Hello, I’m back again! Life got busy… again. This time it included a cross country move from California to upstate New York. I’ve been settling into my new position at my day job. I’m also settling into my new home in the snow.
Since crochet is my hobby and this blog is my side hustle, they had to be put on hold. I haven’t really done any crochet in months. The cardigan for mum got packed up. I also packed up a blanket I started working on before that. Actually, the blanket was even before the lace shell coasters. Oops!
I’m trying to get back into things. I want to progress on the journey towards producing my very own version of the stunning Rainbow Dress. Which of course will include the pattern to share with you!
Sure, I could just do all this behind the scenes. However, I personally wonder about the process designers go through. They produce such amazing intricate patterns. How do they do it?
Sometimes I just pick a stitch pattern that speaks to me, take the pattern and produce different items with it. Like my stained glass hat, cowl and glove patterns. But then sometimes I want to develop the actual stitch pattern first. I do this before I move on to designing items that incorporate it.
The Rainbow Dress has wider shells. I wanted to experiment with widening the lace shell stitch pattern. This will be the first in a series of samples. I’ll be including the pattern each time so you can play along with me too!
Blue Lace Shell Square Free Crochet Pattern
You can use any yarn with it’s suggested hook size to crochet along. I’m using ‘I love this cotton’ with H/5.0 mm hook.
US crochet terms
Start by chaining a multiple of 16, plus 3.
In this example I have 2 repeats. So 16 x 2 = 32 + 3 = 35.
Chain 35 to start.
Row 1: Dc in 3rd chain from hook, dc in next. OR Dc in each of first 2 when repeating.
*3 dc in next. Ch 2 and skip 3. Sc in next. Ch 4 and skip 3. Sc in next. Ch 2 and skip 3. 3 Dc in next. Dc in next 3. Repeat from * across.
In this example and on your last repeat you will only have space for 2 dc at the end.
Ch 2 and turn.
Row 2: *Dc in first 3. Ch 1, dc in next, ch 1, dc in next. Ch 2, sc in ch 4 space. Ch 2, dc in next dc. Ch 1, dc in next, ch 1, dc in next 2. Repeat from * across or ch 2 and turn.
Row 3: Dc in first, *dc in next 2. Ch 2, dc in next, ch 2, dc in next. Dc in next dc, ch 2, dc in next, ch 2, dc in next 3. Repeat from * across or ch 2 and turn.
Row 4: Dc in first 2. *3 dc in each of next 4 spaces. dc in next 4 stitches. Repeat from *, at the end of the row, dc in last 3 stitches. Ch 2 and turn.
Repeat rows 1 through 4.
