Sweet Nothings Crochet: STAR JACKET

This is an amazing pattern that can be worked as a top or a bolero / jacket. The pretty easy 2-row repeat pattern that gives you this beautiful lacy end product. You'll be amazed with the ease and speed with which this project builds up - and how light, lacy and complicated it looks.

With this pattern there are so many ideas and possibilities.

Remember to read all the way till the end of this blog to get all these ideas. Come along..let’s get this cool project done.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used about 240 gms of an Indian unbranded cotton yarn with a 2.5 mm crochet hook

Note : Amount of yarn needed for individual project(s) depends on size of yarn / hook, size you are making it for as well as the tension with which you work. Amount given here is only for rough estimation for the size I’ve made it for.

For Indians : The yarn I’ve used is almost similar in thickness to our Red rose or White rose knitting cottons. Our lovely Indian Anchor knitting cotton yarn is a good substitute. I’d also suggest Alize cotton yarn

For Non-Indians : The other international yarns I’ve used of this thickness are Milford Satin knitting cotton, Aunt Lydia Bamboo Viscose 10 knitting cottons.

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

Size made : 34 (S/M)

You can make this project to any size.

Size here given only for rough estimation of yarn.

Difficulty level : Easy to Intermediate Skill level.

Stitches used :

Starting 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

How to hold your yarn in crochet : https://youtu.be/FwOlCbGdbqY

Find a sizing chart here : https://in.pinterest.com/shyamanivas/body-size-chart/

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.

This is not my pattern. I found a photo and chart on Pinterest here. These are my original notes as I work on my own creation.

The beauty of this pattern is that you can make it into a top or a jacket/bolero.

You can make it in one single color or throw in two or more colors.

Before we start, you need a few measurements

1) You need round bust, round waist and round hips (especially if you are making it all the way down to your hips). You will then choose the largest measure to start your work

2) Round armhole

3) Dip for neckline (front and back)

We will make one back and two fronts - all of which have the same pattern.

The back will be half round bust/waist or hip measure as given above and the front will be half the back measurement. We will start with the back and then work two fronts after that.

There are ideas given on how to add in sleeves if you want.

There are also ideas on how to make this into a top or a crop top, kurta or kurti (Indian tops) - so ensure you read all the way through to the end. OK .. Let's start!

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

Row 1 : Start with fsc in multiples of 4 + 1 for half the width you want for your project (i.e. half bust/waist or hip whichever is the largest measure). Turn

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

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

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 2 : sc in the 1st fsc ;

(sk next fsc, 3 dc in the next fsc ;

sk next fsc, sc in the next fsc) ;

rep (to) till end ;

sc in the last fsc. Turn.

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

Row 3 : dc in the 1st st ;

ch 1, sk next dc, sc in the next dc ;

*sk next dc, (dc ; ch 1, dc) in the next sc ;

sk next dc, sc in the next dc* ;

rep *to* till end ;

ch 1, sk 2nd last dc, dc in the last st. Turn.

Row 4 : sc in the 1st st ;

*3 dc in the next sc ;

sk next dc, sc in the next ch-1 sp* ;

rep *to* till end ;

sc in the last st. Turn.

and that's it.. this is our pattern done ! How cool is this?

Rep rows 3 & 4 for the length you want from base of jacket till armhole or neckline shaping.

At this point, one interesting idea to put out there.

Instead of making this a sleeveless creation, you could opt for a drop sleeve or drop sleeveless creation too. If that rocks your boat, then just work a rectangle all the way to the shoulders (which means work the length you want till shoulders) and go straight to work two fronts. For the fronts, once again, you will work two rectangles that are half the back measurement and you will join at the shoulders, leaving a neckline opening and join the sides, leaving an armhole opening and you're done !

Then if you decide on sleeves, just check out sleeve ideas below.

Now as you know I always like to give as many choices and ideas as I can, so here's another one for the whole pattern.. hah!

