Beachcombing Blanket – Week 4

Welcome to Week 4 of my ‘Beachcombing Blanket’! 🙂 I hope you’re all well and keeping safe. So many of you who are crocheting along have told me how comforting and helpful you’re finding crochet, particularly during this time of the Coronavirus pandemic. Lockdown continues in so many countries all over the world and having our crochet or other creative crafts to focus on really can help! 🙂

And here’s a video I recorded to introduce this driftwood inspired week… enjoy! 🙂

I’ve so enjoyed creating the usual weekly round-up from photos shared on Instagram and the Facebook group. Here they are…

In my previous CAL’s we enjoyed people sharing progress photos out and about from beautiful locations all over the world, including many amazing beaches. Sadly that’s not possible during the Coronavirus pandemic but I love that many of you are being creative at home with seaside props featuring as well as our beloved pets!

Here’s one with a sleeping Salty. All the dog groomers are shut at the moment so she’s looking increasingly scruffy although I had a go at trimming her little beard!! 🙂

Some people have asked about their squares coming out different sizes… please don’t worry! Tension can vary depending on lots of things and therefore size differences happen… It’s only a problem if there’s a huge difference. If the difference is only a small amount then it will be absolutely fine. You could block the smaller square to ease it to the same size as the bigger square. But you don’t have to… so long as you have the 51 stitches on each side, when they are joined the stitches will marry up together and the weight of a blanket eases all those stitches together…

For those of you who have purchased the PDF pattern on Ravelry it has now been updated to include Week 4 in both UK and US terms…

Ravelry Pattern for Beachcombing Blanket

This weeks square is inspired by a wonderful beachcombing find and another one of my favourites… driftwood! 🙂

All kinds of shapes and sizes can be found along our shorelines… from tiny twigs and small branches to entire tree trunks!

I always wonder where the wood has travelled from. Wood can end up in the sea from so many different sources – uprooted trees and fallen branches which have been washed down rivers, timber that’s come off cargo ships or boats and broken piers and jetty’s further along the coast are just a few possibilities.

We came across this huge wooden post a couple of years ago…

It was incredibly heavy but the power of the sea had moved it further up the beach when we visited the beach the following day. My daughter seen here gives an idea of just how large this piece was…

Some pieces of wood that finally wash up onto beaches are so large and heavy that they find a new permanent home on the beach. They make the perfect little seat for everyone to enjoy. This was a piece we discovered in Corfu last year and it became a regular place to rest for a while…

As well as a perfect backdrop for some crochet photos! 🙂

Those pieces of wood that have spent longest in the sea and have become bleached by the sun and sea worn are really very beautiful and can be used in so many creative ways. But driftwood does provide a habitat for a variety of sea creatures. So do check before you take any pieces home that there’s nothing living in or under the wood. The larger pieces provide a new home for beach dwelling creatures too…

So here are some creative ways I have used driftwood over the years combined with my crochet…

My original ‘Coastal Crochet’ sign which I made 5 years ago is crocheted chains on a piece of driftwood…

And then I’ve made driftwood Christmas trees to hang crocheted decorations from. Some of my regular followers will recognise these I’m sure. Here’s how I made my driftwood trees…

I designed this ‘Coastal Wall Hanging‘ for Hobbycraft and it was the perfect combination of crochet hanging from driftwood…

Little crocheted sails for boat shaped pieces of driftwood… here’s the simple pattern for the little-crocheted-sail…

And here I wrapped crocheted mistletoe and fairy lights around a piece of driftwood…

And of course I use planks of driftwood as a backdrop for so many of my crochet photos…

We don’t actually get that much driftwood on our local beach. It really does vary from beach to beach. These were found whilst on holiday in North Cornwall a couple of years ago where there seems to be a lot more that washes up onto shore…

Driftwood really is a beautiful beachcombing find…

So let’s get crocheting!

The full written pattern with lots of photos and links to YouTube tutorials is below in UK crochet terms. At the very end of this blog post I’ve provided the pattern in US terms too.

PATTERN IN UK CROCHET TERMINOLOGY.

Abbreviations

ch: chain

ch-sp(s): chain space(s)

htr: half treble

mm: millimetres

RS: right side

RtrB: Raised treble back (see below)

RtrF: Raised treble front (see below)

RtrtrF: Raised triple treble front (see below)

ss: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

tr: treble

trtr: triple treble

WS: wrong side

yoh: yarn over hook

RtrB: Raised treble Back: complete a treble st as normal but insert hook around the stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the back to the front and then round to the back again.

