Sweet Nothings Crochet: CHRISTMAS ANGEL

CHRISTMAS ANGEL - 2

( #Blogaday 10/365 )

Welcome back to my second blog on the beautiful Christmas Angel. Yes, this is a bit late for the Christmas of 2016, but there's always 2017 ;)

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Inspired by this photo below with its attached graph / chart , here are my pattern notes.

Materials used : Today I have used ~ about a little bit of our lovely Indian Red rose metallic cotton yarn and a little of the wonderful Hilaza Rustica metallic cotton yarn with a 1.3 mm crochet hook ; fabric glue to seal ends and Mod Podge for stiffening & protecting your project.

This yarn is not specific for this project.

You can use any yarn with a suitable hook to make this project to any size.

For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red ros e ; or unbranded knitting cotton as well

International yarns : Among the international yarns I have used, 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.

Difficulty level : Intermediate Skill level

Abbreviations used :

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

fsc : Foundation single crochet

dc : Double crochet

MC : Main colour

CC : Contrast colour

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

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 for easy video tutorials on all stitches used in today's pattern. For your convenience there video tutorials through the blog too

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.

In my earlier (first) angel, I’ve made it totally in a metallic cotton yarn, but for this one, I thought I’d make it in white, and work the sides in gold .. copying the designer.

Just for convenience, I’m going to write MC (or Main Colour) for the white yarn and CC (or Contrast Colour) for the gold yarn.

That said, you could make this all in one colour as well. Create and enjoy.

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

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

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

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

Start Round 1 : (with MC) :

with a magic circle and 16 dc in that circle.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

Pull lightly to close.

Round 2 : (with MC) :

2 dc in the 1^st dc and in each dc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

In the following round, we’ll create the halo around the angel’s head using CC.

So attach your CC yarn and fasten off MC.

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

Round 3 : (with CC) :

sc in the 1^st dc and in each dc all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st dc.

In this round, we will work only on the tiara bit of the halo

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

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

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

Round 4 : (with CC) :

sl-st in the 1^st sc ;

sc in the next 2 sc ; 2 hdc in the next sc ;

(2 dc ; ch 1, 2 dc) in the next sc ;

sk next sc,

[2 trc ; ch 1, 2 trc] in the next sc ;

sk next sc, rep (to) once ;

2 hdc in the next sc ;

sc in the next 2 sc ; sl-st in the next 8 sc.

You are now at the ‘chin’ of the angel.

We will continue to use the CC colour for the collar and then switch to MC.

We will now work side to side on the body of the little angel.

Just for convenience, let’s start renumbering our rows.

So you are now at the chin, and you will start working on the next st

Row 1 : (with CC) :

sc in the next sc ;

ch 5, sk next 2 sc, sc in the next sc ;

sl-st in the last 8 sc. Turn.

Fasten off CC.

Re-attach MC at the 2 sc before the ch-5 sp on the ‘chin’ or head part of our angel.

With the first few rows, we need to attach the top part of the wings to the head, so we will be working a few sl-sts with each growing row.

Row 2 : (with MC) :

11 dc in the ch-5 sp ;

sk next 2 sc, sl-st in the next sc of the head row. Turn.

Row 3 : (with MC) :

ch 1, sk 2 sc of the head row and sl-st in the next st ; Turn.

2 dc in the 1^st dc ;

(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 8 times ;

ch 1, 2 dc in the last dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 sc of the head row and sl-st in the next sc. Turn.

Once again, we will join the wings to the head – so yet again we will sl sts and join to the sc of the head row

Row 4 : (with MC) :

ch 1, sk sc of the head row and sl-st in the next st ; Turn.

sk the ch-sp and sc ; dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(2 dc in the next ch-1 sp ; dc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 8 times ;

2 dc in the last ch-1 sp ; dc in the last 2 dc ;

ch 1, sk next sc of the head row and sl-st in the next sc. Turn.

Fasten off MC.

Re-attach CC in the next sc of the head row (i.e towards the head tiara).

For the last time, we are going to attach the wings to the head.

Row 5 : (with CC) :

ch 1, and sk sc and ch-sp ;

sc in the 1^st dc and in each dc till end ;

sk sc and ch-sp, sl st in the next sc of the head. Turn.

Fasten off CC. Re-attach MC in the 1^st sc.

Row 6 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st sc ;

(ch 2, sk next sc, dc in the next sc) ;

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Row 7 : (with MC) :

2 dc in the 1^st dc ;

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

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Fasten off MC. Re-attach CC in the 1^st dc.

Row 8 : (with CC) :

sc in the 1^st dc ;

(2 sc in the next ch-2 sp ; sc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) till end. Turn.

Fasten off CC.

Re-attach MC in the 1^st sc.

