Day 6 Coronavirus CAL

As we start to see evidence from all over the world that our planet is beginning to recover from our exploitation of its natural resources,  one of my favourite songs keeps working its way into my head...

♫♫ "I See Trees of Green..."  ♫♫

32) Ch3, work 1 tr in every tr to end. 

33) Ch3, work 1 tr in each of the next 10 tr, *ch1, 1 BpTrR2tog (work a back post tr around the next 2 trebles below), ch1, work 1 tr into each of the next 12 tr, repeat from * to end, working 1 tr into each of the last 11 tr. (don't panic if you have 10 or 12). The important thing in this row is to ensure that the BpTrR2Tog lines up above the middle of the heart below...see the photo. 

34) Ch 3, 1 tr in each of the next 9 tr, ch2, 1 FrPTr in each of the next 3 tr, ch2, * work 1 tr in each of the next 10 tr, ch2, 1FrPTr in each of the next 3 tr, ch2 , repeat from * to end, working 1 tr in each of the last 9 tr. 

FrPTr  around 1st tr

FrPTr around the 2nd  one (the BpTr below)

FrPTr around the 3rd treble

35) Ch1, 1dc in top of last treble below, 1 dc in each of the next 9 tr, *ch2, now work 1Tr3 Tog over the next 3 Tr , ch2, , 1 dc in each of the next 10 tr, repeat from * to end finishing with 10 dc over the last 10 trs.

The Tr3Tog is the same as the Tr2tog we used in the rainbow ripple but with one extra yo. 

showing the 10dc in between the 2 sets of Tr3Tog

The penultimate stage of the Tr3Tog...now just yo and pull through all 4 loops...

...then chain 2 and continue with the dcs

36) Ch1, 1dc in top of dc in row below, 1 dc in each of the next 9 dc, now work a 3Tr fan in the top of the Tr3Tog... (turn the work over to check where the stitch is ), *now work 1 dc into each of the next 10dc, work a 3Tr Fan into the top of the Tr3Tog, repeat from * to end, finishing with a dc into the top of the first dc from the row below. 

Showing the 3Tr Fan in the top of the Tr3Tog

37) Ch3, work 1 tr in every dc across, and 1 htr in each of the chain spaces of the fans, but miss out the trebles of the fans. 

Htr in the 2 ch-sp, trs in the dcs

38)  Ch3, now work 1 tr in every treble along but work 2 trs in the 2nd of the Htr each time. This is just to re-gain the correct stitch count. Have a count up and check that you have about 220 stitches now. If not try re-doing this row by taking out or adding more trebles evenly along the row. 

Back to 220 stitches. Phew!

Day 4 CORONAVIRUS CAL

"If the world gives you lemons, make lemonade"

I 'll have mine with gin please..

21) Ch3, 1 tr in every stitch along

22) Ch3, 1 tr in the same stitch as the ch3 from row 21, miss 3 tr, 1 v-st in next st, *miss 2 tr, 1 v-st in next tr, repeat from * finishing with 2 trebles in top of the ch3 from row 21.

23) Ch1, 1 dc in top of the 1st tr below, 1 dc in next tr, 2 dc in the gap between the 2 tr and the 1st V-stitch from the row below, *now work a 5-tr popcorn in the ch-1-sp of the 1st v-st, 1dc in the gap between the next 2 trs, 1 dc in the next tr, 1 dc in the next ch-1-sp, 1 dc in the next tr, 1 dc in the gap between the next 2 v-sts. Repeat from * to end, finishing with a dc in the top of the ch3 at the start of row 22. 

24)  Ch5, (=1 tr+1 ch), then work * 1 v-st in middle dc (the one in the ch-sp) above the v-st 

below on row 22, ch1, 1 tr in top of next popcorn, repeat from * to end finishing with a treble in the top of the ch3 from the start of row 23. 

25) Ch1, 1dc in the same place, *1 popcorn in next ch-1 sp (of the v-st), 1dc in next tr, 1 dc in next ch-sp, 1 dc in next tr, 1dc in next ch-sp, 1dc in next tr, repeat from * to end finishing with a dc in the top of the 1st chain 3. 

26) ch3, now work 1 tr in every dc and in the back of every popcorn along to end, finishing with a tr in the top of the 1st dc. 

It is a good idea to have a count up now that we have a nice row of trebles...remember as long as you are within about 5 of the original count it will be ok!

