Saturday, June 18, 2011

Sweet Pea Scarf Pattern and Tutorial


Here's a lacy little spring-into-summer scarf I designed for the birthday of an old friend - one of the sweetest people I know. Since her nickname starts with the letter P, and this pattern reminds me of delicate sweet pea blossoms, "Sweet Pea" was the perfect name for her scarf.


Sweet Pea, about 62" long, was made with just under a skein of Deborah Norville Serenity Garden, bought at JoAnn Fabrics, and a size H hook (the short sample in the photo tutorial was made with a size G hook). The yarn is beautifully soft and drapey, although it splits a bit, and the colours are simply gorgeous - rich and saturated.

Designing for this variegated yarn was a real challenge. A complicated stitch pattern can get lost in the colour changes. A too-simple design can be boring. I hope I struck a happy medium!

In addition to the usual ways of draping a scarf, Sweet Pea can also be worn like this:

Weave a ribbon, I-cord, or crochet cord through
the open sections...

...and pull to gather the scarf for a lush ruffly look.

As usual, we'll start with the charted pattern, followed by the shorthand instructions and photo tutorial.

A note for my friends across the pond: this pattern is written using American crochet terminology.

You may use any yarn you like, with an appropriate size hook.

Special Stitch Used:  I'm calling this a "spacer picot", or spp. It's a fun, easy variation on a regular picot, and adds a bit of space between stitches. (It works beautifully for shell stitch trimming.) Here's how it's made:

Make desired stitch (triple, double, or half-double crochet). Chain 2. Yarn over once, and insert hook back and under top 2 strands of stitch just made (front to back). Yarn over and pull through. You should now have 3 strands on your hook. Yarn over again and pull through all strands on hook.

Let's make a scarf!


Sweet Pea Charted Pattern


Sweet Pea Shorthand Pattern

Ch 6. Join with sl st to form ring. Ch 1, sc in ring.

Make starting blossom as follows: Ch 3, tr in ring. Make spp in tr. Dc in ring, spp in dc. Hdc in ring, spp in hdc.  Sc in ring.

Ch 6; sc in ring. (You've gone around the circle, and now you're almost back at the beginning of the blossom.) Ch 3; sc in first sc made.

Make side blossom as follows:  Ch 3, TURN. Tr in ch-3 sp, spp. Dc in ch-3 sp, spp. Hdc in ch-3 sp, spp. Sc in ch-3 sp. Blossom made.

*Ch 6, sc in space made by previous ch-6. Ch 3, sc in next sc (which is the ending sc of a previous blossom).  Make side blossom in ch-3 space as above.

Repeat from * until scarf is desired length.

To finish scarf: Ch 5, sc in sp made by previous ch-6. Ch 3, sc in next sc. Ch 3, TURN. Make blossom in ch-3 sp as usual. Ch 3, sc in ch-5 space. Ch 3 again, sc in next sc (end of a blossom). Ch 3, TURN. Make blossom in ch-3 space. Sc in empty ch-3 sp. Make final blossom as starting blossom (do not turn). Attach with sc to next sc.

Tie off and weave in ends. Block if desired.

Sweet Pea Photo Tutorial with directions in plain English

Chain 6. Join with a slip stitch to form a ring.

Chain 1. Single crochet in ring. Now it's time to make the first blossom.


Starting Blossom (made in the ring space):

Chain 3, then triple crochet in ring.


Now make a spacer picot on top of the triple crochet:

Chain 2.
Yarn over, then insert crochet hook back through the top 2 strands of the triple crochet you just made. (The hook should go from front to back.)
Yarn over and pull through. Now you should have 3 loops on your hook.
Yarn over again, and pull through all the loops on the hook.

Spacer picot made! Pull on the yarn a bit to snug it up.

(The spacer picot is essentially a chain 2, then a half-double crochet in the top of the stitch you just made.)


Next, make a double crochet in the ring, and a spacer picot in the top 2 strands of the double crochet.


Now a half-double crochet in the ring, and another spacer picot in the top 2 strands of the half-double crochet.


Single crochet in the ring.  Your starting blossom is done!


Now it's time to start making the lattice.

Chain 6. Single crochet in the ring. See how you've gone around the circle? Now you're almost back at the beginning of the blossom.


Chain 3. Single crochet in the first single crochet you made back at the beginning of the ring.  See how this makes a little space?  You're going to put the first side blossom here.


