The Sixth Instalment of the Frida's Flowers Blanket Crochet-Along, designed by Jane Crowfoot and hosted by Stylecraft Yarns has just been posted, and is available to download NOW from the Stylecraft website, in English (US and UK), German and Dutch.
If you haven't set up a Ravelry project yet, the pattern page can be found here: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fridas-flowers-blanket
We are working the CAL along with you all (in the Classique Cotton, provided by the wonderful Stylecraft team), and will post our tips and tricks for each part at the same time as the pattern is published over at the Stylecraft website. If you have any questions or need help, there are Facebook groups (English: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1555519964767343/ , German: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1039765272753087/ and Dutch:https://www.facebook.com/groups/145851979128898/ ),
and you are always welcome to leave a comment here or ask us on Facebook.
As you know, Anne is doing the German translations for the CAL, so ask away in German too!
So, Block 6 - Ring of Roses:
 |
| Front |
 |
| Back |
You'll need to make 6 hexagons.
Yarn usage:
17g Sunflower (32m)
15g Plum (28m)
24g Poppy (44m)
22g Shrimp (41m)
19g Teal (35m)
24g Leaf (44m)
22g Ivory (41m)
58g Black (107m)
Remember: We are using the Classique Cotton, so use the meterage above if you are making Frida in another DK yarn.
Here's a little spreadsheet tool that Michelle is using to track yarn usage - just enter your start and finish weights for your yarns, and then the weight and meterage used will be automatically calculated!
Our Top Tips for the Ring of Roses block:
We are starting to get some repetition in stitch sequences and techniques, so make sure you check out our tips for previous blocks too! (links are below this week's tips)
1. I felt like I was going super slow this week - remember you need to make 6 hexagons so it'll take 50% longer!!
Be kind to yourself! You're making more pieces, and the patterns are getting increasingly complicated too!
2. Use standing stitches to start rows instead of joining your yarn and chaining.
I know I know, I'm a broken record on this - but standing stitches instead of chains has made my crochet work much neater!
Tutorial for Standing Double Crochet:
http://www.mooglyblog.com/standing-double-crochet-joining/
Tutorial for Standing Single Crochet: http://mrsmicawber.blogspot.com.au/2012/09/knotless-standing-single-crochet.html
3. In Row 5, we need to fpdc into some of the sc of Row 2, to outline the petals. The easiest way to figure out which stitch to work around is to find the single sc that lies below the edge of the petal, and then fpdc around every second one.
In the picture below, I have marked the alternating 1sc and 2sc pattern of Row 2 - you can see how the fpdc is worked around every second 1sc :) You can totally use the stitch markers like it says in the pattern, but this was just as simple for me!
4. The Bullion Stitches (*dramatic music*)
I am not an embroiderer. It took me so long (and much unpicking and curse words) to figure this one out, including reading the pattern a million times and googling for bullion stitch tutorials on youtube. So, here is a step by step photo and word tutorial of how I did it! I hope it helps you if you are not an experienced embroiderer either :)
Step 1: Stick your needle in from the back to the front of your work, leaving a good sized tail to weave in later. Then, wrap the yarn around your hook 5 times close to where it pops out of your work.
Step 2: Insert the pointy end of your needle under the next stitch and back out to the front again.
Step 3: Veeeeerrry gently, pull your needle through. You might need to ease the wrapped loops off with your fingers to keep them neat while allowing the eye of the needle to pass through. Ta dah! Bullion stitch done :D
Repeat steps 1 to 3 until you get to the end of the round - you'll have a bullion stitch sitting on top of every second dc of Row 1! It looks best if you do it exactly the same way each time.
Weave your ends in very carefully and securely - I found I could hide the yellow fairly easily in the sc of Row 2.
5. In Round 11, the 3sc corner goes into first dc of the second 5dc group (i.e. immediately after central white petal of round 9). The stitch you skip after the sc into the tip of your leaf is the first dc of the second 4dc group.
Happy hooking! Don't hesitate to comment, visit a Facebook group or ask Anne or Michelle on Facebook if you need any help :D