DAY 3 CORONAVIRUS CAL

"If you want a rainbow you have to deal with the rain"(John Green in The Fault in our Stars)

I use the basic ripple pattern that LUCY from Attic 24 has written so feel free to refer to her excellent tutorial as well as this. If you click where I have highlighted basic ripple in pink and it should take you there...

HOWEVER, we will NOT have exactly the right amount of stitches needed for it to be the same at each end which will not affect the blanket but it will affect the way in which the pattern repeat ends. DO NOT PANIC! If you are foolish brave enough to trust me and be prepared to stray off the path then join me the rainbow ripple adventure.

If the sound of this stresses you out or if you are still new to crochet then I suggest you do the alternative Simple Rainbow stripe. For each row 14-20, you will *Chain 3 to start then work 1 treble in every stitch to the end, turn and repeat from * for every subsequent row. Change colours as desired.

Rainbow Ripple 

Middle of pattern....edges shown below

You will need to do the Tr2Tog TWICE

14) Ch3, 1 tr in same place (=2 trebles), *work 1 tr in each of the next 4 stitches, then tr2tog TWICE over the next 4 stitches...(this is the decrease and will form the VALLEYS), now work 1 tr in each of the next 4 stitches, then work 2 trebles in each of the next 2 stitches...(this is the increase and will from the HILLS). Now repeat this pattern from * to the end. THE END WILL NOT END AS PER ATTIC 24's PATTERN AS WE DON'T HAVE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF STITCHES. DON'T PANIC!
So, just do the pattern up to the last stitch and finish with a TREBLE in the very last stitch/turning chain from row below. CUT THE YARN AND FASTEN OFF

IMPORTANT! DO NOT TURN.

From now on for the rest of this pattern, we will be fastening off at the end of every row and
RE-JOINING the new yarn back at the start with a chain 3 to start each time.

15-20 Repeat row 14 always starting from the SAME SIDE.

If you don't have exactly the same amount of stitches as I do just stick to the pattern repeat but always start with the ch3 and 1 treble and always finish with 1 treble. 

1414

I feel happier already just looking at those gorgeous rainbow colours. I hope you do too...

DAY 1 CORONAVIRUS CAL

INSTRUCTIONS ALL IN UK TERMS

To start this blanket you will need to make a long chain. There is a choice of how to do this:

EITHER: With a 5mm hook  CHAIN 222. Then with a 4mm hook work 1 treble into the 4th chain from the hook and in every chain along, working under just 1 loop of the chain. TURN.

OR: With a 4mm hook work 219 Foundation Trebles quite loosely. TURN.

TURN AFTER EVERY ROW UNLESS TOLD OTHERWISE

                         " Every Cloud Has a Silver Lining" 

Now continue using the 4mm hook throughout unless advised otherwise.

DO NOT DO  THE FOLLOWING DC ROWS TOO TIGHTLY (or use a 4.5mm hook if you prefer)

1) Ch1, 1dc into the 1st treble below, work 1dc into every treble across to the last stitch, making sure not to miss the last treble/ch3 from the foundation row.

2) Ch1, 1dc into the 1st dc below, *ch1, miss 1 stitch, 1dc in next stitch, repeat from * to end ensuring you do the last dc into the first dc from row 1.

3) Ch2,  *1dc in next ch1-sp (the chain 1 space below), ch1, repeat from * to end.

4) Ch2 , work 1 htr in every ch1-sp and in every dc across.

5) Repeat Row 2 working along the htrs instead of dcs.

6) Repeat Row 3

7) Repeat Row 4

To show colour order for reference 

DAY 2 CORONAVIRUS CAL

 FORGET-ME-NOTS for the poorly, the lonely and those in self-isolation

8) Ch3, miss 1 htr, work 1 V-stitch (1tr 1 ch 1tr) into the next htr, *miss 2htr, work 1 V-stitch into next htr, repeat from * to end working 1 treble into the top of the ch2 from row 7.

9) Ch 5 (= 1 tr + 2 chains), work a 4-treble puff stitch (see diagram above) into the middle ch-1-sp of the first V-stitch below. *ch2, 4-tr-puff in middle ch-1sp of next V-st, repeat from * to end, working 1 tr in top of ch3 at start of row below.

10) Ch2, 2htr in ch-2-sp, *miss the next puff stitch and work 3htr in next 2-ch-sp. Repeat from * to end working 2 htr in last 2-ch-sp and 1 htr in top of the ch3 at start of row below.

11) Ch3, miss next 2 hers, work a V-st into the gap between the 2 groups of htrs below and in every following gap across to end, working 1 tr in top of the ch2 from the beginning of row 10.