In the following row, we will work first one wing, then the other, and finally come back to the centre to work the ‘dress’ for our angel.

Row 9 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 sc ;

(ch 2, sk next 2 sc, dc in the next 2 sc) ;

rep (to) 5 times. Turn.

This our first wing sectioned off.

Row 10 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 3, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 5 times. Turn.

Row 11 : Rep Row 10.

Row 12 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 4, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 5 times. Turn.

Row 13 : Rep Row 10.

Fasten off MC and weave in ends.

Re-attach yarn at the far end of the wing for the 2^nd wing.

Rep Rows 10 – 13 for the 2^nd wing.

You now have both your wings complete and a section in the centre that will make up the centre of the dress for your angel.
Re-attach your MC yarn on the dc at one end.

We will now work only on this centre part of the angel’s dress.

Rep Rows 10 – 12 on the centre part of the angel’s dress as well.

Please note that Row 13A here applies only for this centre part of the angel’s dress.

Row 13A : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 2, sc in the next ch-4 sp ;

ch 2, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

In the following rows, we’re going to work a dc 2-tog over 2 ch-sps. Usually we work a dc 2-tog over 2 sts, so it’s the same thing, just work it over the ch-sps, ignoring or skipping the st in between.

Row 14 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 2, skipping sc, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-2 sps ;

ch 2, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 15 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 2, skipping dc 2-tog, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-2 sps ;

ch 2, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 16 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 3, skipping dc 2-tog, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-2 sps ;

ch 3, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 17 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 4, skipping dc 2-tog, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-3 sps ;

ch 4, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 18 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 4, skipping dc 2-tog, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-4 sps ;

ch 4, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 19 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 5, skipping dc 2-tog, dc 2-tog over the next 2 ch-4 sps ;

ch 5, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 20 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

*ch 5, (dc ; ch 3, dc all on the next dc 2-tog) ;

ch 5, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep *to* 3 times. Turn.

Row 21 : (with MC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 4, 5 dc in the next ch-3 sp ;

ch 4, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 22 : (with CC) : dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

(ch 3, 2 dc in the each of the next 2 dc ;

3 dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in each of the next 2 dc ;

ch 3, dc in the next 2 dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times. Turn.

Row 23 : (with CC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

*ch 3, dc in the next dc ;

[ch 2, sk next dc, dc in the next dc] ;

rep [to] once ;

(ch 2, dc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) once ;

rep [to] 2 times ;

ch 3, dc in the next 2 dc* ;

rep *to* 3 times. Turn.

Row 24 : (with CC) :

dc in the 1^st 2 dc ;

*2 dc in the next dc ;

[ch 2, 2 dc in the next dc] ;

rep [to] 5 times ;

dc in the next 2 dc* ;

rep *to* 3 times. Turn.

In our last row, we’re going to work another unusual dc 2-tog.

In this dc 2-tog we will once again work over 2 dc, but we will skip 4 dc in between.

So what does this mean?

Let’s count out our stitches.. dc #1 , dc #2 … all the way to dc #6.

So our dc 2-tog will be over dc #1 and dc #6, skipping four sts from dc #2 – dc #5. Got it?

Row 25 : (with CC) :

sk 2 dc in between , dc 2-tog over the 1^st and 4^th dc ;

*[ch 2, dc in the next 2 dc] ;

rep [to] 4 times ;

ch 2, sk 4 dc in between, dc 2-tog over 2 dc* ;

rep *to* 3 times ;

till the last dc 2-tog ;

skipping 2 dc in between, dc 2-tog over the 4^th last and the last dc. Turn. (Check Note)

Note : Here’s where you will take a decision.

You can decide to finish off now after Row 24 OR you can decide to work a round of sc in CC all around.

If you decide to finish off after Row 24, fasten off and weave in ends.

If you decide to work a round of CC all around, then you will work one sc in each dc ; 2 sc in each ch-2 sp for Row 24. When you reach the corners, you will work 2 sc in each corner (for turning ease). You will work 2 sc in each vertical bar of the dc and 1 sc in each vertical stitch of sc all the way up to the wings. When you reach the point where your wing touches the neck/body, fasten off and weave in ends. You will then re-attach your yarn at the other end of the neck/body/wing point and work all the way up and across your wing and all the way down to the skirt of your little angel. Fasten off and glue in all ends.

Finishing :

I would suggest that you block your angel, especially if you’ve used a cotton yarn. First lightly iron it (using a light muslin cloth as a cover between the iron and your work – i.e do not iron directly on the work). This stretches and flattens down your work.

Use a white glue (Mod Podge or Indian Fevicol) as a stiffner. I use 1 part glue to 2 parts water and make a light paste, and then I lightly apply this over the back of my work using a paint brush. Allow to flat dry before gifting or using it as your decoration.

Have a fun creative time.

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