Madison Cubs Afghan

I am a teacher at Madison High School in Southern Indiana.  I designed this afghan with my school's mascot and donated it to our art department for their annual fundraiser.

I LOVE designing afghans with school logos or names.  This one was very challenging as I had sometimes 20 bobbins of yarn to work with at once.  Good thing I'm a detangling guru!!!

When working on the "Madison Cubs" line, I was frustrated to find, about halfway thru the line, that I was working it as a mirror image!  The words were backwards!  Oh no!!  With all the bobbins, it was challenging to unravel the work but was a lesson well learned!  Double check which side you're on! 

Here is a lapsize afghan I made using the logo of the previous school I worked for.  This was designed and gifted to the school secretary who was a personal friend.

Puppy Paw Scarf

This scarf has been such a popular one for me to make!!  Designed by Amy B., the pattern can be found here ----> Meandering Paw Prints Scarf. It used about 1 skein of yarn.  I usually make 6 sets of the paw prints for a scarf that ends about about 5 feet long, give or take.  

I think it works so well with ombre yarns.

When my niece needed to earn a couple of thousand dollars for her school trip to Washington D.C., I used this pattern to help her out.  All of the money I made was given to her for her trip and the popularity of this scarf added $600 to her fund.  Fur baby parents love this scarf.  Schools with animal mascots love this scarf (it's a paw print of LOTS of different animals!).

File this pattern away somewhere safe.  You'll use it a LOT!!

The Pencil Scarf

As a teacher, I fell in love with this pattern, which can be found at Crochetions - Pencil Scarf link .  It's perfect for the teacher, crossword puzzle fan, accountant, those in a "pencil pusher" job and so many more.  It's simple and works up really fast.  The yellow part take about a full skein.  

Below is a photo showing it over my cape.

2021 Indiana State Fair Winner!

 

This runner, called the Briar Rose Table Runner Pattern #7605, took a second place ribbon at the 2021 Indiana State Fair.  The pattern can be found here:  Click here for free pattern.  

"It's Hard to Fit In.......

 

....When You're Born to Stand Out."

I love these styles of afghans so decided to plot one out of one of my favorite phrases.  

I'm not a fan of sewing blocks together, so this is designed as a continuous crochet, with color changes as needed.

Select your favorite colors.  This is a good one for using up those extra skeins in your stash.  I used (mostly) Red Heart skeins in sizes of 370 yards per skein.  Making two blocks of each color, I needed about one skein plus about half of a second skein.  

So plan on two skeins per color.  I would  plan a large block and a small block of the same color or you may need more per color.

For instance, I had yarn left over from one skein on the dark blue squares, but used a small amount on a second skein on the yellow squares.  You can see the 2nd row blue/yellow squares are slightly different in size from each other, which logically explains the yarn usage difference.

My afghan came out wide enough to cover a queen bed (roughly 56" x 56").  The length ran from the foot of the queen bed to just to the edge of the pillows.  If you want a narrower afghan, like for a twin bed, it's easy to just omit the white heart sections.

I've uploaded the pdf version, and if it were me, I'd print them out and tape them together.  I've also uploaded the plain excel version, which can be read directly from the screen, all in one piece.

Helpful Hint #1:  I make a copy of the excel version.  As I complete each row, I change the color of the entire row to grey, so I can see where I am when I pick up the hook the next day.

If you've never done a bobble, don't worry.  It's pretty easy.  Here is a website that walks you through it, TS Country Crochet:   How to Read a Bobble Pattern

Helpful Hint #2: look at the bobble side now and then to make sure your bobbles are lining up the way they are supposed to.  Trust me, nothing is more annoying than to discover the next time around that one bobble is out of place!

Hook:  Used a size "J" (6.00mm)

Yarn:  2 skeins per color, doing 2 blocks of each color.  Yarns used in model:  Red Heart With Love @ 370 yards per skein.  For the white, I had two Lion Brand Pound of Love on hand (1020 yards each) and hooked one up on each side.  I had yarn left on both of them when done.

To start, ch 177. 

Row 1: In white, sc in 2nd chain from hook.  Sc across.  Do 2 more rows in white.

Row 4: Follow chart in colors of your choice.

Finish:  If you want to add a finish, a simple sc row all the way around looks nice.

PDF ----> Click here for PDF version

EXCEL ----> Click here for Excel version

Popcorn Points

I love larger doilies so decided to try my hand at designing one.  The mid section points seem to give it a 3-D, textured look, even from a distance.  If you find any errors, please alert me so I can make corrections.  

I think this will be my next year's State Fair entry!

Please share your photos on Ravelry!

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Hook Size: 6 (1.80mm) metal hook

Thread: Size 10 crochet thread. Approx 700 yards (2 balls at 350 yds each).

