How are you all doing? Are you ready for Part 7 of the CAL? That means after this part there is only one last section to go! We all of a sudden seemed to have gotten here quickly don’t you think?

I’ve so enjoyed watching the mushrooms develop from last week in the Facebook group and Instagram! It’s so lovely to see the crochet community come together around the project, from all parts of the world, I can’t tell you how lovely it is to see your work progressing week by week!

Below you can see some of the wonderful photos of the CAL that have been shared of the last part, aren’t they wonderful! If you want to link your photos the hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL23 for Twitter and Instagram. Though you you can also join in with any progress photos by linking your projects on your favourite social media sites: Ravelry, my Facebook page or Facebook group and Pinterest.

So are you are ready to crack on with part 7! For the next part of the CAL we are going to be using textured stitches to create the effect of tree bark and some branches.

Did you know that each tree species has its own unique bark pattern. Did you know that aspirin was originally developed from willow bark. Tree bark is clever stuff that protects the living tree from the environment, disease and insect attacks – so it, along with some branches, deserves a place in the CAL.

As before, as well as the written pattern I have included a crochet chart as an extra visual tool – and I’ve also broken the chart down into sections so you can see how the tree grows line by line. If you are not familiar with reading charts, you you might find my blog post about ‘How to read a crochet chart’ a useful starting point.

If you are brand new to the CAL you can find all the information you need on the CAL landing page, where I’ll link all the CAL posts in one place as I add them here to the blog. Yarn packs are available from the lovely folks at Black Sheep Wools and there are a number of CAL accessories that are also available from some fabulous small businesses (that I talked a little more about here).

The pattern for this crochet along will be available for free here on the blog but sometimes it’s easier to have a printable PDF to refer to. The whole pattern therefore will also be available in a printer friendly PDF version in my Ravelry store (for a one off payment). Each weekly instalment will become ready for immediate download in either UK or US terms. As with any purchase you make of my patterns your support of me and my crochet endeavours is very much appreciated – thank you for supporting my work!

A Dutch version of the pattern will be put together by the very lovely Iris from Eenmooigebaar via the link below. Iris has brilliantly translated a range of my patterns before (these are also available on the website) so I’m delighted she’s joining us again this time.

The Enchanted Wood: Part 7 – Bark & Branches

Yarn: 160g / 400m / 437yds or 2 x 100g ball of Stylecraft Naturals Cotton and Bamboo in Thyme (7156) – YARN I or alternatively 2 x 100g of Stylecraft Special DK in Meadow (1065) – YARN G

Hook: 3.5 mm (US size E/4)

You will also need: Scissors, A yarn needle, stitch markers

Gauge: 5 htr sts = 2.5cm (1”). Gauge is not critical for this design, with each part I will provide the size of my work. If your gauge does not meet mine it will just mean you will end up with a bigger or smaller blanket. If you wish to match my gauge you might try going up a hook size if your tension is quite tight, or going down a hook size if your tension is looser.

Finished Size (Unblocked):  Part 7 Approximate measurements:

• In Naturals 109cm (43”) wide x 109cm (43”) long
• In Special DK: 112.5cm (44”) wide x 112.5cm (44”) long

The pattern below is in UK Terms, scroll down for US Terms:

STITCH GUIDANCE

• Chain (ch): Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook. Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. 
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and pull through all loops.
• Double Crochet (dc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
• Treble (tr): Yarn over, insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
• Back Post Treble (BPtr): Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back around post of st indicated below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally behind of the st that you’re working around), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.
• Front Post Treble (FPtr): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st indicated  below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally behind of the st that you’re working around), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.
• Front Post Triple Treble (FPttr): Yarn over 3 times, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch indicated, yarn over, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on your hook) 4 times.
• Right side (RS): This indicates the right side of your work
• [ … ] Repeat section in square brackets until  specified
• [[ … ]] Repeat section in square brackets until  specified
• ( … ) Repeat section in curved brackets into one stitch or space

