Make it ! Diamonds Christmas Tree !!!

...Well, it has been a while since my last post, right ?

I`ve been missing this place a lot and I hope to be here regurarly from now on, hoping you love the idea, too !!!

So December is here again and I love this time of the year very much and that`s why I have a pattern  to show you my last christmassy idea... are you ready to follow me?

WHAT YOU NEED :

5mm and 4mm hooks
scissors
yarn needle
pompom maker : I use a 45mm Clover pompom maker 
some colourful mini bells
PVA glue, brush, pins, blocking board or foam tiles

YARN : it`s all from my personal stash. I`m using a selection of Simply Aran from Paintbox Yarns (the Diamonds part), some Sirdar no 1 for the embellishments (pompoms, candies), and some metallic options (Hayfield Bonus Glitter, Sparkle Glamourus Yarn from B&M, etc). I will try to more specific later in the pattern writing.

Please, remember I follow the US crochet terminology !!

My turning chain (=2ch) is never considered as a proper stitch.

Difficulty level : Intermediate

ABOUT THE PATTERN

As you can see from the above picture, the tree is made of diamond motifs. The pattern starts with the triangle on the bottom left and ends with the triangle at the bottom right. In the between, you work vertical strips of motifs, joined one after the other with a sort of "Join-As-You-Go" method. The joining itself is made using slip stitches and it`s well explained in the pattern. In this way, no sewing is involved.

PATTERN STARTS

You can use a maximum of 7 different shades. The above 4 triangles are crocheted using a 5mm hook and a selection of Simply Aran Paintbox Yarns . Obviously, you can use any substitute from your personal yarn stash.

First Strip (T1) = triangle motif

Choose a starting colour, make a slip knot on your hook and work a foundation chain of 14 chains.

Row 1 (Right Side) : wrap yarn around hook and insert tip in 3rd chain from hook and work your first DC, then 9DC, DC2tog in last 2 stitches, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC,1st decr row]

Row 2 (Wrong Side) : 9DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 3 : 8DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 4 : 7DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [8DC]

Row 5 : 6DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 6 : 5DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC]

Row 7 : 4DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 8 : 3DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 9 : 2DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC]

Row 10 (WS) : 1DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC]

Row 11 (RS) : DC2tog, fasten off. [1 DC, last decr row]

Your first triangle (and so your 1st strip!) is done.

Select the new colour to start

Second Strip (D2) = 1 diamond motif (joining starts, too) 

 Insert tip of your hook in base of 1st DC of Row 1 of previous triangle (T1) and make a slip stich to join new yarn, then work 3ch.

Row 1 (RS) : wrap yarn, insert hook in 1st ch and work 2DC into it, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 1 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 2 of T1, TURN.  [ 2 DC, 1st incr row]

Row 2 (WS) : 1DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC ]

Row 3 : 2DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 3 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 4 of T1, TURN. [4 DC ]

Row 4 : 3DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 5 : 4DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 5 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 6 of T1, TURN. [6 DC ]

Row 6 : 5DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 7 : 6DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 7 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 8 of T1, TURN. [8 DC ]

Row 8 : 7DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 9 : 8DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 9 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 10 of T1, TURN. [10 DC ]

Row 10 (WS) : 9DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC] 

Row 11 (RS) : 10DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 9 of  T1, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 10 of T1, TURN. [12 DC, last incr row ]

From now on starts the decreasing and no more joining :

Row 12 (WS) : 10DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC, 1st decr row)

Row 13 (RS) : 9DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 14 : 8DC. DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 15 : 7DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [8 DC]

Row 16 : 6DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 17 : 5DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC]

Row 18 : 4DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 19 : 3DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 20 : 2DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC]

Row 21 (RS) : 1DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC]

Row 22 (WS) : DC2tog, fasten off. [1 DC, last decr row] 

Your first diamond is done, so it`s your 2nd strip.

Select new colour and start

Third Strip (D3) = triangle+diamond motifs

 Insert tip of your hook in base of 1st DC of Row 1 of previous diamond (D2) and make a slip stich to join new yarn, then work 14 ch.

