Beachcombing Blanket – Week 6

Welcome to Week 6 of my ‘Beachcombing Blanket’ crochet along. This is an exciting week because we finally get to join those squares! 🙂 And it also means that at the end of this week we’ll be at the half way point. The blanket journey will feel a little different in this second half of the crochet along because we’ll be crocheting in longer rows… we can enjoy more mindful crochet with all those repetitive stitches. 🙂

And I managed to record another video! It’s a sunny one again… enjoy!

Next week I’m hoping to be able to record a video taking you around the base of that cliff you often see behind me. It will need to be low tide so I’ll have to time it right. 🙂

It’s been another fabulous week of photos being shared on Instagram and in the Facebook group… the sea glass square certainly got many of you reminiscing about times when you have searched for seaglass…

For those of you who have purchased the PDF pattern on Ravelry it has now been updated to include Week 6 in both UK and US terms…

Ravelry Pattern for Beachcombing Blanket

So we begin this week with joining the squares before we then move onto crocheting the first side panel. A side panel which is crocheted in an embossed shell stitch. I do so love seeing these squares together…

Here’s my cotton blanket in the making… 🙂

And here’s my acrylic blanket… 🙂

Crocheting these squares is really wonderful! 🙂 Enjoy seeing your blanket start coming together… 🙂

Tomorrow, 16th May, is Salty’s Birthday! She’ll be 9 years old… oh how I wish we could slow time down just a little… she’s such a joy to have in our lives and she’s growing up too fast. She’s featured here by my side on ‘Coastal Crochet’ since the very beginning and often makes an appearance which is so special… she’s been a big part of my crochet journey for sure! So tomorrow we’ll be spoiling her with an extra long walk… 🥰🐾

The photo above was taken back in February soon after her last groom… she’s getting increasingly furry during this lockdown with groomers being shut… these photos were taken last weekend… 🙂 🐾

As well as some shells discovered whilst beachcombing this week, the coastal springtime flowers are still in full bloom and looking so beautiful. The Sea Thrift is looking especially lovely. Here are some photos for you to enjoy…

Last week I wrote about blocking your squares which some of you might benefit from if your squares are very different sizes. Do go back to that blog post if you missed it!

So let’s get crocheting and join these squares!

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)

dc: double crochet

dtr: double treble

htr: half treble

mm: millimetres

RS: right side

ss: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

tr: treble

WS: wrong side

yoh: yarn over hook

 

Week 6 – Joining the Squares and first Side Panel

The squares will now be joined and the first side panel is crocheted.

Joining the Squares

Here’s a tutorial for joining the squares.

The squares are joined together with simple double crochet stitches going through the corresponding stitches of both squares to be joined. Lay out the squares using the photo as a guide. Start by joining the squares with the two horizontal joins and finish with the two vertical joins.

Horizontal join

Pay attention that when you get to the ammonite square, the ammonite fossil is facing the correct way.

Start on the outer right side of the squares. With the WS of the squares facing together, join Yarn C to the other right corner ch-sps of the first two squares to be joined inserting your hook through both layers. Make 1ch (does not count as a st), 1dc in same corner ch-sp, continue with 1dc in each st across going through both squares to end of side, 1dc in corner ch-sp of both squares, *continue with 1dc in corner ch-sp of the next two squares to be joined ensuring they are the correct way and WS together, 1dc in each st of both squares to end of side, 1dc in corner ch-sp, repeat from * for the remaining two squares to be joined in this horizontal join, fasten off.

Vertical join

When doing the vertical joins follow the instructions for horizontal join but work an extra 1ch between the corner ch-sps when going across the horizontal join.

Here’s a tutorial for the first Side Panel.

Side Panel 1

The side panel is crocheted in an embossed shell stitch which is inspired by all those seashells!

4 colours are used: Yarns A, B, G and H.

Pattern Notes

When joining a new colour do so at the final yoh of the final st of the row as indicated. Fasten off the previous colour used and continue onto next row with new colour.

Row 1 With RS facing and ensuring you are crocheting along one of the sides of the blanket (the ammonite square can be used as a guide), join Yarn H to outer right corner ch-sp, 1ch (does not count as st), 2dc in same corner ch-sp, * 1dc in each st across to next corner ch-sp, 1dc in each of next 2 corner ch-sps, repeat from * once more, 1dc in each st across final square to final corner ch-sp, 2dc in final corner ch-sp, turn. [161 sts]

Row 2 (WS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in each st across, join with Yarn G at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 3 (RS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in first st, miss 3 sts, 7dtr in next st, (1ch, miss 7 sts, 7dtr in next st) 19 times, miss 3 sts, 1dc in final st, join with Yarn H at end of final st, turn. [20 shells]

Row 4 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in first st, (1dc in each of next 7 sts around shell, 1dc in central st of the missed 7 dc sts from 2 rows below) 19 times, 1dc in each of next 7 sts around final shell, 1dc in final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 5 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in each st across, join with Yarn A at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 6 4ch (counts as first dtr), 3dtr in st at base of 4 ch, (1ch, miss 7 sts, 7dtr in next st) 19 times, 1ch, miss 7 sts, 4dtr in final st, join with Yarn H at end of final st, turn. [19 shells with half shell at beginning and end of row]

Row 7 (RS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in each of next 4 sts, 1dc in central st of the missed 7 dc sts from 2 rows below, (1dc in each of next 7 sts around shell, 1dc in central st of the missed 7 dc sts from 2 rows below) 19 times, 1dc in each of next 4 sts, turn. [161 sts]

Row 8 1ch (does not count as st), 1dc in each st across, join with Yarn B at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 9 Repeat Row 3 joining with Yan H at end of row.