SPECIAL STITCH

• Alpine stitch: 4-row pattern repeat where tr / FPtr are alternated with rows of dc. When working an Alpine Stitch FPtr you will work two rows below directly onto the post of the indicated tr st; you will never work in a double crochet row when working an FPtr st. When you work a tr following a FPtr st you will work on the dc in the row below as normal.
• When you complete your FPtr make sure you pull up long loops on your hook when completing to adjust the row height accordingly.
• Due to the way the pattern is made, in the ‘alpine section’ one row of tr / FPtr will start with (tr, FPtr) and end with (FPtr / tr), and the following row of tr / FPtr will start and end with 2tr  
• When you make a FPtr two rows below there will be an unused st left behind the FPtr. You will not work in this st; it should be skipped when you are making the next st.

PATTERN – PART 7

• You will build part 7 onto the right side of the CAL; with the right side facing you will work directly on part 6.
• You will be making FPtr / FPttr branches interspersed with blocks of Alpine St (see special stitch guidance for more details on Alpine St).
• A FPttr will be worked on the indicated post st, 4 rows below.
• A FPtr will always be worked 2 rows below (see special stitch guidance for more details on Alpine St.)
• A tr will always be worked on the current row
• The ch3 counts as the first tr st, if this produces too much of a gap at the start of a row it can be substituted for a ch2.
• The ch1 at the start of a row doesn’t count as a stitch.
• If you find that your rows are pulling into the centre you may wish to use a larger hook for this section e.g. 4mm (US size G/6).

Row 1 (RS): Sl st to join YARN I to the top of the last st worked. Ch3, BPtr in the next 183sts across the row until the last st, 1tr in the remaining st, turn, 2 tr / 183 BPtr / 185 sts

Row 2: Ch1, 1dc in the next 7sts, [ ch1, miss st, 1dc in next 9sts, ch1, miss st, 1dc in 5sts ], repeat until the last 2sts, 1dc in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 163 dc / 185 sts

See example below which shows the first 23 sts (here and through out) of rows 1 – 2:

The first 7sts are the ‘branches’ thereafter worked over 5sts (until the last 7sts). The ‘Bark’ is the Alpine St section which are repeated over 9sts.

Row 3: Ch3, 1tr in 6sts, [[ ch1, miss st, 1tr in the next st, [FPtr in the next st, 1 tr in the next st]            repeat four more times, ch1, miss st, 1tr in the next 5 sts ]] repeat across until the last 2sts, 1tr in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 44 FPtr / 119 tr. / 185 sts

See example below of rows 1 – 3:

Row 4: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 5: Ch3, 1tr in the next st, miss 4sts four rows below, FPttr on the next st, 1tr on the next st on current row, 1 FPtr on the next st, 1tr on the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPttr around the same post as the previous FPttr, [[ ch1, miss ch-sp, 1tr in the next 2sts, [ FPtr in the next st, 1 tr in the next ] repeat twice, 1 tr in the next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp, miss 2sts four rows below, FPttr in the next st, 1 tr in the next st, FPtr in the next st, 1tr in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPttr around the same post as the previous FPttr ]] repeat ten times, 1tr in each remaining 2sts, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 94 tr / 45 FPtr / 24 FPttr / 185 sts

See example below of rows 1 – 5:

Row 6: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 7: Ch3, 1tr in 3sts, FPtr in next st, 1tr in next 2sts [[ ch1, miss ch1-sp, [ 1tr in next st, FPtr in next st ] repeat 3 times more, 1tr in next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp, 1tr in next 2sts, 1FPtr in next st, 1tr in the next 2sts ]] repeat across until the last 2sts, 1tr in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 107 tr / 56 FPtr / 185 sts

Row 8: Repeat row 2, turn

See example below of rows 1 – 8:

Row 9: Ch3, 1tr in the next st, miss 4sts four rows below [[ FPttr around the next st , 1tr in the next st, FPtr in the next st, 1tr in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPttr around the same post as the previous FPttr, ch1, miss ch1-sp, 1tr in the next 2sts, [ 1FPtr in the next st, 1tr in the next st ]. repeat twice more, 1 tr in the next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp ]] repeat ten times more, miss 2sts four rows below, FPttr around the next st, 1tr in the next st, FPtr in the next st , 1tr in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPttr around the same post as the previous FPttr, 1tr in the next st, FPtr in the next st, FPttr in the next st four rows below, 1 tr in the last 2sts. 22 x ch1-sps / 94 tr / 45 FPtr / 24 FPttr / 185sts.