RtrF: Raised treble Front: complete a treble st as normal but insert hook around the stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the front to the back and then round to the front again.

RtrtrF: Raised triple treble Front: complete a triple treble st as normal but insert hook around the stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the front to the back and then round to the front again.

Pattern Notes

It may help to put a stitch marker into the top of the starting/ turning chains at the beginning of each round or row making it easier to identify them as a stitch and the correct place to insert your hook at the end of the round or subsequent rows.

Week 4 – Driftwood Square

This square is inspired by pieces of sea worn driftwood that have travelled across the oceans to our shores

6 colours are used: Yarns A, B, C, D, G and J.

MAKE TWO OF THESE SQUARES.

Here’s a tutorial for Rounds 1 – 3.

Using Yarn J, make 4ch, ss to first ch to join into a ring.

At the end of Rounds 1 – 10 the work is turned at the end of each round to help keep those raised stitches straight.

Round 1 (RS) 3ch (counts as first tr here and throughout), 2tr into the ring, (2ch, 3tr into the ring) three times, 2ch, ss to top of first 3 ch to join, fasten off, turn. [12 sts and 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 2 (WS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, 1tr in each of next 3 sts, *(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, 1tr in each of next 3 sts, repeat from * two times, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off, turn. [7 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 3 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 htr and 2 ch), 1htr in same corner ch-sp, *1htr in next st, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around central tr below from Round 1, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the same central st below from Round 1 just worked around, 1htr in final st of side, **(1htr, 2ch, 1htr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [9 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Here’s a tutorial for Rounds 4 – 6.

In Round 4 pay attention to crochet into the last htr st of each side which is less clear when crocheting into the htr sts.

Round 4 (WS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, *(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off, turn. [13 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 5 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 htr and 2 ch), 1htr in same corner ch-sp, * 1htr in each of next 2 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the right raised st below from Round 3, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the central st below from Round 2, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the left raised st below from Round 3, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, ** (1htr, 2ch, 1htr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [15 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 6 (WS) Join Yarn J to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [19 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Here’s a tutorial for Rounds 7 – 9.

Round 7 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 htr and 2 ch), 1htr in same corner ch-sp, * 1htr in each of next 3 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the right raised st below from Round 5, 1htr in each of next 5 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the central raised st below from Round 5, 1htr in each of next 5 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the left raised st below from Round 5, 1htr in each of next 3 sts, ** (1htr, 2ch, 1htr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [21 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 8 (WS) Join Yarn G to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [25 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 9 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 htr and 2 ch), 1htr in same corner ch-sp, * 1htr in next st, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the first tr st below from Round 6, 1htr in each of next 10 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the central raised st below from Round 7, 1htr in each of next 10 sts, miss next st working 1RtrtrF around the final tr st below from Round 6, 1htr in final st of side, ** (1htr, 2ch, 1htr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [27 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Here’s a tutorial for Rounds 10 – 15.

Round 10 (WS) Join Yarn C to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [31 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

The rest of the square is now made without turning at the end of the round. The RS is facing at all times.

Round 11 (RS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, *(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [35 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 12 Join Yarn B to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, * (1RtrF around each of next 2 sts, 1RtrB around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1RtrF around each of next 3 sts, (1RtrB around each of next 2 sts, 1RtrF around each of next 2 sts) four times, **(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [39 sts on each side]

Round 13 Join Yarn G to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, * 1RtrB around each of next 2 sts, (1RtrF around each of next 2 sts, 1RtrB around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1RtrF around each of next 3 sts, (1RtrB around each of next 2 sts, 1RtrF around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1RtrB around each of final 2 sts of side, **(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [43 sts on each side]

Round 14 Join Yarn C to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1tr, 2ch, 2tr) in same corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, *(2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, 1tr in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, ss to top of first 3 ch, do not fasten off. [47 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 15 3ch, 1tr in next st, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, *1tr in each st to end of side, (2tr, 2ch, 2tr) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * two times, 1tr in each st to end, ss to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [51 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Weave in all ends.

And there you have a driftwood inspired square! There’s just one more square design to make two of next week and then we’ll start to join them all together and we’ll move onto to the next part of our blanket journey!

Happy Crocheting Everyone… 🙂 🙂

PATTERN IN US TERMINOLOGY.

Abbreviations

BPdc: Back Post double crochet (see below)

ch: chain

ch-sp(s): chain space(s)

dc: double crochet

dtr: double treble

FPdc: Front Post double crochet (see below)

FPdtr: Front Post double treble (see below)

hdc: half double crochet

mm: millimetres

RS: right side

sl st: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

WS: wrong side

yoh: yarn over hook

BPdc: Back Post double crochet: complete a double crochet st as normal but insert hook around the post / stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the back to the front and then round to the back again.

