Monthly Archives: March 2015

Courtyard Tiles Afghan in Purple!

Paid Pattern - Afghan

This is such a pretty version of Courtyard Tiles Afghan that ViviLion posted to Ravelry.  She came up with a way of cutting down on the number of ends by carrying the purple yarn across the back loops and the white yarn in the front loops.  So nice.

vivilion2

Did you know the 8-pointed star shape is  called an octogram and is prominent in the symbolism of many cultures and religions?  The Star of Lakshmi represents the Hindu eight pillars of wealth:

star of lakshmi

It is also found in the Islamic culture; this is a ceramic tile in the Metropolitan Museum of Art from 13th Century Iran.

tile islamic

In Christianity, the eight-pointed star is called the Star of Redemption, and many baptismal fonts are octagonal:

star8-stainedglass

 

I’ve seen hardwood floor inlays:

hardwood floor medallion

Sol Lewitt painted this Stars 8-Pointed  in 1996:

Sol Lewitt -stars-8-pointed-1996

And we’re all familiar with gorgeous quilts with the star motif:

Hunters Star

I guess I’m in good company with my Eight-Pointed Flower from 2012 (this by Katsgrace):

Eight Pointed Flower katsgrace

 

Modern Blanket of Flowers CAL

Paid Pattern - Afghan

There will be a CAL (Crochet Along) to my pattern Modern Blanket of Flowers over on the Vanna’s Choice Fan Club board on Ravelry March through July.  (You don’t have to use Vanna’s Choice.  I love Vanna’s Choice, but this pattern is suited to a self-striping yarn.  You can use anything, though.)  It is a friendly group that shares photos and progress.  I’m excited to see how all the versions come out!

Here’s one I love by jnmac102:

jnmac102

Fantastic! Afghan Square – Complete Pattern

Free Pattern

IMG_0864

Copyright Julie Yeager Designs 2015.  Do not post this pattern on the internet.  Share the link to this blog.  For a paid version of this pattern that you can store in your Ravelry library, go to my Ravelry Store and purchase the PDF version.

Fantastic!  Afghan Square
By Julie Yeager Designs
Pattern is in American crochet terms.
Materials:  Aran or Worsted Weight Yarn
A:  Dusty Green;  B:  Pink;  C:  Antique Rose;  D:  Silver Blue

Hook size:  J (6 mm) Gauge:  12” square, 4” diameter after 3 rounds    Stitch Marker:  1

BLO – back loop only    dc – double crochet    FPdc – front post double crochet     PM – place marker   sk – skip      sl – slip    ch- chain     st  – stitch     sp – space        beg – beginning

Ch-3 at the beg of a round counts as a dc.

FPdc – Front Post Double Crochet – Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of corresponding stitch below, yarn over and pull up loop [yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times

FPsc – Front Post Single Crochet – Insert hook from front to back to front around post of stitch below, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through two loops

“Between the Stitches” – Not technically a space, since it is not formed by a chain – just place your hook between the two designated stitches, not “into” the loops of either stitch.

V-St –  V- Stitch – (dc, ch 2, dc) in same st

PM (Place Marker) – Mark this stitch one time.  (Paper clip or piece of yarn will do the trick.)

All work is done on the Right Side (RS) except for Round 12 which is done on the Wrong Side(WS.)

Round 1:  With A, ch 4, join with sl st to form ring.  Ch 3, 11 dc in ring, sl st to top of beg ch-3. Fasten off.  (12 dc)

Round 2: Join B with sl st in any dc, ch 3, FPdc around same dc, (dc in next st, FPdc around same st) x 11, sl st to top of beg ch-3.  Fasten off.  (12 dc, 12 FPdc)

Round 3:  Join C with sl st in any FPdc, ch 3, FPdc around same FPdc, (dc in next 2 st, FPdc around FPdc) x 11, dc in next st, sl st to top of  beg ch-3.  Fasten off.  (24 dc, 12 FPdc)

Round 4A:  Join D with sl “between” any 2 dc.  Ch 5 (counts as dc and ch-2), dc in same “sp.”   [Sk 3 st, V-St “between” next 2 dc] x 11.  Sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-5.  Fasten off.  (24 dc, 12 ch-2 sp)

Round 4B:  Join C with sl in BLO of first dc of any V-St. (FPdc around post of FPdc below in Round 3, ch 4, sk V-St)  x 12, sl st to first FPdc, fasten off.  (12 FPdc, 12 ch-4 sp)

Round 5A:  Working from front side and working around and enclosing stitches of Round 4B, join A with sl in any ch-2 sp in Round 4A.   (Ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp.  (Entire round is “working around and enclosing” the stitches of Round 4B.)  [(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-2 sp of Round 4A]] x 11.  Sl st to top of beg ch-3.  Fasten off.  (48 dc, 12 ch-2 sp)

Round 5B:  Join C with sl in BLO of first dc of any dc group.  (FPdc around post of FPdc below in Round 4B, ch 5, sk 5 st)  x 12, sl st to first FPdc, fasten off.  (12 FPdc, 12 ch-5 sp)

