Hello and welcome to the second week of the Gift Mystery make-a-long. I can’t thank you enough for the warm welcome to the Gift Coaster revealed last week. I love seeing all the cute little coasters popping up in my social feeds. And I love how creative you are with picking the colors and yarns for this pattern.
This week we are making a Gift Bauble. Because what a winter holiday make-a-long can be without a bauble, right?
I chose an overlay crochet technique for this pattern, and you will have a chance to practice picots a lot! First, I used this textured stitch pattern for the cuffs of my Lola Cardigan, and since then I had this strong feeling to create something else fully covered with the picots.
The Gift Bauble pattern comes with complete written instructions with step-by-step pictures to show the placement of all the stitches, and I have also recorded a video tutorial where I explain the basics of the overlay crochet.
Good news is that you do not have to cut yarn after every round, but you will bring it up to the next rounds on the wrong side. And even if you use more colors and cut the yarn, all ends will be hidden inside the bauble, and you will not have to weave in tails.
I used 4 colors for my baubles, each in a tiny amount. But you can pick more colors, if you like, or even crochet the Gift Bauble in one color only.
This is on my to-do list as well. I am going to join you in this make-a-long and crochet a bauble or two in just one color.
As I have already mentioned, the Gift Bauble crochet pattern is a part of a Gift Mystery make-a-long. If you have not joined it yet, you can grab an ebook from Ravelry HERE.
The make-a-long is a mystery, it means new patterns will be revealed one by one and will be added to your Ravelry library on a weekly basis (always on Wednesdays). Altogether there will be 4 patterns. And the first pattern, Gift Coaster, was published last week.
And if you own a copy of the ebook already, please refresh your Ravelry library and get the pattern.
Hope you enjoy! And see you next week.
It has become a good tradition to host a mystery make-a-long (MAL) annually, and this year is not an exception. We’ve already had Not A Christmas MAL two years ago and Winter Scandi MAL last year. But this year’s project is a special one! We have teamed up with Martin Up North to bring you six brand-new and exclusive patterns. Please, welcome a Geometry & Texture make-a-long.
What is this MAL about
As you can already understand from the name, all projects are themed with geometry and texture, and you will get a chance to try your hand in mosaic, overlay, embossed and slip stitch crochet techniques. The patterns will include wearable accessories and home decorations, but you can easily adjust stitch patterns for a variety of other projects.
Who are the designers
Geometry & Texture MAL will be hosted by me (Lilla Bjorn Crochet) and Martin Up North. If you are not familiar with his work, make sure to check out his website HERE. Martin lives up north in Sweden, and he is a huge nature lover. His pictures of the Northern Lights and wild animals are breathtaking, as well as his crochet designs.
We have a little different crochet styles, but similar aesthetics and vision. And we are both very excited about this make-a-long. A lot of work has been secretly done behind the scenes, and we can't wait to share our patterns with you.
Where to find the patterns
Geometry & Texture MAL has not started yet, and a pre-order is running right now. To get access to all 6 patterns, you will need to purchase MAL listings on Ravelry from both designers separately (links below). Martin and I have created 3 patterns each. And you can either purchase both listings with 6 patterns in total, or choose just one designer, receiving 3 mystery patterns.
Lilla Bjorn's patterns are HERE
Martin’s Up North patterns are HERE
What you will need
Martin and I used specific Scheepjes yarns for our projects, but you can absolutely use up your stash. You can either pick the yarns in similar weigh, or experiment and use heavier or lighter yarns. There are no strict rules and yarns quantities. Of course, if you decide to make exactly the same projects as we did, you will receive a complete list of colors and yardages. But as already mentioned above, the stitch patterns from each project can be also used for something else.
EDIT: because of many requests about yarn information, I decided to reveal yarn amounts used for my mystery projects.
Project 1: Scheepjes Terrazzo*. Yarn A x 3 balls, Yarn B x 2 balls
Project 2: Scheepjes Scrumptious*. One color x 3 balls
Project 3:
Scheepjes Catona*. Leftovers in different colors
When does the MAL begin
The first pattern will be added to your Ravelry library on November 11th, 2022. And then a new pattern will be revealed every Friday. The patterns will be offered at a reduced price during the time of the MAL through December 31st, 2022. You do not need any codes, as the price is discounted already and will be updated to a full price after the end of the MAL.
Official support for the MAL
Official support for this MAL will be offered in my Facebook group HERE where we will be happy to see all your pictures! Join now our friendly community with 33K+ members. Please, be aware that you will have to answer a simple question upon a sing up. Without answering, your request will not be approved.
Hope you join! And enjoy!
Resources:
- General information, size and gauge information, material list and Instructions for Part 1 are HERE.