FPdc: Front Post double crochet: complete a double crochet st as normal but insert hook around the post / stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the front to the back and then round to the front again.

FPdtr: Front Post double treble: complete a double treble st as normal but insert hook around the post / stem of the st inserting hook from right to left going from the front to the back and then round to the front again.

Pattern Notes

It may help to put a stitch marker into the top of the starting/ turning chains at the beginning of each round or row making it easier to identify them as a stitch and the correct place to insert your hook at the end of the round or subsequent rows.

Week 4 – Driftwood Square

This square is inspired by pieces of sea worn driftwood that have travelled across the oceans to our shores

6 colours are used: Yarns A, B, C, D, G and J.

MAKE TWO OF THESE SQUARES.

Using Yarn J, make 4ch, sl st to first ch to join into a ring.

At the end of Rounds 1 – 10 the work is turned at the end of each round to help keep those raised stitches straight.

Round 1 (RS) 3ch (counts as first dc here and throughout), 2dc into the ring, (2ch, 3dc into the ring) three times, 2ch, sl st to top of first 3 ch to join, fasten off, turn. [12 sts and 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 2 (WS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, *(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, repeat from * two times, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off, turn. [7 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 3 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 hdc and 2 ch), 1hdc in same corner ch-sp, *1hdc in next st, skip next st working 1FPdtr around central dc below from Round 1, 1hdc in each of next 3 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the same central st below from Round 1 just worked around, 1hdc in final st of side, **(1hdc, 2ch, 1hdc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [9 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

In Round 4 pay attention to crochet into the last hdc st of each side which is less clear when crocheting into the hdc sts.

Round 4 (WS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, *(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off, turn. [13 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 5 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 hdc and 2 ch), 1hdc in same corner ch-sp, * 1hdc in each of next 2 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the right raised st below from Round 3, 1hdc in each of next 3 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the central st below from Round 2, 1hdc in each of next 3 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the left raised st below from Round 3, 1hdc in each of next 2 sts, ** (1hdc, 2ch, 1hdc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [15 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 6 (WS) Join Yarn J to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [19 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 7 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 hdc and 2 ch), 1hdc in same corner ch-sp, * 1hdc in each of next 3 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the right raised st below from Round 5, 1hdc in each of next 5 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the central raised st below from Round 5, 1hdc in each of next 5 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the left raised st below from Round 5, 1hdc in each of next 3 sts, ** (1hdc, 2ch, 1hdc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [21 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 8 (WS) Join Yarn G to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [25 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 9 (RS) Join Yarn A to any corner ch-sp, 4ch (counts as 1 hdc and 2 ch), 1hdc in same corner ch-sp, * 1hdc in next st, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the first dc st below from Round 6, 1hdc in each of next 10 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the central raised st below from Round 7, 1hdc in each of next 10 sts, skip next st working 1FPdtr around the final dc st below from Round 6, 1hdc in final st of side, ** (1hdc, 2ch, 1hdc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to second ch of beginning 4 ch, fasten off, turn. [27 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 10 (WS) Join Yarn C to any corner ch-sp and repeat Round 4. [31 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

The rest of the square is now made without turning at the end of the round. The RS is facing at all times.

Round 11 (RS) Join Yarn D to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, *(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [35 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 12 Join Yarn B to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, * (1FPdc around each of next 2 sts, 1BPdc around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1FPdc around each of next 3 sts, (1BPdc around each of next 2 sts, 1FPdc around each of next 2 sts) four times, **(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [39 sts on each side]

Round 13 Join Yarn G to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, * 1BPdc around each of next 2 sts, (1FPdc around each of next 2 sts, 1BPdc around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1FPdc around each of next 3 sts, (1BPdc around each of next 2 sts, 1FPdc around each of next 2 sts) four times, 1BPdc around each of final 2 sts of side, **(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * three times ending final repeat at **, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [43 sts on each side]

Round 14 Join Yarn C to any corner ch-sp, 3ch, (1dc, 2ch, 2dc) in same corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, *(2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, 1dc in each st to end of side, repeat from * two times, sl st to top of first 3 ch, do not fasten off. [47 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Round 15 3ch, 1dc in next st, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, *1dc in each st to end of side, (2dc, 2ch, 2dc) in corner ch-sp, repeat from * two times, 1dc in each st to end, sl st to top of first 3 ch, fasten off. [51 sts on each side with 4 x corner 2-ch-sps]

Weave in all ends.