12) Repeat row 9

13) Repeat row 10

Day 5 CORONAVIRUS CAL

FRIDAY 27TH MARCH (edited)

HEARTS for MOTHERING SUNDAY

Hearts for all of our Mothers, both past and present; whether separated by time, distance or illness.

I wrote this on a very beautiful Mothering Sunday here in the UK.  We will all have found it an odd one. Whilst I was lucky to have my own 3 children around me all day I felt the acute sorrow of not being able to see or talk to my own Mum. She is suffering from advanced dementia and now lives in a care home which shut its doors to all visitors over 10 days ago. So let's think of ALL those Mums all over the world and pray we get to see them healthy and in person again very soon.

27)  Ch 4 (=1 tr +1 chain), * miss 1 stitch, 1 tr in next stitch, ch1, repeat from * working the last treble into the top of the chain 3 at the start of row 26.

28) Ch3, work 1 tr in every tr and in every ch-sp along, working the last treble into the top of the chain 3  at the start of row 27.


29) Begin the puff (Ch3,  yo into treble at bottom of the chain 3, pull up a loop, yo pull through 2 loops, yo into same stitch,  pull up a loop, yo pull through 2 loops, yo pull through all 3 loops),
*ch3, miss 6 stitches (NOT 7 as on the chart...sorry), work a 3-tr-puff V-Stitch into next stitch, repeat from * to end, working a 3tr puff into the top of the ch3 at the start of row 28.  [3 tr-puff V-stitch: (yo, into stitch, pull up a loop, you pull through 2 loops)  3 times, yo pull through all 4 loops, now chain 2, then repeat the 3tr-puff
in the same stitch as the first 3tr-puff. DON'T TURN

begin the puff

3tr puff V-stitch

30) Join new yarn to top of the 3tr-puff at the start of row 29, ch4, miss 1st 3 trebles from row 28 then *work a htr into each of the next 2 trebles on row 28, working over the top of the 3 chains from row 29 (see photos), chain 2, 1dc in the ch-2-sp in the middle of the next  3tr-puff V-stitch,  chain 2, repeat from * to end, finishing with dc into the top of the last 3 tr-puff. TURN.

31) Ch3, now work 2 trebles in every 2-ch-sp, 1 tr in every treble, and 1 tr in every dc to end finishing with 1 tr in top of ch2 at start of row 30.

***KEEP CALM AND CROCHET under Coronavirus ***

THE CORONAVIRUS CAL

A STASH-BUSTING, TIME-FILLING, GROUP-HUGGING PROJECT TO HELP US THROUGH THE NEXT FEW WEEKS AND MONTHS...

As I write, it is Friday 20th March. Today all the schools in the UK have closed until further notice. All major events and festivals have been cancelled already. There is a lot of negative stuff flying around the ether.

There is also a LOT of positive stuff. Let's focus on the good things coming out of this.
Here we will crochet for inner calm, for peace of mind and to forget the outside world for a few hours a day.
We will think positive thoughts and count our blessings.

Finally; "It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop ." CONFUCIUS

A sneaky taster of what's to come...

GENERAL INTRODUCTION 

I will be designing this DAILY CAL as I go and will endeavour to stay one step ahead of you if at all possible so please bear with me...Not all of you will have the time to complete it daily...that is perfectly ok.  Some of you will be wanting more. So start another one. Teach someone else in the house to crochet.  Do it at your own pace. Breathe.

• THERE WILL BE MISTAKES! As any of you who have ever written a pattern know, it takes an awful lot of time to triple check....as I am keen to get this CAL out as fast as possible there are bound to be errors on my part so PLEASE bear with me. Ask for help from both me and the wider crochet community. 
• There is no specific colourway...I am using up odds and sods from my stash. You can use as many or as few colours as you like. Leave your ends long enough to sew in...try to do this after every row to save yourself that horrid job at the end!
• Do not get too hung up about the stitch count. Crochet is SO forgiving. As long as you are within 5 stitches or so  IT WILL BE OK! You can always decrease or increase evenly along the next plain row to regain the correct amount. Don't forget that the edge will hide a multitude of sins and mistakes... 
• I will try to provide the pattern in both words and chart form where possible. Try to use BOTH.
• I will use photos where possible but will not post too many for the sake of time.

MATERIALS NEEDED

A size 4mm hook 

A size 4.5mm or 5mm hook (for doing the foundation chain and linen-type stitches)

About 16 x 100g  balls of DK yarn. I say about because as I haven't completed this yet I cannot say for sure.....

There might be more to come but I will add them when needed.