CAL Archives — Picking Up Stitches

Part 4 of CAL – the small squares

May 4, 2020 by Annie Leave a Comment

On to Part 4 – the squares along the top of the square

Part 4 of the crochet-along starts here, but i you’ve just found this page, you can start with these squares, and then go back and do Parts 1 (rows 1-6 of main squares), Part 2 (rows 7-9), and 3 (finishing the main squares) starting here. But if you prefer standard written instructions instead of the version with pictures, head here.

And don’t forget, if you’re still on one of the previous parts, it doesn’t matter – there’s no rush, just take as long as you want!

SMALL SQUARES (make 6)

Round 1: Either make a circle from 4 chain stitches joined with a slip stitch, or start with a magic circle.

*…joined into a circle with a slip stitch*

Now work 3 chain stitches [counts as a half treble and 1 chain], then work (htr, 1ch) seven times, and join with ss to the 3rd chain at the start.

*Working the first round starting with the chain ring*

*Here’s the half trebles worked into a magic circle*

Fasten off. You should now have a circle of spokes – like the beginning of the main square, but a bit smaller.

Round 2: Join yarn into a space with a ss, (work 3ch, then slip stitch into the next space) 7 times,

*Here’s the start with 3ch and a ss into the next space*

another 3ch, and join with ss to the first stitch. Fasten off. It should look like this…

Round 3: Join yarn in a chain space on Round 1, work 1 chain stitch [counts as a double crochet],

*Make sure you work through Round 1 (the pink round here)*

(work 2ch, then a double crochet in next sp on Round 1) 7 times – you’ll have a stitch of the current round sitting next to a stitch from round 2 – here’s the first one done.

Finally 2 chain stitches, join with ss to the 1st chain. Fasten off. It should look like this…

Round 4: Join yarn in a 2-chain space and work (3ch [counts as a treble here] 2tr, 2ch, 3tr),

* in the next 2ch-sp, work 3 half trebles,

then in the next 2ch-sp work (3tr, 2ch, 3tr).

Now go back to the asterisk and repeat from the * twice – you should now have three sides and four corners completed, so just work 3htr in the next 2ch-sp, and join with ss to the third chain. Fasten off. Here’s what that looks like when the round’s finished.

Nearly there – just two rounds to go

Round 5: Join yarn in a corner space and work (3ch [counts as dc and 2ch] plus another dc),

*now work (2ch, double crochet in next space between groups of trebles) twice, [NB these groups of three trebles are quite close together, so make sure you’re working between the groups] then 2ch, dc into the corner space, 2ch and a dc in the same corner space – it should look like this…

Repeat from the asterisk twice, then to finish the round (2ch, and dc in next sp) twice, and finally 2ch, and join with ss to the first ch. Fasten off. Here’s the completed round.

Last round coming up…

Round 6: Join yarn in a corner space and work (2ch [counts as a dc, plus 1ch], then another dc),

then * (a double crochet in the next stitch, then 2dc in the 2-chain space) this bit in brackets needs doing 3 times,

*Remember to work through the top of the dc from the previous round – here’s where the hook goes*

*And this is what the double crochet looks like when it’s done*

*And again, remember to work in the double crochet*

Once you’ve done that bit 3 times, you’re up to the corner, so work a double crochet in the next st, (1dc, 1ch, 1dc) in the corner sp.

*This is what it looks like when one side and two corners are complete*

Now go back and repeat from * twice. Now to finish, work (1dc in next st, 2dc in next sp) 3 times, and 1dc in next st, and finally join with ss to first ch. Fasten off.

The finished small square looks like this…

The final row of a square - Part 4 of the CAL

You can vary the colours as you like! I’ve chosen to do the final round in the same colour as the final round of the main square, but it’s entirely up to you! You need to make six of these squares – that’s 3 for each side of the bag.

Part 4 of the CAL is the small squares for the bag sides three per side

Don’t forget, you need to make 6 of these squares altogether, so get crocheting . Ready for Part 5? Part 5 is here

Share your photos on social media with the hashtag #SpringBagCAL

And if you get stuck – get in touch by email, facebook, instagram or twitter and I’ll try to help.

Part 2 of the Spring Crochet-along – next few rounds

April 28, 2020 by Annie Leave a Comment

Part 2 coming up

It’s Part 2 of the crochet-along. Hopefully, you’ll all have finished Rounds 1-6 on at least one of the main squares (you need two of these to make the bag). Don’t forget you can use any colour on any round, so the two squares don’t actually have to match. If you haven’t made Part 1 (the main squares rows 1-6) yet, head here to catch up. And if you prefer to just follow standard written instructions, head here instead.

We’re going to do three rounds in this part, which turns your circle into a square – magic! By the time you finish these three rounds, your crochet piece should look like this… It won’t necessarily look square yet – don’t worry that’ll happen right at the end when all the pieces are blocked out…

Off we go…

For Round 7, first take a look and you will see that there are 8 groups of stitches which form points with groups of double crochet stitches in between. To start with look at the double crochet stitches, and find a space between 2 groups of 2 dc…

Where to start on part 2 of the crochet-along

Round 7: Join yarn in a space between two pairs of double crochet stitches – in the picture below I’m working in a space at the top – and work 3 chain stitches [counts as a treble here],

then in the same space a treble, a double treble, and 2 more trebles.

Now a bit to repeat 7 times – each makes a row of chains plus a ‘fan’: work 2 chain stitches to sit behind the pointy group of stitches (like you did on Round 3),

and in the next space between pairs of double crochets work 2 trebles, a double treble and 2 trebles.