Row 10 Repeat Row 4.

Row 11 3ch (counts as first tr), *1htr in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in each of next 3 sts, 1htr in each of next 2 sts, 1tr in next st, repeat from * to end, turn. [161 sts]

Row 12 3ch (counts as first tr), 1tr in next st and each st to end, fasten off. [161 sts]

Weave in all ends.

And there you have the first part of this next stage in creating our blankets… enjoy!

And Happy Crocheting.. 🙂 🙂

 

PATTERN IN US CROCHET TERMINOLOGY.

Abbreviations

ch: chain

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

dc: double crochet

hdc: half double crochet

mm: millimetres

RS: right side

sc: single crochet

sl st: slip stitch

st(s): stitch(es)

tr: treble

WS: wrong side

yoh: yarn over hook

Week 6 – Joining the Squares and first Side Panel

The squares will now be joined and the first side panel is crocheted.

Joining the Squares

The squares are joined together with simple single crochet stitches going through the corresponding stitches of both squares to be joined. Lay out the squares using the photo as a guide. Start by joining the squares with the two horizontal joins and finish with the two vertical joins.

Horizontal join

Pay attention that when you get to the ammonite square, the ammonite fossil is facing the correct way.

Start on the outer right side of the squares. With the WS of the squares facing together, join Yarn C to the other right corner ch-sps of the first two squares to be joined inserting your hook through both layers. Make 1ch (does not count as a st), 1sc in same corner ch-sp, continue with 1sc in each st across going through both squares to end of side, 1sc in corner ch-sp of both squares, *continue with 1sc in corner ch-sp of the next two squares to be joined ensuring they are the correct way and WS together, 1sc in each st of both squares to end of side, 1sc in corner ch-sp, repeat from * for the remaining two squares to be joined in this horizontal join, fasten off.

Vertical join

When doing the vertical joins follow the instructions for horizontal join but work an extra 1ch between the corner ch-sps when going across the horizontal join.

Side Panel 1

The side panel is crocheted in an embossed shell stitch which is inspired by all those seashells!

4 colours are used: Yarns A, B, G and H.

Pattern Notes

When joining a new colour do so at the final yoh of the final st of the row as indicated. Fasten off the previous colour used and continue onto next row with new colour.

Row 1 With RS facing and ensuring you are crocheting along one of the sides of the blanket (the ammonite square can be used as a guide), join Yarn H to outer right corner ch-sp, 1ch (does not count as st), 2sc in same corner ch-sp, * 1sc in each st across to next corner ch-sp, 1sc in each of next 2 corner ch-sps, repeat from * once more, 1sc in each st across final square to final corner ch-sp, 2sc in final corner ch-sp, turn. [161 sts]

Row 2 (WS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in each st across, join with Yarn G at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 3 (RS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in first st, skip 3 sts, 7tr in next st, (1ch, skip 7 sts, 7tr in next st) 19 times, skip 3 sts, 1sc in final st, join with Yarn H at end of final st, turn. [20 shells]

Row 4 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in first st, (1sc in each of next 7 sts around shell, 1sc in central st of the missed 7 sc sts from 2 rows below) 19 times, 1sc in each of next 7 sts around final shell, 1sc in final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 5 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in each st across, join with Yarn A at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 6 4ch (counts as first tr), 3tr in st at base of 4 ch, (1ch, skip 7 sts, 7tr in next st) 19 times, 1ch, skip 7 sts, 4tr in final st, join with Yarn H at end of final st, turn. [19 shells with half shell at beginning and end of row]

Row 7 (RS) 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in each of next 4 sts, 1sc in central st of the missed 7 sc sts from 2 rows below, (1sc in each of next 7 sts around shell, 1sc in central st of the missed 7 sc sts from 2 rows below) 19 times, 1sc in each of next 4 sts, turn. [161 sts]

Row 8 1ch (does not count as st), 1sc in each st across, join with Yarn B at end of final st, turn. [161 sts]

Row 9 Repeat Row 3 joining with Yan H at end of row.

Row 10 Repeat Row 4.

Row 11 3ch (counts as first dc), *1hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1sc in each of next 3 sts, 1hdc in each of next 2 sts, 1dc in next st, repeat from * to end, turn. [161 sts]

Row 12 3ch (counts as first dc), 1dc in next st and each st to end, fasten off. [161 sts]

Weave in all ends.