Color used in photo was Aqua.                                  Size after blocking: 25”

 

Popcorn Stitch (pc): 

Popcorn are made in the ch1 next to the prior row’s pc unless otherwise specified.

Row 1: 4dc into same st.  (For Beginning PC, do ch2, 3 dc in same st)

Row 2: remove hook from the loop that you were just working with.

Row 3: put the hook into the beg of the 4dc, right through the st and right through the loop.

Row 4: yo and draw through both loops on the hook like a sl st.

 

DIRECTIONS:

Row 1: Ch5; join.

Row 2: Ch2; 9dc in circle (10dc)

Row 3: Ch2; dc in same stitch as join; 2dc in each stitch around (20dc)

Row 4: Ch1; sc in same stitch as join; ch3, skip dc; *sc in next dc; ch3.  Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch3 to starting ch1. (10 loops)

Row 5: Sl st into next loop.  Ch1; sc in loop; ch4; *sc in next loop; ch4.  Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch4 to starting ch1 (10 loops)

Row 6: 2sl st into next loop. Ch1; sc in loop; ch5 *sc in next loop; ch5.  Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch5 to starting ch1. (10 loops)

Row 7: Sl st into next loop. Ch2; 6dc in loop; ch1; *7dc in next loop; ch1. Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch1 to top of starting ch2. (10 ch1 loops: 10 sets of 7dc)

Row 8: Ch2; dc in next 2 dc; sk dc; dc in next 3 dc; ch1; pc stitch in ch1 sp; ch1; *dc in next 3 dc; sk dc; dc in next 3 dc; ch1; pc stitch in ch1 sp; ch1. Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch1 to top of starting ch2. (10 pcs; 10 sets of 6dc)

Row 9: Ch2; dc in next dc; 2dc-dec; dc in next 2dc; ch1; (pc in ch1; ch1) twice; *dc in next 2 dc; 2dc-dec; dc in next 2dc; ch1; (pc in ch1; ch1) twice. Repeat from (*) around. Join to top of starting ch2.  (20 pcs; 10 sets of 5dc).

Row 10: Ch2; dc in next dc; 2dc-dec; dc in next 2 dc; ch1; (pc; ch1) 3 times; *dc in next dc; 2dc-dec; dc in next 2 dc; ch1; (pc, ch1) 3 times. Repeat from (*) around.  Join to stop of starting ch2. (10 sets of 3 pcs; 10 sets of 4dc)

Row 11: Ch2; 2dc-dec; dc; ch1; (pc; ch1) 4 times; *dc; 2dc-dec; dc; ch1; (pc; ch1) 4 times.  Repeat from (*) around. Join to stop of starting ch2. (10 sets of 4pcs; 10 sets of 3dc)

 Row 12: Ch2; 2dc-dec; ch1; (pc, ch1) 5 times; *3dc-dec; ch1; (pc, ch1) 5 times. Repeat from (*) around.  Join to top of 2dc-dec with sl st. (10 sets of 5 pcs; 10 sets of 1dc).

Row 13: Ch5; sk 1^st pc; (pc ch1) 3 times; pc; ch3; sk last pc; *dc in dc; ch3; sk 1^st pc; (pc, ch1) 3 times; pc; ch3.  Repeat from (*) around.  Join with sl st in 2^nd ch of the starting ch5. (10 sets of 4 pcs; 10 dc; 20 ch3 sp).

Row 14: Sl st in first 2 chains of next loop. Ch5; sk pc; (pc, ch1) twice; pc; *(ch3, dc in space) twice; ch3; sk pc; (pc, ch1) twice; pc; ch3; dc in space; ch3; join with sl st in 2^nd stitch on starting ch5.(10 set of 3dc; 10 sets of 3 spaces).

Row 15: Sl st into next sp; ch5; sk pc; pc; ch1; pc; *(ch3, dc in sp) 3 times; ch3; sk pc; pc; ch1; pc. Repeat from (*) around.  (ch3; dc in sp) twice; ch3. Join with sl st to 2^nd ch in starting ch5. (10 sets of 2 pc; 10 sets of 4 spaces.)

Row 16: Sl st into first 2 ch of next loop; ch5; *sk pc; pc; *(ch3, dc in sp)4 times; ch3; Repeat from (*) around. Sk pc; pc; (ch3, dc in sp) 3 times; ch3. Join with sl st to 2^nd chain in beginning ch5. (10 pc; 10 sets of 5 spaces).

