Cardamom Blossoms Cowl Free Crochet Pattern

Namaste friends 🙏,

How was the National Crochet Month for you? 

Did you crochet a new project or try a new crochet technique?

I decided to do something different this time, so rather than crocheting, I organised my yarn stash. The sheer amount of yarn I had accumulated over the years was mind-boggling!!

Now I understood the frequent lamentations from the Fam "Oh God, there's yarn everywhere in this house!". I am wondering if I will ever be able to crochet through the stash...

Do you know there is a name for this condition? It is called SABLE ie: "Stash Acquired Beyond Life Expectancy". I guess I will have to crochet even faster, shoulder pain notwithstanding. 

I have a new cowl pattern today, which I wanted to release last month but the above activity kept me busy.

* This post contains affiliate links which if you use for any purchase, may yield me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you. *

The Name:

There was a time when crochet was very popular in India, and every household had at least a couple of crochet pieces made by the Grandmother or Great Grandmother. 

The art of crochet had different names in different languages, and even the different stitches have weird names. 

For eg: In Marathi, the language spoken in my home state Maharashtra, a literal translation of Single crochet is "Mute post". 

The Puff stitch was called "Velchi" or Cardamom because it does look like a cardamom pod. 

As this pattern had a lot of puff stitches I wanted to add the word in the name. And while I was looking up some pics of the plant I saw that my pattern does resemble the actual flower, hence Cardamom Blossoms Cowl. 

Yes, I can be weird at times, and my family will vouch for that. 😁

This pattern makes a great stash buster!

Do not despair if, like me, you like in a tropical climate and will never be needing a cowl. 

This pattern is worked in the round, is seamless and would work wonderfully for a bag/purse.

If you need any help in making the bag just write to me.

So here goes the Cardamom Blossoms Cowl pattern:

Skill Level:    Easy                    

Size:  Cowl measures approximately 28 inches around and  9 inches wide 

          (71 cms by 23 cms).

Materials:

·        Yarn - DK weight yarn* around  110 gms/ approx. 3.90 oz (55 gms of each colour)  

·        Hooks - US G/6 (4.00 mm),* UK 8

Gauge:  11 rows and Two and half motifs in pattern  = 4".

     

Notes:

·        This pattern uses US terminology.

·        Ch 2 at beginning of the round counts as stitch.  

.        Ch 1 at beginning of the round does NOT count as a stitch.        

·        The pattern is worked in multiples of 8.

Abbreviations: 

beg – beginning,  

ch - chain,  

st - stitch,

sk - skip

sp - space

sl st - slip stitch

nxt - next,

sc – single crochet,

dc – double crochet,

hdc - half double crochet,

puff stitch - hdc3tog,

beg puff st - beginning puff st,

puff v-st - puff v-stitch

Shell st - (3dc, ch1, 3dc) in space indicated

beg shell st - beginning shell stitch,

rep – repeat

Pattern Stitches:

Beg Puff stitch - Into the stitch indicated work (ch2, hdc2tog).

Beg shell stitch - Into the space indicated work (ch3, 2 dc, ch 1, 3 dc).

Puff V-st - Into the stitch indicated work (puff st, ch 1, puff st).

Instructions:

Round 1: (Colour A) Ch 136, join in 1st ch with a sl st, ch2, hdc in nxt ch and each ch around (136 hdc).

Round 2: Ch 2, hdc2tog in same st, ch 1, sk 1, * puff st in nxt st, ch 1, sk 1, rep from * around ending with sl st into 1st hdc2tog.

Round 3: Ch 1, hdc in same st, hdc in ch-1 sp, * hdc in puff st, hdc in ch-1 sp, rep from * around ending with sl st in 1st hdc (136 hdc).

Round 4: (Colour B) Attach yarn with sc into 1st hdc below, * ch 1, sk 3, shell in nxt st, ch 1, sk 3, sc in nxt st, rep from * around ending with sl st in 1st sc (17 shells).

Round 5: (Colour A) Beg puff v-st in sc, ch 2, sk 1 ch, sk 3dc, sc in ch-1 sp (in centre of shell), ch 2, sk 3dc, sk ch 1, * puff v-st in sc below, ch 2, sk ch, sk 3dc, sc in ch-1 sp, ch 2, sk 3dc, sk ch 1, rep from * ending with sl st in 1st puff st.

