Padded Clusters Squares 9 & 10

It's now May - we're almost halfway through the year already and I can hardly believe it.  I remember as a child thinking that time passed so slowly - but the older I get, the faster it seems to go by.

May's squares feature a stitch pattern called 'padded clusters'.  This is a fantastic stitch with lots of great texture and thickness.  Post stitches are the key in creating this stitch pattern.  It's a great option for anything where you need a thick and sturdy fabric.  Once you get this stitch pattern down, you could try it out in the Bonnie winter hat and Bonnie neckwarmer.

Bonnie Winter Bonnet and Neckwarmer

 Square #9 Padded Clusters (solid)

Padded Clusters square #9

Square #10 Padded Clusters (self-patterning yarn)

Padded Clusters Square #10

 Pattern

Foundation ch & row 1:  Ch 44.  Sc in second ch from hook and in each ch across.  (43 sc)  Turn.
Row 2:  Ch 2 ( counts as hdc now and throughout), skip first stitch, hdc in next stitch.  *Skip next stitch, sc in next stitch.  Skip next stitch,** 3 dc in next stitch.  Repeat from * across, anding last repeat at **.  Hdc in next stitch, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Row 3:  Ch 2, skip first stitch, hdc in next stitch.  *Make 3 fpdc around the post of next sc,** skip next stitch, sc in next dc.  Skip next stitch.  Repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **.  Hdc in next stitch, hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Row 4:  Ch 2, skip first stitch.  Hdc in next stitch, *skip next stitch, sc in next dc.  Skip next stitch,** make 3 fpdc around the post of next sc.  Repeat from * across, ending last repeat at **.  Hdc in next stitch.  Hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Rows 5-30:  Repeat rows 3 and 4.
Row 31:  Ch 1.  Sc in each stitch across.  Fasten off and weave in ends.

Variation:  On block #10, I simply used a self-patterning yarn following the pattern above.