- Video tutorials are available on my YouTube channel HERE
- Add this pattern to your Ravelry Queue
- Join Lilla Bjorn Crochet and Friends group on Facebook or my official Ravelry group to enter Make-A-Long
- Share your wips and finished project on social media with hashtag #LillaBjornSweater
INSTRUCTIONS
Copyright LillaBjornCrochet 2018. All rights reserved. This pattern is for unlimited personal use only. Do not reproduce or sell the pattern. The pattern may not be copied in any way (print or digitally), in part or in full. Items may be sold that are made from this pattern as long as the designer is credited. Shop owners, if you wish to make a kit with yarn using this pattern, please request permission and copyright details from me before offering any kits for sale. Please, read Copyright page for more information.
To reach designed width we should enlarge octagon on the sides. Let’s have a look at the schema again:
B = enlarged sides for a desired width. We are making them today.
First you should decide how much you would like to enlarge the width of your sweater, and divide this number by 2. This will give you the height of enlargement on each side.
For example, you want to make your octagon 10cm wider. It means you should add 5cm/2" on each side (=the height of enlargement)
You will work in back and forth (so you will turn after every row) along three sides of the octagon. “Holey” rows are made on WS and “full” rows on RS.
Video tutorial is available here:
Enlargement 1:
Note: for the needs of photo and video tutorials I used contrasting yarn. But you can continue with your main color, if you wish.Row 1. Turn and work on WS.
Ch3, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st (=first dc2tog), [*ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st* till 1 st left before the corner, ch1, skip 1 st, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next ch2-sp in the corner] repeat 2 times in total, *ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st* till 3 sts left before next ch2-sp in the corner, ch1, 1dc2tog (skip 1 st and make first leg in next st, skip 1 st and make second leg in next ch2-sp in the corner), turn.
You will get two decreased sides and one regular side (between two decreased).
Row 2 (RS). Ch3, 1dc2tog (make first leg in next sp, make second leg in next st), [*1dc in next sp, 1dc in next st* till next ch2-sp in the corner, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next ch2-sp in the corner, 1dc in next st] repeat 2 times in total, 1dc in next sp, *1dc in next st, 1dc in next sp* till 1dc+1ch-sp+1dc2rog left, 1dc3tog (make first leg in next dc, make second leg in next sp, make third leg in last dc2tog), turn.
Row 3. Ch3, skip base st and next one, 1dc in next st (=first dc2tog), [*ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st* till 1 st left before the corner, ch1, skip 1 st, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next ch2-sp in the corner] repeat 2 times in total, *ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st* till 4 sts left, ch1, 1dc2tog (skip 1 st and make first leg in next st, skip 1 st and make second leg in last st), turn.
Repeat rows 2 and 3 till desired height is reached. Finish with row 2.
You can, for example, make: 4 rows (or 3.5cm/1.5") for S/M, 6 rows (or 5.5cm/2") for L/XL, 8 rows (or 7cm/3") for 2X (or other number of rows depending on your yarn choice and size preferences). Fasten off leaving 100cm tail.
Enlargement 2:
Place crocheted piece facing you with WS so that the Enlargement 1 is on the left. Attach yarn with ss in right bottom corner (ch2-sp).
Complete enlargement 2 in the same way as Enlargement 1. Fasten off leaving 100cm tail. Block Front and Back to measurements.
Triangle (make two)
Two triangles are needed to fill the “gaps” at the sweater’s bottom to make the bottom line straight.
The size of triangles will depend on the size of your back and front. Stitch count on the triangle’s side should be the same as on decreased side of the octagon. One or two stitches difference doesn’t not matter. You will easily fix it while sewing sweater together.
Triangles are worked in rows in back and forth.
Row 1 WS. Make magic ring, ch4 (counts as dc and ch1-sp), 1dc in magic ring, ch2, 1dc in magic ring, ch1, 1dc in magic ring. Tighten ring, turn.
Row 2 RS. Ch3 (counts as dc here and throughout), 2dc in first st, 1dc in next sp, 1dc in next st, (2dc, ch2, 2dc) in ch2-sp in the corner, 1dc in next st, 4dc in last sp, turn. (7dc on each side, ch2-sp in the corner)
Row 3. Ch4, 1dc in first st, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st] till ch2-sp in the corner, ch1, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in ch2-sp in the corner, ch1, 1dc in next st, [ch1, skip 1 st, 1dc in next st] till 1 st left, ch1, skip 1 st, (1dc, ch1, 1dc) in last sp, turn. (6dc and 5 ch1-sps on each side, ch2-sp in the corner)
Repeat Rows 3 and 4 till you get needed stitch count on the sides. I made 14 rows for S/M size. Unfortunately I was not able to calculate exact number of rows for L-XL and 2X sizes. Please, continue to crochet triangles till you get needed stitch count on the sides. Fasten off leaving 100cm tail.
Next week we will put sweater together and add a hem at the bottom.
UPDATE: Instructions for Part 3 are available HERE.
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