Monday, April 27, 2015

Pretty Pinwheel Doily: A Free Crochet Pattern for You

Today I have  a fun little pattern for you. The Pretty Pinwheel Doily is small and works up quickly, but the pinwheel gives it an unusual and whimsical style all its own. I think it is a great design for experimenting  with different color combinations. I hope you will enjoy it!
Pretty Pinwheel Doily

By Elizabeth Ann White
For BellaCrochet

Size: About 8 ½” across

Skill Level: Intermediate—for those who are familiar with working with size 10 thread and steel hooks, and who have a thorough understanding of the basics of crochet

Special Stitches:
For 2 tr cluster:  (yo 2 times, insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, work off 2 lps, yo, work off next 2 lps) 2 times, yo, pull through  all 3 lps on hook

For 3 tr cluster:  (yo 2 times, insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, work off 2 lps, yo, work off next 2 lps) 3 times, yo, pull through  all 4 lps on hook

Materials:
Size 10 Cotton Thread:
  150  yards Color A
  100 yards Color B
Heavy spray starch
Size 7 (1.65mm) Steel hook

Doily
Rnd 1: With color A, ch 8, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 3, 23 dc in ring, join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off. (First ch-3 counts as first dc; 24 dc made)

Rnd 2: Join color B with sc in first st, sc in each dc around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in each of first 2 sts, ch 20, (sc in each of next 2 sc, ch 20) around, join.

Rnd 4: Sl st in second sc, (sl st, ch 3, 11 dc, ch 2, 12 dc) in first ch-20 sp, (12 dc, ch 2, 12 dc) in each remaining ch-20 sp around, join with sl st in top of ch-3. Fasten off.

Rnd 5: Join color A with sl st in first st, ch 3, dc in each dc around with (dc, ch 2, dc) in each ch-2 sp, join. Fasten off.

Rnd 6: Join color B with sc in first st, sc in each dc around with (sc, ch 3, sc) in each ch-2 sp, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

IMPORTANT NOTE: You will notice that the 12  ‘points’ of the Pinwheel have a natural tendency to twist. In the following round, you will twist each point and work into the   ch-3 sp at the center top of the point. The wrong side of the stitches on the previous 2 rounds will be facing you as you work Rnd 7.  Make sure that you twist each point in the same direction!
Twist each point as shown in photo when working Rnd 7

Rnd 7: Join color A with sl st in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, 2 tr cluster—see Special Stitches—ch 5, 3 tr clustersee Special Stitches—ch 5, 3 tr cluster, ch 5) in same sp as joining, (3 tr cluster, ch 5) 3 times in each remaining ch-3 sp around, join with sl st in top of 2 tr cluster. Fasten off.

Rnd 8: Join color B with sc in first ch-5 sp, (2 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in same sp as joining, (3 sc, ch 3, 3 sc) in each remaining ch-5 sp around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 9: Join color A with sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 10, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 5) 2 times, *sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 10, (sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 5) 2 times; repeat from * 9 more times, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 10, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, join with dc in first sc for joining sp.

Rnd 10: Ch 1, sc in joining sp, *(ch 3, 3 tr cluster) 6 times in next ch-10 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-5 sp) 2 times; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rnd 11: Join color B with sc in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, 2 dc) in same sp as joining, (sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in each of next 5 ch-3 sps, sc in each of next 2 ch-3 sps, *(sc, ch 3, 2 dc) in each of next 6 ch-3 sps, sc in each of next 2 ch-3 sps; repeat from * around, join. Fasten off.

Finishing
Place doily on blocking surface. Spray with starch, shape and allow to dry.


Rosina Smith made her doily in yellow and shaded purples; I think it is just stunning! Thank you, Rosina!

Jolene Ortiz created a gorgeous variation on this pattern by not twisting the points before working Rnd 7. I love it when folks get creative with my designs!

Update: If you would like to purchase an ad-free copy of this pattern for a small fee, please visit my Etsy shop:  Pretty Pinwheel
I am offering a paid version of this pattern for the convenience of  my customers who prefer an easy to read, printable and ad-free PDF. You will be able to easily save the pattern to your Etsy account, as well as your computer or other device.


 Special thanks go to  Jewel Fernley, Jolene Ortiz and Rosina Smith for testing this pattern! I don't know what I would do without my wonderful testers!

If you have enjoyed this design, I hope you will check out all of my other free patterns:
 If you have enjoyed this pattern, I hope you will check out all of my other free patterns:
Copyright BellaCrochet 2015. Please do not redistribute this pattern in any way, or post on any website. You may share the link only. DO NOT make videos or tutorials of it for distribution on YouTube or any other site. 
This pattern has been tested for accuracy and clarity, and I can offer no additional information, photos or help with it.

Friday, April 17, 2015

Springtime Floral Candle Mat: A Free Crochet Pattern for You!

Several years ago I designed a set of doilies for Annie's Attic called 'Vintage Floral Doilies.' The publishing rights have now reverted back to me, and I am now happy to make these patterns available to you for free. I will be adding the other doilies in the set though the coming months, so please check back for the others. 
These are my original patterns, so they are written differently from the ones AA published, but they are the same designs.
This doily begins with an Eyelet Foundation. If you are not familiar with this technique, you can find a tutorial here:

eyelet foundation
Springtime Floral Candle Mat Doily
by Elizabeth Ann White
for BellaCrochet

Skill Level: Intermediate—for those who are familiar with working with size 10 thread and steel hooks, and who have a thorough understanding of the basics of crochet
Size: About 11” across
Materials:
Size 10 Cotton Thread:
  200 yards Shaded Green
  100 yards each Pink and Yellow
  Small amounts lavender, rose and black
Fabric Glue
Heavy starch
Size 7 (1.65mm) Steel hook


Special Stitches:
For Beginning Shell (beg shell), (ch 3, 2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in st or ch sp indicated
For Shell, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in st or ch sp indicated
For 2 tr cluster, (yo 2 times, insert hook in st or sp indicated, yo, pull lp through, yo, work off 2 lps, yo, work off next 2 lps) 2 times, yo, pull through  all 3 lps on hook
To work ‘shell in shell’ work into the ch-2 sp at the center of the shell indicated.