Row 17: Ch5; dc in top of pc; *(ch3, dc in sp) 5 times; ch3; dc in top of pc. Repeat from (*) around. (ch3, dc in sp) 4 times; ch3. Join in 2^nd ch in starting ch5. (60 spaces)

Row 18: Sl st in first 2 ch of next loop.  Ch6; *dc in next sp; ch4. Repeat around. Join with a ch1, dc in 2^nd ch of starting ch6. (60 spaces)

Row 19: Ch6, *dc in next sp; ch4.  Repeat around. Join with sl st in 2^nd chain of starting ch6. (60 spaces)

Row 20: Sl st into next loop. Ch1, sc in same loop, ch3, sc in same loop; (in next loop, ch3, sc, ch3, sc) around.  Join with ch1, dc in starting ch1. (120 spaces)

Row 21: Ch1, sc in same sp. ( Ch3, sc in next sp) around. (120spaces)

Row 22: Repeat row 21.

Row 23: Repeat row 21.

Row 24: Repeat row 21.

Row 25: Ch1, sc in same sp; (ch3, sc in next sp) 9 times; ch1; pc in next sp; ch1; sc in next sp; *(ch3, sc in next sp) 10 times; ch1 pc in next sp; ch 1; sc in next sp.  Repeat from (*) around. Join with ch1, dc in starting ch1. (10 pcs, 100 spaces).

Row 26: Ch1, sc in same sp; *(ch3, sc in next sp) 9 times; (ch1; pc in next ch1 sp) twice; ** sc in next sp; repeat from (*) to (**).  Join final ch1 with sl st to starting ch1.

Row 27: Sl st in first 2 ch of next loop; ch1, sc in same loop. *(ch3, sc in next sp) 8 times; ch1; (pc in ch1 sp; ch1) 3 times. Repeat from (*) around. Join final ch1 with sl st to starting ch1. (10 sets of 3pc’s; 10 sets of 8 spaces).

Row 28: Sl st in first 2 ch of next loop; ch1, sc in same loop. *(ch3, sc in next sp) twice;  ch3; sc in same loop; (ch3, sc in next sp) 3 times; ch3; sc in same loop; (ch3, sc in next sp) twice; ch1; (pc, ch1 4 times); ch1; sc in next sp.  …..Repeat from (*) around.  Join final ch1 with sl st to starting ch1. (10 sets of 4pc’s; 10 sets of 9 spaces.)

Row 29:Sl st in first 2 ch of next loop; ch1, sc in same loop. *(ch3, sc in next sp) 8 times; ch1; (pc in ch1 sp; ch1) 5 times. Repeat from (*) around. Join final ch1 with sl st to starting ch1. (10 sets of 5pc’s; 10 sets of 8 spaces).

Row 30: Sl st into next loop. Beg PC in same loop; (ch2; pc in next sp) 7 times; (ch2, pc in next ch1 sp) 6 times; *(ch2; pc in next sp) 8 times; (ch2, pc in next ch1 sp) 6 times. Repeat from (*) around.  Ch2 and join in to top of first pc. (140 pc’s and 140 ch2 sp’s).

Row 31: Sl st to next sp; Beg PC; ch2; (pc in next sp; ch2) around. Join with sl st to top of first pc. (140 pcs’s and 140 ch2 sp’s).

Row 32: Repeat row 31.  (140 pcs’s and 140 ch2 sp’s).

Row 33: Sl st into next sp. Ch5; *(dc in next sp; ch3) around.  Join last ch3 with sl st into second ch of beginning ch5. (140 sp)

Row 34: Repeat row 33. (140 sp)

Row 35: Repeat row 33. (140 sp)

Row 36: Repeat row 33. (140 sp)

Row 37: Sl st into next sp. Ch6; *(dc in next sp; ch4) around.  Join last ch4 with sl st into second ch of beginning ch5. (140 sp)

Row 38: Repeat row 38.

Row 39: Repeat row 38.

Row 40: Repeat row 38.

Row 41: Repeat row 38.

Row 42: Ch4; dc in same stitch as join. Ch2; *(in next dc, make dc, ch2, dc – V-stitch made; ch2). Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch2 to second ch in starting ch4. (140 V-stitches; 140 ch2 spaces).

Row 43: Sl st into next V-stitch sp; beg pc; ch1; V-stitch in next ch2 space; ch1; *(pc in next V-stitch sp; ch1; V-stitch in next ch2 sp; ch1). Repeat from (*) around. Join last ch1 with sl st to top of beg pc. (140 pc’s; 140 ch2 spaces)

Row 44: Sl st in next space, in next dc, into the ch2 sp of the V-stitch. Beg pc in V-stitch space; ch2; dc in next dc; skip pc; dc in next dc; ch2; *(pc in ch2-space of V-stitch; ch2; dc in next dc; skip pc; dc in next dc; ch2).  Repeat from (*) around.  Join last ch2 with sl st to top of beg pc. Cut off and weave in ends.  Block to size.

