See How They Run 12" Afghan Block
(or When the Cat's Away, the Mice Will Play)
Special Stitches
Designed by Margaret MacInnis (mugginsquilts on Ravelry) c. 2013
Materials
Heavy worsted or aran weight yarn in 3 Colors - suggestwellcontrastedcolorsforbestresults Color A-35 g Color B-22 g Color C—25 g Hook—US I or 5.5 mm Yarn Needle SSHLL—special shell—(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in indicated st or space Beg SSHLL—beginning special shell—ch 3 as dc, (dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp SpCl—Spike Cluster--yo, insert hook into indicated space, pull up a long loop of about % inch, yo, insert hook again and pull up a second long lop—-5 loops on hook—-yo again, and pull through all loops on hook. Do not chain after. Spike hdc—these are made like regular hdc, except you pull the loop up a little higher than normal, since they are worked into 2 rounds below and are encasing a previous ch space
Instructions
With Color C, either ch 5, sl st in first ch to form a circle, or work in an Adjustable Loop RND 1: Ch 3 as dc, 11 dc in circle, sl st in beg ch-3. Fasten off Color C. (12 dc) with a sl st in any dc, ch 3 as dc, dc in same st, 2 dc in each st, sl st in beg ch-3. (24 c RND 3: Ch1, sc in same st, (2sc in next st, scin next2st)×7, 2sc in next st, scin next st, slstin eg sc. (3 scC) RND 4: Beg SSHLL in same sc as join, (sk3 sc, ch2, SSHLL in next sc)×7, hdc in 3'd ch of beg ch 3 (acts as ch-2 and places hook in center). (8 SSHLLs, 8 ch-2 sp) RND 5: Beg SSHLL in join sp, SSHLL in each ch-1 sp of previous SSHLLS, and in each ch-2 between 2 previous SSHLLs, sl st in beg ch-3. Fasten off Color A. (16 SSHLLs) Warning: COUNT and make sure all SSHLLS are complete with 4 dc, a ch-1 and that there are 16 of them before you weave!! Please... RND 6: Join Color B with a sl st in ch-1 sp of any SSHLL that is over a ch-2 space. Ch 4 as trc,(1 trc, ch 3, 2 trc) in same sp, [SSHLL in next ch-1 sp, SpCI inserting hook between two dc of the SSHLL in Rnd 4 below and encasing the sp between Rnd 5 SSHLLs below, SSHLL in next ch-1 sp, SpCL inserting hook between two dc of SSHLL of Rnd 4 below and encasing sp between Rnd 5 SSHLLs below, SSHLL in next ch-1 sp, corner in as (2trc, ch3, 2 trc) in next ch-1 sp] x 4, omit corner on last rep, sl st in top of beg ch-4. Fasten off Color B. (16 trc, 8 SpCI, 12 SSHLLs, 4 ch-3 sp) RND 7: Join Color C with a sl st in any ch-3 corner sp, Beg SSHLL, [SSHLL in next 3 ch-1 sp\*, corner as (SSHLL, ch 2, SSHLL) in next ch-3 sp] x 3, work to \* on 4th rep, SSHLL in beg corner, hdc in beg ch-3 acts as ch2 (gets you to middle of corner). (20 SSHLLs, 4 ch-2 sp) RND 8: NOTE: Corner SHLL\* is worked with a ch-3 instead of a ch-1 between the dc sets. Corner Beg SSHLL, [SHLL in next 5 ch-1 sp, corner SSHLL in next ch-2 sp] x 4, omit corner SSHLL on last rep, sl st in beg ch3. Fasten off Color C. (20 SSHLLs, 4 corner SSHLLs) \*If you are confused by the wording 'corner shell just make an old fashioned (2 dc, ch 3, 2 dc) in the corner, which is all it really is. Just one of them in each corner, not two. RND 9: Join Color A with a sl st in any corner ch-3 sp, ch 3 as dc, (2 trc, ch 3, 2 trc, dc) in same sp, [(SSHLL in next ch-1 sp, SpCl around spaces of 2 Rnds below) x 4, SSHLL in next ch-1 sp, corner as (dc, 2 trc, ch 3, 2 trc, dc) in next ch-3 sp] x 4, omit corner on last rep, sl st in beg ch-3. Fasten off Color A. (16 SpCl, 20 SSHLLs, 16 trc, 8 dc, 4 ch-3 sp) RND 10: Join Color C with a sc in any corner ch-3 sp, (sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in same sp, [sc in next 3 st, 3 hdc around sp between corner sts and next SSHLL, (sc in next ch-1 sp, 3 hdc in top of next SpCl) x 4, sc in next ch1 sp, 3 hdc around sp between corners sts and next SSHLL, sc in next 3 st) x 4, omit corner on last rep, join with a sl st in beg sc. (132 st, 4 ch-2 sp) RND 11: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, ch 1, sk next sc, [corner as (sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, (ch 1, sk next st, sc in next st) x 16, ch 1, sk next sc] x4, omit last sc, sl st in beg sc. Fasten off Color C. (72 sc, 68 ch-1 sp, 4 ch-2 sp) RND 12: Notes: spike hdc are defined in stitches. Join Color B with a sc in first sc of any corner, 3 hdc into ch-2 sp, sc in next sc, [(spike hdc in sk st of Rnd 10 encasing Rnd 11 ch-1 sp, sc in next st) \* x 17, 3 hdc in ch-2 sp, sc in next sc] x 4, working to \* only on 4th rep and repeating x 16 only, spike hdc in next sp as before, sl st in beg sc. Fasten off Color B if block is large enough for you. (152 st) RND 13: BLO if desired: work if needed for size. I worked a round of sc in allst, with 3 sc in corner st. (160 scC) Weave in remaining ends and block if you like. Enjoy!