Round 6: (Colour B) Beg shell in centre of puff v-st, ch 1, sk 2 ch, sc in sc below, ch 1, sk 2 ch, * shell in centre of puff v-st, ch 1, sk 2ch, sc in nxt st, ch 1, sk 2ch, rep from * around ending with sl st in 3rd ch of beg ch 3.

Round 7: (Colour A) * sc in ch-1 sp of shell, ch 2, sk 3dc, sk ch, puff v-st in sc, ch 2, sk ch1, sk 3dc, rep from * around ending with sl st in 1st sc. 

Round 8:  Repeat Round 6.

Round 9: Repeat Round 5.

Rounds 10 to 19: Repeat Rounds 6 and 5

OR repeat Rounds 6 and 5 till you get the desired width, taking care to end with Round 5 ie the round with the puff v-sts.

Round 20: Repeat Round 6. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Round 21: Repeat Round 5. 

Round 22: (Colour A) Ch 2 (counts as hdc), * hdc in ch-1 sp, hdc in puff st, 2 hdc in ch-2 sp, hdc in sc, 2 hdc in ch-2 sp, hdc in puff st, rep from * around ending with sl st in 2nd ch of beg ch 2.

Round 23: Repeat Round 2.

Round 24: Repeat Round 3. Fasten off and weave in the end.

Crochet Tip: When working in the round with two or more colours, I prefer to fasten off the yarn without cutting it off and then pick it up when it is required. This works best for projects that are not reversible. Here's a pic that shows the wrong side of my Harmony cowl.

You can find the free pattern for the Harmony cowl HERE. 

I hope you will try this pattern. And maybe have a cup of cardamom tea while you are at it.

Thank you for your time.

Follow me on Instagram and Facebook to stay in the loop, and also to contact me for private crochet coaching sessions from anywhere in the world! 😀

* This post contains affiliate links which if you use for any purchase, may yield me a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Thank you.* 

Would you like a bag pattern using this stitch? Do let me know.

Temptation, Thy name is.....

Stylecraft!!!
Yup! Finally succumbed to the lure of this yarn.

Hello friends, busy enjoying the weekend?

Another Stash Saturday and I am going to show you the Stylecraft Special DK yarn which has just arrived. (Oh..the joys of online shopping!!!).

Well, with everybody in Crochetland going gaga and then some more ga, how long could I resist. So I went ahead and ordered some for myself from Deramores. I have to thank Rajeswari for actually working out the cost vis-a-vis Indian yarns and encouraging me to go ahead. Also there was a 15% discount in that particular week.....and I took that as a positive sign from above!!

Here is my gorgeous collection;

After the yarn arrived it did look like a bit too much. But that is NOT my fault!!.....(my most favourite line when Anything happens).  :) It is their fault. Who are they? Stylecraft of course.

Not only do they have the most gorgeous colours, they have to name their colours instead of numbering them. How can you resist Saffron, Pomegranate, Apricot, Candyfloss, Sunshine and... Lipstick. The names were driving me crazy.

Want a closer look, I know you do :) I have clicked the pics with the names showing so that you can see which is which.

That's Jaffa, Matador, Apricot, Shrimp and Lipstick

Bright Pink, Candyfloss, Claret, Pomegranate, Raspberry

Saffron, Meadow, Camel, Sunshine, Citron

Sherbet, Royal, Cloud Blue, Aspen, Turquoise and of course White.

Aren't they just darling!!

The yarn is very soft and the colours are of course just gorgeous. I will do more oohs and aahs when I actually start working with the yarn. Right now it is safe in my secret hiding place (the pleasures of having a room to myself for my crafting!). 

I have not yet decided on a project for the yarn but most probably it is going to be an afghan/blanket. Right now I am very busy......doing what?!! Well, thinking of the "right" answer to explain the entry in the credit card statement to my dear hubby.......hehe.  ;)

Also succumbed to the lure of a lovely scarf pattern on a Portuguese? site. Will be sharing it with you soon.

[Note: A warm welcome to all new friends who have joined me. I am sorry that I have not been able to join your blogs even though I have visited all of you and signed up by email wherever possible. Inspite of trying a lot of tricks, still having trouble with left click. Not sure whether problem is with Blogger, Firefox or just my PC. So, please bear with me. This same problem is also not letting me make any changes to my blog layout...very frustrating. But I am still in the process of research and trying something new everyday, so hopefully soon........ ]

Nobody has guessed my holiday destination. So, here are some more clues:

The place is a desert, in India. I have to take a flight from Delhi to reach it and the landscape is beautiful. Come on girls, rack your brains.  :)

Do write to me, your comments add joy to my day. Hope you are having a fun weekend.