Row 1 (RS) : wrap yarn, insert hook in 3rd chain from hook and work your 1st DC into it, then 9DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 1 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 2 of D2, TURN. [11 DC, 1st decr row]

Row 2 (WS) : 9DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 3 : 8DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 3 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch into top of 1st DC of Row 4 of D2, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 4 : 7DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [8 DC]

Row 5 : 6DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 5 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch into top of 1st DC of Row 6 of D2, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 6 : 5DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC] 

Row 7 : 4DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 7 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch into top of 1st DC of Row 8 of D2, TURN. [5 DC] 

Row 8 : 3DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC] 

Row 9 :  2DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 9 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch into top of 1st DC of Row 10 of D2, TURN. [3 DC] 

Row 10 (WS) : 1DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC]

Row 11 (RS) : DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 11 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch into top of 1st DC of Row 12 of D2, TURN. [1 DC, last decr row]  

From now starts the increasing with some more joining :

Row 12 (WS) : 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC, 1st incr row]

Row 13 (RS) : 1DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of row 13 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 14 of D2, TURN. [3 DC]

Row 14 : 2DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 15 : 3DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of row 15 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 16 of D2, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 16 : 4DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC]

Row 17 : 5DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of row 17 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 18 of D2, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 18 : 6DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [8 DC]

Row 19 : 7DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of row 19 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 20 of D2, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 20 (WS) : 8DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 21 (RS) : 9DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of row 21 of D2, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 22 of D2, TURN. [11 DC ]

Row 22 (WS) : 10DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [12 DC, last incr row] 

From now starts the decreasing with no more joining :

Row 23 (RS) :  10DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC]

Row 24 (WS) : 9DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 25 : 8DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 26 : 7DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [8 DC]

Row 27 : 6DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 28 : 5DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC]

Row 29 : 4DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 30 : 3DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 31 : 2DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC ]

Row 32 (WS) : 1DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC]  

Row 33 (RS) : DC2tog, fasten off. [1 DC, last decr row] 

Select new colour and start

Fourth Strip (D4) = 2 diamond motifs

 Insert tip of your hook in base of 1st DC of Row 1 of previous triangle (D3) and make a slip stich to join new yarn, then work 3ch.

Row 1 (RS) : wrap yarn, insert hook in 1st ch and work 2DC into it, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 1 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 2 of D3, TURN.  [ 2 DC, 1st incr row]

Row 2 (WS) : 1DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC ]

Row 3 : 2DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 3 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 4 of D3, TURN. [4 DC ]

Row 4 : 3DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 5 : 4DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 5 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 6 of D3, TURN. [6 DC ]

Row 6 : 5DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 7 : 6DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 7 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 8 of D3, TURN. [8 DC ]

Row 8 : 7DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 9 : 8DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 9 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 10 of D3, TURN. [10 DC ]

Row 10 (WS) : 9DC, 2DC in last stitch, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC] 

Row 11 (RS) : 10DC, 2DC in last stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 9 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 10 of D3, TURN. [12 DC, last incr row ]

From now on starts the decreasing and more joining :

Row 12 (WS) : 10DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC, 1st decr row)

Row 13 (RS) : 9DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 13 of D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 14 of D3, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 14 : 8DC. DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 15 : 7DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 15 of D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 16 of D3, TURN. [8 DC] 

Row 16 : 6DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 17 : 5DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 17 of D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 18 of D3, TURN. [6 DC] 

Row 18 : 4DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 19 : 3DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 19 of D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 20 of D3, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 20 : 2DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC]

Row 21 (RS) :  1DC, DC2tog, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 21 of D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 22 of D3, TURN. [2 DC]

Row 22 (WS) : DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [1 DC, last decr row]

From now on starts the increasing and more joining :

Row 23 (RS) : 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 23 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 24 of D3, TURN. [2 DC ]

Row 24 (WS) :  1DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC]

Row 25 : 2DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 25 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 26 of D3, TURN. [4 DC ]

Row 26 : 3DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC] 

Row 27 : 4DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 27 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 28 of D3, TURN. [6 DC ]

Row 28 : 5DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]  

Row 29 :  6DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 29 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 30 of D3, TURN. [8 DC ]

Row 30 : 7DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]  

Row 31 : 8DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 31 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 32 of D3, TURN. [10 DC ]

Row 32 (WS) :  9DC, 2DC in same stitch, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC]  

Row 33 (RS) : 10DC, 2DC in same stitch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 33 of  D3, 2ch, slip stitch (=joining) into top of 1st DC of Row 34 of D3, TURN. [12 DC, last incr row ]

From now starts the decreasing with no more joining :

Row 34 (WS) :  10DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [11 DC]

Row 35 : 9DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [10 DC]

Row 36 : 8DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [9 DC]

Row 37 : 7DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [8 DC]

Row 38 : 6DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [7 DC]

Row 39 : 5DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [6 DC]

Row 40 : 4DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [5 DC]

Row 41 : 3DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [4 DC]

Row 42 : 2DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [3 DC ]

Row 43 (RS) : 1DC, DC2tog, 2ch, TURN. [2 DC]  

Row 44 (WS) : DC2tog, fasten off. [1 DC, last decr row] 

Select new colour and start

Fifth Strip (D5) =  triangle+diamond motifs

Same pattern as for D3, with the difference that you have to join from Row 23 to Row 33 to the correspondent rows of D4.

