Granny's Easier Star

The first of 2 posts tonight. I'd been working on a star motif square, but following the comments on the pattern chosen to be February's Ravelry CAL square, there are now 2 versions. The star is the same. The rounds that follow are more straightforward in this version:

Granny's Easier Star by Tiggerbee

The example was made with 4 ply sock wool on a 3mm hook to produce a 6” square. Different weight yarns will give different sizes. If worked with Worsted weight and a 5.5mm hook it should produce a 12” square, and with DK weight and a 4mm hook an 8" square.

I would recommend that the star is worked in the same colour yarn, but it is shown in contrasting yarn here for the clarity of the illustrating photos.

American crochet terminology used throughout.

1) Chain 30 and taking care not to twist chain, join into a ring with a slip stitch.

2) Chain 3 (counts as first dc), then working into one loop only of each chain stitch, dc once into each of next 3 ch, 7dc into next stitch for corner, dc once into each of next 9 ch, 7 dc in next stitch for corner, dc once into each of next 9 ch, 7 dc in next stitch for corner, dc once into next 5 ch, join with slip stitch into 3rd chain of initial stitch. Break off yarn.

3) Make a new chain of 30 stitches. Before joining, weave the chain around the first triangle, as per the 1st photo . You need to go under and then back over each side of the 1st triangle, so that there are 6 places where the two finished triangles will overlap. Taking care not to twist the chain, join with a slip stitch.

4) Repeat instruction 2. I recommend keeping your hook in the same place relative to the first triangle, and moving the second set of stitches round as you work. Your 2 finished interlocking triangles may not lie flat or regular at this moment – after a few more rows are worked, the loose ends can be used to tack the 2 triangles together.

5) Join yarn with an sc to any 4th dc of a triangle point (i.e. the top of the point). Ch 5, sc in the 4th dc (middle) of next point, ch 11, sc in the 4th dc (middle) of next point, ch 11, sc in the 4th dc (middle) of next point, ch 5, sc in the 4th dc (middle) of next point, ch 11, sc in the 4th dc (middle) of next point, ch 11, join with slip stitch to first sc. [Note: you should now have chain loops between the points (2 small loops and 4 larger ones).]

6) Ch 1 (counts as first sc), then in small chain loop 5 sc. Sc in sc of previous round, in large loop (4 sc, ch 3, 7 sc), sc in sc of previous round, in large loop (7 sc, ch 3, 4 sc), sc in sc of previous round, in small loop 5 sc, sc in sc of previous round, in large loop (4 sc, ch 3, 7 sc), sc in sc of previous round, in large loop (7 sc, ch 3, 4 sc). Join with slip stitch to first ch. Break yarn for colour change. [Note: you should now have 4 sides each of 15 sc, and 4 ch 3 corners.]

7) Join in corner. Ch 3 (counts as first dc), then dc into each sc of previous round. At corner dc, ch 3, dc. Continue with plain dc and corners until final corner - dc, ch, join with hdc into 3rd chain of first stitch. [Note: stitch count - 17 dc per side]

8) Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc, skip 2 stitches, in next dc (i.e. 3rd) 3 dc, * skip 2 stitches, in next dc work 3 dc* repeat from * to * across to corner. In corner chain loop 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. Repeat from * to * along each side, with corner loops of 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. In final corner 3 dc, ch, then hdc into 3rd chain of first stitch. [Note: stitch count - 8 groups of 3 dc per side.]

9) Ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc, then 3 dc in each gap between the 3 dc groups of the previous round. In corner loop 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. Continue with 3 dc groups along sides, and corner loops of 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. In final corner 3 dc, ch, then hdc into 3rd chain of first stitch.

10) Option 1: Repeat instruction 9 until square reaches desired size.

11) Option 2: For a little variety, work one round of plain dc into each dc of previous round, with ch 5 on corners. On following round: ch 3 (counts as first dc), 2 dc, skip 1 stitch then 3 dc in next stitch, * skip 2 stitches then 3 dc in next stitch*, repeat from * to * until corner. Skip 1 stitch, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc. Continue sides with 3 dc in the stitch above the central dc of each group of 3 two rounds below, and 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc in the corner loop. In final corner 3 dc, ch, then hdc into 3rd chain of first stitch. If further rounds are required to obtain size, repeat instruction 9.

12) Break yarn and weave in ends.

Copyright Feb 2010 Catkitbob designs