Tutorial for 6" Open Cross Square

I love Aurora Suominen's Open Cross Square and constantly send people to it, especially if they are new to crochet... I've had a few people ask me for a written version (no abbreviations, full explanation)... So I thought I would add it here...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Open Cross Square:

Chain 4 and join to form a ring

Round 1 and 2

Round 1. Chain 3 (counts as the first double crochet), the make 15 more double crochet in the ring, join with the 3rd chain of the beginning chain 3

 

Round 2. Chain 3, Double crochet in same stitch, stitch **chain 3 and skip the next stitch, single crochet in the next stitch, chain 3 and skip the next stitch, 2 double crochet in next stitch** repeat inside the ** 3 more times, ending with the second chain 3, slip stitch to top of beginning chain 3.

 

 

Round 3 before joining

Round 3. Chain 3, double crochet in same stitch, Chain 1, 2 double crochet in next double crochet, **Chain 3 and single crochet in single crochet, Chain 3. 2 double crochet in next double crochet, chain 1, 2 double crochet in next.** Repeat inside the ** 3 times, ending on the chain 3, join with slip stitch to top of beginning chain 3.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Round 4 and 5

Round 4: Chain 3, double crochet in next, **(2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in chain 1 space, double crochet in next 2, Chain 3, Single crochet in next single crochet, Chain 3, double crochet in next 2** Repeat inside the ** 3 times ending on second chain 3 and join with slip stitch to top chain of beginning chain 3.

 

Round 5: Chain 3, double crochet in next 3 double crochet, **(2 double crochet, chain 2, 2 double crochet) all in chain 2 space, double crochet in next 4 double crochet, Chain 3,  single crochet in next single crochet, Chain 3, double crochet in crochet next 4 double crochet** Repeat 3 times inside the ** ending with second chain 3 and join with a slip stitch to the top of the beginning chain 3.

 

Round 6: chain 1, **single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in corner, single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in chain 3, single crochet in next single crochet, single crochet in next chain 3** Repeat 3 times in the ** and join with a slip stitch to first single crochet.

 

The written instrutions kind of pull in at the chain 3 parts, so I modify it a bit (which does make it a little more complicated... Here is a picture of both methods and I will write my way second, so you can ignore it if you want...

 

Left: as written using single crochet only
Right: using my modifications that include
single crochet, half double crochet and
double crochet

Modified Round 6. Chain 1, **single crochet in next 6 double crochet, 3 single crochet in corner, single crochet in next 6 double crochet, (2 single crochet, 1 half double crochet) in chain 3, double crochet in next single crochet, (1 half double crochet, 2 single crochet) in next chain 3** Repeat 3 times in the ** and join with a slip stitch to first single crochet.

 

Half Double Crochet explanation: Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops at once.

Knit, crochet and life

So what do I have going on almost half way through the first month of the year?
There isn't much going in life... Getting some laughs with my family (O usually has us in stitches), trying to keep my blood pressure regulated as much as I can (don't seem to be doing so well with that) and keeping on... I'm loving the 3 crockpot system I got for Christmas, I can make 3 nights of food at once and freeze them in proportions for one meal! Seems to be the perfect answer for when I need an easy meal, but don't want to sacrifice the nutrition (or have frozen pizza too often)...
I have been doing great at keeping up with my daily bible reading, and that makes me ecstatic! The devotional is behind some times but it's easy to get back on track and I do, so that is great...

On the hooks: I've made 3 dishcloths this month... I just finished an owl bonnet pattern test (although I need to disassemble it and resemble it)... I'm starting a dragonfly pattern test for the same designer...
I need to get a pattern tested wrote and posted (free scarf pattern) and I need to get another one that has been tested up (shawl pattern to sell)... Have a dishcloth pattern that I will need to write and possibly test by Aug...

