Our Featured Pattern of the week... XOXO Afghan Square Courtesy Jennifer Vanderslice & Louet Yarn brought to you by the 2006 Crochet Pattern-A-Day™ Calendar I'm still taking submissions to the end of January, 2005! Want to be part of this tremendous project? email me at crochetcalendar@modeknit.com Looking for the socks? They're here! Looking for the poodle? He's here! Looking for the Chullo Hat? It's here! Design: XOXO Afghan Square Designer: Jennifer Vanderslice Skill Level: C2 Easy Yarn Required: A: Louet - Gems Opal Merino, cream, 20 yds B: Louet - Gems Opal Merino, peach, 50 yds (www.louet.com) Gauge: 4.5 sc = 1" using size E US / 3.5 mm hook Notions: Darning needle Stitches: sc - single crochet, dc - double crochet, ch - chain, Sl st - slip stitch (Stitch Glossary) INSTRUCTIONS To start: Ch 7. Dc in first ch to join and form ring. Round 1 (center 4-part circle): With A, (Ch 3, dc in same ch as first dc) rep once. Ch 3. Sl st to fourth ch of ch 7. Round 2: Ch 3. (5 dc in first ch 3 sp. Dc in top loop of next dc) rep twice more. 5 dc in next ch 3 sp. With B, Sl st to third ch of first ch 3. Round 3: Cont with B, ch 10. Sk 5 sts, sc next dc, (ch 9, sk 5 sts, sc next st) rep once, ch 9. Sl st to first ch. Round 4: Ch 1, (9 sc in ch 9 sp, sc in sc) rep twice, 9 sc in ch 9 sp. Sl st to first ch. Round 5: Ch 3, (2dc, ch3, 3dc) in same st as ch 3. (Ch4, sk 4 st, sc in fifth st, ch 4, sk 4 st, [3dc, ch3, 3dc] in next sc) rep twice more. Ch 4, sk 4 st, sc in fifth st, ch 4 , sk 4 st. Sl st in third ch of first ch 3. Round 6: Ch 3, dc in next 2 dc.([3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in ch 3 sp, dc in next 3 dc, ch 3, dc in next sc, ch 3, dc in next 3 dc) rep twice more. [3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc] in ch 3 sp, dc in next 3 dc, ch 3, dc in next sc. Ch 3, with A sl st in third ch of first ch 3. Round 7: Cont with A, ch 3. 1 dc in each next 5 dc. (Dc in top loop of first ch of ch 3. 3 dc in ch 3 sp, dc in top loop of third ch of ch 3. 1 dc in each next 6 dc, dc in top loop next 3 ch. Dc in dc, dc in top loop next 3 ch. 1 dc in each next 6 dc) rep twice more. 3 dc in ch 3 sp, dc in top loop third ch of ch 3. 1 dc in each next 6 dc. 1 dc in top loop each next 3 ch. Dc in dc, 1 dc in top loop each next 3 ch. Sl st into third ch of first ch 3. FO. STITCH GLOSSARY BPDC - Back Post Double Crochet - Bpdc: YO, insert hook from back to front to back around post of st indicated, draw up loop, (YO, draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. Skip stitch behind Bpdc on working row. DC - Double Crochet Yarn over hook. Insert hook in the next stitch to be worked. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through first 2 loops on hook. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through rem 2 loops on hook. DEC SH ST - Decrease Shell Stitch Work hdc in space, then (yo, insert hook into same space & draw yarn through, yo, insert hook into ch 1 space of the next shell stitch, yo, & draw through all loops on hook, ch 1, work 2 hdc in ch 1 space FPDC - Front Post Double Crochet YO, insert hook from front to back to front around post of st indicated, draw up loop, (YO, draw through 2 loops on hook) twice. Skip stitch behind Fpdc on working row. HDC - Half Double Crochet Yarn over hook. Insert hook in the next stitch to be worked. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook (one half double crochet made). SC - Single Crochet Insert hook in stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through stitch. Yarn over hook. Pull yarn through 2 loops on hook (one single crochet made). SH ST - Shell Stitch Work (two hdc, ch 1, two hdc) all in same space. Sl St - Slip Stitch Slip next st onto RH needle with yarn to WS of work unless otherwise indicated. Spike Insert crochet hook into previous round and pull loop through. Work as sc, dc or tr as directed in pat. Twisted Cord Measure a length of yarn 4 times longer than desired length of final twisted cord. Fold the strand in halfand make a slipknot at the cut ends. Pass the slipknot over a doorknob and stand far enough away so that the yarn hangs in midair and does not touch the ground. Slip a crochet hook into the loop in your hand and, while still holding the yarn in the left hand, twirl the hook to twist the yarn around itself. Continue twisting until the yarn is quite taut and evenly twisted. Still holding one end of the yarn in your left hand, with your right hand pinch the twisted strand midway between yourself and the doorknob. Bring the ends of the yarn together by moving toward the doorknob, but DO NOT LET GO OF THE MIDDLE OF THE TWISTED YARN. You will notice as you let go of the pinched midpoint of the twisted yarn it will twist around itself forming a plied cord. Still holding tight to the ends so the twisted cord doesn't unwind itself, loose the yarn end from the doorknob and tie both ends together. You can run your finger between the cords to even out the twists if necessary. 2/C Variation Measure 2 lengths of yarn each twice as long as desired length of final twisted cord, 1 in color A, 1 in color B. Fold the "A" strand in half, then mark the center point of this double strand as point X. Do the same with the strand of B. Lay each double strand on top of each other at points X and fold both in half so that you have a strand of quadruple thickness, 1/2 of the length in A, 1/2 of the length in B. Pass the slipknot over a doorknob and stand far enough away so that the yarn hangs in midair and does not touch the ground. Continue working as for single color twisted cord, above.