See example below of rows 1 – 9:

Rows 10 – 17: Repeat rows 6—9 twice

Row 18: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 19: Repeat row 7, turn

Row 20: Ch1, 1dc in each st, including each ch-sp, until end. Fasten off and weave in ends. 185s ts

Reattach YARN I (or G) to the opposite side of your work and repeat rows 1—20. Fasten off and weave in ends.

Pattern in US Terms:

STITCH GUIDANCE

• Chain (ch): Bring yarn over hook from back to front and grab it with hook. Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto hook. 
• Slip Stitch (sl st): Insert hook in st indicated, yarn over and pull through all loops.
• Single Crochet (sc): Insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops on hook.
• Double Crochet (dc): Yarn over, insert hook in st indicated and pull up a loop (three loops on hook), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through remaining two loops on hook.
• Back Post Double Crochet  (BPdc): Yarn over, insert hook from back to front to back around post of st indicated below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally behind of the st that you’re working around), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.
• Front Post Double Crochet (FPdc): Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st indicated  below (your hook should now be positioned horizontally behind of the st that you’re working around), yarn over and pull up a loop, yarn over pull through 2 loops on hook (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through remaining loops on hook.
• Front Post Double Treble (FPdtr): Yarn over 3 times, insert your hook from front to back to front around the post of the stitch indicated, yarn over, pull up a loop, (yarn over, pull through 2 loops on your hook) 4 times.
• Right side (RS): This indicates the right side of your work
• [ … ] Repeat section in square brackets until  specified
• [[ … ]] Repeat section in square brackets until  specified
• ( … ) Repeat section in curved brackets into one stitch or space

SPECIAL STITCH

Alpine stitch: 4-row pattern repeat where dc / FPdc are alternated with rows of sc. When working an Alpine Stitch FPdc you will work two rows below directly onto the post of the indicated dc st; you will never work in a double crochet row when working an FPdc st. When you work a dc following a FPdc st you will work on the sc in the row below as normal.

• When you complete your FPdc make sure you pull up long loops on your hook when                         completing to adjust the row height accordingly.
• Due to the way the pattern is made, in the ‘alpine section’ one row of dc / FPdc will start with (dc, FPdc) and end with (FPdc / dc), and the following row of dc / FPdc will start and end with 2dc
• When you make a FPdc two rows below there will be an unused st left behind the FPdc. You will not work in this st; it should be skipped when you are making the next st.

SCHEMATIC – PART 7

PATTERN – PART 7

• You will build part 7 onto the right side of the CAL with the right side facing you will work directly on part 6.
• You will be making FPdc / FPdtr branches interspersed with blocks of Alpine St (see special stitch guidance for more details on Alpine St).
• A FPdtr will be worked on the indicated post st, 4 rows below.
• A FPdc will always be worked 2 rows below (see special stitch guidance for more details on Alpine St.)
• A dc will always be worked on the current row
• The ch3 counts as the first dc st, if this produces too much of a gap at the start of a row it can be substituted for a ch2.
• The ch1 at the start of a row doesn’t count as a stitch.
• If you find that your rows are pulling into the centre you may wish to use a larger hook for this section e.g. 4mm (US size G/6).

Row 1 (RS): Sl st to join YARN I to the top of the last st worked. Ch3, BPdc in the next 183sts across the row until the last st, 1dc in the remaining st, turn, 2 dc / 183 BPdc / 185 sts

Row 2: Ch1, 1sc in the next 7sts, [ ch1, miss st, 1sc in next 9sts, ch1, miss st, 1sc in 5sts ], repeat until the last 2sts, 1sc in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 163 sc / 185 sts

See example below which shows the first 23 sts (here and through out) of rows 1 – 2:

The first 7sts are the ‘branches’ thereafter worked over 5sts (until the last 7sts). The ‘Bark’ is the Alpine St section which are repeated over 9sts.

