Well a lot has happened since I last wrote, dual knee surgery, gastric bypass, breast cancer, lost my job, fought to get  disability, major depression which lasted 8 years until the right meds were found to work for me, at least 8 hospital stays due to health reasons, 4 of them just in 2013. 2013 was a rough year for hospital stays, I was on a respirator 4 times. Talk about scary!!

 Well on to the new stitch of the month!

 This classic design is an excellent filler block that will complement every afghan style. It is also quick to crochet with a pattern that is easy to memorize. 

Crochet Block: Concentric Squares

http://www.lionbrand.com/stitchfinder/crochet-block-concentric-squares/

Foundation chain: Ch 35.
Row 1 (right side): (as chart) yo, insert the hook into the 4th ch from the hook, work 1dc, dc into the next ch, this completes the first mesh. Cont to the end of the row using the chart as reference and counting each ch as either a sp or a st. Read the chart from right to left on odd numbered rows and left to right on even numbered rows. Turn.
Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as 1dc) cont to the end of the row, work the last dc into the 2nd ch of the beg-ch. Turn.
Cont to work as the chart, ch 2 (counts as 1dc) at the beginning of each row, and work the last dc into the top of beg-ch before turning.
Fasten off yarn.

Inverted variation

This block works well when surrounded by blocks with firmer edges. These will help to give the outer open mesh blocks shape.  

Foundation chain: Ch 36. Row 1: (as chart) yo, insert the hook into the 6th ch from the hook, work 1dc this completes the first mesh.
Cont to work as the chart, working the solid mesh blocks as open mesh blocks and the open mesh blocks as solid mesh. Ch 2 (counts as 1dc) at the beginning of each row, and work the last dc into the second ch of beg-ch before turning.
Fasten off yarn.
om open mesh-ch 1, sk 1 sp or dc, dc into the next dc st
sm solid mesh-dc into the next sp or st, dc into the next dc st

ABBREVIATIONS / REFERENCES Click for explanation and illustration
beg = begin(s)(ning)	foll = follow(s)(ing)
ch(s) = chain(s)	sk = skip
cont = continu(e)(s)(ing)	sp(s) = space(s)
dc = double crochet	st(s) = stitch(es)

Pattern by permission from Crochet Blocks in a Box by Luise Roberts, St. Martin's Griffin, 2007

 

Crochet Stitch of the Week:

Scallop Stripes

(colors A, B and C)

Stripe Sequence 2 rows A, 2B, 2C, 2B, 2A, 2C

(ch a multiple of 11 sts + 10)

Row 1 ~ Work 1 dc in 4th ch from hook, ch 1, skip 2 ch, 1 sc in next ch, *ch 5, skip 4 ch, 1 sc in next ch, ch 1, skip 2 ch, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next ch, ch 1, skip 2 ch, 1 sc in next ch; rep from *, end ch 2, skip 2 ch, 1 dc in last ch. Turn.

Row 2 ~ Ch 1, 1 sc in first dc, skip ch-2 sp, *3 dc in each of next 3 ch-1 sps, 1 sc in next ch-5 sp; rep from *, end 3 dc in last ch-1 sp, 2 dc in top of t-ch. Turn.

Row 3 ~ Ch 4, 1 sc between 2nd and 3rd dc of first scallop, *ch 1, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next sc, ch 1, 1 sc between first and 2nd dc of next scallop, ch 5, skip next scallop, 1 sc between 2nd and 3rd dc of next scallop; rep from *, end ch 1, 2 dc in last sc. Turn.

Row 4 ~ Ch 3, 1 dc in first dc, 3 dc in ch-1 sp, *1 sc in ch-5 sp, 3 dc in next 3 ch-1 sps; rep from *, end 1 sc in t-ch sp. Turn.

Row 5 ~ Ch 3, 1 dc in first sc, ch 1, *1 sc between first and 2nd dc of next scallop, ch 5, skip next scallop, 1 sc between between 2nd and 3rd dc of next scallop, ch 1, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next sc, ch 1; rep from *, end 1 sc between first and 2nd dc of last scallop, ch 2, 1 dc in top of t-ch. Turn.

Rep rows 2–5, continuing stripe sequence.