New Yarn for New Year

Hi friends, a New Year means new beginnings and therefore it also means new yarn, of course. Never mind that balls of yarn and thread are now tumbling out of every shelf, basket, box and table in my room. They are not "new" you see.

So I went ahead and got a few balls of new yarn for myself. Here it is:

 

Don't they look just yummy?

The yarn is 100% acrylic, nothing fancy and certainly not Stylecraft. I cannot tell you how many times I have drooled over pictures of the Stylecraft yarn. But it is just too expensive...boohoo.

So I am satisfied with my find. And anyway finding good yarn here is more on the lines of "Beggars can't be choosers"  ...:)

I have not yet decided what I am going to make with the yarn. This year I have challenged myself to make at least one wearable item for myself. All my attempts so far have resulted in items too small or shapeless. (I know, serves me right for letting myself go and reaching an XL size.) If I am successful then I might make something for hubby and sonny too.

Next time I am going to share another new item with you. But I am too excited to keep it a secret. It a new bookcase my husband has ordered for me. My books just like my yarn are now spilling all over the place. It is a good thing I have got a separate room for my craft or else we would have had to sleep on top of the books  :).

Hope the new year has meant a lot of new beginnings for you too. What projects have you planned for 2013, do let us know.

Until next time, take care and happy crafting.

Lovexxx

Stash Saturday

Hello dear friends, Are you looking forward to the weekend? I certainly am, because tomorrow I get to meet my bloggy friend Aishwarya.

Yesterday I spoke about another "first" that I want to share with you. From the title it must be obvious that it has something to do with my stash. But this stash is very special as it has come to me from across the seven seas from another  blogger friend, dear Debi at Dly's Hooks and Yarns.

A few days back I saw that Debi had put up some balls of size 10 crochet thread  for sale. Size 10 crochet thread is not available here so I immediately contacted Debi whether she would be willing to send the thread to India if I paid the cost plus shipping. When Debi replied very sweetly that not only would she send me the thread but that it was a gift for me I just could not believe my eyes. I read the email once again (well, actually thrice, lol) to confirm it and then I jumped with joy. [Okay with my "dainty" frame it was only a hop, but you get the idea.]  ;)

My folks, as usual, thought that I was finally losing IT due to too much crochet!!!

The thread arrived on the 25th. Six lovely balls of Aunt Lydia's crochet thread in delicate colours. Would you like to see my lovely gift? 

Well, here it is:

Aren't the colours just gorgeous. A lovely gift from a wonderful friend. Thank you Debi for this beautiful gesture. 

For a long time I had no idea what a Giveaway was. When I learned what they actually were, I did enter a few but I was never lucky to win any. So this is the first time that I am receiving something from a blogger friend, so I am rightfully and proudly very thrilled about it. My husband could not believe it that someone who has never met me has actually sent me a lovely gift. Well, if only he know the pleasures and perks of Blogdom!!

I am now planning on hosting a Giveaway when my Followers reach the 100 mark. So, come on readers, if you have been following my blog for some time, click the button and make it official. And don't forget to mention your blog name in the comments so that I can follow you too.

Have a rocking weekend. Take care and Thank you for visiting.

Love xxx

Stash Saturday

If wishes were balls, then....

I meant balls of yarn of course, what were you thinking!?  ;)
If wishes were balls of yarn, then I would fill up my room with yarn. My birthday wish for loads of yarn has come partly true. But with crochet thread and not yarn.

I had ordered for some size 20 crochet thread by mail order and it has just arrived. Here is a look at some of the lovely shades.

Greens, Oranges and Purple

Reds and Mints

Blues, Pinks and Yellows

Ombre and Variegated

Since good quality crochet supplies are not available in Ahmedabad, this is my way out. It does mean that I have to stock quite of lot of yarn or thread, but the cost of going to the business district of the city to buy yarn costs me three times as much.

I can't wait to start working with this thread. But before that I will have to get new glasses as working with thread is somewhat tedious, especially after getting used to working with yarn.

I am planning on a few doilies with flowers or butterflies. And then some lovely bookmarks. 

So, what have you been up to? I hope you have some rocking plans for the weekend. This weekend we will be traveling and I may not have access to the internet. But I will find a way to keep in touch.

Have a lovely weekend. Take care. Cheerio.

Love xxx