to give a neck shape. 

Its a very adaptable pattern that can be made to fit everyone from a baby to a large adult..a n awesome pattern to be able to do that.

i've made both mine quite wide, with one longer than the other by using lengthening rows 

the sleeve is made narrower by reducing the stitch count on the section that becomes the sleeve.

REDUCTION TO SLEEVE

No chain stitches between granny shells, and remove one granny shell every odd number row after the first 5 rows, on the sleeve section only other wise the basic granny shell and chain one between for all other sides.

Made with an approximate 18-20 round Hexagon 

ALL ABOUT ELIZABETH ZIMMERMANN