I am putting this month's patterns for the Sunshine and Showers blanket live slightly earlier than expected as I have a meeting tomorrow morning and won't be able to post it before lunch time and I know that many of you wait patiently for it to arrive, so I thought it was better to post slightly early than late......
When designing this month’s section of the blanket I wanted to use a pattern and colour palette that would convey warmth and homeliness. December is a month where we embrace all things cosy and wintery here in the UK, like open fires, hot chocolate and the company of friends and family, so I wanted to use the warm shades used in the summer sections and a stitch formation which could resemble a wintery snow flake pattern.
When designing this month’s section of the blanket I wanted to use a pattern and colour palette that would convey warmth and homeliness. December is a month where we embrace all things cosy and wintery here in the UK, like open fires, hot chocolate and the company of friends and family, so I wanted to use the warm shades used in the summer sections and a stitch formation which could resemble a wintery snow flake pattern.
I have said many times that I rarely use stitch directories, but in this instance I have referred to a really fabulous book called ‘The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Patterns’ by Linda P Schapper. (ISBN 978-1-4547-0137-8)
Because this pattern uses treble crochet and chain spaces throughout you need to keep an eye on your tension as it is very easy to become a little looser the more rows you do. If you find your work getting too loose then change down to a smaller size hook.
If you want to purchase a download copy of the patterns for just 95p you can access the Stylecraft Special DK version by following this link and the Yarn Stories version by following this link - please note that step by step images in all patterns are from the Special DK version.
Yarns used this month:
Stylecraft Special DK 100g balls
1067 Grape
1023 Raspberry
1242 Fondant
1080 Pale Rose
Yarn Stories Fine Merino DK 50g balls
2518 Thistle
2509 Fuchsia
2514 Raspberry
2536 English Rose
Equipment Special DK:
4mm Hook
Sewing Needle
Equipment Fine Merino DK:
3.5mm Hook
Sewing Needle
Dealing with yarn ends: Sewing yarn ends in as you go along makes the finishing process much easier and means that you are less likely to loose stitches or make errors with your tension.
Hook Changes:
This month there are quite a few hook chnages so make sure you take note of where they are.Pattern Repeat:
If you have chosen to make the blanket in a different size you will need to calculate the pattern repeat accordingly.
The repeat for this section is worked over multiples of 20sts + 1 stitch.
Note: The pattern in written in UK terminology
Note: The pattern in written in UK terminology
Method:
Undo stitch from holder to the point where you can change yarn shade to Grape (Thistle) on the final step of the stitch, turn
Row 40: (RS facing) Using Grape (Thistle) and 4mm (3.5mm) hook 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip st at base of 4ch and the next st, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next st, 1tr into next st] 6 times * 1tr into each next 2sts, [1ch, skip next st, 1tr into next st] 9 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1tr into each next 2sts, [1ch, skip next st, 1tr into next st] 7 times, changing yarn shade to Raspberry (Fuchsia) on the final step of the last st, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 94 treble crochet stitches and have 8 groups of 3trs
Row 41: Using Raspberry (Fuchsia) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip st at base of 4ch and next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 5 times, * 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 3ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 7 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 3ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 5 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row & changing yarn shade to Fondant (Raspberry) on the last step of the final st, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 102 treble crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs.
Row 42: Using Fondant (Raspberry) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 4 times, * 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 3ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into 3ch sp made on previous row, 3ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 5 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 3ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into 3ch sp made on previous row, 3ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 4 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row & changing yarn shade to Pale Rose (English Rose) on the last step of the final st, turn
You should be able to count the posts of 86 treble crochet stitches, 8 double crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs.
Row 43: Using Pale Rose (English Rose) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times, * 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into 3ch sp made on previous row working to the left hand side of the ch sp so that your stitch is close to the next dc, 1dc into next dc, 1dc into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into 3ch sp made on previous row as before, 1dc into next dc, 1dc into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row, DO NOT fasten off, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 70 treble crochet stitches, 24 double crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs.
Row 44: (RS facing) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] twice, * 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into next 4ch sp made on previous row working to the left hand side of the ch sp so that your stitch is close to the next dc, 1dc into each next 3dc, 1dc into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr; repeat from * 6 times, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1dc into 3ch sp made on previous row as before, 1dc into each next 3dc, 1dc into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 2sts, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] twice, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4tch made at beginning of last row, DO NOT fasten off, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 54 treble crochet stitches, 40 double crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs.
Row 45: 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] twice, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, * 2tr into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 1dc, 1dc into each next 3sts, 4ch, skip next st, 2tr into next ch sp working to the left hand side of the ch sp so that your stitches are close to the next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, 1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st; repeat from * 6 times, 2tr into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 1dc, 1dc into each next 3sts, 4ch, skip next st, 2tr into next ch sp as before, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] twice, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row & changing yarn shade to Fondant (Raspberry) on the last step of the final st, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 70 treble crochet stitches, 24 double crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs
Row 46: Using Fondant (Raspberry) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times, * 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 2tr into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 1dc, 1dc into next dc, 4ch, skip next st, 2tr into next ch sp working to the left hand side of the ch sp so that your stitches are close to the next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 2tr into next ch sp, 4ch, skip 1dc, 1dc into next dc, 4ch, skip next st, 2tr into next ch sp as before, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 3 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row & changing yarn shade to Raspberry (Fuchsia) on the last step of the final st, turn.
You should be able to count the posts of 86 treble crochet stitches, 8 double crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs
Row 47: Using Raspberry (Fuchsia) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next ch, 1tr into next tr, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 4 times, * 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 2tr into next ch sp, 1ch, 2tr into next ch sp working to the left hand side of the ch sp so that your stitches are close to the next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 5 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 2tr into next ch sp, 1ch, 2tr into next ch sp as before, 1tr into next tr, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next tr] 4 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4ch made at beginning of last row & changing yarn shade to Grape (Thistle) on the last step of the final st, turn
You should be able to count the posts of 102 treble crochet stitches and have 16 groups of 3trs.
Row 48: (RS facing) Using Grape (Thistle) 4ch (counts as 1tr & 1ch) skip next st, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next st] 5 times, * 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next st, 1ch, skip next st, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next st] 7 times; repeat from * 6 times, 1ch, skip next tr, 1tr into next tr, 1tr into next ch sp, 1tr into next st, 1ch, skip next st, 1tr into next st, [1ch, skip next ch, 1tr into next st] 5 times, 1ch, 1tr into 3rd ch of 4tch made at beginning of last row, place st on st holder
Work another piece to match.
Measurement: Each piece should measure approximately 30cm from bottom edge x 92cm wide.
The next set of patterns will be posted here on the 9th of January 2018 and the patterns feature a wave and bobble pattern (shown above) that I designed to look like snow showers - although I am hoping we don't get any snow here as it is a weather condition that London is famously ill equiped to deal with!
Just in case I don't manage to get on here again before the New Year I will take the opportunity to wish you all the very best for the Holiday Season and hope that you all stay healthy, warm and happy. Thank you for all your support over the last year.
Jane x
With thanks to the team at Crochet Now magazine.
Just in case I don't manage to get on here again before the New Year I will take the opportunity to wish you all the very best for the Holiday Season and hope that you all stay healthy, warm and happy. Thank you for all your support over the last year.
Jane x
With thanks to the team at Crochet Now magazine.
