Tutorial: Dem Bones, The Day of The Dead Skull Square

Here is the pattern for the skull square in my Day of the Dead Blanket (see archive for more on that beauty). I used nasty neon DK for my blanket, but any highly contrasting colours would work just as well. You could probably use this pattern to make some decorative Halloween bunting if you were so inclined.  Hmmmn, there’s an idea!

These squares employ a kind of Fair Isle technique I guess, in that you are working more than one colour, and so need to carry the colours you are not using with you as you crochet, twisting them behind the stitch so you are ready to pick them up at any time. This can seem a little complicated at first, but just as with most of these things, you’ll soon get the hang of it. Once you’ve made one of these skull squares you’ll be able to make as many as you like.  They are a bit addictive.

You will need: 1, 3.50mm crochet hook, DK in 3 contrasting colours

Colour 1 (colour of skull)

Colour 2 (colour of eyes, nose and mouth)

Colour 3 (background)

Pattern

1. Colour 1, chain 4 and join with ss to form a ring,

Ch2, 2 dc in ring, ch1, (3 dc in ring, ch1) x2, join colour 2, 3 dc in ring, ch 1, bring colour 1 forward, join with ss to form a round.

2. Ch2, 2dc in corner, ch1, bring colour 2 forward, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, bring colour 1 forward 3dc in corner space, ch1, bring colour 2 forward 3dc in same corner space, ch1, 3dc in last corner ss to join and form a round.

3. Bring colour 1 forward, ch2, 2dc in corner, ch1, 3dc in same corner, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, bring colour 2 forward (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner,  bring colour 1 forward, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, bring colour 2 forward, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, bring colour 1 forward, 3dc in next gap, ch1, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in corner space, ch1, 3 dc in next space, ch1, join with ss in top of chain to form a round. Cast off.

4. With colour 1, 1sc in 1^st gap following the bottom right corner, ch2, 2dc in gap, 1ch, 3dc in next gap, ch1, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap,ch1,  (3dc, ch1,3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in  next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, join colour 3, 3dc in corner, ch1, join colour 2, 3dc in same corner space, ch 1, 3 dc in next gap, ch1, 3 dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next corner space, ch1, bring colour 3 forward, 3dc in same corner space,  ch1, join with ss to form a round. Cast off. (you’re now only working with colours 1 and 3.

5. With colour 1 sc in central gap on right hand side, ch2, 2dc in same space, 1ch, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space,  ch1, join colour 3, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, bring colour 1 forward, 3dc in next space,  ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, bring colour 3 forward, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, join with ss to form round.

6. Ch2, 2dc in gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1,bring colour 1 forward, 3dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, 3dc in next gap, ch1, bring colour 3 forward, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, bring colour 1 forward, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, bring colour 3 forward, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, join with ss in top of ch2, cast off. Hide ends with bodkin.

Tutorial: Matilda (the granny square with heart)

I am constantly crocheting stuff. More often than not the idea for said ‘stuff’ comes straight out of my imagination, but I have never actually attempted to write a crochet pattern. I may scribble some notes down here and there but I tend to find, when I return to them, they usually don’t make much sense to me, let alone anyone else. Recently one or two people have asked me to produce tutorials to accompany my bits and pieces. So I have decided to give it a go, beginning with the easiest pattern I can think of; the granny square with heart, which we’ll call Matilda (because I like giving my makes human names – it’s fun)

So, here’s the pattern. I would absolutely LOVE it if one or two of you crocheteers could test this out for me to see if it works. Let me know what happens in the comment box below and who knows, maybe I’ll do a give away. Ooh my first give away! Exciting!

Pattern: Matilda (granny square with heart)

You will need: chunky wool in 3 colours and 1, 5.50mm hook.

Round 1: Ch3 and connect to make a ring.

Round 2: Ch2, 2dc in ring, ch1, 3dc in ring, ch1, 3dc in ring, ch1, 3dc in ring, ch1 and ss in top of first dc to create a round.

Round 3: Turn work, Ch2, 2dc in space, ch1, 3 dc in same space, *ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3 dc in next corner space)*. Repeat x2 from (*), ss in top of first dc to create a round.  Cast off.

Round 4: Join 1^st colour in bottom centre space, ch2, 2dc in same space, join 2^nd colour (move 1^st colour to the back), ch1, (3dc,1ch,3dc) in corner, bring 1^st colour forward, ch1, 3dc in next space, ch1, (3dc,1ch,3dc) in next corner space, bring 2^nd colour forward, ch1, 3dc in top centre space, bring 1^st colour forward, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in next corner space, ch1, 3dc in next space, bring 2^nd colour forward, ch1, (3dc, 1ch, 3dc) in corner, ss in first dc to create round. Cast off.

Round 5: Join 2^nd colour in any space, work a plain round.

Round 6: Join 3^rd colour in any space, work a plain round. Cast off. Hide ends with bodkin.