Select New colour and start

Sixth Strip (D6) = diamond motif

Same pattern as for D2, but you need to join from Row 12 to Row 22 to the corresponding rows of D5.

Select new colour and start

Seventh Strip (T2) = triangle motif

Same pattern of first 11 rows of D3

Weave in all ends !

EDGING and TREE TRUNK

Using a selection of metallic yarns (Hayfield Bonus Glitter, Sparkle Glamorous Yarn, and some others!!) I did a simple edging around the tree and I added a trunk, too.

Working with 2 threads together and a 5mm hook, you need to keep the RS of the tree facing you, but upside-down, so you start to crochet from its bottom.

Make a slip knot on your hook and insert the tip of 1st diamond on the right (see above picture, yellow arrow) and work your first SC.
Work 1 SC in each bottom chain
Work 2 SC along each DC, on both sides
Work 2 or 3 SC in each bottom corner
When you reach the tree top, chain 21 and slip stitch in 1st chain to make a hanging loop

When you reach the 1st SC of the edging, complete the border with a slip stitch and work 2ch.

In the next 25 stitches work one DC in each one, 2ch, Turn. Repeat other 4 times (so you will a total of 5 rows) to have a small tree trunk. Fasten off.

Weave in ends.

BLOCKING

You need to pin your tree, with WS facing you, on a blocking board or foam tiles.

The only tree it`s better to block later, after the embellishments. is the Argyle tree!

Prepare a solution of tap water and PVA glue in equal parts to brush on the back of the tree in order to stiffen it.

Let it dry completely.

Once ready, you can start to decorate it!

ARGYLE TREE

You have to select a couple of contrasting colours from the metallic yarns and with the help of a 4mm hook you just have to work slip stitches to create the argyle effect, first one colour in one direction, then the other colour in the opposite direction.

Starting from the middle bottom of each triangle, you have to draw lines almost parallel (!!!) to the sides of the diamond motifs.... it seems scary and impossible, but believe me it is not !

Once the Argyle design is completed, you can block your tre and when it`s dry, you can add some colourful bells, too!

BOWS TREE

Each bow is a chain made of 70 chains, worked with 2 strands, and knotted into the front of the tree.

4 bells are added to embellish the bottom.

POMPOM TREE

Using the 45mm Clover pompom maker and a strand of metallic yarn together with a strand of Sirdar no 1 , prepare 15 pompoms to knot to the front of the tree. Very easy, but so effective!

CANDY CANES and PEPPERMINT CANDIES TREE

....luckily I already wrote a pattern for these candies a while ago !!!

You can find the instructions right HERE !!!

Obviously you can decide to embellish (or not!) your tree with other ideas : as you know very well, the sky is the limit!!!

Anyhow, I`m curious to know who remembers the original idea for this pattern???

If you follow me regularly on IG (HERE) , maybe you remember these pictures from Christmas 2016...

... or not???

Please, let me know if you are crocheting a tree or two....thank you !!!

xxxx Alessandra

Please note that:

No part of this pattern may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, without the prior

written permission of the copyright holder. You are welcome to gift or sell any of your finished items,

only if you are an individual crafter. Please, make a link to my blog/instagram feed to credit the pattern
to my name ! I would really appreciate that!!!

https://www.instagram.com/homemadeatmyplace/

http://homemadeatmyplace.blogspot.com/

  

  

I'm back!!!

Hi my dear friends... are you still there??? I really hope so!!! ;oD

It has been a while, since my last post, last June...

Well, apart the usual difficulties with internet, I decided even to have a break from my blog, as less people read it.... maybe we are all more obsessed with Instagram, right now ... honestly I think so!

Anyway, I'm here to give you just an information or big news!!

Yesterday I put my first booklet for sale on RAVELRY !!!!

You have to find me, as homemadeatmyplace and then click on my featured designs and look for Designs with Diamonds .... and voila', my first pattern for sale is there!!!!!

I was working all the last summer on it!!!

Diamonds are my obsession, lately (at least the crocheted ones!!!) and I wanted to find the easiest way to join them together with the join-as-you-go method ... I think I did it!!!