If you checked the pin, you'd find that the photo along with the chart doesn't match. The photo below has a different pattern - so here's that tweak and you choose whatever you like.. howzzat? 🏏

IDEA 2 :

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

Row 1 : Start with fsc in multiples of 8 + 2 for half the width you want for your project (i.e. half bust/waist or hip whichever is the largest measure). Turn

Row 2 : sc in the 1st fsc ;

(ch 2, sk next 3 fsc, 4 dc in the next fsc ;

ch 2, sk next 3 fsc, sc in the next fsc) ;

rep (to) till end ;

ch 2, sk next 3 fsc, sc in the last fsc. Turn.

In the following row we will work in the space between 2 dc. So we have a set of 4 dc, & we will work in the space between the 2nd and 3rd dc.

Row 3 : dc in the 1st st ;

*ch 1, sk next 2 dc, sc in the space between this and the next dc ;

ch 1, sk next 2 dc, (dc ; ch 3, dc) in the next sc* ;

rep *to* till end ;

ch 1, sk 2nd last dc, dc in the last st. Turn.

Row 4 : sc in the 1st st ;

*ch 2, 4 dc in the next sc ;

ch 2, sc in the next ch-3 sp* ;

rep *to* till end ;

ch 2, sc in the last st. Turn.

Rep rows 3 & 4 for the length you want from base of jacket till armhole or neckline shaping.

As this is a jacket, I have not shaped armholes or neckline. I have worked two rectangles for the front and one for the back. The sleeve is then worked from the drop shoulder. This pattern looks lovely as a sleeveless creation too.

SLEEVES :

The pattern is worked in the same way for the sleeves, but I have worked in a round. So to start, work one round of sc in multiples of 4 and join with a sl-st to the 1st st.

Then work the pattern as given, and continue to join with a sl-st to that 1st st.

Work the pattern for the length you want your sleeve

NECKLINE :

As we have worked a rectangle for the fronts, the front lapel automatically drops open as a cute triangle. All you need to do is work a few rounds of sc all around and you're done. I have decided to give my jacket a collar which is a little more complicated.

Here's what I did. I worked the first few rows as a round - from the left side bottom placket around the neck to the right side bottom placket and then around the bottom of the jacket till the 1st st and joined.

After the 1st few rounds, I then worked from the left side bottom placket around the neck to the right side bottom placket and back in the same way all the way to the left side bottom placket. So Row 1 will be from left to right and Row 2 is from right to left and so on.

You could decide to go all the way around the bottom of your jacket after you have worked the placket as well - whatever you think is simpler

If you work in rounds, remember to work 3 sts in the corner sts.

As I had worked a rectangle, I worked 3 sts in the top corners for the first few rows and then worked in each st (without working 3 sts in the corners I mean) and that gave the top corners a rounded finish. I think not working those 3 extra sts even for the first few rows would have been a good idea. Do let me know if that works for you.

Round 1 : Work a round of sc all around

Round 2 : Work a round of hdc all around

I have then worked in front post stitches

Front post half double crochet : fphdc : Post stitches are stitches worked around the post of a stitch of the row below. Here is an easy video tutorial for the fphdc at https://youtu.be/R_dVr9FnBkk

Rounds 3 - 6 : Work fphdc in each st all around

I have then stopped working around the bottom and only worked the placket.

For this first decide where you want to start shaping your placket. See what I mean in the photo above. Somewhere along the base, I have decided to start shaping.. this means that you do not work the last few sts and for the first few sts of shaping you will work sl-st ; sc and then hdc and then work the fphdc sts.

I have slowly given a shape by working the combination of sts till I had a lovely collar that I was happy with. The beauty of this is that there is no fixed count or shape.. If you have a ready-made jacket, use that collar as a template for your creation here today.

As you can see I have not worked any post stitches for the sleeve finish. I just finished with a round of sc.

Finally work a button hole loop on one side and attach in your buttons on the other side to finish

and we're all done !

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