Row 3: Ch3, 1dc in 6sts, [[ ch1, miss st, 1dc in the next st, [FPdc in the next st, 1 dc in the next st]            repeat four more times, ch1, miss st, 1dc in the next 5 sts ]] repeat across until the last 2sts, 1dc in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 44 FPdc / 119 dc. / 185 sts

See example below of rows 1 – 3:

Row 4: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 5: Ch3, 1dc in the next st, miss 4sts four rows below, FPdtr on the next st, 1dc on the next st on current row, 1 FPdc on the next st, 1dc on the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPdtr around the same post as the previous FPdtr, [[ ch1, miss ch-sp, 1dc in the next 2sts, [ FPdc in the next st, 1 dc in the next ] repeat twice, 1 dc in the next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp, miss 2sts four rows below, FPdtr in the next st, 1 dc in the next st, FPdc in the next st, 1dc in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPdtr around the same post as the previous FPdtr ]] repeat ten times, 1dc in each remaining 2sts, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 94 dc / 45 FPdc / 24 FPdtr / 185 sts

See example below of rows 1 – 5:

Row 6: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 7: Ch3, 1dc in 3sts, FPdc in next st, 1dc in next 2sts [[ ch1, miss ch1-sp, [ 1dc in next st, FPdc in next st ] repeat 3 times more, 1dc in next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp, 1dc in next 2sts, 1FPdc in next st, 1dc in the next 2sts ]] repeat across until the last 2sts, 1dc in each remaining st, turn. 22 x ch1-sps / 107 dc / 56 FPdc / 185 sts

Row 8: Repeat row 2, turn

See example below of rows 1 – 8:

Row 9: Ch3, 1dc in the next st, miss 4sts four rows below [[ FPdtr around the next st , 1dc in the next st, FPdc in the next st, 1dc in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPdtr around the same post as the previous FPdtr, ch1, miss ch1-sp, 1dc in the next 2sts, [ 1FPdc in the next st, 1dc in the next st ]. repeat twice more, 1 dc in the next st, ch1, miss ch1-sp ]] repeat ten times more, miss 2sts four rows below, FPdtr around the next st, 1dc in the next st, FPdc in the next st , 1dc in the next st, working backwards over the stitches just made, 1FPdtr around the same post as the previous FPdtr, 1dc in the next st, FPdc in the next st, FPdtr in the next st four rows below, 1 dc in the last 2sts. 22 x ch1-sps / 94 dc / 45 FPdc / 24 FPdtr / 185sts.

See example below of rows 1 – 9:

Rows 10 – 17: Repeat rows 6—9 twice

Row 18: Repeat row 2, turn

Row 19: Repeat row 7, turn

Row 20: Ch1, 1sc in each st, including each ch-

sp, until end. Fasten off and weave in ends. 185s ts

Reattach YARN I to the opposite side of your work and repeat rows 1—20. Fasten off and weave in ends.

And that’s it! Part 7 completed! We’ve now just got the border left to complete and we are all finished!

The Schedule, Updates & Support:

As always if you need a reminder of the schedule then you can find the details on the CAL landing page (here) and you can keep up to date with the CAL details and get support if needed via the following links:

• Follow on the blog
• Sign up to the KCACOUK newsletter
• Join the Facebook Group

As I may have mentioned before the Facebook group is a lovely place of support, there are crocheters in there of all experiences, with new crocheters joining all the time! It’s likely that someone will be able to help you with any questions you might have though of course you can always contact me too here on the blog if you need any help.

The hashtag for this years CAL is #KCACOUKCAL23 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.

Thank you for crocheting along with me – the next eleven weeks are going to be so much fun!

Until next time; keep calm and crochet on my friends xx

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