PATTERN: Double Spiral Square Motif

Hello everyone, and welcome!

This is our 100th blog post! Thank you all for reading and supporting us! We love all your comments and shares and saves on Bloglovin :) 

And as a special present just for all you wonderful readers, here is my brand new pattern (with photo tutorial): The Double Spiral Square Motif!! As you know, I'm a bit mad on spirals. After I did the translation of Patty Crochète's gorgeous Solid Spiral Granny Square, my lovely friend Angela from Get Knotted Yarn Craft sent me this picture of a doona cover, and suggested that maybe the solid spiral granny could be converted to make this double spiral square:

What an idea! I spent way too many hours and brainspoons figuring out how to do the spiral with two colours instead of four, and then how to connect opposite ends of the squares to make it spiral like this... and here it is, with a photo tutorial! It has only been lightly tested, so please let me know if something is unclear, or needs more information/photos :)

What could you do with this motif? The sky's the limit! I can see two of them sewn together and lined to make a little pencil case; or stitch a whole bunch together to make an afghan; or as an accent row in a groovyghan; or as a square-ish market bag... So many options! 

Add it to your Ravelry queue or favourites here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/double-spiral-square-motif

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PATTERN: DOUBLE SPIRAL SQUARE MOTIF
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Materials:
Two colours of yarn (Colour A and Colour B)
Hook, size appropriate to yarn
Scissors
Yarn needle

All stitches are in US terminology
sl st = slip stitch
ch = chain stitch
hdc = half double crochet
dc = double crochet
tr = treble crochet

Notes:
- The square spiral is made by alternating forward and reverse (1dc, 1tr) (1tr, 2dc) stitch sequence in the corners. This pattern makes a specific size - refer back to the Solid Granny Spiral Square pattern for information on how to make it bigger!
- Drop yarn means to pull up a large loop of the yarn, and let it go to start working with a different colour. When you go back to your large loop, pull it tight before continuing.
- All stitches are worked into the top of the stitch below, not into the space between stitches, unless otherwise specifically stated.

1. Making each spiral square:

In colour A ch5.  Sl st into first chain to form a ring. 

Ch 3, into ring (2dc, 2tr, 3dc, 2tr, 3dc). Pull up large loop of yarn and drop colour A.

Using colour B join into ring. Ch 3, 2 dc into ring.  Into 3 ch loop of colour A, (dc, 2 tr, dc). dc into next 2 dc. In next tr (dc, tr). In next tr (tr, 2 dc). dc in next 3 dc. In next tr (2dc, tr). In next tr (tr, dc). Pull up large loop of yarn and drop colour B.

Pick up colour A. With colour A, in 3 ch loop of colour B, (dc, 2 tr, dc). dc in next 3 dc. In next tr (dc, tr). In next tr (tr, 2 dc). dc in next 4 dc. In next tr (2dc, tr). In next tr (tr, dc). dc in next 7 dc. Pull up long loop of yarn and drop colour A.

Pick up colour B. dc in next 4 dc. In next tr (dc, tr). In next tr (tr, 2dc). dc in next 5 dc. dc in next tr. 2dc in next tr. Cut off, pull end through.

Pick up colour A. In next tr (dc, tr). In next tr (tr, 2dc). dc in next 6 dc. In next tr (2 dc, tr). Pull up long loop of colour A, cut end, leaving very long tail (approx. 60cm).

Make two spiral squares in the same way.

2. Joining spirals

Lay out your squares according to the picture below. You should have one Colour A yarn at the top on one side, and one on the bottom on the other side.

**With colour A tail, tr in next tr. Slip-stitch into the top of the last stitch of colour B on the other square. 

In same tr, dc, then slip-stitch into the top of the second-last stitch of colour B. (dc in next dc, slip-stitch into top of next colour B stitch) x4.**

Repeat **to** with colour A loop at the other end of the join.

I found it easier to pull the yarn through to the top of the work rather than try and grab it through the gap.

Ta dah!

Finish both Colour A threads & weave in ends. To tighten up the tiny gap between the finishing points, weave the end into the opposite side (so in the same direction as you were already going).

3. Outside row

Using colour B, join to either of the Colour B sideways dc stitches. Then, 2ch, 2hdc in the same space.

**hdc in next 9 dc (don't forget the stitch that the sideways dc is made in). 

In next tr (1hdc, 1dc). In next tr (1dc, 2hdc). hdc in next 9 dc. In next tr (2hdc, 1dc). In next tr (1dc, 1hdc). hdc in next 10 dc. hdc in next 2 tr. **

3hdc in next Colour B sideways dc stitch.  Repeat ** to **. Sl st in top of first ch2, cut off and pull end through.

Weave in all your ends. 

PATTERN: Saggy Daggy Crochet Baggy

I used the practice and tutorial Solid Spiral Granny Squares to make up a Saggy Daggy Crochet Baggy for a friend to use as a project bag :P What do you think? 

Instructions for how to make this bag for yourself are below, or you can visit the Ravelry page for this pattern to save it to your queue or add to favourites! :)  

Instructions for how to make your very own Saggy Daggy Crochet Baggy:

1. Make 5 Solid Spiral Granny Squares with two full rounds of each colour (so {step 4, step 5} x 3. You can use other square patterns, just make sure you end up with 30 stitches on each side. 