This work is not for beginners, but is addressed to crocheters with an intermediate level of experience with crochet. The stitched used are simple (double crochet, single crochet and 2DCtog / US terms), but there are no charts or a proper photo tutorial for each step: you have to be a confident reader of written patterns .

You are mostly going to crochet samples of different patterns and motifs and when you will confident with the new technique, well everything will be possible !!!

I came out with some simple motifs, as

HEXAGONS

ARGYLE

SPIDER

ZIG_ZAG

.... and more designs ...

DESIGN C

DESIGN B

DESIGN A

SUN DESIGN

 

Now, my question is : DO YOU WANNA TRY THEM?????

Let me know, xxxx Alessandra

Make it ! 3 Ovals Wrist Warmers !!!

Do you remember these ones ??? You can click here to refresh your memory …. ;oD
Some friends asked me if it was possible to have an idea on how to crochet these simple, but original gauntlets ….

… well, I've prepared a photo tutorial/pattern for you to follow and make your own pair of wrist warmers !!!! Are you smiling and clapping your hands for the excitement ? You have to!

YOU WILL NEED :

• a crochet hook (4mm)
• some yarn (I decided to crochet my wrist warmers with MODA Vera MARVEL 8ply 100% acrylic)
• stitch markers (at least 4 of them, max 8)
• a pair of scissors
• a yarn needle
• I follow the US crochet terminology!

Each wrist warmer is made of 3 ovals, that are joined together using the "join as you go method" in the same way I did here, here and here, with a slight variation : for this project I chose to insert the hook under both loops of the same stitch (not only the back loop).

I think that the following pattern is not suitable for beginners, but if you are one of them I invite you to try anyway : a good challenge is what we need to improve our skills, right?

LET'S START !!!!!

FIRST OVAL

first round :

Pick up the hook and make a slip knot on it, then chain 40 (loosely)
N.B. : if you prefer a shorter wrist warmer, just chain less stitches for your foundation chain. On the contrary, if you would love to crochet a longer one, just add more chains !!! Easy peasy!!!

then wrap the yarn around the hook (you are going to crochet your 1st DC, or double crochet) and insert the tip of your hook in the 4th chain 

After this first DC, crochet other 36 DCs , so that, at the end of your foundation chain, you will have 37 DCs + ch 3, where the "ch 3" has the only function to reach the height of the 1st DC stitch at the beginning of each round : don't consider it as a stitch at all.

Now, in the last stitch you made your last DC, you have to add 4 DCs (so, there will be a total of 5 DCs in the same stitch), to give a rounded shape to your oval-to-be : you are crocheting the first semicircle 

As you can see in the above picture, after the first semicircle is done, you start to crochet another straight side in correspondence of the previous one : just crochet 1 DC in each base of the former DCs!

You have to crochet a total of 35 DCs, before to start the 2nd semicircle

In the base of the 1st crocheted DC, you need to crochet 4 DCs to form the 2nd semicircle of the oval shape, then make a slip stitch in the top of the first DC (skip ch 3!) to close this first round of the wrist warmers.

Please note that I put the stitch markers (4) in the first DC of the first straight side and at the end of the same side (DC #35). The other two are put on using the same concept : stitch markers in the first DC (just after the 1st semicircle) of the 2nd side and one in the last DC (DC #35) of the same side, just before the 2nd semicircle.

Note that the 1st DC made in each round is considered as the last DC of the 2nd semicircle, so the DC #1 for each round is usually the 2nd one that you crochet after the ch 3 !!!!!! ;oD

This is what you will have at the end of your first round 

I know that the picture is a little bit dark, but it shows what I was trying to explain to you few lines above !!!

second round :

Just chain 3 and crochet 1 DC in the same stitch

As you can see from the above picture, this DC that you have just made is situated just before (look at the stitch marker) the real 1st DC of the straight side (the one in the pic is of the previous round; we are going to crochet our 1st Dc of this round right now!)

After 5 DCs you will have

and after DC #35 is crocheted (before to start the 1st semicircle!) 

Now in each top of the previous DCs (they are 5, remember?) you need to crochet 2 DCs,  so that in the semicircle you will have a total of 10 DCs : in the semicircles you increase the number of the stitches (just think what happens in each round of a circle made of DCs!)

After 5 DCs done along the second row (next the 1st semicircle)

Add the remanent 30 DCs

and repeat what you did with the 1st semicircle, with a subtle difference

Even here you have to increase the number of your stitches, from 5 to 10. But you have to do it differently for the last 2 stitches of this semicircle. 