*This is what it looks like at the back*

Once you’ve done all that seven times, work 2 more chain stitches and join with a slip stitch to the 3rd of the chains you did at the beginning. Fasten off.

Round 8 is a bit more complicated, but, don’t worry, I’ll break it down into sections. This is the round where the circle begins to turn into a square.

First, you need to look at a ‘fan’. Find the double treble in the middle of one of the fans. You will start in the space just before the double treble, next to one of the trebles. Found it? Then you’re good to go for Round 8.

Round 8: First, we’re going to make a corner. Join the yarn in the space before a double treble on a ‘fan’ and work 4 chain stitches [this counts as a double treble here],

now work 2 double trebles in the same space, work 2 chain stitches then work 3 double trebles in next space [between the double treble and the next treble]. This will look like this and forms a corner of the square…

*Next on to one of the chain stitch sections behind the next point – this is where Round 8 attaches to Round 7. [Make sure you’ve noticed that asterisk as you’re going to have to come back to this point a bit further on.] First work a treble in 3-chain space,

*The first treble just goes through the chain space*

then for the next treble, you need to work it through the treble in the middle of point on round 6 – however, instead of inserting your hook through both loops of the treble like you normally would, just put it through the back loop only – then at the same time insert it through the 3-chain space – this is what links the two rounds together,

*Put hook through back loop of the yellow treble and through the pink chain space*

*Here you can see how the stitch joins the two rounds together*

Finally on this section, work a treble just through the 3-chain space.

*The third treble just through the chain space*

Next onto a bit that’ll form the side of the square. You’re going to be working through spaces between stitches on the ‘fan’ again. First work 2 half trebles in the space between first two stitches of the ‘fan’, a double crochet in next space [ie between a treble and the double treble], then 1chain, a double crochet in next space, 2 half trebles in final space on the fan. That’s the side done.

*A chain stitch in the middle then a dc in the next space*

Now work the trebles in the chain space behind the point as before, remembering to link the middle treble.

Now you should be back to the corner, so you’ll work 3 double trebles in the space between the treble and double treble on the fan, then 2 chain stitches, then 3 double trebles in the space between the double treble and the treble.

*Here another set of trebles and another corner is complete*

You’ve completed two corners and one side, so now repeat the whole part again from where I’ve put an asterisk * twice more and you should have all four corners. Now just work another linking section (ie tr, tr through stitch and loop, tr) , a side section (ie 2htr, dc, 1ch,dc, 2htr) and another linking section (ie tr, tr through stitch and loop, tr) and finally join with slip stitch to the fourth of the chain stitches you made at the beginning. Fasten off.

Well done for completing that epic round. You’ve now just one more to go to complete this part of the square. This round consists of groups made up of three treble stitches.

Round 9: You first need to join the yarn in one of the corner spaces and work 3 chain stitches [this counts as a treble], now 2 trebles, 2 chain stitches and 3 trebles – one corner completed.

*For the side, you’re going to work 3 trebles in the space before the next 3 trebles, then 3 trebles in the space before the 2 half trebles, 3 trebles in the 1-chain space, 3 trebles in the space before next 3 trebles, 3 trebles in the next space before the 3 double trebles – you’re now back to a corner, where you’ll work into the 2-chain space in the middle with 3 trebles, 2 chain stitches and 3 trebles. This is that bit in pictures…

Now you need to head back to the asterisk in this round again and work that side and another corner. Repeat this once more. Now you just have one more side left where you work across with groups of three trebles as before. Join with a slip stitch to the third or the chain stitches you made at the beginning. Fasten off.

Just one more part to go and you’ll have finished the main square, so check out Part 3 here.. and keep sharing your pix on social media with the hashtag #springbagCAL

Don’t forget if you get stuck, just get in touch with me on facebook, email or instagram and I’ll try to help.

Get ready for the Spring crochet-along

April 24, 2020 by Annie Leave a Comment

Get ready – I’ve been busily crocheting in my garden and my Spring Granny Square Bag Crochet-along pattern is now complete. I’ll be putting it up here, section by section from Monday 27th April. If you follow it you’ll end up with a bag made up of various squares and strips, with a variety of stitches. I’m going to explain it as simply as possible, so you’ll be able to follow even if you’re a beginner. And for more experienced crocheters, I’ll put up standard written instructions too!

Here’s one I made in cotton DK yarn (Erika Knight Gossypium Cotton DK)…

And my bright acrylic DK yarn version in progress…

Get ready to make the spring bag which is made in sections like this

So this weekend, why not get ready and gather together lots of colours of spare DK weight yarn? A great way to make use of any you have left over from other projects, or put to use those odd balls of yarn you have lurking in your yarn stash! You can use any type you like – I used Deramores Studio DK for the bright version and Erika Knight Gossypium Cotton DK for the more muted version. You’ll need around 200g in total. Don’t forget the online yarn sites are still delivering if you don’t have any to hand. I’ve used WoolWarehouse, Deramores and LoveCrafts.

You’ll also need a 3mm hook, though I made the bright version with a 3.5mm hook, so whichever you have is fine. The 3mm does give a firmer fabric though, which helps the bag hold its shape.

I’ll be updating all my ‘How To’ pages over the next few weeks too, so beginners can have a go too…

I’d love to hear from you if you’re going to join in, and if you have any questions about the crochet-along, feel free to email me or leave a message here or on facebook or instagram (both @pickingupstitches).