Sweet Nothings Crochet: INDRADHANUSH SCARF

INDRADHANUSH SCARF

I was gifted this lovely ICE Batik Sport weight yarn recently and I loved the brilliant colours – almost like a rainbow – therein. About the same time, there seemed to be this Planned Pooling rage all over Facebook and I thought this would be the ideal time to try this out.. So here I go, joining the Planned Pooling Bandwagon.

What does the name for this project mean? Indradhanush means rainbow in Hindi .. so the rest is self explanatory. Read more about the etimology of the hindi word at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rainbows_in_culture

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Materials used : Today I’ve used a two skeins of Indian ICE Batik Sport weight acrylic with a 4.5 mm crochet hook

Difficulty level : Easy Skill level.

Abbreviations :

sc : Single crochet yo : Yarn Over

st(s) : Stitch(es) hk : hook

lp(s) : Loop(s) dc : Double crochet

sl-st : Slip Stitch

sc-blo : Single Crochet Back Loop Only

fsc : Foundation single crochet

hdc : Half Double crochet

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

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

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

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.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

Pattern instructions : (Using U.S terminology)

Please note that I start all my rows with a ch 1, turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog (as well as through the blog) for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern.

Please read through all my notes before you pick up your hook, so you know just where we're heading in our pattern.

As I started off with the Planned Pooling fun, I wrote the words “Planned Pooling with ICE Batik Yarn” on Google Search, and managed to find quite a few hits .. sadly all without the words ICE Batik Yarn.

Now in retrospect maybe that should have sounded some warning bells .. like maybe this yarn is unsuitable for it? hmmm ...

But hey, no pain .. no gain.. and trial and error often produces some gems!

So here are the wonderful links that will help you with Planned Pooling

We have http://www.glamour-4-you.com/blog/planned-pooling-with-crochet-made-easy-4-simple-steps

One of my favourite bloggers http://www.repeatcrafterme.com/2016/09/crochet-planned-color-pooling-scarf.html

And of course Mikey http://thecrochetcrowd.com/planned-pooling-variegated-yarn/

And my other “Go-To” Page http://www.redheart.com/learn/articles/quick-guide-to-color-pooling

I read through all of this and have concluded that

a) There is calculation involved in Planned Pooling and it may not be that difficult if your yarn repeats colours every 6” – 12”. The ICE Batik Yarn I have repeats it every 25” or so

b) It is important to have the colour repeats in the same order (if possible)

c) It is more important to have the color repeats of about the same length each time – which sadly did NOT happen with my yarn.

So I thought that as my repeats were double that suggested, rather than go along the width, I’d work along the length, and I worked one full length using all the colours till I reached the 1st repeat - but sadly, with this particular yarn, the color repeats are not of the same length with each repeat - so planned pooling did not work.

The one thing that you need to do is get one row of colour repeats in altogether so that you can then work the pattern by moving it all by one stitch.. and I smartly (HAH!) thought, this should work.. Well.. frankly, it may have IF (let’s blame the yarn here, shall we?) the color repeats are of the same length each time. That said, it *could* probably work with a color repeat that is over the prescribed 12" if one works along the length, but if the colors repeat in the same order and with the same length each time, mayyyybe?? hmmmm

Long story short (what?? She gives us the full story and then says long story short.. LOL!) .. Indian ICE Batik Yarn (esp this color combination) does not work for Planned Pooling.

All that said, I do love the randomness of the colours and the rainbowed effect will be one that I know a friend is going to love. I am also hoping she’s going to be mighty thrilled to get this free scarf shortly – so fingers crossed on nice modeled pictures soon too.

Edited to add : YUP.. she loves it .. so YAAY !

Pattern wise, I worked in the Linen stitch

For the Linen Stitch, you will start with fsc and an even number of stitches

Linen Stitch : Here is an easy video tutorial for the linen stitch at https://youtu.be/ui2s0V-dGPg

Row 1 : sc in the 1^st fsc ;

*ch 1 , sk next fsc , sc in the next fsc* ;

rep *to* till end ;

sc in the last fsc. Turn.

Row 2 : sc in the 1^st sc ;

*ch 1, sk next sc ; sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end ;

sc in the last sc. Turn.

Rep Row 2 till you have a project of the length desired.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

I had a lot of fun working my "Un"planned Beautiful Indradhanush a.k.a Rainbow scarf. Hope you had fun too…. do come back right here for more freebie patterns

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I have a few girls neckwear projects already made, and just in case you want a dekho at those patterns … here you go