{"id":2166,"date":"2013-03-17T17:19:29","date_gmt":"2013-03-17T23:19:29","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/?p=2166"},"modified":"2015-03-04T12:27:50","modified_gmt":"2015-03-04T18:27:50","slug":"no-beginning-chain-strawberry-lace-blanket","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/2013\/03\/17\/no-beginning-chain-strawberry-lace-blanket\/","title":{"rendered":"No Beginning Chain Strawberry Lace Blanket"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

The first row of an afghan with homespun or boucl\u00e9 or other knobby style yarn can be frustrating. This afghan does not require finding chain stitches, even for the first row. The lacy strawberries and shells keep the afghan light even with a heavier yarn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

This pattern was designed to be easy for homespun or boucl\u00e9 style yarns, but it can be made with just about any yarn. Make it in a solid color or with as many color changes as you like.<\/p>\n

The example is made in Yarn Bee Boucle Traditions.
\n
\nSize:
\n<\/strong>This blanket can be made any size. Five widths are given in the directions.<\/p>\n

[grid width=”600″ cols=”100,*,100,*,*”] Size|Width (Inches)|Length (Inches)|Ounces of yarn|Yards of yarn~ Extra Small|31|41.33|12.53|613.74~ Small|39.55|52.74|20.39|999.06~ Medium|48.1|64.14|30.16|1477.79~ Large|56.66|75.54|41.84|2049.93~ Extra Large|65.21|86.94|55.42|2715.48~[\/grid]<\/strong><\/p>\n

Materials:
\nYarn – Sizing given for Aran weight yarn but other weights can be used
\nSize J (6mm) crochet hook
\n
\nAbbreviations:
\n<\/strong>ch = chain
\nch sp = chain space
\ndc = double crochet
\nsc = single crochet
\ntr = triple crochet
\n
\nSpecial stitches:
\nSB (Strawberry Bottom) – <\/strong>work the following in the ch sp or over stitch indicated: (1 dc, ch 1) \u00a0four times, 1 dc
\nShell – <\/strong>work the following in the ch sp or over stitch indicated: 2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc<\/strong><\/p>\n

Instructions:<\/p>\n

<\/strong>There is also a video<\/a> and a chart<\/a> available for this pattern.<\/p>\n

Instead of a beginning chain, the blanket is begun with a first row of chain and tr spaces.<\/p>\n

For these widths, start with this number of chain and tr spaces:
\n31″ = 29
\n39.5″ = 37
\n48″ = 45
\n56.75″ = 53
\n65.25″ = 61<\/p>\n

Row 1:<\/strong> Ch 3, tr in first ch, (ch 3, tr in last ch sp) until you have made desired number of tr\/ch spaces. Make a number of them that is a multiple of 4 plus 1.<\/p>\n

Do not turn.<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Row 2:<\/strong> Ch 4. Without turning the work, make 2 dc over tr just made. Working across the tr stitches, ch 1, skip 1 tr, SB over next tr, ch 1, skip 1 tr ** Shell over next tr, ch 1, skip 1 tr, SB over next tr, ch 1, skip 1 tr. Repeat from ** across to the last tr stitch. Work (2 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) over last tr.<\/p>\n

Row 3:<\/strong> Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip ch-1 space between dc and SB, sc in first ch-1 sp of SB, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times, ch 1, skip ch-1 sp between SB and Shell, \u00a0** Shell in next Shell, ch 1, skip ch-1 space between Shell and SB, sc in first ch-1 sp of SB, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times, ch 1, skip ch-1 sp between SB and Shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-4 sp.<\/p>\n

Row 4:<\/strong> Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 2, skip ch-1 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) two times, ch 2, skip ch-1 sp between strawberry and Shell, \u00a0** Shell in next Shell, ch 2, skip ch-1 space between Shell and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp of strawberry, (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) two times, ch 2, skip ch-1 sp between strawberry and Shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-4 sp.<\/p>\n

Row 5:<\/strong> Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip ch-2 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip ch-2 sp between strawberry and Shell, \u00a0** Shell in next Shell, ch 3, skip ch-2 space between Shell and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp of strawberry, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip ch-2 sp between strawberry and Shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-4 sp.<\/p>\n

Row 6:<\/strong> Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 3, skip ch-3 space between dc and strawberry, (tr, ch 3, tr) in ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip ch-3 sp between strawberry and Shell, \u00a0** Shell in next Shell, ch 3, skip ch-3 space between Shell and strawberry, (tr, ch 3, tr) in ch-3 sp of strawberry, ch 3, skip ch-3 sp between strawberry and Shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-4 sp.<\/p>\n

Row 7:<\/strong> Ch 4 and turn. 2 dc in ch-1 sp, ch 1, skip ch-3 space between dc and strawberry, SB in ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip ch-3 sp between strawberry and Shell, \u00a0** Shell in next Shell, ch 1, skip ch-3 space between Shell and strawberry, SB in ch-3 sp of strawberry, ch 1, skip ch-3 sp between strawberry and Shell. Repeat from ** across to ch-4 turning chain. (2 dc, ch 1, dc) in ch-4 sp.<\/p>\n

