Bow Tie Squares #15 & 16

This summer truly seemed like a whirlwind going by dotted with vacation, camps, visitors,  and lots of zucchini!  I'm not doing well at keeping up on the zucchini part, but seem to have made it through the rest.  I did find a recipe that my family really likes to use up some of the harvest.  Just in case you need it, here's a link to the yummy zucchini cupcake recipe.  My lunch today was zucchini and snow peas sautéed in bacon drippings.  I've still got so much though, I'll be looking to give some away.  I always hate to see fresh garden produce go to waste.

So, Augusts's squares feature a bow tie stitch pattern.  The base of the square is made of simple single crochet.  Some chain spaces are added in with a single crochet stitching them all together to make the 'bow tie' look.  It's a fun little stitch pattern that can be added to a basic project to change it up a bit.  I put it in these fingerless gloves just on the front side.

Symphony Fingerless Gloves by taraduff 2016

Square #15 Bow Ties

taraduff cal 2016 bow tie square #15

Square #16 Bow Tie Stripe

taraduff cal 2016 bow tie stripe square #16

Pattern

Foundation Ch: Ch 40

Row 1:  Sc in second ch from hook and in each remaining ch.  (39 sc) Turn.

Row 2:  Sc in first 3 sc.  *Ch 7.  Skip next 7 sc.  Sc in next 6 sc.  Repeat from * one time.  Ch 7.  Skip next 7 sc.  Sc in last 3 sc.  Turn.

Row 3:  Sc in first 3 sc.  *Ch 7.  Skip next ch-7 sp.  Sc in next 6 sc.  Repeat from * one time.  Ch 7.  Skip next ch-7 sp.  Sc in last 3 sc.  Turn.

Row 4:  Repeat row 3.

Row 5:  Sc in first 3 sc.  *Ch 3.  Make 1 sc over all 3 ch-7 spaces from previous 3 rows, ch 3 (bow tie made).  Sc in next 6 sc.  Repeat from * one time.  Ch 3.  make 1 sc over all 3 ch-7 spaces from previous 3 rows, ch 3 (bow tie made).  Sc in last 3 sc.  Turn.

Row 6:  Sc in first 3 sc.  *Ch 7.  Skip next bow tie.  Sc in next 6 sc.  Repeat from * one time.  Ch 7, skip next bow tie.  Sc in last 3 sc.  Turn.

Rows 7-38:  Repeat rows 3-6.

Row 39:  Sc in first 3 sc.  *Sc in each ch.  Sc in each sc.  Repeat from * to end of row.  (39 sc)

For striped variation, use 2 colors, referred to as A (black in the photo) and B (gold in the photo) 

Color changes noted below.

A: Foundation Ch, Row 1.

B: Rows 2-4

A: Row 5

B: Row 6

B: Row 39

I hope you've had a lovely summer!  

XOXO

-Taralee

Bobble Stitch Squares 3 & 4

Wow, it's been super cold and the smog has settled in over my little town nestled in Cache Valley.    While it is cold and dreary, a lovely blanket of white covers everything outside.  I like spring the most when everything turns green and bunches of tulips and dandelions grace us, but there is something to enjoy in every season. 

I am feeling much better these days.  I felt like I had one foot in the grave for such a long time without really realizing it.  It's funny how you don't realize how awful you feel until you start to feel better.  I still have a ways to go, but that's part of the journey I suppose.  I am still working on learning to bring much needed balance to my life, but I think that is a challenge many can relate to.

For the month of February, we are crocheting a bobble stitch block.  I kind of love bobble stitches!  There are lots of things that make me happy in crochet - and bobble stitches happen to be one of them.  This block is simple, it's a lot of half double crochet stitches with bobble stitches scattered evenly - giving the fabric a polka-dot effect.  I always loved polka-dots.  Unfortunately my husband does not, so I currently have nothing polka-dotted in my wardrobe.  I should probably remedy that situation....

Here is a peek of a project that I made for my nephew's wedding a few years ago.  The entire blanket features the stitch pattern from this month's blocks.  I added the tunisian crocheted heart with the couple's names and wedding date cross-stitched on to hopefully make it something special for them. 

Customizable Keepsake Afghan 

Square # 3 - Bobble Stitch Solid Square

Square #4 - Bobble Stitch Polka-dot Square

Pattern

Special stitches
bobble:  (Yo, insert hook in indicated st or sp, yo, draw yarn through st and up to level of work) 5 times in same st, yo, draw yarn through 11 loops on hook.

Foundation ch and Row 1:  Ch 34.  Hdc in 3rd ch from hook and in each stitch across. Turn.
Row 2:  Ch 2 (counts as first hdc here and throughout).  Skip first hdc.  Hdc in each stitch across.  Make 1 hdc in top of turning chain. (33 hdc) Turn.
Row 3:  Ch 2.  Skip first hdc.  Hdc in next 3 stitches.  *Ch 1, skip next stitch.  Hdc in next 7 stitches.  Repeat from * until within last 5 stitches.  Ch 1.  Skip next stitch.  Hdc in last 3 stitches.  Hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Row 4: Ch 2.  Skip first hdc.  Hdc in next 3 hdc.  *Bobble (see Special Stitches) in ch-1 sp.  Hdc in next 7 stitches.  Repeat from *to last ch-1 sp.  Bobble in last ch-1 sp.  Hdc in last 3 hdc.  Hdc in top of turning ch.
Rows 5 and 6:  Repeat row 2.
Row 7:  Ch 2.  Skip first hdc.  *Hdc in next 7 stitches.  Ch 1, skip next stitch.  Repeat from * until within last 8 stitches.  Hdc in last 7 stitches.  Hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Row 8:  Ch 2.  Skip first hdc.  *Hdc in next 7 stitches.  Bobble in next ch-1 sp.  Repeat from * until within last 8 stitches.  Hdc in last 7 stitches.  Hdc in top of turning ch.  Turn.
Rows 9 and 10:  Repeat row 2.
Repeat rows 3-10 for pattern.

Variation for polka-dot square: On bobble stitch rows (rows 4 & 8), carry another color along through the row and switch to it for bobble stitches only (then switch back to main color) to make a polka-dot fabric.

I'm sharing one more photo of the stitch pattern in a self-patterning yarn.  It's always interesting for me to see how the same stitch pattern looks when you change up yarn types and colors.

bobble stitch pattern in self-patterning yarn

Remember to share your progress on instagram, twitter, or whatever your preferred social media is!   #taraduff2016cal