Sweet Nothings Crochet: July 2021

Front View of How You Can Wear the Criss Cross Cowl

CRISS CROSS COWL 1

The cowl has a beautiful Criss Cross pattern made with a network of chains and simple crochet stitches to end up with this gorgeous effect. The underside of the project has a completely different pattern too - not as gorgeous but different enough to make it a reversible cowl.

I have been given a second bag of yarn and requested to make beanies & / or scarves for the homeless. I'm hoping that there's going to be even more yarn - which also means there will be more patterns discovered and written.

Using this same pattern,I've made a matching beanie, which is at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/criss-cross-beanie.html

I've used this stitch before to make a sleeved infinity cowl - that's a beautiful & unusual project. You can find that at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2016/05/criss-cross-patterned-infinity-cowl.html

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Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 125 gms Stallion 8-ply acrylic yarn with a 4.5 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle ; fabric glue to seal ends ; crochet stitch markers

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is similar in thickness to our Vardhaman as well as Oswal acrylic yarns or Laura knitting cotton .

You could use Anchor , Red rose , 4-ply knitting cotton , or unbranded knitting cotton or White Rose or bamboo knitting cotton , Milk cotton ; Silk yarns ; Baby soft acrylic yarn , Ganga Spectrum as well

General yarn info : The yarn used today is not specific to this pattern.

You can 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 Lily Sugar n' Cream cotton yarn, Caron Simply Soft , Bernat Softee chunky.

but I think you could also use 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 to Advanced.

Size made : 50" x 9 "

Size only given for yarn estimation.

Stitches used :

Starting slip knot : https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Crab Stitch or Reverse Single Crochet stitch : https://youtu.be/cG3crwyHPnk

What is a slip stitch : https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Abbreviations used :

sc : single crochet hdc : Half Double crochet

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

hk : hook lp (s) : loop(s)

yo : yarn over sl-st : slip stitch

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.

Using these pattern instructions, you can make a cowl, scarf or wrap.

I'd say you work about 8 - 9" (width) for a cowl or scarf and about 18 - 20" (width) for a wrap. Length for the project depends on you - but I'd say about 45 - 48" for a medium sized cowl (that will wrap at least twice around the neck)

Our stitch count is in multiples of 12 + 3

We start with the base of our cowl, and work side to side along the width of our cowl.

Once we work that first row (for width) we will work the pattern to get the length of the cowl.

Close Up Design Detail of Criss Cross Cowl 1

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start : with fsc in multiples of 12 + 3 for the width you want for your cowl. Turn.

What is a chain stitch ? https://youtu.be/pXx5ukBjKkY

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 1^stfsc ;

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

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 2 : sc in the 1^st sc ;

*ch 1, sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

We start with the first criss-cross row of our pattern.

This first row is a little bit tricky – but once we’ve got this figured, the rest is easy peasy.

We will be working our diagonal in our first row which is two rows below.

So we will be skipping all stitches in Row 2, and be working on the scs of Row 1.

On Row 1, we’ll be skipping a total of 4 sts, which will be two ch-1 sps and 2 sc.

Finally, we’re working the sl-st in the ch-sp, so just grab the top of that st and slip into it. Got it?

Row 3 : Front of work :

sc in the 1^st sc ;

*ch 1, sc in the next sc ;

(ch 5, sk next 2 ch-1 sps and 2 sc ,

sl-st in the next ch-1 sp two rows down) ;

[ch 5, sk next 2 ch-1 sps and 2 sc ,

sl-st in the next sc two rows up i.e Row 3] ;

ch 1, sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Now for the following row, let’s first understand why we’re doing what we are.

So in Row 3, we’ve worked one set of [sc, ch 1, sc] on that row, but then the chains go into the row below, so basically we’ve got no stitches except the [to], right?

So in the following row, we’ve basically got to add these ‘lost’ stitches in as well, so we will work a combination of {ch 1, sc in the next sc} and then we have (dc ; ch 1, dc) in the middle.

The other thing that we need to remember is that in the following row, we’ll be working on the wrong side – so the chains we made are on the other side.

When we work our (dc ; ch 1, dc), ensure that you work under the ch-5, so that they are flapping freely. They must.. as they’re the main part of this pattern.

Got it.. Right then, enough talking.. let’s work this..

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

Row 4 : Back of work :

sc in the 1^st sc ;

*[ch 1, sc in the next sc] ;

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

rep (to) 3 times ;

rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Once again, we’re working on our diagonal chain, so yet again we’ll work it in the row below, so the ch-sp in Row 3.

The advantage is that you don't actually have to look for the ch-sp or sc, as you've already got that figured out in Row 3

Row 5 : Front of work :

sc in the 1^st sc ;

*ch 1, sc in the next sc ;

(ch 5, sk next 2 ch-1 sps and 2 dc ,

sl-st in the next ch-1 sp two rows down i.e. Row 3) ;

[ch 5, sk next 2 ch-1 sps and 2 dc ,

sl-st in the next sc two rows up i.e. Row 5] ;

ch 1, sc in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

Row 6 : Back of work :

sc in the 1^st sc ;

*[ch 1, sc in the next sc] ;

(ch 1, dc in the next dc) ;

rep (to) 3 times ;

rep [to] once* ;

rep *to* till end. Turn.

And just like that we’re done with this lovely crossed pattern.

Repeat Rows 5 & 6 till your project is the length you want it , ending with Row 5.

I worked till I had about 48" in length. I then joined the two ends to make a cowl.

Use one of these joining methods to join the two ends of your cowl

Whipstitch to join : https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

OR attach tassels to the end to make it a soft scarf.

Check out the two videos below for tassels

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/Ct84H8iBa9s

In case this video does not come on, please go to https://youtu.be/Pt5BMW_OlAg

As I mentioned at the top of this blog, there's a matching beanie for this cowl, which is at https://shyamanivas.blogspot.com/2021/06/criss-cross-beanie.html

Set of Criss Cross Beanie & Criss Cross Cowl 1

Another view of Criss Cross Beanie & Criss Cross Cowl 1

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Saturday 31 July 2021

CRISS CROSS COWL 1