Round 6A: Working from front side and working around and enclosing stitches of Round 5B, join B with sl in any ch-2 sp in Round 5A.  (Ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp. (Entire round is “working around and enclosing” the stitches of Round 5B.) [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp of Round 5A] x 11.  Sl st to top of beg ch-3.  Fasten off.  (72 dc, 12 ch-2 sp)

Round 6B:  Join C with sl in BLO of first dc of any dc group.  (FPdc around post of FPdc below in Round 5B, ch 7, sk 7 st)  x 12, sl st to first FPdc.  Do not fasten off.  (12 FPdc, 12 ch-7 sp)

Round 7: FPsl (slip st) around post of FPdc below, ch 3. Working around and enclosing stitches of Round 6B, [(3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp of Round 6A, FPdc around FPdc in Round 6B] x 12, omitting last FPdc. Sl st to top of beg ch-3. Do not fasten off. (72 dc, 12 ch-2 sp, 12 FPdc)

Round 8: Ch 1, sc in  next 3 dc, (sc in ch-2 sp (PM once), sc in next 3 st, FPsc around FPdc, sc in next 3 st) x 12, omitting last 3 st, sl st to first sc of round. Fasten off. (96 st)

Round 9:  For better definition, work ALL stitches in back loop only (BLO) in just this round. With D, join with sc in BLO of marked st. Sc in next 8 st, (hdc in next st, dc in next st, tr in next st, 3 tr in next st, tr in next st, dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 17 st) x 4, omitting last 9 st. (In other words, instead of sc in next 17 st that last time, you will sc in last 8 st.) Sl st to first sc of round. Do not fasten off. (104 st)

Round 10: Ch 1, sc in same and next 2 st, (hdc in next 2 st, dc in next 6 st, tr in next 2 st, 5 tr in next st, tr in next 2 st, dc in next 6 st, hdc in next 2 st, sc in next 5 st) x 4, omitting last 3 st.  (In other words, instead of “sc in next 5 st” that last time, you will sc in last 2 st.)  Sl st to first sc of round. Fasten off. (120 st)

Round 11: Join A with sc in 3rd tr of any corner, sc in same st. (Sc in next 29 st, 3 sc in next st) x 4, omitting last 2 st. Sl st to beg st.  Fasten off. (128 st)

Round 12 (WS): Turn work. Join B with sc in any corner st, (tr, sc) in same st, [(tr in next st, sc in next st) x 15, tr in next st, (sc, tr, sc) in next st] x 4, omitting last 3 st. Sl st to beg sc, fasten off. (136 st)

Round 13 (RS): Turn work. With A, sc in each st, with 3 sc in corners. Fasten off. (144 st, 36 st per side)

Copyright 2015 Julie Yeager Designs

Please do not post this pattern on the internet, even if it was obtained as a “free pattern.” Post the link to my website – https://julieyeagerdesigns.com, or my Ravelry store – where you can see all my patterns – http://www.ravelry.com/stores/Julie-yeager-designs. Contact me via e-mail at [email protected].

NatCroMo Blog Tour 2015

Crochet Chat

2013 collage

So excited to be part of the National Crochet Month Blog Tour 2015 on Crochetville   today!

As a proud stop on the Tour, I am Offering $1.99 off the price of one of my $1.99 patterns with Coupon Code

julie

and $1.50 off the price of any pattern in my Ravelry Store with Coupon Code

NCM

for the rest of the month.

Also,  starting today, I will be releasing daily clues for the next 8 days for a free 12″ afghan square called “Fantastic!” Afghan Square.  Come back each day for the next 8 days for a new clue. I used four colors of Vanna’s Choice and a J hook.   See post below for clue.  Enjoy!

 

 

 

 

Crochetville Feature!

Crochet Chat

It is almost March 10!  Well, it actually is in some parts of the world.  I am one of the featured crochet bloggers on Crochetville.com today.  After you read all about me – it’s all about me, hm? – come back here and grab your first clue for the Fantastic! Afghan Square.   It’s 10 PM at night here and I’m wondering when I should post it?  I am up early to take my daughter to the bus tomorrow so I’ll post it at about 8 AM Eastern Time.  See you then!

I am trying to make my blog a go-to crochet site!  It is a learning experience.  Trying to figure out how to let people know that there is a new post.  Do I do that by email list, and if so, how do I collect email addresses.  I’m sure I’ll figure it out.  🙂

“Fantastic!” – Mystery Crochet Afghan Square coming soon

Uncategorized

sneak peak

I am going to be presenting clues for a Mystery 12″ Afghan Square this month in honor of National Crochet Month.  First clue will be up this Tuesday, March 10, with clues to follow for the next 8 days.  We can discuss and answer questions here and I will have tutorial photos.   The square will be called “Fantastic!” and I am using a J hook and 4 colors of Vanna’s Choice yarn but you can use whatever yarn and hook you’d like.  Please bookmark my site and come back this week for your clues!