Trouble with a pattern

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 2, 2012 8:24 AM

I am making a sampler afghan. I am stumped by one of the patterns. I am to start with 12 sc which I join in a ring. Then, the pattern asks that I do 4 ds in the ring followed by a cluster in the ring and this is repeated 4 times. When I finish, I have a very tight circle of bunched up yard instead of a square of four clusters (shown in the picture). Does this make sense enough for anyone to help me out?

Char55 wrote

on Oct 3, 2012 10:17 AM

Could you post a link to the pattern so I could look at it?

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 3, 2012 10:33 AM

Hi, thank you I sure will. I don't have the pattern with me right now, but when I get home tonight I will post it. I would surely appreciate your help. I still haven't been able to figure it out.

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 8:21 AM

Okay -- here are the instructions: ch12, join with slip st to form a ring. Rnd1: Ch3, 3 dc in ring, work Cluster in ring as follows: (YO, insert hook in ring and pull up a loop, YO and draw through 2 loops on hook) 6 times (7 loops on hook), YO and draw through 6 loops on hook, YO and draw through both loops (Cluster made), *4 dc in ring, work Cluster; repeat from * 2 times more; join with slip st to first dc. Rnd 2: Ch 3, dc in same st and in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next Cluster, ch 1, * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next 3 dc, 2 dc in next Cluster, ch 1; repeat from * around; join with slip st to first dc: 28 dc. Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in same st and in next dc, (work Cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2, * 2 dc in next dc, dc in next dc, (work Cluster in next dc, dc in next dc) twice, 2 dc in next dc, ch 2; repeat from * around; join with slip st to first dc.

There are 4 more Rnds with directions. Let me know if you want me to send those, too. I have only made it as far as the first round before ripping it out because, as I mentioned before, I end up with this tight little circle of wrapped yarn that I can't do anything with. Thank you in advance for helping me!

Shellie2355 wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 11:37 AM

Without trying to crochet this (I'm at work), what I can see of this pattern is that the clusters are forming the "corners" and the 4 DC between clusters are the sides. It DOES seem counter-intuitive to me as there's usually a chain to create the corner (ie. 2 DC, 1 CH, 2DC to form a corner). As you can see in the Round 2, you do the 2 DC in cluster, CH 1 and then 2 DC in next DC which will define your corner based upon the previous row's cluster. I don't know if this helps you, but sometimes you need to do 2 or 3 rows to see the square emerge.

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 1:13 PM

Hi Shelly -- thanks for taking time to look at this. I am also at work so can't do anything at this moment, but something you said is interesting, which is that you said the 4 DC between the clusters are the sides. Do you think that I should be doing the 4 DC on the cluster instead of in the ring? I am trying to do the 4 DC inside the original ring which is a mess. But isn't that what they mean when they say "4 DC in ring?" (You can probably tell I am not an expert crocheter and I can't visualize anything based on reading the pattern.)

Shellie2355 wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 1:34 PM

Your interpretation of the pattern is correct -- the 4 DC are to be in the ring, not on the cluster. But the cluster should form the corner of the square and the DC should be a side of the square. Sometimes the square does not take shape until the 2nd or 3rd round, though, so it may look pretty "wonky" at first.

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 1:37 PM

Shellie -- Okay, I will try this again. But, the trouble i am having is that it ends up as this compact circle. Nothing is flattened out. I must be doing something wrong but just can't quite figure it out, yet.

Char55 wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 3:16 PM

Sorry it took a while to get back to you, but I worked up the 3 rows with some scrap yarn. I would suggest a little looseness in the ch 12.

Rnd 1: I found that you have to push the stitches that form the cluster tightly together to give it the "puffed" appearance and allow the other dc sts not to look so bunched. You don't have this problem with the rest of the rows because the cluster is worked in a single stitch instead of being worked into a ring. It does seem a bit bunched as you finish the row, but as you add the next rows, and the motif begins to take shape, it flattens out.

Rnd 2: is fairly easy; when you finish it, you will have 7dc on each side with ch 1 in each of the corners for a total of 28 stitches

Rnd 3: Each side of the square will consist of 3 dc, a cluster, a dc, a cluster, and 3 dc with a ch 2 at the corners (no stitches are worked in the Ch1 space of the previous row).

Hope this helps. Let me know if you have more questions.

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 3:25 PM

Char -- I am going to print your response and then experiment on this when I get home. If I may just ask you one more follow up question. After round 1, shall I expect to still have a circle as opposed to something flat?

Thanks to both Char & Shellie for trying to help me with this. It's awfully kind of you!

Char55 wrote

on Oct 4, 2012 5:56 PM

It will still look mostly like a circle until you get the second round done...then the corners will start to be defined and by the end of the 3rd round it will really begin to take shape.

You might want to do the chain 12 with a hook one or two sizes larger than the pattern calls for, then switch back to the right sized hook to do the rest of the rounds...especially if you tend to make tight chain stitches...that way it won't be so cramped...the only stitches that need to be "bunched" are the ones in the cluster. 

Perhaps it would have been easier if the designer had waited until the 2nd round to begin the "clusters". In round 3 all of the stitches for the cluster are in a single stitch so they automatically stay together to give the "puffed" appearance.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Mreifel wrote

on Oct 5, 2012 2:20 PM

Thank you again for your help. I tried it again with your suggestions and now it is working perfectly! I appreciate you both very much!

Char55 wrote

on Oct 5, 2012 5:54 PM

You're welcome...Glad I could help.

Shellie2355 wrote

on Oct 5, 2012 6:31 PM

Well, I didn't do much, but I'm glad that this pattern is working out for you. Congratulations! Post a photo of your project!

onecraftycathy wrote

on Oct 6, 2012 9:07 AM

One other thing you could try is the the magic ring instead of the 12 sc joined to make your beginning row.  The magic ring will give you all the room you need to work the stitches of that beginning row and then when you're finished you just pull the "tail" to close up the ring.  Instructions for the the magic ring are at this website.  Almost everyone who has tried it says it's the best way to start.