I thought I would do a tutorial, (even though I am hopelessly useless at them!) I really think people are better off going to other wonderful blogs to look at crochet tutorials but I haven't seen anywhere that has done my particular method of joining for this specific blanket I made.(and yes, it is still not finished *blush*)
I actually cannot remember when I started this blanket but I posted a tease on it in March 2012 and so I think I must of started it earlier on in last year. So it has been a good 17-20 months! Granted I haven't worked on it at all this whole year! I am so bad with that, I start a big project like this with every intention of finishing it, get side tracked along the way, make custom orders and presents for everybody else...sigh. I WILL complete it ha ha...those words sound all too familiar!
So please forgive me, I am not apt to writing tutorials, I don't enjoy it and it may even be confusing, or I could even get things a bit wrong, if you are unsure about anything though, or maybe I haven't described it well enough, please feel free to email me or leave a comment and I will see if I can help.
The pattern is written in UK crochet terms.
So when I say "dc" for those in the US it will be a treble.
I used a 4mm hook (ignore the pictures with the 3.5mm hook! I couldn't find my 4mm hook and so just used the 3.5mm hook for the sake of taking photos. But my squares were all made with a 4mm hook. Each square only has three rounds (rows). They are quick to make.
Currently I have 10 rows for the width and 18 rows for the length (180 squares)
However I want to have 20 rows in total for the length and another 10-13 rows for the width.(making it a total of 20-23 rows for the width)
I have a queen sized bed. So in total you are looking at doing about 400 squares. Depending on how much of your bed you want to cover.
Here are some stitches/terminology explained:
sl st [slip stitch] : insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.
dc [double crochet] :insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note: same as US sc stitch)
ch: [chain]
To Start :
chain 7 and join to form a ring. {picture no.1}
ROUND 1 :
ch2 (pic no.3)(counts as the first dc), then do 2dc
ch2 (counts as first corner), then make 3x dc (pic no.4)
These two sets of 3xdc each make the first cluster or corner. You will now repeat this three more times.
so your pattern will be ch2, 3dc, ch2 until you have 4 corners. (see pic. no7)
note: your last set of dc will end in one more ch2 and join with a sl st to the first dc.(pic no.8)
round 1 complete.
{you should have 4 sets of three dc each, and 4 ch2 spaces.}(pic no.9)
pic.5 : after your first set of 3xdc, you ch2. (forms first corner)
Here (below) you will see all 4 corners have been made. After the last dc for the set, you ch 2 and join with a sl st to the first ch of the first dc.
Here is a breakdown on round one for you.
ROUND TWO:
(my squares are all solid colors, so no need to change colors but if you are changing colors, now is when you will do so.Change color by knotting your new yarn close to the stitches,I always crochet over my tail ends straight away to avoid working them later. It is easier)
NOTE: You will be working out of the first ch2 space from round 1.
*ch2 (counts as first dc), 3dc, ch2, 3d, ch1* (makes first corner) (pic no.10)
repeat from ** three more times to form another 3 corners the same as in round one.
#The only difference from round one is that you are working in the ch2 spaces from round one.
Into EACH ch2 space you are doing 3dc, 2ch, 3dc. Then ch1...
next corner 3dc,ch2, 3dc, ch1...until you have 4 corners.
pic no.11 shows the second corner of 3dc, 2ch, 3dc and ch1 on the hook.
Pic no.13 shows the end of round two with 4 completed corners.
ROUND THREE:
Okay this round the same as round two. Again you will be working out of the ch2 spaces from round two.
Same pattern. The first corner you always ch2, (counts as first dc) then 3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch1.
In the next open ch2 space (there is now an extra ch2 space between each corner) you will simply do 3dc before moving onto the next corner.
so repeat from ** 3 times.
*3dc, 2ch, 3dc, ch1* for each corner and *3dc* for each ch2 space.
join with a sl st to first dc and end off. Your first square is complete!
JOINING THE SQUARES:
When you have your squares all ready to begin joining, this is the tricky bit and I hope I can explain this properly without muddling you (and myself) up!
Take 2 squares as in pic no.14 and put them next to each other with wrong sides facing upwards.(although in pic 14 the squares are facing right side up,)
[This picture was just to show you the difference in size from crocheting with a 3.5mm hook to a 4mm hook. ]
Insert your hook into the first ch on any corner. (pic no.15)
Pull through your joining color yarn. In this blanket my joining yarn was white.
After you have pulled your white through, ch2 (counts as first dc) I always join in a corner to where I have a tail from the previous round, then I tie a knot and crochet over my tails to make it neat plus it saves me darning the ends in later. But feel free to do what method suits you. (pic no.18)
Once you have 1dc on the first square,[ I will refer to it as the "pink square" from now on, and the second square as the "blue square" for the sake of this tutorial.] then you grab your blue square and line it up with the pink one. (pic no. 19)
And like this picture below.
And like this picture below.
I have my wrong sides facing upwards.(the sides with the tails dangling!)
I then yarn over my hook, insert my hook into a chain of the blue square and work a dc as normal.
Then I proceed from this to alternate between the blue and pink squares with a dc in each ch.
....So going from the blue square I then do a dc in the next ch on the pink square.
....So going from the blue square I then do a dc in the next ch on the pink square.
then I move across to the blue square and do a dc in the next ch on the blue square etc etc.
Alternating between the two until I have completed the row right across with a dc of white in each ch st.
In pic no.20 you can see a "ridge" start to form. This will be flat once you block your work and will spread out, making a thick white border between all the squares.
Pic no.21 shows the completed row of dc with a raised "ridge". end off.
You will then grab the next square, holding right sides together (facing inwards) and repeat.
Do this row by row. Once you have your completed rows of 10 squares each then you do the same technique.
Line up your rows, with right sides facing inwards. I like to use those little hook thingys (markers?) to keep the rows together while I work.
When you get to the part where there are 4 corners, you sort of have to wing it here (sorry!) It is just way too difficult to even try and photograph or explain. The best I can explain is that you still work a dc into each stitch but keeping it even and making sure there are no holes. You will see as you work what is best. Frustrating at times....
If all else fails, have a coffee...go for a walk, do some jumping jacks and then go back to it!
You keep going in the same fashion until all your rows are joined together! Complete with a border and you will be done in about 2 years! (ha ha, oops, sorry that is me!)
Pictures 22-24 are just an extra to show you how I darn in my ends. I know some like to use a darning needle but I just use my crochet hook and work my ends in.
One day...when I finish this blanket I will post pictures on it! ha ha!(check back in 4 years time!!)
I hope this tutorial will help someone who wants to do this kind of joining.
Do this row by row. Once you have your completed rows of 10 squares each then you do the same technique.
Line up your rows, with right sides facing inwards. I like to use those little hook thingys (markers?) to keep the rows together while I work.
When you get to the part where there are 4 corners, you sort of have to wing it here (sorry!) It is just way too difficult to even try and photograph or explain. The best I can explain is that you still work a dc into each stitch but keeping it even and making sure there are no holes. You will see as you work what is best. Frustrating at times....
If all else fails, have a coffee...go for a walk, do some jumping jacks and then go back to it!
You keep going in the same fashion until all your rows are joined together! Complete with a border and you will be done in about 2 years! (ha ha, oops, sorry that is me!)
Pictures 22-24 are just an extra to show you how I darn in my ends. I know some like to use a darning needle but I just use my crochet hook and work my ends in.
One day...when I finish this blanket I will post pictures on it! ha ha!(check back in 4 years time!!)
I hope this tutorial will help someone who wants to do this kind of joining.
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