Side Blossom:


Chain 3 and TURN. Now the blossom space is to the left of your hook.


Triple crochet in the chain-3 space, make spacer picot.
Double crochet in the chain-3 space, make spacer picot.
Half-double crochet in the chain-3 space, make spacer picot.
Single crochet in the chain-3 space.

First side blossom done!

All your side blossoms will be made just like this one.

Lattice and next blossom space:

Chain 6, then single crochet in the space made by your previous chain 6.  Now your yarn has crossed over to the other side of the scarf.


Chain 3, then single crochet in the next single crochet (which is the ending single crochet of the first blossom you made).

Here's where that single crochet should go - make sure
you don't stitch into the spacer picot by mistake
Now you have a space for the next side blossom.

Make a side blossom in the chain-3 space you just made (chain 3 and TURN, triple crochet with spacer picot, double crochet with spacer picot, half-double crochet with spacer picot, single crochet.)

Now your scarf should look like this:


Just 3 basic steps: lattice, blossom space, side blossom.  Pretty simple, really.  Here they are again:

Lattice: Chain 6, single crochet in previous chain-6 space

Blossom Space: Chain 3, single crochet in ending single crochet
of previous blossom

Side blossom: Chain 3, TURN,
triple crochet with spacer picot,
double crochet with spacer picot,
half-double crochet with spacer picot,
single crochet

Another way to think of it is: across (making the lattice), then backwards (making the blossom space), then forwards (making the blossom).

Repeat these steps until your scarf is the length you want, ending with a side blossom.

Finishing the Scarf

Make the last lattice a little bit shorter: chain 5, then single crochet in space made by previous chain 6.

Make a normal blossom space, then a normal side blossom.

Now it's time to make the final two blossom spaces.  Chain 3, then single crochet in chain-5 space. Chain 3 AGAIN, and single crochet in next single crochet.

Two blossom spaces right next to each other

 Make side blossom in the chain-3 space just made.


And now for the very last blossom:

Single crochet in empty chain-3 space. Chain 3, but DO NOT TURN, then finish final blossom (triple crochet with spacer picot, double crochet with spacer picot, half-double crochet with spacer picot, single crochet.)  Finish with another single crochet in next single crochet.




Tie off, weave in ends, and you're done!

Block lightly if desired, and enjoy your beautiful new scarf. Or better still, give it to someone you love.


You may do whatever you like with the items you make from this pattern, but you may not sell the pattern. Thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!


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32 comments:

  1. I don't crochet much, but this really tempts me. It's delightful, that you so much for sharing it.

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  2. That was supposed to be "thank" you so much.

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  3. I just love your scarf patterns and can't wait to try this one, too. Thanks so much for sharing these wonderful patterns.

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  4. Incredible tutorial; leaves nothing to guesswork. Love the yarn you chose to do this in, too. I'm still green with envy because you chart your patterns!

    (I think I can, I think I can, I think I can... I just have to sit down long enough... but not on a bike saddle!)

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  5. Beautiful pattern and you've done so much to make it easy for us! I love it!! I'm going to give it a go. Thank you . . . thank you! :-)

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  6. You're very welcome! Post a picture on Ravelry when you get it done.

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  7. I love the Queen Ann Lace. I have several of them in progress. I want to make the sweet pea scarf as soon as I get the courage. Thank you for the "visual" pattern. I can't wait for the next pattern.

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  8. Thank you, Juanita. It shouldn't take much courage to make this pattern - it's not hard at all. If you have any questions about the pattern, leave a comment and I'll be happy to help.

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  9. Oh, I just realized this is my new favorite yarn in a different colorway and I would NEVER have realized it would turn out like this on a scarf...I'm in luvvvvv....and got a $40 gift card to Jo Ann's for my bday......yippee!!!

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  10. It is a nice yarn, isn't it? I'm currently struggling - I mean playing - with a third colourway and trying to come up with another scarf design. At my JoAnn's they seem to have different colours every time I go. I'm kicking myself for not buying some of the ones that caught my eye in the past, because now they're gone. Have fun with your gift certificate!

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  11. Love, love, love this scarf and your blog. Found you on iCrochet and will definitely be following!

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  12. Thanks so much! I just squeaked onto iCrochet - thanks to Lolly who mentioned it in one of her posts.