2. Join Colour E (edging colour) in any dc and sc around each square. In the corners, do two sc in the last stitch of a row, and 3sc over the dc at the start of the next row.

4. Using Colour E and sc, join 4 of the squares into a line, then join the first square to the last one to make a circle (or box). 

5. Using Colour E and sc, join the 5th square to the edges of your circle. Don't forget to do 3 sc in each corner to keep it square! Now you have a cube with no top :) 

6. Join Colour E in one corner of the top of the bag and sc all the way around, using slip stitch to join. Don't cut off Colour E.

7. On the next round with Colour E, ch 1 (does not count as a stitch), then sc in the next 10 stitches. For the handles, you can either use 20 chain stitches, or 20 foundation sc stitches. Skip 12 stitches on the previous round, then sc 10 to the corner. Repeat for all four sides, then cut off Colour E.

8. Do one round each of sc in Colour A, then B, then C, then D, then E to finish. 
If you did chain stitch for the handles, do the first round (with Colour A) into the stitches to make it nice and strong :) In the picture below, I've used foundation sc to make a more defined handle hole.

9. Weave in all your ends securely.

Ta-dah! Your very own Saggy Daggy Crochet Baggy :) 

If you have any problems with these instructions (which were written up very quickly, and not tested), let me know in the comments!

PATTERN: Solid Spiral Granny Square (translated from Patty Crochète)

In my hunt for something to do with my beyoooootiful Stylecraft Special DK yarns, I have scoured the internet for ideas, patterns, inspiration - something that will show off this yarn to its fullest. 

I love rainbows, and in my travels around the web the same picture kept coming up for rainbow granny spirals: The Granny Spiral by Patty Crochète. This was it, the one. It was calling me.  

One small problem - the pattern is written in French (although with an excellent photo tutorial) and I could not find a proper English translation anywhere! Google Translate helped a bit, as did some excellent Googlefu (and proper reading) from the ladies in the Creative Crochet Crew group on Facebook. I really believed there was a market for this pattern in the English speaking world, especially as I had seen it in so many places, on so many Pinterest boards and inspiration boards.

The incredible designer of this square, Patricia Damême, can be found on her blog here, her Facebook page here, and on Pinterest here, and I absolutely recommending checking her out in all of those places as her work is just amazing.

With her permission, the English translation of the Solid Granny Spiral Square :D, which is also available on Ravelry for easy queueing or favouriting for later! 

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PATTERN TRANSLATION: SOLID GRANNY SPIRAL SQUARE
Translated from: The Granny Spiral by Patty Crochète
Ravelry Link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/solid-spiral-granny-square

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Abbreviations (US terms):

ch = chain stitch

dc = double crochet

tr = treble crochet

sl st = slip stitch

You'll need 4 colours of the same weight yarn.

Notes:

* All stitches are worked in the top of each stitch of the previous row, not between the stitches, unless otherwise specified. You could do an interesting variation with using back loops only, or both loops for a smooth finish.

* I don't recommend using the Magic Circle to start this square, as it makes the square rows twist a bit. 

* As you stop working with each yarn, pull up a nice big loop or use stitch markers so you don't accidentally undo all your lovely work

* To stop your yarns getting tangled, at the end of each sequence of four colours turn your work ANTI CLOCKWISE to get back to the first colour. If you keep turning the same direction, you'll get an awful mess.

* If you get lost in the Steps 4 and 5 repeats, just remember that in each colour, the (dc, tr) (tr, 2dc) and (2dc, tr) (tr, dc) sequences alternate - just check what you did last corner! The current corner should also be the opposite to the one directly underneath.

STEP 1

With Colour A, ch 5, sl st into 1st ch to form a ring. Ch 3, 2dc into ring. The 3 chain of each colour is the loop you'll need in Step 3.

STEP 2

With Colour B, **join to ring. Ch3, 2dc into ring.** Repeat ** to ** for Colours C and D. 

STEP 3

With Colour A, **(dc, 2tr, dc) into 3ch loop of next colour.** Repeat ** to ** for Colours B, C and D. 

STEP 4

With Colour A, **dc into each dc of the previous row. In 1st tr of previous row, (dc, tr). In 2nd tr of previous row, (tr, 2dc).** Repeat ** to ** for Colours B, C and D.

STEP 5

With Colour A, **dc into each dc of the previous row. In 1st tr of previous row, (2dc, tr). In 2nd tr of previous row, (tr, dc).** Repeat ** to ** for Colours B, C and D.

STEP 6

Repeats Steps 4 and 5 until you get to one row short of your desired size.

STEP 7

To Finish: With Colour A, **dc in each dc, dc in 1st treble, dc in 2nd treble. Cut your yarn, leaving a tail for darning in, and pull through the loop on your hook. Weave in end.** Repeat ** to ** for Colours B, C and D.

And that's it! Ta-dah!

Update: I used the practice and tutorial squares to make up a Saggy Daggy Crochet Baggy - check out the photos here.