Candle Mat
Note: To work into Foundation spaces, insert hook between the ch-4 and the tr of each sp
Rnd 1: With Shaded Green, for Eyelet Foundation (ch 4, tr in 4th ch from hook) 24 times, join with sl st in first ch to form a circle of 24 ch sps; working in ch sps around circle (see Note), (sl st, beg shell-see Special Stitches) in first ch sp, shell in each ch sp around, join with sl st in top of ch-3.

Rnds 2 &  3: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell (see Special Stitches), shell in each shell around, join.

Rnd 4: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell, ch 1, (shell in next shell, ch 1) around, join.

Rnd 5: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell, ch 2, (shell in next shell, ch 2) around, join.

Rnd 6: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell, ch 3, (shell in next shell, ch 3) around, join.

Rnd 7: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell, ch 4, (shell in next shell, ch 4) around, join.

Rnd 8: Sl st to center of first shell, beg shell in first shell, ch 5, (shell in next shell, ch 5) around to last shell, shell in last shell, ch 2, join with dc in top of ch-3.

Rnd 9: Ch 1, sc in first ch sp, ch 1, (tr, ch 1) 7 times in next shell, *sc in next ch sp, ch 1, (tr, ch 1) 7 times in next shell; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 10: (Sl st, ch 1, sc) in first ch sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch sp) 7 times, *sc in next ch sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch sp) 7 times; repeat from * around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Rose (make 6)
Rnd 1: With pink, ch 4, 9 dc in 4th ch from hook, join with sl st in top of ch-4. (10 dc made)

Rnd 2: Ch 1, sc in each st around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 3: Ch 1, sc in first st, ch 2, skip next st, (sc in next st, ch 2, skip next st) around, join with sl st in first sc. (5 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 4: For petals, (sl st, ch 2, 4 dc, ch 2, sl st) in each ch-2 sp around, join with sl st in first sl st.

Rnd 5: Working behind petals and only in skipped sts of Rnd 2, ch 1, sc in first st, ch 4, (sc in next st, ch 4) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 6: For petals, (sl st, ch 2, 6 dc, ch 2, sl st) in each ch-4 sp around, join with sl st in first sl st.

Rnd 7: Working behind petals into ch sps of Rnd 5, ch 2, (insert hook between 3rd and 4th dc of next petal, sc in ch sp, ch 4) around, join with sl st in first sc.

Rnd 8: For petals, (sl st, ch 2, 8 dc, ch 2, sl st) in each ch-4 sp around, join. Fasten off. 

Daffodil (make 6)
Rnd 1: With yellow, ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 1, (sc in ring, ch 3) 6 times, join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 2: For petals, work (sc, ch 3, 2 tr cluster, ch 3, sl st in 3rd ch from hook, 2 tr cluster, ch 3, sc) in each ch sp around, join.

Rnd 3: For center, working in ring between sc of Rnd 1, ch 2, sl st in ring, ch 4, (dc in ring between next 2 sc, ch 1) 5 times, join with sl st in 3rd ch of ch-4.

Rnd 4: (Sl st, ch 1, sc) in first ch-1 sp, ch 3, (sc in next ch sp, ch 3) around, join with sl st in first sc. Fasten off.

Posy (make 14)
With Rose, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, sl st) in 3rd ch from hook (first Petal made; all Petals will be worked in the same ch as First Petal); (ch 2, dc, ch 2, sl st) 4 more times in same ch as First Petal was worked in. Fasten off. (5 petals)

Butterfly (make 4)
Rnd 1: With Lavender, ch 6, sl st in first ch to form ring, ch 1, (sc in ring, ch 3) 8 times, join with sl st in first sc.
Rnd 2: (Sl st, ch 3, 4 dc) in first ch sp, (sl st in next sc, 5 dc in next ch sp) around, join with sl st in first sl st. Fasten off. (8 wings made)

Fold 10” strand of Black thread in half; fold Butterfly in half, matching wings to form 2 sides with 4 wings each. Wrap folded thread around center of Butterfly; pull ends through fold and tie in a knot. Trim black thread, leaving 1” ends for antennae.

Finishing
1: Spray Candle Mat with starch. Shape and allow to dry.

2: Glue Roses, Daffodils, Posies and Butterflies to Candle Mat as shown in photo or as desired. 


Copyright BellaCrochet 2011. All rights reserved. Please do not redistribute or share this pattern; do not post it on any website. DO NOT make videos or tutorials of it for distribution on YouTube or any other site. You may share the link to the pattern only (and link shares are greatly appreciated, please tell your crocheting friends who might enjoy this pattern!) 
This pattern has been tested for accuracy and clarity, and I can offer no additional information, photos or help with it.

Special thanks go to E. J. Miller, Jolene Ortiz, Debbie Peters, Karen Misiunas and Jewel Fernley for testing these patterns.

If you have enjoyed this design, I hope you will check out my other free patterns: