Wednesday 24 January 2024

HOUNDSTOOTH BLANKET

Houndstooth Blanket - a free crochet pattern from Sweet Nothings Crochet

HOUNDSTOOTH BLANKET

Spread smiles when you make this pretty easy blanket - where the hardest thing is getting colors that match.. There is no hassle with ends at all or weaving them in .. so now, how do you like it?

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Come along then and let’s work on this beautiful creation together.

Materials used : Today I’ve used ~ 900 gms in 3 different colors of Spotlight (Semco) acrylic yarn with a 4 mm crochet hook ; embroidery needle & fabric glue to seal ends 
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 can use Oswal 4-ply, Vardhaman Millennium for a light blanket or Ganga Alisha for a slightly warmer/heavier finish
You could use Anchor , Red ros ; Red rose metallic ; Laura or unbranded  knitting cotton as well as  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.
Size made : for a Queen sized bed
This is only given to you to get a general idea of how much yarn you may need.  
You can make this to any size to just use up your yarn.
Difficulty level : Intermediate to Advanced Skill level. 

Stitches used :
How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY
Starting slip knot :  https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw 
Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot :  https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs
What is a chain stitch ?   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

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

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.
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. 

So what's the houndstooth stitch?
Very simple - one large stitch followed by a smaller stitch all the way to the end - and on the return (other side) you work the large stitch in the smaller stitch and the small stitch into the larger one - so you get this tooth like finish.  The only way that this pattern shows is if you use a minimum of two colors - so one color per row. It's that easy.
For today's project I have used three colors : black, dark grey and light grey.

I've decided to work with tassels on either end and make them the easy way.
Here's what I did :
Decide how long a tassel you want.  Then start with the tassel at the end and end with a tassel.
So I decided on a 6" tassel, so I made my first loop (to start my fsc row 1), leaving a 6" tail. At the end, leave a 6" tail and then cut off yarn.
Now as mentioned before we're working with at least 2 colors, so you will work one row with one color (leaving the extra yarn for tassel at each end) and cut off yarn at the end of every row.
You will then attach the next color (again leaving the extra yarn for tassel at each end) and cut off yarn at the end of the row.
This means you are not trailing any yarns around and you have a finished tassel at the end of each row.  Cool eh?

I have used two shades of grey and one black.  For the top and bottom sections of my blanket I have used light grey and black every alternate row ; and for the centre I used dark grey and black every alternate row.
You can use just two colors for the whole blanket and it will look fab too.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA 
Start Row 1 : (Using Color # 1 & leaving 6" tassel tail) : with as many stitches as you want in odd numbers (or uneven numbers) for the width of your blanket.
Leave a 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.
(As I was making this for a queen sized bed, I just made my long fsc chain and then placed it on the bed and asked my client if it was the length she needed. Of course, you could use the blanket sizing chart given)

full view
As I mentioned earlier, we need one large and one small stitch for this creation.
I chose to work with dc and sc.
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

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
tassels at the end
Using Color #2
Row 2 : (leaving 6" tassel tail) : dc in the 1st fsc ; sc in the next fsc ;
*dc in the next fsc ; sc in the next fsc* ;
rep *to* till end, ending with sc ;
Leave 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.

Using Color #1
Row 3 : (leaving 6" tassel tail) : dc in the 1st st ; sc in the next st ;
*dc in the next st ; sc in the next st* ;
rep *to* till end, ending with sc ;
Leave 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.

Using Color #2
Row 4 : (leaving 6" tassel tail) : dc in the 1st st ; sc in the next st ;
*dc in the next st ; sc in the next st* ;
rep *to* till end, ending with sc ;
Leave 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.

and that's our pattern done.
Rep Rows 3 & 4 till you have the length you need for your blanket
pattern detail
Just for kicks, I had a small variation in pattern. I worked 2 dc and 2 sc for a few rows
In case you want to do this, here is the optional pattern

Using Color #1
Optional Pattern Row 1 : (leaving 6" tassel tail) : dc in the 1st 2 sts ; sc in the next 2 sts ;
*dc in the next 2 sts ; sc in the next 2 sts* ;
rep *to* till end, ending with sc ;
Leave 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.

Using Color #2
Optional Pattern Row 2 : (leaving 6" tassel tail) : dc in the 1st 2 sts ; sc in the next 2 sts ;
*dc in the next 2 sts ; sc in the next 2 sts* ;
rep *to* till end, ending with sc ;
Leave 6" tail and cut yarn. Turn work.

I did this for about 4" and then went back to Rep of Rows 3 & 4
the seemingly thicker blocks is the 2 st optional pattern 
see the thicker parts - that's the 2-st optional pattern
see the seemingly thicker blocks - that's the 2-st optional pattern

Our pattern has 'automatic' tassels - but as there are only one per row.  In case you decide to add a few more, all you need to do is cut 12" lengths and then attach them on for added thickness.  Here is a video on how to make tassels (the video makes slender ones - you just add on loads more yarn to make this squishy ones)
 If this video does not come on, please visit https://youtu.be/Ct84H8iBa9s

and if you are feeling extra creative and want to play around making a pattern with the tassels, enjoy this video
light and grey shadespattern detail

side viewpattern detail
Have fun and do remember to message me when you show off your creation. I'd love to feature your work on my page, so let me know.
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If you're visiting me here for the first time, and have liked the experience, do add me to your mailing list (for your convenience) , and all my future free patterns will come straight to your mail box.  

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Have a great day and see you soon. 

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