The Tale of the Dainty Dots Blanket #3 - Pattern and a Mini-Tutorial

First of all, THANK you for the kind words about my Dainty Dots Blanket. It’s lovely to read them all! Secondly, yes, I know, it took me a while to finally post the pattern for the squares… But hey, here it is: written and as a - sliiiightly wonky ;-) - chart! And with good news too, because I found a free online pattern that is very similar to the pattern for this border.

When I started to work on this blanket I took a fair amount of time to work out a pattern for circle-turned-into-a-solid-square. I wanted the circle stay round, but in most patterns the circles becomes square-ish when turned into a solid square. That’s because you’ll most often have to work three corner stitches in one stitch of the circle, giving the circle a bit of a corner. The problem is less visible when you’re making a square with chain stitches in the corner. Okay, I hope I didn’t loose you at this point? ;-)

Anyway! I'm quite pleased with my solution. And that is: you will work only ONE stitch in the circle to make the corner of the square, the other two corner stitches are worked in the base of that first corner stitch. (Hopefully the pictures and the chart will explain.) Eureka! Here's a mini-tutorial...

So that’s my little trick. I was actually quite excited about it. :-) As I mentioned in my previous post, this particular blanket is so darn heavy the effect is a bit lessened. This has also to do with the fact that the white yarn is thicker and heavier than the blue and grey yarns used for the circles.

And now for the disclaimer... I am sure other crocheters might have come up with the same solution before me. Because once I thought of it, it seemed a pretty obvious thing to do, but I haven’t seen it before.

Pattern Dainty Dots Square

Remarks beforehand

♦ You can either start a new round by chaining 2 (as one substitute dc) or – my favourite – by making a standing double crochet. With the latter you really can’t tell afterwards where you started the round. If you google it, you’ll find that there are several great tutorials online for this technique.
♦ The pattern calls for a join at the end of each round. My preferred method is to make a seamless join using a darning needle. (Again, you’ll find great tutorials for this online.) Alternatively you can make a slipstitch in the first st of the round.
♦ BLdc is a BackLoop double crochet: a regular dc, but worked in the backloop only.
♦ I used a brandless Thai cotton for the circles and Rico Creative Cotton for the square part and border. If I would have to recommend a yarn though: I think this pattern would work wonderful in the organic cotton yarn Vinnis Nikkim. If I would make another one, it would probably be my choice because I expect it to give the blanket a wonderful drape. (I used it for the mini-tutorial.)
♦ I used a 4 mm crochet hook, but you can basically use any hooksize that matches your choice of yarn. My motifs measure appr. 15 x 15 cm (6 x 6 inch) each,

Chart
Please don't copy or share or pin the chart elsewhere, but link to this page instead - thank you for linking with love! 

Written pattern
To start
Magic circle, or, chain 4 and close with a slipstitch

Round 1
12 dc in ring, join

Round 2
2 BLdc in each dc (24 BLdc in total), join

Round 3
*1 BLdc, 2 BLdc*, repeat between * * along round (36 BLdc in total), join

Round 4
*1 BLdc, 1 BLdc, 2 BLdc*, repeat between * * along round (48 BLdc in total), join

Round 5
This is the round where the circle is worked into a square.
Change to second colour here.
You can start this round in any stitch.
*1 sc, 1 sc, 1 sc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc, 1 dc, 1 dc. Then make a corner: 1 dc, 1 dc made in the dc you’ve just made in the same round (so do not work this stitch in the previous round), 1 dc in first corner dc (so the 2nd and 3rd dc are both made in the 1st corner stitch). Then continue: 1 dc, 1 dc, 1 hdc, 1 hdc*, repeat between * * 3 times, join

Round 6
In this round the corners is made as follows: 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc. The treble ensures a sharp corner. If you like a more rounded corner, work a dc instead of a tr.
*1 dc in 13 consecutive stitches, in nxt st: 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc (corner made)*, repeat between * * 3 times, join

Round 7
* 1 dc in 15 consecutive stitches, in nxt st: 1 dc, 1 tr, 1 dc (corner made)*, repeat between * * 3 times, join.
Weave in ends.

Joining
Of course you can choose your preferred method. I joined  the motifs by single crocheting them together, right sides facing eachother, through both (front and back) loops of both squares.

Border
Okay, as I explained in my previous post I based the lacy part of the border loosely on a Japanese pattern. BUT, I’m happy to say that since then I discovered a VERY similar, free pattern on MyPicot.com. (A great source for all kinds of lovely patterns by the way.) Click here for the link. Although it’s actually for a blanket, you could fairly easily adapt the pattern as a border by just crocheting two lacy segments.

Before I crocheted the lacy segments of the border I made the solid part: five simple rounds of double crochet, with 3 dc in de corner stitch. Of course you could omit the solid part, but personally I always think it gives a clean look.

And then... Your blanket is ready!

So dear people, that’s it. I hope you like it. If you’re making a #daintydotsblanket yourself I’d LOVE to see it! Also, do comment below if something is not clear. I really try to respond asap, but life is rather hectic so I apologize in advance if it takes a while...

Many thanks for your lovely visit. Wishing you a happy day!

The Tale of the Dainty Dots Blanket #2 - The Big Reveal

Dear readers of this blog, dear accidental passersby, I hereby proudly present to you…
The Dainty Dots Blanket!

Did you know…

- It took me one and a half year to complete? (Although to be fair I didn’t touch it for most part of last year.)
- It weighs almost four kilograms/8.8 lbs?
- Its measurements are appr. 2 x 2.1 m (appr. 6.6 x 6.9 feet)
- I’m really happy with my trick for turning a circle into a solid square?
- That I’m going to share this trick with you in my next post?
- The blues and greys are from a brandless cotton I bought at a Thai market?
- I sticked to only two rules while arranging the colours? (Namely: don’t join two squares which have the same colour and don’t join two dark colours.)
- I love big borders?

Regarding the latter: As you can see I decided on a big border for this blanket. It consist of three parts: the solid one and then two parts lacy fans. It was a last minute choice, but I couldn't be happier with it. Though the border does somewhat outshine the rest of the blanket. ;-) I based the lacy part loosely on a pattern from a Japanese crochet book. Sorry I do not have more information about it. But basically you could adapt any pattern for a multiple row of fans, and use it as a border.

The basis for this blanket were the big blue and grey cotton yarn cakes. This yarn wasn't available in white at the time, so for that I used Rico Creative Cotton. Which is quite a bit heavier than the Thai cotton, but it worked.



At the start I took a fair amount of time to work out a pattern for circle-turned-into-a-solid-square. I wanted the circle stay round, but in most patterns the circle becomes fairly square-ish when turned into a solid square. I'm quite pleased with my solution. Although the effect is a bit lessened here because the white is heavier than the coloured yarn. Ah well, can't have it all.

The funny (or stupid) thing is, when I unearthed it from its huge basket I was surpised how near-to-finishing it was. I was already halfway joining the motifs. With a big project like this I like to work for some hours in a row. I can't just steal thirty minutes here or there, like with a less substantial project. So, in the end it did all boil down to lack of time. But I enjoyed the finishing process thoroughly.



Anyway, I hope you like it! Don't forget, next up on this blog is the pattern for the Dainty Dots Squares. (The squares, not the border, sorry!)

Thank you so much for visiting & have a lovely day.