On the needles: I have made a knit dishcloth (plus I learned some basic cable knitting by making a dishcloth at the end of last month), and working on a couple more... One is a mystery knit a long that will take the whole month, it seems like fun... It's hosted by The Domestic Dash, here is this month's "Riddle Me This" dishcloth...
I still have my personal shawl that I'm trying to finish, but it is my filler project and right now I have too many other things... I also want to design a knit dishcloth that will need finished and tested by Aug if I can (this will be a little harder as I am still learning almost everything about knitting)

As new things progress I'll share :-) 

I want to share my bible verse for the year with you... It is a great reminder to hear often :-)
Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with what you have. For He Himself has said "I will never leave you nor forsake you." So we may boldly say "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?"

Another pattern I've created

I have created this very textured double thick, reversible hat using only 2 stitches. There are multiple sizes. Toddler (1-3yrs) will work for anyone with a head circumference around 16-17”. Child (4-10yrs) will work for anyone with a head circumference around 18-19”. Adult Female will work for anyone with a head circumference around 19-20”. and Adult Male will work for anyone with a head circumference around 21-22”. It is worked in one continuous “tube”, and it can easily be lengthened or shortened, with instructions on how in the pattern. Although I used Red Heart any worsted weight yarn should work.

Materials needed include 5-6 oz (200-280 yds) worsted weight yarn in 2 colors, H/8/5.00mm hook, blunt-end needle.

Written in US terminology.

Intermediate level: although only 2 sts, 1 is not a “typical” stitch and the pattern can be a little confusing with the increases and decreases.

A very big thank you to my testers:  Joanne, Carmen,  Cindy, and Shannon!

You can buy it at http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/xs-reversible-hat for $3.50

<b>When it snows, she does not fear for her household; for all of them are clothed in scarlet.</b> <i>Proverbs 31:21</i>

New Pattern released!

Well I finally did it! I got the XOXO Cross Blanket Pattern ready for sale and now it is available! You can buy it on Ravelry (you do not have to be a member to buy it)...

A very textured blanket using only 3 stitches. This is available in 2 sizes- Baby and Toddler/Lapghan. There is a “relief” of a Cross in the middle of the blanket, making it perfect witnessing or as a Christening Blanket. The Baby size is approximately 38” long and 26” wide. The Toddler/Lapghan size is approximately 50” long and 38” wide. It is worked bottom to top. Although it is designed with Pound of Love(a worsted weight), it can be done in many yarn weights. Use a finer yarn and a larger hook to get a lacier effect, or a thicker yarn with a comparable hook to get a bulkier look.

Crochet and freezer cooking update

So I haven't accomplished much, but wanted to post an update...
I don't think I like freezer cooking... The meats disintegrated beyond recognition for 2 of the recipes, 1 recipe didn't care for and 1 recipe I didn't care for... plus the 2 that didn't work took just as long if not longer than a normal meal prep would have taken to fix, so it didn't save me time and the 2 that worked would only take about 20 mins prep in the morning... Therefore I don't see how this method saved me any time... :-(

As for crochet, I have the pattern for sale and haven't had a chance to do much else... I am trying to design a versatile finger less mitt pattern to match the scarf but haven't been able to do yet... then I want to design a cover for my tablet and that,s not going so well yet... Finally I want to design a shawl that has an inlaid cross design, and haven't had a chance to start it either...  but at least the ideas are there!

So far that is all that I have for an update...

"They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles." Isaiah 40:31

I finally did it!

So I have been crocheting for several years, but really picked it back up and learned the most in the last 2 years... Greg has been watching me and listening to me talk about it (even though he could care less) and finally asked me the one day "Why don't you sell your patterns?" I told him that I didn't have any patterns since all I do is alter patterns to meet my needs... So there was a lot of back and forth on it and finally he understood why i couldn't sell what I had altered slightly for fit or something... Then I made a blanket for a friend's baby shower that was a MAJOR change from the original design... Greg told me to sell that pattern and I continued to fight him on it... Finally, I had several people explain to me how it was my own design, so I have that pattern being tested for clarity/errors... Then I designed a scarf, using some other patterns as reference, but my own design... I am happy to tell you that the pattern for that scarf was tested by two lovely ladies and is now finally ready for sale!!! X's Keyhole Scarf is now available to buy for $2.50, as a Ravelry download... As of right now, you have to be a member of Ravelry (free to join) to purchase this pattern, but I am working on figuring out how to make it available to anyone... (Edited to add, I think the buy now button will allow you to purchase without joining Ravelry) So here is my scarf from the X's Keyhole Scarf pattern:

