Sweet Nothings Crochet: MICQ BLANKET # 7

Sweet Nothings Crochet free crochet pattern blog, photo of the beautiful Peacock square - MICQ blanket 7

MICQ BLANKET # 7 - MY PEACOCK SQUARE

I’d started with my first blanket for this great event, praying that I’d at least manage a few.. and am thrilled that I’m onto my 7^th one with this write up.

This, as you may know, is for the great joint effort by a few of us Indian crocheters to try and break the Guinness World Record for the largest blanket in 2016. For more details on this, visit us at https://www.facebook.com/groups/468779636631544/?fref=ts

Our national bird is the peacock, so I thought it only fitting to have a blanket that has a peacock feather in it..

and here are my notes on how I’ve created this square.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian 4-ply acrylic yarn with a 5 mm crochet hook

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

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

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

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

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.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/A0y4BbgDTbs

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.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/f42MO0cGYC0

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly. View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.

View it at https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ

How to seamlessly crochet in rounds : When working with head wear, this is a really neat way to seamlessly end each round. Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to this at https://youtu.be/ISBZK7Du7yE

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Abbreviations used : (Using U.S terminology)

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 sk : skip

hdc : Half Double Crochet
dc 4-tog : Double crochet 4-tog.

Instructions

I’ve used three coloured yarns for this little granny square, but one can do the whole thing in one colour.. for a white peacock.

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

Please check the top of this 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.

In my patterns I work with the principle of stitch count and body measurement. This means that you need to work the stitch count in pattern, till you get the measurement (length and/or width) that you need for your project.

MICQ BLANKET 7 INSTRUCTIONS

For our peacock square, I’ve used purple/violet, Firozi (turquoise) , yellow and green.

Start Round 1 : (Using purple / violet) with a magic circle and 12 dc in that circle.
Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.
Pull lightly to close the circle.

Round 2 : (Using purple / violet) 2 dc in the 1^st dc ;
and in each dc all the way around.
Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc. (24 sts)

Attach Firozi / turquoise. Fasten off purple.

In the following rounds, we start with a trc, so do check above for a ‘how-to’ chainless trc stitch.

For ease of starting with a chainless st, do start with a ch 1 (which does not count as a stitch, but for convenience).

If not happy with the chainless trc start, do start straight away with a ch 3 that will be your 1^st trc.

Round 3 : ch 1 ; trc in the 1^st dc ; 2 trc in the next dc ;

dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next dc ;

[hdc in the next dc ; 2 hdc in the next dc] ;
rep [to] once ;

(sc in the next sc ; 2 sc in the next sc) ;
rep (to) 3 times ;

rep [to] 2 times ;

dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next dc ;

trc in the 1^st dc ; 2 trc in the last dc ;

ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1^st trc. (36 sts)

Round 4 : ch 1 ; trc in the 1^st 3 trc ;

dc in the next 3 dc ; hdc in the next 6 hdc ;
sc in the next 12 sc ;

hdc in the next 6 hdc ; dc in the next 3 dc ;
trc in the last 3 trc ;

[2 trc ; ch 2, 2 trc] in the next ch-2 sp

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st trc. (40 sts)

Fasten off Firozi / turquoise. Attach yellow in the ch-2 sp.

Round 5 : ch 1 ; 2 trc in the 1^st ch-2 sp ;
trc in the next 2 sts ;

2 trc in the next trc ; trc in the next 2 sts ;

2 dc in the next st ; dc in the next 2 sts ;

[2 hdc in the next st ; hdc in the next 2 sts] ;
rep [to] once ;

(2 sc in the next st ; sc in the next 2 sts) ;
rep (to) 3 times ;

rep [to] 2 times ;

2 dc in the next st ; dc in the next 2 sts ;

2 trc in the next st ; trc in the next 4 sts ;
2 trc in the ch-2 sp ;

ch 2 and join with a sl-st to the 1^st trc. (56 sts)

Round 6 : ch 1 ; trc in the 1^st 6 trc ;

dc in the next 6 sts ; hdc in the next 6 sts ;
sc in the next 20 sts ;

hdc in the next 6 sts ; dc in the next 6 sts ;
trc in the 6 sts ;

[trc ; ch 2, trc] in the next ch-2 sp

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st trc. (58 sts)

Fasten off yellow. Attach light green in the ch-2 sp.

