It’s time for a brand new block on the Stitch Story CAL – can you believe we are already climbing up to block 6? This next block is a fun one creating a unique design as we work our rows that I think you will enjoy.

If this is the first you are hearing about this CAL you can find the full schedule and Scheepjes yarn amounts here and a link to the crochet along page here. Would you like to see photos and specification all at once? Then click here for the Pinterest Board!

So let’s just quickly run through some of the pattern particulars…

Pattern:

This pattern will be free here on the blog but it’s also available in an e-book on Ravelry. There is a small charge for the downloadable 46 page PDF e-book (payable once). The booklet will be released in instalments, along with the CAL, so as not to spoil anyone’s fun. This PDF has the full pattern descriptions, charts and information all in one place without adverts (as requested).

Through the course of this crochet-along I will provide you with patterns to make twelve different blocks, each in two different sizes. Which one you make is totally up to you! Make all one size or mix and match, whatever takes your fancy! However to give you a helping hand I have included some schematics which you can see on this post here.

Support:

The KCACO-UK Community Facebook Group is a great source of support and helpful tips from fellow Crochet-a-longers.
A Dutch translation will be available by Iris from Een Mooi Gebaar (and a Dutch e-book will be coming soon to Ravelry). Link to Part 6 here.
For support with the Stitch Story CAL on Ravelry there is a thread facilitated by Reimy.
Accompanying CAL videos are being created by Esther from It’s All in a Nutshell. Link to Part 6 is below:

Social Media Links:

The hashtag for this years CAL is #SSCAL18 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

Stitch Story…

The Ladder of Life represents the stages of our life from birth to death. Let the rungs of the ladder equal your successes and the hardships you overcome as you climb through life.

Design 6: The Ladder of Life

Hook: 4 mm / US size G or size needed to obtain 15cm /6” square

Abbreviations (same for both blocks):

Chain (Ch)
UK Half Double Treble / US Half Double Crochet (htr/hdc)
UK Front Post Treble / US Front Post Double Crochet (FPtr/FPdc)
UK Back Post Treble / US Back Post Double Crochet (BPtr/BPdc)
WS = Wrong Side
RS = Right Side

Stitch Guidance (same for both blocks):

UK Half Double Treble / US Half Double Crochet (htr/hdc): Yarn over, insert hook in next st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all three loops on hook.
UK Front Post Treble / US Front Post Double Crochet (fptr/fpdc): Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back around post of indicated stitch below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally in front of the st that you’re working around), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through two loops on hook (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.
UK Back Post Double Treble / US Back Post Treble (BPdtr/BPtr): Yarn over twice and insert your hook from back to front around the post of the indicated stitch of the row below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally behind the st that you’re working around), yarn over pull through two loops (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops (two loops on hook), yarn over pull through remaining two loops left on hook.

15cm / 6 inch block:

Note: Ch1 doesn’t count as a st

Row 1: (WS) Ch26, 1htr/hdc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each st along, turn (25sts)

Row 2: (RS) Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, 1FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, 1FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts, 1htr/hdc in the last 5 sts, turn.

Row 3: Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1htr/hdc in the last 5 sts, turn.

Row 4: Repeat row 2

Row 5: Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1htr/hdc in the last 5 sts, turn.

Row 6: Repeat row 2

Row 7: Repeat row 5

Row 8: Repeat row 2

Row 9: Repeat row 5

Row 10: Repeat row 2

Row 11: Repeat row 5

Row 12: Repeat row 2

Row 13: Repeat row 5

Row 14: Repeat row 2

Row 15: Repeat row 5

Row 16: Repeat row 2

Row 17: Repeat row 3

Row 18: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along (25sts)

Finish off and weave in ends.

30cm / 12 inch block:

Hook: 4mm / US size G or size needed to obtain 30cm/12” square

Note: Ch1 doesn’t count as a st

Row 1: (WS) Ch51, 1htr/hdc in 2nd ch from the hook and in each st along, turn (50sts)

Row 2: (RS) Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, *1FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, 1FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts * 1 htr/hdc in the next 10sts, then repeat from * to * once more, 1 htr/hdc in the remaining 5 sts, turn.

Row 3: Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, * 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts * 1 htr/hdc in the next 10sts, repeat from * to * once more, 1 htr/hdc in the remaining 5 sts, turn.

Row 4: Repeat row 2

Row 5: Ch1, 1htr/hdc in the same st as the ch1 and the next 4 sts, *1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts, 1 FPtr/FPdc in the next 5 sts, 1BPtr/BPdc in the next 5 sts * 1 htr/hdc in the next 10 sts, repeat from * to * once more, 1htr/hdc in the remaining 5 sts, turn.

Row 6: Repeat row 2

Row 7: Repeat row 5

Row 8: Repeat row 2

Row 9: Repeat row 5

Row 10: Repeat row 2

Row 11: Repeat row 5

Row 12: Repeat row 2

Row 13: Repeat row 5

Row 14: Repeat row 2

Row 15: Repeat row 5

Row 16: Repeat row 2

Row 17: Repeat row 5

Row 18: Repeat row 2

Row 19: Repeat row 5

Row 20: Repeat row 2

Row 21: Repeat row 5

Row 22: Repeat row 2

Row 23: Repeat row 5

Row 24: Repeat row 2

Row 25: Repeat row 5

Row 26: Repeat row 2

Row 27: Repeat row 5

Row 28: Repeat row 2

Row 29: Repeat row 5

Row 30: Repeat row 2

Row 31: Repeat row 5

Row 32: Repeat row 2

Row 33: Repeat row 3

Row 34: Repeat row 2

Row 35: Ch1, 1htr/hdc in each st along; finish off and weave in ends.

Edging for all blocks:

On the right side of your work evenly work dc/sc along each side of your block working 3 dc/sc in each corner (25sts for smaller block / 50sts for larger block). Fasten off and weave in ends.

You do not need to use the same number of stitches I have for each square, you just need to evenly spread the single crochet border along the rows and edges. Whatever number edging you use just keep the same number of stitches for ALL of your blocks – with the same count of single crochet border on each edge then they will line-up when its time to turn them into a finished blanket.