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Monday, July 29, 2013

Skull Square Motif



(What's that creepy-looking skeletal shadow?!)

July 29, 2013:

Hi everyone and welcome!

I saw the most interesting shawl pattern on the internet recently.   I came across this pretty pattern which reminds me of the spider web design but instead of the chain lengths extending to a diamond-shaped grouping of single crochet stitches in the middle, there are the chain lengths extending on either side to a little skull.    Interesting!

The Skull Shawl pattern is one by Majkis at her blog at:
Virkad döskallesjal. Med mönster // Crochet skull shawl. With pattern.

She notes on her blog that this is the first time that she has written a pattern in English.  Her blog is a Swedish blog.  The English translations for each step are below the photographs on her blog.  It's a little hard to follow and it's only written for the shawl as a whole; not directions for individual "stand-alone" motifs.  The "stand-alone" motifs are what I wanted to do instead.

Also, the Skull Shawl blog post notes that the skull part is made two different ways:
Method #1.  The eyes are made as a separate piece and then crocheted onto the bottom of the skull above the teeth.
Method #2.  The eyes are made WITHOUT making them as a separate piece.  Row 9 is the most complicated as there are more turns in this row and this is how the eyes are worked.

*I prefer to make the skull as method #2 and not making the eyes as a separate piece.  Benefit to this is that there aren't the extra ends to sew in later.

So, I started to crochet, rip and write, crochet, rip and write.....many times!  I finally came up with the motif.  I figured out how to do the decreasing for the upper part of the motif when it shapes back into a point (remember, this is a diamond shaped motif).

I still want to work up this shawl pattern soon as a shawl.  I think it will be a great "conversation piece" garment.

I, with my crochet symbol sketching skills not up to par, decided to write it out instead.  But I do have this pattern written out as clearly as I can make it and taking beginners into account.

Abbreviations (American terminology):
sp:  space
ch(s):  chain(s)
sl st:  slip stitch
hdc:  half double crochet
dc:  double crochet
dtr:  double triple/treble crochet (3 yarn overs)
5-YO stitch:  yarn over 5 times keeping yarn fairly tight.  Just think of this as a really tall stitch!


Here is the way I make this motif!


Chain 11.

Row 1.  Skip 1st 7 chains, 1 dc in each of the next 4 chs.  Ch 2, dtr in the same ch as the last dc just made.  Turn.

Row 2.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in last ch space, ch 2, dtr in same sp as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 3.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in last ch space.  Ch 2, dtr in same sp as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 4.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, (ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space) 3 times more.  Ch 2, dtr in same sp as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 5.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 9, skip next ch space, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in last ch space, ch 2, dtr in same sp as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 6.  (pictured)  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, 4 sc in ch-9 space, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space.  Ch 2, dtr in same space as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.



Row 7.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, (dc in next sc, ch 1) 3 times, dc in next sc, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space.  Ch 2, dtr in same sp as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 8.  (pictured on wrong side)  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space,  ch 7, skip 4 chs of the next ch-6 space, 1 sc in 5th ch, 1 sc in 6th ch, (sc in next dc, sc in next ch-1 sp) 3 times, sc in next dc, 1 sc in each of the next 2 chs of the next ch-6 space, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space.  Ch 2, dtr in same space as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.




Row 9.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space.
Ch 8, 1 sc in each of 1st 4 sc, ch 5, skip next 3 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, turn.
Ch 6, sc in center of ch-5 space, ch 6, skip 3 sc, sl st in next sc, turn.
10 Sc in 1st ch-6 space, 10 sc in next ch-6 space, sl st in end sc of previous row.
Ch 7, 4 dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2, 4 dc in last space.
Ch 2, dtr in same space as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

Row 10.  Ch 7, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, skip 1st 2 sc, sl st across next 16 sc, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch-2 space, ch 2, 4 dc in last sp.
Make one 5-YO stitch in same space as the last 4 dc just made.  Turn.

*Now you will be decreasing the sides on the upper half of this motif.

Row 11.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, skip 1st 2 slip stitches, sc in next 12 slip stitches, ch 7, 4 dc in next space (towards end of row), ch 2, 4 dc in next ch-2 space, dtr in turning ch-8 space of previous row.  Turn.

Row 12.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, skip 1st 2 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 8 sc, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last space.  Turn.

Row 13.  Ch 5, 4 d in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, skip 1 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 6 sc, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last ch space.  Turn.

Row 14.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 7, skip 1 sc, 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, ch 7, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last space.  Turn.

Row 15.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 6, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in next ch space.  Turn.

Row 16.  ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in same ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last ch space.  Turn.

Row 17.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last ch space.  Turn.

Row 18.  Ch 5, 4 dc in 1st ch space, ch 2, 4 dc in next ch space, dtr in last ch space.  Turn.

Row 19.  Ch 5, 4 dc in next ch space, ch 5, sl st in 1st ch of next ch space.






EDGING:

*the edging stabilizes this motif and gives it a better shape.
**Working a 2nd round of stitches stabilizes the shape of the motif even better!
***I prefer 2 rounds of edging for shaping.


Round 1.  Without turning work, crochet 4 sc in each space around the perimeter and work 1 sc in each of the 4 stitches at the top and bottom of the motif.


Round 2.  Work 1 hdc in each sc stitch around, working an extra 2 hdc stitches at each corner.

Fasten off and sew in ends well with a large-eyed sewing needle.  Lightly press if necessary.




Two motifs finished.  I have the one of the left with an edging of single crochet stitches.  I noticed that by working sc (single crochet stitches) around the perimeter, this tends to stabilize the motif and makes it look more even.  If you put a round of hdc (half double crochet stitches) in the sc stitches, it looks more even and seems to stabilize the shape even better.  I have not tried a 3rd round of stitches around the perimeter.


These motifs all have 2 rounds of edging.  The first round is 4 sc stitches in each space around and the next round are 1 hdc in each sc around, making 2 extra hdc stitches in each corner to make the motif lay flat.
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This next section is the motif worked up with the eyes made separately.  I have included several photos which I took as I was making the skull part with this method.

I prefer to make the motif in one piece to avoid sewing in extra ends but that is something that is a personal preference.

Majkis explains on her blog how to make the eyes separately and attach them.  Just click the above link towards the top of this blog post page.










That's it!!!

Have fun if you decide to try to make this little Skull Motif!  It is rather fun!

Heck, I just thought of something......wear this as an accessory to to a witch's costume!!!   AWESOME!!!!    :)  :)

Happy crocheting!    ~Lee Ann Hamm    crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com

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2 comments:

  1. Lindo, parabéns Lee Ann, um beijo.

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    1. Obrigada, Kika! Estou feliz que você gosta desse padrão! Obrigado por visitar meu blog e por comentar! :)
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      Lee Ann H
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      Crochet...Gotta Love It! Blog

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