Crochet along .... Mandala (10)

Welcome back, thank you for being so patient as it has been quite a while this time.

If you are wondering what all this is about, then click HERE to find out - we are crocheting a Mandala.

This is the stage you should be at right now.

So, let's go.   Join a new colour into the BACK LOOP of any stitch and CH 3

TR all the way round and SS to join.

Next round we will be working Double Trebles,  A "DT" is where you wrap the yarn TWICE around your hook to start, then go through your work, pull your yarn through (4 loops on hook), wrap yarn around, pull through two (3 loops on hook) wrap yarn around, pull through two (2 loops on hook), wrap yarn around, pull through 2 (1 loop on hook).  

So add a new colour and CH 4.

*** Skip a stitch and make a DT into the next stitch.

Now we are going to cross the stitches by going behind the one just made and back into the space you skipped, as shown by the hook direction.

Make a DT into the skipped stitch, as mentioned, by going round the back of the one just made and from the front to the back, working into the skipped stitch.

It should look something like this....

Continue all the way round from *** until you get to the last stitch. SS into the stop of the 4 CH you first added.......

....then make a DT as before, it may be a little trickier but you will get there  :)

It might not look too tidy, but don't worry as we will be covering it up next round.

Add a new colour BETWEEN two crosses and CH 2.

Add a DC into the SAME SPACE, then 1 x DC into the space where the Crosses cross.

Continue around with 2 x DC's into the spaces inbetween crosses and 1 X DC into where the crosses cross.  

Join with a SS.

The next four rounds will be done in the same colour, so add a new yarn to any of the stitches in the last round and CH 6 (counts as 1 x HTR and 3 CH).  A HALF TREBLE is as follows - yarn around, through work, pull yarn through (3 loops on hook) yarn round and take off all three stitches.

Skip TWO stitches and make a HALF TREBLE (HTR) into the next stitch.  CH 3.

Continue the last step all the way around, then SS to join but do not cut yarn.

Next row - CH 3 and make a HTR into the SAME SPACE.

CH 2 then work 2 x HTR's into the top of the next stitch, skipping the chain space.

Continue the last step all the way around and SS to join, but do not cut yarn.

Ch 3 then work 2 x HTR's into the SAME SPACE.

CH 1 and make 3 x HTR's into the top of the next stitch cluster, skipping the chains.

Continue the last step all the way around and SS to join, do not cut yarn.

Last row of this colour.  SS into the space between the first two stitches, then CH 3 and make a HTR into the same space.  Into the space between that stitch and the next one work another 2 x HTR's.

Jump straight over to the next set of clusters with out chaining, work 2 x HTR's into the first space and 2 x HTR's into the second.

Repeat the last row all the way round and SS to join.  You can now cut your yarn  :)

The next instalment coming very, very soon so keep tight hold of those hooks, but if you have just joined us please use the links below to catch up  :)

Side A

Crochet along .... Mandala (1)

Crochet along .... Mandala (2)

Crochet along .... Mandala (3)

Crochet along .... Mandala (4)

Crochet along .... Mandala (5)

Crochet along .... Mandala (6)

Side B

Crochet along .... Mandala (7)

Crochet along .... Mandala (8)
Crochet along .... Mandala (9)

And remember, anyone who joins in with this crochet along and provides a photo at the end will be entered into a draw to win a lovely prize of a full set of coloured crochet hooks in a case just like this one...

Animals spreading themselves about.

My animals seem to like to spread themselves about all over the place.  

Just yesterday I went into the conservatory to see this....

Have a closer look.  What could it be?

A puddy qwat, sunbathing on the roof.  A nice safe place to be, away from puppy dogs.

Then there is this....  the lazy little monkey who actually sleeps hanging off her bed.

Often!

Squiddly Denim Dog Toy

I made another dog toy!   I must say I am having too much fun with these and making them is not getting me through my "to do" list very quickly!

Still, Ruby likes them.  This one is "Squiddly"  named so beacause he's a squid - clever huh?   :)

Anyway.... what I did was to take a piece of demin jeans leg left over from cutting off to make shorts.  A tennis ball and an empty crinkly bag of dog treats.

I turned the leg inside out and sewed a rough arch shape across the top.  Trimmed some of the excess of and turned it back the right way again.

Then I popped the ball into the bag - I wanted the shape of the ball and the crinkly noise of the packet.

Screwed it up a bit and added some sellotape to seal.

Then I placed it in the top of the arch and sewed it in place by stitching a rough line across.

Next, I puckered it all up as best I could and zig-zagged lots of rows to hold it in place.

Time to cut the Squid's tentacles now, I just cut it all up into 1" or so ribbons.

And cut one off  :)  Not accidentally, I really did need it for something.....

... for tying around the stitching in fact  :)   Tied extra tight in a double knot.

Then I put a knot at different heights in each of the ribbons.

And drew a face on him with a Sharpie pen  :)  (I drew an angry face on the back too).

SQUIDDLY!!!

"What on earth is this?"  Says Ruby.

(Captions please)    :)