Scallop Sheul Motif
By Loren G Designy
As featured in the Crochet Knit A-Long "Down by the Seashore" in the International Freeform Forum Group on Ravelry, July/August 2016. You may use any fairly smooth yarn or thread. Variegated yarns work well as they mimic the speckling found on scallop shells. Use a solid color for the ribs. This pattern uses small quantities of yarn or thread and is good for scraps. You may want to go down a hook size from what you would normally use. This motif would work well as an applique or as a design element in a freeform composition. For information on Freeform Crochet and Knitting, please visit our group on Ravelry. The Scallop has a beautiful radiating, fluted fan shape and is prized by shell collectors everywhere. The scallop as a design motif has been used since ancient times in art, architecture and design. Botticelli's Birth of Venus is an iconic painting featuring a scallop shell so large it steals the show IMHo! As a sea creature, it is most interesting for a couple reasons - it can swim and it can see! The scallop is one of a select group of bivalves considered to be "free-living". Most live on sandy substrates, and when they sense the presence of a predator such as a starfish, they are able to escape by "swimming" - moving by repeatedly clapping their shells together. Scallops have a well-developed nervous system; they have numerous simple eyes situated around the edge of their mantles. Some people think they are quite tasty, too!
Small scallop in Vanna's Glamour accented with Feza Glit:
Special Stitches:
Treble decrease: make a treble st, omitting last step. 2 loops on hook. Do a treble into next st, omitting last step. 3 loops on hook. Yarn over draw thru all. 3-tr cluster: Work three trebles into same stitch, omitting the last step in each stitch, (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, draw thru all loops. 5-tr cluster: as above, but with 5 partial trebles instead of 3. Crab stitch http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-surface-crochet-or-surface-slipstitch/ Surface Slip Stitch http://www.mooglyblog.com/reverse-single-crochet-crab-stitch/
Large Scallop:
Sample worked in bulky yarn with an I hook. It measures 6" w x 4" I. I used a variegated yarn to mimic the speckles found on scallop shells. Row 1: Ch 11. Sl st in second ch from hook and in next chain, sc, sc, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, 2 tr in next, 3-tr cluster stitch in last chain (see below). Ch 1, turn. (11 st) Row 2: Work in both loops: Sc across, except sl st into each of last 2 st. Remember to make your sl stitches loosely! Ch 1, turn. (9 sc, 2 sl) Row 3: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 tr into next st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 st) Row 4: Repeat row 2 (10 sc, 2 sl) Row 5: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 4 dc, 2 tr in next st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn.(13 st) Row 6: Repeat row 2 (11 sc, 2 sl) Row 7: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 5 dc, 2 tr in next st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (14 st) Row 8: Repeat row 2. (12 sc, 2 sl) Row 9: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 5 dc, treble decrease over next 2 st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (13 st) Row 10: Repeat row 2 (11 sc, 2 sl) Row 11: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 4dc, treble decrease over next 2 st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 st) Row 12: Repeat row 2 (10 sc, 2 sl) Row 13:Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, treble decrease over next 2 st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (11 st) Row 14: Repeat row 2 (9 sc, 2 sl) but omit (ch 1 turn) Bottom edge: ch 1, turn so you will be working along the bottom edge (wrong side facing). Make 7 sc along bottom in center of each "rib", \*Ch 3, turn. sc into 2nd ch from hook and next ch. \* SI st across bottom row. Repeat \* to \*. Cut yarn & sew in ends.
Optional:
To highlight the "ribs", use crab stitch and a contrast yarn if desired. Crab st into front loops of each rib. You may also crab stitch around the entire piece, make sure to do a crab stitch decrease (a bit tricky but think of how you do an sc decrease in inside corners) on the inside corners of the bottom edge. Note: it will be easier to access the front rib loops if you bend the piece along the rib first. I cinched the bottom as I sewed in the ends of the crab rows so they met in a point.
Small Scallop:
Sample worked in fingering weight with a C hook and measures 3 %" w x 2 %" I. Row 1: Ch 11. Sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next chain, sc, sc, hdc, hdc, dc, dc, 2 tr in next, 3- tr cluster stitch into last chain (see below). Ch 1, turn. (11 st) Row 2: Work in both loops: Sc across, except sl st into each of last 2 st. Remember to make your sl stitches loosely! Ch 1, turn. (9 sc, 2 sl) Row 3: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, 2 tr in next st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 st) Row 4: Repeat row 2 (10 sc, 2 sl) Row 5: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 4 dc, 2 tr in next st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (13 st) Row 6: Repeat row 2 (11 sc, 2 sl) Row 7: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 4 dc, treble decrease over next 2 st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (12 st) Row 8: Repeat row 2. (10 sc, 2 sl) Row 9: Work in back loops only: 2 sl st, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 3 dc, treble decrease over next 2 st, 3-tr cluster in last st. Ch 1, turn. (11 st) Row 10: Repeat row 2 (9 sc, 2 sl) omit (ch 1 turn) ; cut yarn, sew in ends. Attach contrast yarn in same spot as last sl st, wrong side facing. Sl st in between each "rib" (5 sl st total). Ch 3, sl st into 2nd ch from hook and in next ch, sl st in each slip st across, ch 3, sl st in 2nd ch from hook and in next ch. Cut yarn, sew in ends.
Optional: With contast, surface sl st in "holes" made by the sc rows (alongside front loop ridge; refer to picture).
I am indebted to my tech editors and testers: Melbav, Carleta30121, Ne11, Judithooker, MermaidWiggle, catbroder, creativegranny, Andreahorizons, mohairart and RubyTuesdayWA. Much gratitude goes to Nell aka Ne11 on Ravelry for making the charts and so generously granting permission to use them here.
