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Right then.. back to Portugal.
So a little bit about the lovely trains in Portugal. There are
several train systems to cover the country and the ticket purchases of each is
really simple. You could opt to purchase your ticket at the counter, by
standing in a queue, but you could also go straight up to the easy ticket
vending machines, type in your destination and out pops a ticket. This
credit-card like ticket can be re-used in these same vending machines, by just
topping up for each ride during your stay in Portugal. The trains are all
very well listed and there is no real need to ask anyone any directions – you
have your maps, your trains all neatly marked in and the timings are
perfect. The trains leave exactly to the minute – but they are also
pretty frequent, so no need to rush and worry .. enjoy the vacation at a lovely
touristy pace.
Águeda is a cute little
village-town – quaint, small, homely and welcoming. As I told you, we
went there mainly for this road of floating umbrellas – and we were sure we
were on the right road (despite the lack of umbrellas) due to the lovely
painted light posts and benches.. and of course the lovely cobbled roads.. all
identified from earlier blog posts of other tourists. So I just popped
into the first open door I saw and with a lot of hand gestures, my
abysmal Portuguese, and English .. managed to confirm that we were on that road..
and then the lovely ladies of JSA (Luisa, Maria and Paula) gave me a quick
history of sorts of the area – and a gift !! Ah Portugal.. you’ve stolen our
hearts !
Right then, let’s get on
with this pattern.. This is not my original pattern and it’s
just one of those wonderful free floating freebies over the net. I am, as
usual, writing down my notes, and am sharing them with you.
Materials used : Today
I’ve used our lovely Indian polyester purse yarn (just about one cone), which
is a 4-ply, fingering weight yarn, with a 3.25 mm crochet hook
General yarn info : This yarn is only available in India.
This yarn is not specific for this pattern. Use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.
International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used in this thickness, I’d suggest Aunt Lydia Cotton 10, Aunt Lydia Bamboo-Viscose 10, DMC Petra, Sullivans knitting cotton (Australia), Milford Soft, Hilaza Rustica Eclat , Alize cotton yarn and Alize bamboo yarn.
Stitches used :
Using U.S terminology
Triple Crochet : trc : wrap yarn
twice around hook, insert hk into st ; yo (4 lps on hk); [yo, draw through 2
lps] three times. One trc made.
Chainless start for Triple / Treble Crochet :
I
dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of trc.
Abbreviations used :
lp(s) : Loop(s) sc : Single
crochet
dc : Double
crochet sp : Space
sl-st : Slip
stitch ch : Chain
st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : Hook
yo : Yarn Over
trc : Triple / Treble crochet
Instructions using U.S terminology
Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.
Please check the top of this blog for video tutorials of all the stitches used in today’s pattern.
Please note that I take a lot of trouble to give loads of tips through my pattern sheet, so please read through the full sheet before you pick up your hook n yarn.
Quick analysis of what
we’re going to do here today.
I’ve started by
attaching my little belt buckle at one end and then work side to side with the
pattern till you have the belt length needed.
My belt buckle is a
really tiny one, and so I’ve started with a lesser number of stitches, and then
increased to the number needed for pattern.
This blog has a video tutorial for stitch explanation
The stitch count is in
multiples of 10
Row 1 : Start with
a multiple of 10 fsc for the width you want. Turn.
Note : I
urge you to try the foundation single crochet start.
If you can't do the
stitch, then start with multiples of 10 + 1 and work a sc in the 2nd
ch from hk.
Work an sc all the way to the end and count to see that you
have multiples of 10 when you finish. Continue with Row 2.
Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);
[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.
Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.
Row 2 : 4
dc in the 1st 4 fsc ;
ch 2, sk next 2 fsc ;
dc in the last 4 fsc.
Turn.
Row 3 : dc
in the 1st dc ; ch 2, sk next 2 dc ;
(dc in the next dc ; 2
dc in the next ch-2 sp ;
dc in the next dc) ;
ch 2, sk next 2 dc, dc
in the last dc. Turn.
Row 4 : dc
in the 1st dc ;
(2 dc in the next ch-2
sp ; dc in the next dc) ;
ch 2, sk next 2 dc ; dc
in the next dc ;
(2 dc in the next ch-2
sp ; dc in the next dc). Turn.
Rep Rows 3 & 4 till
you have a length desired for your belt, ending with Row 4 (or an uneven number
of rows from start)
Note : IF
you have started (as I have) with a no-pattern section at the start of your
belt, remember to account for that bit towards the end as well.
Now here’s what I’ve
done – I stopped the pattern bit (after all calculations as above) and then did
the side pattern bit before I completed the end ‘no-pattern’ bit. This
means that you end with Pattern Row 4, then do the side shell finish row, come
back to the end row and do the other side shell finish and then finally finish
with the no-pattern end.
So off we go with the
repeats and we’ll meet back here in a few inches of work
Finishing :
Right .. so you’ve finished your pattern and still have a little bit to
complete before you are done with the belt (for the length portion I
mean). The two rows we do now will add to the width of our belt.
Now for the 1st foundation
row, we’re going to turn our work at 90°, and work along the edge of the
belt. So now look at the belt edge – we have worked dc’s along the edge
.. so we will just be using these dc’s to make an row of chains that we will
work our shells off. The designer has done a row of sc, but I preferred
my method.. but you could do what she has as well.. choices.. choices.. and
decisions.. decisions… as usual
Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k
First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M
Row 1 : sc
in the 1st (corner) st,
ch 2, and sc into the end of the 1st dc
;
*ch 2, sc into the next
dc end* ;
rep *to* all the way to
the end. Turn.
In the following row,
the designer has made her shells with trc + 3 ch picot
(Treble or Triple
crochet), and then there’s a ch-2 as she’s used a foundation row of
sc.
I’ve used 5 dc’s to make
my shells and no ch-2 between the shells …more choices
So if using the chart
below , Shell = trc , (picot, trc) 4 times ; and Picot =
3 ch, sl-st into the 1st ch
Row 2 : sl-st
into the 1st ch-2 sp, sc in the same ch-2 sp
;
*shell in
the next ch-2 sp ; sc in the next ch-2 sp* ;
rep *to* till end.
You are now back at the
end (non-buckle end).
Sl-st in each st and
ch-sp on this end and go across to the other side of the belt.
Repeat the finishing on
that edge as well.
Once you’ve done both
finishing rows, finish the flat edge of your belt (non-pattern edge) to match
that at the start. Fasten off and weave in ends.
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