Wow where is the time going? It’s onto Block 7 of the Stitch Story CAL already and this one happens to be my mum’s favourite out of all the blocks we did.

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 7 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 7 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 Blarney Stone is believed to be half of the original Stone of Scone upon which the first King of Scotland was seated (though it was later returned to Ireland). The Blarney Stone is surrounded by tall tales and myths – so why don’t you kiss the Blarney Stone and gain the gift of eloquence and persuasiveness.

Design 7: Blarney Stones

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 Treble / US Double Crochet (tr/dc)
Popcorn (PC)
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 Treble / US Double Crochet (tr/dc): Yarn over, insert hook in indicated st and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
Popcorn Stitch (PC): Work 5 tr/dc in indicated st, remove hook completely, insert hook in 1st tr/dc (1st tr/dc of the 5), insert hook in loop that you just removed your hook from (5th tr/dc of the 5), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook.

15cm / 6 inch block:

Row 1: (RS) Ch27, 1tr/dc in 4th ch from the hook and in each st along, turn. (25sts).

Row 2: Ch3 (counts as tr/dc now and throughout), 1tr/dc in each st along, turn.

Row 3: Ch2 (counts as first htr/hdc now and throughout), 1htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 11 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the remaining 6 sts, turn.

Row 4: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 5: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 7 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 7 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the remaining 8 sts, turn.

Row 6: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 7: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 9 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 3 sts, 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the remaining 10 sts, turn.

Row 8: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 9: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 11 sts, 1 PC in the next st, 1htr/hdc in the remaining 12 sts, turn.

Row 10: repeat row 8

Row 11: repeat row 7

Row 12: repeat row 6

Row 13: repeat row 5

Row 14: repeat row 4

Row 15: repeat row 3

Row 16-17: repeat row 2 on the last row finish off and weave in ends.

30cm / 12 inch block:

Hook: 3.5 mm / US size E or size needed to obtain 30cm / 12” square

Row 1: (RS) Ch 52, 1tr/dc in 4th ch from the hook and in each st along, turn (50sts).

Row 2: Ch3 (counts as first tr/dc now and throughout), 1tr/dc in each st along, turn.

Row 3: Ch2 (counts as first htr/hdc now and throughout), 1htr/hdc in the next 5 sts, * 1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 11 sts, 1 PC in the next, * 1htr/hdc in the next 12 sts, repeat from * to * once, 1htr/hdc in the next 6 sts, turn.

Row 4: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 5: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 7 sts, *1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 7 sts, 1 PC in the next, * 1htr/hdc in the next 16 sts, repeat from * to *, 1htr/hdc in the next 8 sts, turn.

Row 6: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 7: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 9 sts, *1 PC in the next, 1htr/hdc in the next 3 sts, 1 PC in the next, * 1htr/hdc in the next 20 sts, repeat from * to *, 1htr/hdc in the next 10 sts, turn.

Row 8: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in each st along until end, turn.

Row 9: Ch2, 1htr/hdc in the next 11 sts, 1 PC in the next st, 1htr/hdc in the next 24 sts, 1 PC in the next st,1htr/hdc in the remaining 12 sts, turn.

Row 10: repeat row 8

Row 11: repeat row 7

Row 12: repeat row 6

Row 13: repeat row 5

Row 14: repeat row 4

Row 15: repeat row 3

Rows 16-17: repeat row 2

Note: If using DK yarn on the next row instead of dc/sc work htr/hdc until end.

Row 18: Ch1, 1dc/sc in each st along until end, turn.

Rows 19-20: repeat row 2

Rows 21-33: repeat rows 3 to 15 for the pattern

Rows 34-35: repeat row 2 on the last row 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.