Round 7 : ch 1 ; trc in the 1^st ch-2 sp ;

dc in the next 2 sts ; hdc in the next 5 sts ;
dc in the next 3 sts ; trc in the next 4 sts ;
[trc ; ch 2, trc in the next st] ;

trc in the next 4 sts ; dc in the next 3 sts ;
hdc in the next 7 sts ;

(dc ; ch 2, dc in the next st) ;

hdc in the next 7 sts ;
dc in the next 3 sts ; trc in the next 4 sts ;

rep [to] once ;

trc in the next 5 sts ; dc in the next 3 sts ;

hdc in the next 4 sts ; dc in the next st ;

2 trc in the last ch-2 sp ; ch 2 and join to the 1^st trc. (64 sts)

Note : Yes, in this round you have started with 1 trc and ended with 2 trc in that ch-2 sp, and that’s only to get an even number of sts at the end. Don’t worry – it will work out.

Round 8 : dc in the 1^st 16 sts ;
[2 dc ; ch 2, 2 dc] in the corner ch-2 sp ;
* dc in the next 16 sts ;
rep [to] once* ;
rep *to* all around
and join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Round 9 : dc in the 1^st 18 sts ;

[2 dc ; ch 2, 2 dc] in the corner ch-2 sp ;

* dc in the next 20 sts ;
rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* all around
and join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Fasten off your green yarn and weave in ends.

Our square is now 9” x 9”.

Now decide on how many squares you’re going to make, if you’re working on this 40" x 40" blanket for the Guinness record.

I’ve done four squares to make up the centre bit and will now do the rest of my blanket with the regular 3 dc ; ch 1, 3 dc all around.

Right so let’s make our squares first, and then we’ll come back here to see how to get that ch-1 sp in, so that we can work the ‘regular’ required pattern to complete this off. (for the challenge, I mean).

If you are not working on the challenge, then you can either work your whole blanket with these 9” x 9” squares, and then to round (or square?) the whole thing off, do one finishing round with the light green all round… or even a white for the border to frame your beautiful peacock squares.

To join the squares, I’d use the same light green, so that it would look like each peacock feather was overlapping the other.. in a way.

Now once you’ve done your squares.. attach them up (Join as you go works best, but whatever suits you).

If you’re working on the Guinness record blanket, then we need to have a specific size, so read instructions on how to get the ‘regular’ granny square pattern in after attaching your peacock squares.

If you’re just making these up for fun, may I suggest that you just work with the squares for your whole project, and then maybe do a border with the four colours of the peacock feather along the border to just accentuate and highlight the feathers inside, maybe starting with the green, yellow, Firozi blue and ending with the purple. Of course, each different edging will give you that edge over someone else’s project – so go ahead, and be creative.

For our MICQ Guinness Record blanket :

We have 24 dc from one end to another on each square. So let’s now work the regular granny square pattern as needed for our Guinness World Record challenge.

Attach your yarn in any dc just after the corner ch-2 sp.

Round 1 : dc in the 1^st 3 dc ;

(ch 1, sk next dc , dc in the next 3 dc) ;

rep (to) 4 times ;

ch 1, dc in the join sp between the 2 squares and we’re in the corner ch-2 sp of the next square ;

ch 1, sk the corner sp and dc in the next 3 dc ;

rep (to) 5 times till end ;

ch 1, sk next dc, [2 dc ; ch 2, 2 dc] in the corner ch-2 sp ;

And we’ve turned on the other side, so just work all this around all the way till the end and join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

A diagram to show how to do this is below.

Please note it is not to scale, and only for explanation purposes.

From next round on, we will work our 3 dc’s in each ch-1 sp and each corner will have the regular 3 dc ; ch 2, 3 dc’s.

Continue working in rounds with this pattern till we have the required 40” x 40” needed for our MICQ pattern square.

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