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  13. Wow! I was searching for an interesting pattern to try for a scarf I wanted to make for my friend, and I found your website and this wonderful pattern. Thank you so much for sharing this and explaining it in PLAIN ENGLISH! It came out beautifully and I'm looking forward to trying your Double Thistle scarf pattern next.

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  14. Thankyou for the pattern xx

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  15. WOW! thank you, I have searched the internet for almost a week looking for something to make for a dear friend of mine who is....lets just say..... a bit picky, and very well off so she pretty much buys whatever she wants. This is perfect and exactly her style. thank you! thank you! thank you!

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    Replies
    1. Thanks! Hope she likes it. It does come out rather skinny, just so you know. But if you use a heavier yarn, it will of course be wider.

      :)

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  16. Just finished this scarf using the suggested yarn and while it was one of the "splittiest" yarns I've used, the finished product is magnificent! I made this one for my niece, but think I'm going to have to make another one for me! Divine pattern! Thank you!

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  17. How pretty! I love this scarf and thank you very much!
    ______
    Lee Ann

    Crochet...Gotta Love It! Blog:
    http://crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com
    Pinterest: http:// www.pinterest.com/crochetsister
    YouTube Channel:
    http://youtube.com/user/crochetgottaloveit
    #crochetgottaloveit #crochet

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  18. How pretty! I love this scarf and thank you very much!
    ______
    Lee Ann

    Crochet...Gotta Love It! Blog:
    http://crochetgottaloveit.blogspot.com
    Pinterest: http:// www.pinterest.com/crochetsister
    YouTube Channel:
    http://youtube.com/user/crochetgottaloveit
    #crochetgottaloveit #crochet

    ReplyDelete
  19. I have loved this pattern and struggled with it. Love how beautiful it comes out.
    I think I may know where the problem - for me - was. I work best with charts and I couldn't quite get started with this chart. In the black portion of the chart, labeled starting blossom, it seems to me that there may be a 3ch missing before the tr stitch. I'm just mentioning this because it may have been what stopped me in my tracks and if there are others who rely mostly on charts this might help.

    Thanks again for the beautiful pattern,
    naomipaz.

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    Replies
    1. Oh gosh, you're right! Thank you for pointing it out ... though as I have long since lost the paper I drew the chart on, I don't know if it can be fixed. Will have to see if I can edit the photo. :)

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  20. so beautiful , thanks for sharing...

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  21. Love this Scarf. So Beautiful!!! I saw this pattern a while ago and didn't comment...

    but today I saw it posted here:
    https://raisingbabycakes.wordpress.com/2015/03/18/sweet-pea-scarf-pattern/

    And thought I should thank you, not her.

    So Thank you for this lovely pattern.

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    Replies
    1. You're welcome, and thanks so much for commenting! :)

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    2. You're welcome, and thanks so much for commenting! :)

      Delete
  22. Hi, I love this scarf and have really enjoyed learning the pattern, thank you for sharing it with us. Please can you tell me how long the short version is that you use with the i-cord to make a ruffle version? Many thanks

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  23. The scarf, unruffled, was about 62" long. I think the gathered length (as pictured near the top of the post) was around 15". The cord acts as a drawstring, so you can gather it to any length you like. For very dense ruffles you'd want to make a longer scarf to start with.
    Thanks for commenting! :)

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  24. Mrs. Micawber,
    I have made several of your patterns in the past, but had to tell you how lovely my scarf is coming. I am making it for a friend in a lilac and green variegated yarn which is working up so lovely, it is a mini garden. I know my friend is going to love it and think of me when she wears it. I would like to try it in a Caron simply soft for another friend for Xmas. Have you ever made the pattern wider? If so I'd love to know
    how. Thanks, Cathy

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    Replies
    1. Hi Cathy - so sorry for this delayed reply. I've never made the pattern wider, but you could probably do so by using a mesh-type stitch pattern for the center portion, or really any stitch pattern you liked. Just make sure each row is tall enough to allow room for the blossom at the row end.

      Your project sounds lovely! Thanks for commenting. :)

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  25. Hello Ma'am,
    Pardon my silly question but does "tr" stand for triple crochet? I'm sorry, I've never seen that abbreviation used in a pattern before. Thank you for your help!

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    Replies
    1. Yes, it's the abbreviation for "triple" or "treble" crochet. Sorry for this late reply! :)

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