Block Stitch Afghan : the way I do it !!!!

.....what about two more pictures of my blanket to be????

Some of you asked me how the "dots" ( I call them "rice grains"!!!) can pop out in this way, so I thought it will be nice if I show you how this happens!!!! Happy about that??? Yes, I imagine so!

Collect just few things :

+ hook

+ yarn in different colours

+ scissors

+ tapestry needle

This is the chart (american crochet terminology), drawn by myself (!!!!!!) for the first two rows :

Your foundation chain will have these characteristics :

• chain 4, add as many as you like groups of "chain 3". For example : chain 4, then chain 150 (=50 groups of "chain 3"!!). In total, you will have 154 chains for your foundation chain!!!
• After having the right number of chains, you have to : chain 1 + chain 2 (that is your first chain-2 space where you are going to wrap the stitches of your first shell!!!!) + 1 SC in the 7th chain from the hook (look at the above chart, please!!!). Repeat chain 2 + 1 SC till the end. Follow the photo tutorial !!!

Choose the colour you would love to start with and make a slip knot.

Chain 20 stitches

Chain 2 more (total : 22 stitches) and make a single crochet (or SC) in the 7th stitch from the hook (that is the previous stitch 16 on the foundation chain!)

Now, chain 2 ...

                                                                                                                                    

... skip 2 stitches of the foundation chain and work 1 SC in the 3rd stitch (that is the previous 13 stitch of your foundation chain!)

Again : chain 2, skip 2, SC in third stitch (previous #10!)

Repeat this scheme other 3 times (in previous # 7, 4 and 1 stitches of the foundation chain. See chart to have a better idea of what I'm trying to show you!), till the end of the chain

Cut the yarn

and fasten off! Choose a new colour to start 

Row 1 :

first make a slip knot with the new colour on the hook

attach the yarn in the first chain-2 space with a SC and chain 3

in the same space work 2 double crochets ( or DC) (you wrap them around the stitches forming the chain-2 space!)

and chain 1

In the following chain-2 space : work 3 DCs and chain 1

At this point, you should notice your first "DOT"between the 2 shells!!!! This dot (and the other ones that will follow) is not other than your first single crochet of your work!!!!!! Ok???? :oD

Repeat other 4 times the scheme : 3 DCs + chain 1

To complete this row, chain 3 more stitches

and insert the hook in the last "dot" (shown with the tapestry needle)

make a slip stitch in the "dot" ,  cut the yarn and fasten off

Row 2 :

choose a new colour! Make a slip knot

and attach the yarn with a SC in between the previous first 3 chains and the first DC

Chain 2 

Work a SC in chain-1 space

Repeat : chain 2 + 1 SC until the end of the row

Cut yarn and fasten off!

Row 3 :

choose a new colour and repeat what you have done for row 1

Row 4 :

change colour and this time repeat the complete scheme of row 2

Row 5 :

change colour and see row 1 and row 3 !!!!

......and on and on and on.......as you wish !!!!!!!!!!!

I think that this is a very easy pattern and I love the fact that you crochet always in the front of your work!

Please, if you have any trouble/question don't hesitate to contact me or just leave a comment at the end of this post! Thank you !

xxxx Alessandra

Today links : Link your Stuff! and Craft Schooling Sunday  See you there!!!!