I’m not sure why I decided that I need a wrap. After all, a really cold day here is about 18 degrees C. But I suddenly felt the urge to make something snuggly that I could hide inside when I was napping in the car and on planes and such. That’s why I bought the Noro yarn. It cost a bomb. And when it was halfway through? I realised it wasn’t what I wanted. The colours are just not me. (They are perfect for Someone Else, though *shhh* birthday soon!)
Then the food colouring dye session. Then four false starts: three knitted ones (I now know how to do a feather and fan pattern with knitting. I feel so clever!) and finally this fourth try with crochet…
The colours look so nauseating. It was a bit of a shock to see two beautiful yarns turn, well, kind of ugly next to each other. It was so sickly. Needed toning down.
So, I added this gray/beige colour and (bonus!) it has some cashmere in it. Wow, that stuff is so soft! I’ve never owned anything with cashmere before and now I see what the fuss is all about.
Then I figured it needed a bit more colour so I quickly dyed a few skeins of light wisteria purples. Now I love it!
The pattern is really, really easy. I’m not kidding. I learned to crochet so that I could jump on the ripple bandwagon (eventually I was successful) and this is the first “fancy” pattern I’ve tried. I think it’s even easier than the ripple and possibly faster, too.
So, this is called closed shell stitch and here’s what you do…
Cast on stitches in multiples of 3 + 1 (I cast on 121)
Each little shell is a cluster of 5 double chains.
Row 1 – sc in 2nd chain from the hook, *skip 2 chains and 5 dc in the next chain, skip 2 chains and 1 sc in the next chain. Repeat from * to the end of the row. You should finish on a sc.
Row 2 – 3 chain (this counts as the first dc in the shell), turn, 4 dc in the first sc of the previous row, *skip 2 st, 1 sc in the centre stitch of the 5 dc group, skip 2 st, 5 dc in next sc, repeat from *across. When you reach the end of the row there isn’t room for a whole group of 5 dc -just do 3 and that will let the edge of the crochet stay straight.
Now just repeat Row 2 until it’s long enough!
I plan to do two rows of sc around the outside of the wrap and then a row of shells to finish off.
If you need any help, let me know. Honestly, it’s so much easier than I thought it would be. Makes me wonder why I didn’t try it earlier.
This is just bloody beautiful – you are so clever with colours.
I will use this pattern but was wondering what ply wool you used?
By: Bluemountainsmary on April 17, 2009
at 3:39 pm
Four ply yarn (baby wool) and a 4mm hook.
By: twolimeleaves on April 17, 2009
at 3:42 pm
Well, this is just gorgeous! What a clever girl you are, to get the colour mix just right! It is beautiful. I love crochet, & it is so quick to grow!
By: meggie on April 17, 2009
at 5:10 pm
nice work, after a couple of false starts. If it is ever 18 degrees here I’m moving further north!
By: peppermintpatcher on April 17, 2009
at 8:10 pm
I’m finding that crochet has more false starts than knitting.
Your final colour match is excellent. The pattern is fabulous.
Like Meggie says I love the quick grow nature of crochet (I’m crocheting a washcloth as we speak).
By: M on April 17, 2009
at 8:44 pm
The colors turned out so lovely! I re-learned crochet on Easter Sunday. Couldn’t successfully follow any ripple stitch though. You’re guaranteeing this is easy?
By: amy on April 17, 2009
at 9:11 pm
Hi Kirsty, The colours are so beautiful, just like candies! The colours turned out lovely and are matching so well. We got still snow today, but I saw the first finches this spring!!! There were tens of them at our birdfeeder this morning! Have a nice weekend!
By: anne from finland on April 17, 2009
at 9:23 pm
Oh yes, the grey does it. Doesn’t the grey look great next to the lime green. And the wisteria is gorgeous too. I love it, you are very clever!
By: Cathy U on April 17, 2009
at 10:59 pm
I love these colors! I actually feel like crocheting is a lot easier than knitting, although I like doing them both. Great job!
By: the1stdaughter on April 17, 2009
at 11:07 pm
Slacker. Kidding, of course. I’m just jealous.
Again.
The finished product is gorgeous and the dying thing just fascinates me. I can’t dye and easter egg, much less wool!
By: Melinda on April 18, 2009
at 1:33 am
I just love how you wrote “so I quickly dyed up some skeins in wisteria”. Just like that.
Cashmere is fabulous isn’t it? I found a light as a bird grey cashmere lacy cardigan at the op shop once. Before I could even wear it my husband ‘helped’ one day by doing a load of washing.
By: suse on April 18, 2009
at 12:26 pm
Very cool! Are you going to use it to warm your knees while you watch the V8’s?
By: fixdesignnz on April 18, 2009
at 6:49 pm
Kirsty, I am always amazed by your talent! These are beautiful and as it is a little cooler in Brisbane – I could use one !!! Who said you could not knit.
By: Vicki on April 19, 2009
at 5:46 pm
not that I need another wrap………but I can’t help these photos are so waking my appetite for another crochet thingy … your handdyed yarn colours are delicious, and the grey cashmere “interruption” is what I call sublime.
Do we really need cool temperatures to snuggle under?
By: Christiane on April 20, 2009
at 3:37 am
I’m a shocker for not reading first, I look at the photos then come back and read… When I saw the first pink shocker I thought, omg what is this girl making. I had a little giggle when I finally did the right thing and read the text. Love the finished look, very you.
By: Maddy on April 20, 2009
at 8:06 am
This is beautiful. Love the gray.
http://www.bonbonliving.com
sweetest living for your family
By: Margaret on April 22, 2009
at 7:44 am
Those colours are to die for, I adore them together. Gorgeous.
By: rhubarb on April 24, 2009
at 10:00 am
Oh but it is just beautiful!!! I just want to hug it!
By: Kellie on April 28, 2009
at 7:54 pm
Gorgeous.
And the perfect excuse to undo the wrap I nearly finished before it got too warm last year and redo it in the closed shell stitch instead!
Once again I am spared the pain of actually finishing a project. Thank you, Kirsty, you’re a lifesaver.
By: Bec on April 29, 2009
at 11:07 am
Hey you! Update your blog already *snigger* or play your scrabble turn. Whichever.
By: fixdesignnz on May 6, 2009
at 5:19 pm
It’s amazing how adding a colour or two changes the whole thing entirely. I’m almost finished my crochet rug (oh, the money it swallowed!) and I hated it until about halfway through. Now I kinda like it. And definitely want to make a whole pile more. Your pattern looks perfect for my girls’ beds…
By: Megan on May 13, 2009
at 7:55 am
Val B was asking how you were and I had to admit you had been a little quiet lately. Hope all is well with you.
Fabulous crochet!
By: Ali Honey on May 24, 2009
at 9:45 am
What a great lesson in reworking something until satisfied. I love the final color mix. Not sure I would have known what to do after the first result of two colors next to each other than simply don’t work. Lovely results at last. Congrats!
By: myartfullife on May 26, 2009
at 5:57 am
Ok, I have my yarn, found my hook, have done my first row, and going strong on my second! Thank you! What fun, I haven’t crocheted for years…thank you again!!
By: Julie on June 30, 2009
at 8:22 am