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DIAMONDS IN THE ROUND

Diamonds in the Round                            *(updated 3-3-21)

I love the popcorn stitch.  I love the pillowy look it lends to projects.  

I love the bpdc (Back Post Double Crochet) because of the tiny wall it makes, as if to frame the section of work.  I also incorporated a bpsc (back post single crochet) on the outer trim.

I put four popcorn stitches together to form a diamond "round". Before I started adding the ch3 loops, I thought it looked like a medallion.

This is a fairly simple design, but can be made bigger just by adding more loops.  

Pattern is also published on Ravelry.com

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/diamonds-in-the-round-3

Crochet thread: Size 10, approx 250 yards.

Hook: Size 7 (1.65mm) metal crochet hook

Size: Approximately 10” across

 

Special Stitches:

 

Popcorn Stitch: (PC)

Work 5 double crochet (dc) stitches in the same stitch.  Drop the loop from your hook. Insert your hook from front to back under the top 2 loops of the first double crochet of the group. Grab the dropped loop with your hook and pull it through the stitch.

 

Bpdc – Back Post Double Crochet:  Yarn over the hook, inwert hook from back of stitch to front (around the post) to back of stitch; yarn over and pull up 1 loop (3 loops on hook); YO and pull through 2 loops; YO and pull through remaining 2 loops on hook.

Bpsc – Back Post Single Crochet: Same as bpdc except make sc instead of dc.

1.    Ch4; join with sl st

2.    Ch2; 11dc in ring (12 total dc)

3.    Ch2; 2dc in each dc around (24)

4.    sc in join; *(Ch3, sk dc, sc in next dc) around.  To join last loop, ch1, dc in orig sc. (12 loops)

5. sc in loop; *(ch4; sc in next loop) around.  To join last loop, ch1, dc in orig sc. (12 loops)

6.  sc in loop; Ch4; *(sc in next loop; ch4) around.  To join, sl st in base of first ch4. (12 loops)

7.    Sl st in next loop; ch2; 4dc in loop; dc in sc; *(5dc in next loop; dc in sc) around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch2. (72dc)

8.    Ch1; bpdc around same post as join; bpdc in next 5 dc; ch1; *(bpdc in next 6dc; ch1); repeat around; join with sl  st  to top of beg bpdc. (72dc; 6 ch1 sp)

9.    Sl st in next dc; ch2; dc in next 3dc; ch1; *(sk dc; PC in ch1 sp; ch1; sk dc; dc in next 4dc; ch1; PC in ch1 sp; ch1); repeat around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch2.

10. Sl st into next dc; Ch2; dc in next dc; [ch1; PC in ch1 sp;] twice; ch1; *(sk dc; dc in next 2dc; [ch1; PC in ch1 sp;] twice; ch1). Repeat around; join with sl st to top of beg ch2.

11. Ch2; dc in next dc; 2dc in ch1 sp; ch1; PC in ch1 sp; ch1; 2dc in ch1 sp; *(dc in next  2dc; 2dc in ch1 sp; ch1; PC in ch1 sp; ch1; 2dc in ch1 [sp).  Repeat around.  Join with sl st to top of beg ch2.

12. Ch2; dc in next 3dc; *(dc in ch1 sp; 2dc in top of PC; dc in ch1 sp;(**) dc in next 6dc). Repeat around to (**). dc in next 2 dc; join with sl st to stop of beg ch2.

13. Ch1; bpdc around same post as join; bpdc in each dc around.  Join with sl st to top of beg bpdc.

14. Ch2; dc in next 5dc; *(2dc in dc; dc in next 8dc); 2dc in dc; join with sl st to beg ch2.

15. Sc in join. *(Ch3, sk dc; dc in next dc) around.  Join with sl st in beg sc.

16. Sl st into next loop. Sc in loop.  *(ch3; sc in next loop) around. Join with sl st in beg sc.

17. Repeat row 16.

18. Repeat row 16.

19. Repeat row 16.

20. Sl st into next loop. Sc in loop.  *(ch4; sc in next loop) around. Join with sl st in beg sc.

21. Repeat row 20.

22. Repeat row 20

23. Repeat row 20.

24. Repeat row 20.

25. Repeat row 20.

26. Ch2; *(4dc in next loop; dc in sc); Repeat around. Join with sl st to top of beg ch2.

27. Ch1; bpsc in join, bpsc in next 2dc; ch2; *(bpsc in next 5sc; ch2); bpsc in next 2sc; join with sl st to beg bpsc.  Cut off and weave in ends.

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For Coaster Size Doily: 

Do rows 1-13.

Row 14: ch1; sc in join; *(ch3; sk dc; sc in next sc); repeat around. Join with sl st to beg sc. Tie off.

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