Popsicle Spike Stitch Squares #17 & 18

September - I don't even know what to say about it.  We had good and exciting things happen, but we also were touched by tragedy and so much sadness....  A friend of one of my children took his own life.  The boy was 15 yrs old.  This has been such a shock to all of us, especially my son.  We have felt powerless to help him as he wades through the grief and confusion of the situation.  We don't know really know why - there are a lot of questions.  And it has made my husband and I as parents hold our kids tighter and try harder to connect with them - to understand what they are struggling with and feeling.  This seemed to come as a total shock for the young man's family.  I pray that they might somehow, somewhere find peace and comfort.

So, getting on with things, this month's squares feature a fun version of a spike stitch.  It's called the popsicle spike stitch.  It reminds me of stained glass when the right colors are used.  It makes a tight, sturdy fabric.  I used it in the Jubilee Christmas Stocking.  We like our Christmas stockings stuffed rather full - so this was the perfect stitch to use.

Jubilee Christmas Stocking taraduff 2016

Popsicle Spike Square #17

Popsicle Spike Square #17

Popsicle Spike Square #18

Popsicle Spike Square #18

Pattern

Color changes:  Work rows 1, 4, 5, 8 & 9 in main color.  All other rows are worked with another color.  In square #17, I used only two yarns, a solid color as the main color and a multi-color self-patterning yarn as the second color.  On square #16, I used a main color and alternated two colors for the other stripes. 

Special Stitch 

Lsc:  Insert hook into next stitch 3 rows below and pull up a loop.  Yo and pull through both loops.

Foundation Ch & Row 1:  Ch 35.  Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch.  (34 sc)  Change colors.  Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 1.  Sc in each stitch across.

Row 3:  Repeat row 2.  Change colors at end of row.

Row 4:  Ch 1.  Sc in first stitch.  *Lsc over next 2 stitches.  Sc in next 4 stitches.  Repeat from * to last 3 stitches.  Lsc over next 2 stitches.  Sc in last stitch.  Turn.

Row 5:  Repeat row 2.  Change colors at end of row.

Rows 6,7:  Repeat row 2.  Change colors and end of row 7.

Row 8:  Ch 1.  Sc in first 4 stitches.  *Lsc over next 2 stitches.  Sc in next 4 stitches.  Repeat from * to end of row.  Turn.

Row 9:  Repeat row 2.  Change colors at end of row.

Row 10 - 49:  Repeat rows 2-9.