Repeat row 3 to 7 until afghan is desired length. Finish off and weave in end.<\/p>\n

Optional Border<\/strong><\/p>\n

To add this optional border, continue the main blanket ending with a row 6, except making a ch 2 instead of a ch 1 in the last partial shell of the row.<\/p>\n

Border round 1 – continuing from the row 6, (dc, ch 2, shell) in that same ch-4 turing chain. Continue working down the side of the blanket in spaces created by the ch-4s at the beginning of rows and the dc at the end of rows. Ch 3, dc in the next space, ch 3, dc in the next space, ch 3, skip a space, shell in the next space, ** ch 3, skip a space, dc in the next space, ch 3, dc in the next space, ch 3, skip a space, shell in the next space. Repeat from ** down the side of the blanket. The last shell will be in the first chain loop at the bottom of the blanket. (ch 2, shell) in this same space. Continuing across the loop spaces at the bottom of the blanket, *** ch 3, skip a space, (dc, ch 3 dc) in next space, ch 3, skip a space, shell in next space. Repeat from *** across bottom of blanket. Last shell will be in the last loop space at the bottom of the blanket. (ch 2, shell) in this same space. Continue working down the other side of the blanket in spaces created by the ch-4s at the beginning of rows and the dc at the end of rows. Ch 3, skip a space, dc in the next space, ch 3, dc in the next space, ch 3, **** skip a space, shell in next space, ch 3, skip a space, dc in the next space, ch 3, dc in the next space, ch 3. Repeat from **** across to end of the side. (shell, ch 2, dc) in the last side dc space. Sl st to join to the third ch of the beginning of the last row of the blanket.<\/p>\n

Border round 2 – Sl st into ch sp. Ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same ch sp, ** ch 1, skip ch-3 space, SB in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip next ch-3 sp, Shell in next Shell. Repeat from ** across to corner, shell in ch-2 space between shells, [shell in next shell, *** ch 1, skip ch-3 space, SB in next ch-3 sp, ch 1, skip next ch-3 sp, Shell in next Shell. Repeat from *** across to corner, shell in ch-2 space between shells] three times. Sl st to join to the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round.<\/p>\n

Border round 3 – Sl st in dc, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same ch sp, ** ch 1, skip ch-1 space between dc and SB, sc in first ch-1 sp of SB, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times, ch 1, skip ch-1 sp between SB and Shell, Shell in next Shell. Repeat from ** across to corner, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, [shell in next shell, *** ch 1, skip ch-1 space between dc and SB, sc in first ch-1 sp of SB, (ch 3, sc in next ch-1 sp) three times, ch 1, skip ch-1 sp between SB and Shell, Shell in next Shell. Repeat from *** across to corner, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, shell in next shell, ch 2] three times. Sl st to join to the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round.<\/p>\n

Border round 4 – Sl st in dc, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same ch sp, **ch 2, skip ch-1 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) two times, ch 2, skip ch-1 sp between strawberry and Shell, Shell in next Shell, Repeat from ** across to corner, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, [shell in next shell, ***ch 2, skip ch-1 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, (ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp) two times, ch 2, skip ch-1 sp between strawberry and Shell, Shell in next Shell, Repeat from *** across to corner, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2 ] three times. Sl st to join to the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round.<\/p>\n

Border round 5 – Sl st in dc, sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3, (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same ch sp, **ch 3, skip ch-2 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip ch-2 sp between strawberry and Shell, Shell in next Shell, Repeat from ** across to corner, (ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp) twice, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2, [shell in next shell, ***ch 3, skip ch-2 space between dc and strawberry, sc in first ch-3 sp, ch 3, sc in next ch-3 sp, ch 3, skip ch-2 sp between strawberry and Shell, Shell in next Shell, Repeat from *** across to corner, (ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp) twice, ch 2, shell in corner shell, ch 2, 2 dc in ch-2 sp, ch 2] three times. Sl st to join to the 3rd ch at the beginning of the round. Finish off and weave in end.<\/p>\n

The blanket can be made in a solid color or can be made with any number of color changes. The best way to make a color change is to finish all but the very last pull through of the two loops of the last stitch of a row. Cut yarn with a few inches of tail and join with new color next to stitch. Pull new color through last two loops. Weave in ends.<\/p>\n

Edits:
\n3\/4\/15 – added optional border<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The lacy strawberries and shells keep the afghan light even with a heavier yarn. This pattern was designed to be easy for homespun or boucl\u00e9 style yarns, but it can be made with just about any yarn.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":2168,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[3,9,7],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2166"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2723,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2166\/revisions\/2723"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2168"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2166"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2166"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/blogs.thetucker.com\/knit\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2166"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}