Frida's Flowers Pattern Set Eight

So here I am again with the final part of the Frida's Flowers CAL!

After all your hard work crocheting your motifs this set of patterns will probably come as a bit of a relief! It has been amazing to see your near completed projects popping up on social media and I would like to say thank you to everyone who has sent images and lovely emails over the last few weeks - it means so much to know you've enjoyed your Frida's Flowers Crochet Along experience.





When I was thinking about the edging for the project I had lots of big ideas - I thought about little 'Day of the Dead' type skull motifs and love hearts. I envisaged more flowers and elaborate lace, but in the end it occurred to me that the ideal frame for the design should be a simple one so that the flowers became the focus and so I decided to try and emulate the idea of embroidered zig zags which are so common in Mexican textiles. I kind of had in mind the image of sewn ricrac fabric tape.




When you work an edging it is neater to work into stitches themselves rather than into the spaces between stitches, this is especially the case when working into treble crochet (US double crochet).
Working into stitch spaces will accentuate the gaps, so try to work into the post of the stitch instead.





It isn't essential that you achieve the same stitch count as me, but you need to make sure that your repeat works out so that you work 3dc (3sc US) into the stitches at the top of the zig zags - if this means you need to skip an extra stitch somewhere this should be fine.



I think the final round in black really finishes the blanket off nicely, but you could always add more rounds or use a different shade.


So there we go - Frida's Flowers all finished! Here is my version below photographed on the living room floor! 




The image of the blanket below has been sent to me by an amazing crocheter called Lucia - isn't it amazing! I adore Lucia's layout. You can visit Lucia's blog page on Facebook by following this link.


It is always quite sad when a CAL comes to an end and always incredible to think back at how quickly the time has flown. Frida's Flowers has been my 6th crochet along project in as many years - I designed 4 projects using Rowan Yarns between 2011 and 2014 and have designed for Stylecraft for the last 2 years, but now I think it is time for me to move on again and so I am beginning to think about my own CAL design for 2017 - as soon as I have anything concrete to tell you about I will let you know!

In there mean time you may want to check out my Sunshine and Showers Mystery CAL that I have designed for Crochet Now magazine and look out for my new blanket kit project Mexican Diamonds, which will be launched at the end of July. 

I am sure that the guys at Stylecraft have plenty up their sleeves to keep you going through the Autumn so be sure to keep an eye on them too!

I love the challenge of designing the Crochet Along projects and hope that you have all enjoyed your Frida's Flowers experience too. 

Sending you all much love and crochet happiness!
Jane x

Pattern: Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Socks

These soft cloverleaf eyelet toe up socks are the perfect pair to add to your knit sock collection.

Size:

Pattern is written for a size 8 (US) women's foot, but it is easily adaptable to other sizes. For sizes 6 and smaller, CO 54 sts. For sizes 10 and larger, CO 66 sts.

Materials:

Size 2 double pointed needles
1 skein Berroco Comfort Sock in Color 1822

Gauge

44 sts X 32 rows = 4 inches

Abbreviations:

K - knit
P - purl
Sl - slip unworked stitch from left needle to right needle
SSK - slip unworked stitch from left needle to right needle knitwise. Slip a second unworked stitch from the left needle to the right needle knitwise. Slip those two unworked stitches separately back to the left needle purlwise. Knit those two stitches together in the back of the  stitches (decrease)
K2tog - knit two stitches together (decrease)
P2tog - purl two stitches together (decrease)
Inc - knit into the front and back of the same stitch (increase)

Yo - yarn over
Psso - pass the slipped stitch on the right needle over the stitch just worked on the right needle
Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern:
Row 1: *K2, yo, sl 1, K2tog, psso, yo, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 2: *K5, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 3: *K3, yo, SSK, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Rows 4-6: *K5, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 7: *Yo, sl 1, K2tog, psso, yo K2, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 8: *K5, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 9: *K1, yo, SSK, K2, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end
Row 10-12: *K5, P1.* Repeat from * to * until end

Instructions:

Using the provisional cast on method, cast on 12 stitches
Row 1: P across
Row 2: K across
Row 3: P across


Remove live stitches from scrap yarn and place them on a double pointed needle. You should have 24 sts divided evenly on four needles. Begin knitting in the round.

Round 4: *K2, Inc, K until the end of the needle, K across next needle until last 3 sts, Inc, K2.* Repeat from * to * end.

Round 5: Needle 1 - K2, Inc, K across needle
          Needle 2 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2
          Needle 3 - K2, Inc, K across needle
          Needle 4 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2

Repeat Round 5 until you have 40 sts total (10 sts per needle)


Round 6: K across
Round 7: Needle 1 - K2, Inc, K across needle
        Needle 2 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2
        Needle 3 - K2, Inc, K across needle
        Needle 4 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2

Repeat Rounds 6 and Round 7 until you have 52 sts total (13 sts per needle)


Round 8-9: K across
Round 10: Needle 1 - K2, Inc, K across needle
        Needle 2 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2
        Needle 3 - K2, Inc, K across needle
        Needle 4 - K across needle to last 3 sts, Inc, K2

Repeat Rounds 8-10 until you have 60 sts total (15 sts per needle)


Rounds 11-12: K across


Foot

Work the Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern across Needles 1 and 2. Work stockinette stitch across Needles 3 and 4. Work until the sock is the length from the toe to the bend of your ankle at the top of your foot. End after working Needle 4.

Heel Flap:

Turn so WS is facing and work across Needles 3 & 4 only (leave Needles 1 & 2 unworked and to the side), meaning you do not work in the Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern for the heel flap. 

Row 1: Sl 1, P across
Row 2: Sl 1, K across


Repeat Rows 1 and 2 ten more times (11 repeats total, or 22 rows).

Row 3: P15, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 4: Sl 1, K3, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 5: Sl 1, P4, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 6: Sl1, K5, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked)  
Row 7: Sl1, P6, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 8: Sl1, K7, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 9: Sl1, P8, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 10: Sl1, K9, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 11: Sl1, P10, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 12: Sl1, K11, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 13: Sl1, P12, P2tog, P1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 14: Sl1, K13, K2tog, K1, turn (leave rem sts unworked) 
Row 15: Sl1, P14, P2tog, P1, turn

Split the remaining heel flap sts so there's 8 sts on Needle 4 and 9 sts on Needle 3. Begin working in the round again.

Round 13: Pick up and K11 sts along heel flap edge on same Needle 4; K across Needles 1 & 2 in Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern; pick up and K11 sts along the other heel flap edge with Needle 3 and K remaining sts on Needle 3. K across Needle 4 to get to the end of the round.

Gusset Shaping: (decrease)
For the Gusset Shaping and the rest of the pattern until the end ribbing, work in the Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern across Needles 1 and 2 and stockinette stitch across Needles 3 and 4.

Round 14: Needles 1-2 - K across in 
Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern.
       Needle 3 - K1, SSK, K across.
       Needle 4 - K across until last 3 sts, K2tog, K1.

Round 15: Work across in the appropriate pattern for the needle.

Repeat Round 14 and Round 15 until there are 61 sts total, with 15 sts on Needles 1, 2 and 4 and 16 sts on Needle 3. 

Round 16: Needles 1-2 - K across in Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern.
       Needle 3 - K1, SSK, K across.
       Needle 4 - K across. (60 sts total)


Continue working in Striped Cloverleaf Eyelet Pattern until you reach 1 inch less than your desired length.

Ribbing:
Rounds 17-27: K1, P1 across.
Bind off loosely.