COUNT
DRACULA
SESAME
STREET GRANNY SQUARE
IN
THE ROUND – 21
If
you have been following my blogs, you’ll know that we’re creating some really
cute 9” x 9” squares for toddler blankets for little children battling cancer. These squares are headed out to Project Chemo
Crochet. Do read about this fantastic
charity and how they spread smiles.
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I’ve
just made the set of Sesame street characters as caps for donations, and if you
missed that, here goes https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2018/06/preemie-caps-23-sesame-street-character.html
Working
with these same inspirations, here are my granny squares for this series.
Count
Dracula is the sixth in this series. This is who he is, just to jog your memory ;)
Thanks
for coming along and spreading smiles.
Materials used : Today I’ve used a 4-ply acrylic baby soft yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ;
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 this project (squares for Project Chemo Crochet), the squares need to be 9” x 9” squares.
For Indians : You could use Anchor , Red rose ; Red rose metallic or unbranded knitting cotton as well as Oswal or Vardhaman acrylic yarns
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.
Abbreviations used :
sc
: single crochet dc : Double crochet
ch
: chain ch-sp
: chain space
sp
: space rep
: Repeat
trc
: Treble / triple crochet
dtrc
: Double triple crochet
Sizing chart for blankets : https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279839582572/
Stitches used : (Using US terminology)
Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw
What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY
Magic circle : https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro
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
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
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
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
Foundation double crochet (fdc) : https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k
Instructions using U.S terminology
I
am using the basic square pattern from the free pattern at http://www.sewrella.com/kitty-cat-crochet-granny-square/
I
have used the general idea from Ashleigh – the centre that you start with will
be the face colour of the character you are working on. So yellow for Big bird & Ernie, red for
Elmo, orange for Bert and blue for cookie monster. Now as you have made so many
before our Count Dracula, you will know how we are working on these squares.
So,
once you are done with Rounds 1 – 5 for the face of Count Dracula, you will
start creating the border granny square, still working in rounds. To accentuate his pink face and to get his
black coat into the picture, I have used black for the border.
Tweaks that I’ve done for our Count Dracula square :
1.
I
started with a centre (pink for Count Dracula) circle and then worked the black
as my border.
2.
I
worked the first four rounds per pattern – so 60 sts in dc as instructed.
3.
I
then worked a round of hdc, mainly to ensure that I get my granny square a
little large faster
4. We now work
the ch-sps round in black. When working for the black square, work as
instructed in the original pattern. You
need a total of 12 ch-5 sps all around.
5.
I
worked 5 dc in each ch-5 sp of Round 2 of the granny squares (in black) ; and (3 dc ; ch 3, 3 dc) for each corner ch-5
sp.
6. I then
worked 1 dc in each dc, and then the (3 dc ; ch 3, 3 dc) in each corner ch-3
sp. I just continued till I had a 9” x
9” square. Easy enough, right?
Once
the basic square is done, we need to add in Count Dracula’s special facial
features.
As
I’ve said in all my ‘in-the-round series’ patterns before, you can make a motif
and/or a blanket/afghan with these squares.
If
you want just a motif, stop working after you reach Round 4 or 5 (depending on
how large a motif you want) with pink and then go straight to the features.
With
Count Dracula, the motif may need a round or two in black – to accentuate and
show his black coat. If so, you could
work till Round 4 in pink, and then work 2 more rounds in black.
For
the afghan / blanket, just make as many squares as you’d need for your blanket
and then use one of the joining techniques given above to sew them all up into
a unique blanket. I have made several of
the Sesame street characters, and there are a few more to follow – so watch
this space.
For The Count’s eyes :
Make
two
Round 1 :
(Using white) : Start with a magic circle and 10 hdc in that circle.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st st. (10)
Round 2 :
(Using white) : 2 sc in the 1st hdc ; 2 dc in each of the next 3 sts
; 2 sc in each of the next 2 sts ; 2 dc in each of the next 3 sts ; 2 sc in the
last st.
Join
with a sl-st to the 1st st. (20).
Fasten
off and leave a long tail for attachment.
You should have an oval shaped eye.
Repeat for the other eye.
For the centre black of eye : Make two
Start
with a magic circle with 10 hdc.
Fasten
off and leave a tail for attachment.
OR
use a 0.75cm button.
For Count’s eyebrows : Make two.
Row 1 :
(Using black) : I worked a fdc row with 10 fdc.
Place
& pin eyes on face first, and then curve the eyebrow over it. Do not attach eyes before placing eyebrows
and pinning it all down.
Yes
we could have crocheted in that curve as well, but why complicate it when you
can do it with a tapestry needle and sew it in? ;)
For The Count’s nose : Make one using pink.
Start
with 7 fsc. Turn.
Row 1 :
ch 1, sl-st in the 1st fsc ; sc in the next fsc ; hdc in the next 3 fsc
;
sc in the next fsc ; sl-st in the last fsc.
Fasten
off and leave a tail for attachment.
To attach : Hold upright with the fsc row between the eyes,
leading down to the nose and attach that way.
It’s a 3D nose.
For The Count’s mouth : Make one using black.
Start
with a magic circle and 9 dc in that circle.
Turn.
DO
NOT join.
Row 1 :
dc in the 1st dc ;
(2
dc in the next dc ; dc in the next dc) ;
rep
(to) till end. Turn.
Fasten
off and leave a tail for attachment.
For The Count’s tongue :
Make
one using red.
Start :
with ch 3. Turn and work 2 dc in the 3rd
ch from hk. Turn. (3)
Row 1 :
2 dc in the 1st dc ; dc in the next dc ; 2 dc in the next dc. Turn.
(5)
Fasten
off and leave a long tail for attachment.
First
attach the mouth and then attach the tongue in the centre of the black mouth.
Then
using a tapestry / embroidery needle and white yarn, embroider in count’s
pointed Dracula teeth.
For Count’s ears :
Make
two
Row 1 :
Start (using pink) with a magic circle
and 10 dc in that circle.
Pull
the circle tight but Do NOT join. Turn.
Row 2 :
sc in the 1st 3 dc ; (dc ; 3 trc ; dc) all in the next dc ; sc in
each dc till end. Turn.
Fasten
off and leave a long tail for attachment.
Attach on either side of Count’s head
For The Count’s forelock :
Make
one using black.
Start
with a magic circle and work 2 hdc ; 4 dc ; 2 hdc into that circle.
Do
not join. Do not pull into a circle, but
leave it like a semicircle.
Fasten
off and leave a long tail for attachment.
Attach
the forelock to the centre front, between the eyebrows.
Once you have made as many squares as you want for your blanket, use one of these joining methods for a neat join.
Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA
Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM
Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI
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