Do the first 4 increases as usual : (look at the first pic) 2 DCs in each stitch top, so you will have 8 DCs. Then, in the next DC (see 2nd pic) just crochet 1 DC (that is the stitch marked 9 in red) and make a slip stitch in the top of the first DC (marked with 10 in the 2nd pic) of this round, that is considered as the last DC of the 2nd semicircle !!! Simply done !!!!

third round :

Start as for the 2nd round : ch 3 and crochet 1 DC in the same stitch

Then, crochet the usual 35 DCs along the straight side 

and start the first semicircle to increase : 1 DC in first DC, then 2 DCs in the next DC. Repeat other 4 times. You will have 15 DCs in this semicircle

Again, 35 DCs along the 2nd straight side

the second semicircle :

As for the 1st semicircle : (1 DC + 2 DCs) 4 times (see 1st pic). Then 1 DC where 13 is  marked in red and 1 DC where 14 is marked in red : look at both pics, 1 and 2, to get the idea. After this last DC, just make a slip stitch in the top of the 1st DC of the 3rd round! In fact this 1st DC of this last round is the 15th stitch of your 2nd semicircle!!!

Your first oval is completed, so 1/3 of your 1st wrist warmer

Now you can cut the yarn and FASTEN OFF!!!!

SECOND OVAL 

first and second rounds :

follow the instruction given for the first oval

third round :

ch 3 and crochet 1 DC in same stitch, crochet 35 DCs and make the first semicircle, as for the first oval, nothing less, nothing more!

Then start to join the first oval to the second one you are crocheting : you have to join the 35 DCs of the previous oval with the brand new ones (35!) you are going to crochet using the "join as you go method".  HOW ????

Put the 2 ovals (right sides facing you) in front of each other along the straight sides.

Collect out the stitch marker close to the last stitch of the first semicircle of the second oval and start to work your 1st DC, only the first half : wrap yarn around the hook, insert hook in the top of the stitch, wrap yarn around hook again, pull it back to the front of your work, wrap yarn around hook once more, pull it trough the first 2 loops 

as you can see in the above pic, you have done the first half of your 1st DC and you still have 2 loops on your hook!

Now bring this piece of crochet near the first oval, so that its straight side has to face the one we are working along in the 2nd oval-to-be. Collect off the stitch marker from the 1st oval, while wrapping the yarn around your hook

insert the hook in the top of the 1st DC of the 1st oval and wrap the yarn around the hook

pull the yarn through the top of the stitch to the front of the work (you will have 3 loops)

and pull this "loop" through the other 2 loops : first join and DC done!!!

You have to repeat this other 34 times, to complete the straight side! You will notice that the 2nd oval will overlap the 1st one along the joining side.

After a dozen of joins/DCs you will see something like the following

and at the end of the joining …

Now you can complete the 2nd semicircle of the 3rd round in the usual way, slip stitch in the 1st DC, cut the yarn and fasten off !

THIRD OVAL 

first and second rounds:

same pattern as for the first oval!

This time I wanted to use more colours, so I changed them at the beginning of each round !!!! ;oD

Third round 

ch 3 and 1 DC in the same stitch

Then you have to crochet the joining/DCs as before! Just remember that the ch 3 + 1 DC are not used in the joining, because they will be part of the 2nd semicircle to crochet at the end of the joining!

When you start the 2nd DC, that is the 1st DC of the straight side, this is the stitch you begin the joining !

As you complete the 1st straight side, you will have something like this

Then you can complete the first semicircle as usual

After that, you need to fold your work (right sides in front of you) so that you will have the last straight sides facing each other

Collect out the first stitch markers on both sides and start the last joining

last joining done ….

Then the last part to finish : first the 2nd semicircle, then slip stitch in first DC, and last cut the yarn so you can fasten off!!!!

the first wrist warmer … collage …

try it on …

…. and crochet the second one to have a nice pair !!! ….

… as you can see, I crocheted a mismatched one and I really love this kind of design !!!!

What about you????

If you find the join as you go method a little bit tough, I suggest you to try more simple ways to join together the pieces of your wrist warmers : you can attempt a different crochet technique or just sew them using a whip stitch, for example!

I warmly suggest you to add decorations or embellishments just before doing the last joining : it was hard to crochet a simple line of slip stitches on a completed wrist warmer …. anyway, you learn by making mistakes … most of the times, at least!!!! ;oD

Let me know about your experiments with this pattern, more difficult to write than to follow … I hope!!!!!

xxxx Alessandra