<a href="http://www.ravelry.com/purchase/o-baby-n-more/133992"><img src="http://www.ravelry.com/images/shopping/buy-now.gif"></a>

 I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39

Some overdue Crochet projects (Christmas gifts)

So I am long overdue on some of these projects, but since they were Christmas gifts it's ok that I waited to post them hehe

Nordstrom-Style Hobo Bag for Jas


XOXO Cross Blanket for O (my design, being tested for sale)


XOXO Cross Blanket for S (same design as above)


Longhorn Afghan for Robin and her Husband


A few things that I have made that weren't Christmas gifts

A Bible Bag for my "travel-size" Bible


A random scarf I made


And a scarf that I designed because the above was too simple for me... (being tested for sale, should be available next week)


“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12

Bible Bag

Made myself a bag for my "travel size" Bible... It holds my Bible, pen & highlighters... Yes it's less than 12" including the handle!

A few more crochet projects...

Ok here are a few more crochet projects

Brie asked me to make something for her co-worker's grand-daughter... This is a pattern that I am trying to refine...



These are a pair of slippers I made for a swap...



This is a dress that I made for Addison's 1st birthday and the headband (named Addison)



This washcloth is an illusion... when you look at it straight on it just looks like stripes, but look at an angle and you see the design, I gave this to my sister who has always loved Mickey!



I wanted to make a basket using these 2 yarns together, but after I got this far I realized that I didn't have enough light purple, so I turned it into a potholder for Brie...



Last is a hat that I tested the pattern for someone, I made 2 since I didn't like the length of the first one (the brown one)...

Lapghan/ Pillowghan Update

Well here are the updates to the afghans... The square that is at the bottom by itself will go on the back as the pocket for the pillow part...

Now to finish a total of 28 more squares to be finished with all three....

Lots to catch up on!

Well I did it again, I got way behind and I have been crafting away! So here are a ton of pictures to show what I have done since my last post...
I have finished the lapghans for Warm Up America... I made the green squares for second blanket, but otherwise I only joined the squares given to me with yarn given to me...


I've also done many more squares for the afghans, and will try to get that updated...

I have made several more prayer squares as well:


I've made washcloths for soldiers


Then I made a few things for the house, a hot pad and 2 dishcloths:


This dishcloth was using a knitting pattern that creates an illusion effect, I tried on my own to turn it into a Tunisian crochet method and failed, then someone told me about a thread that had a link to instructions on how to convert the knitting pattern into a Tunisian pattern! I think it is pretty cool!


I did a test for my prayer partner's new design:

As well as several squares for her Journey House project:


There are so many more that I have made or started but this post is getting rather long, so I will end now and try to get the rest tomorrow or Monday when I update the afghans...

Hope you enjoyed all of the crocheted goodness hehe

Nothing to show this week...

Well I have been working on things this week, but nothing is finished and I don't really have "in progress" photos... The only thing I can show is the lapghan that I am assembling for the Warm Up America group through Pat Catan's... I picked up "squares" to assemble for them to distribute to other foundations that help keep those in need warm... These foundations include helping Nursing Homes and Women's Shelters... One of the sets of squares I grabbed were these bright pink granny squares:

There were only 10 of them and making a 3x3 was not nearly big enough... so I made 14 more squares using a mint color that coordinates well enough with the pink... I am joining them together using the flat-braid method and a cream yarn that Pat Catan's gave me... Here are the completed mint squares:

I have been working on a "costume" hook (like a pirate's) and more of the squares for the afghans, but again nothing is done yet...
What a crazy week... Hopefully will have more for you next week!