Hi Everyone

A new pattern to share with you today, but before that can I just reassure everyone that I have not abandoned this blog in favour of my new blog a muse to lose.   I'll still be sharing here, as haphazardly as I always have!!  You just never know when I'll pop up next!  But, while I'm on the subject if you haven't already checked out my new slimming blog and you are interested in following - or joining- a group of us try to lose the pounds then come on over...  It's our 1st weeks weigh in tomorrow - come and see if we have succeeded in our initial week...

So, Porthole Square... intrigued???  This is something I came up with a few months ago, and I thought it was about time to share it with you all.  I love 'em, and can think of lots and lots of uses in many different ways.  I'm planning on making a mobile case and possibly a laptop and kindle case; I also have a couple of ideas to make these into bags.  Anyway... you don't particularly care about that do you...  you just want to know what they are and how to make them right?

Don't you love them?  I adore the way the outer circle is pulled into a perfect circle when you join the top layer to the bottom...  Not difficult to make, I'll walk you through it below.

I've made these with Sirdar Calico, a lovely dk weight cotton/acrylic mix and a 4.5 mm hook.  I use as always US crochet terms.

Abbreviations: ch/s - chain/s; sl st - slip stitch; sc - single crochet; hdc - half double crochet; dc - double crochet.

FOR A PRINTABLE PDF OF THIS PATTERN CLICK HERE.

Start by making the inner circle -

Make a magic circle, and chain 3, then work 11 dc into the ring, before tightening it up. 12 dcs.

2nd row: Work 2 dcs in each stitch. (24 sts.)  Fasten off & weave in ends.

Straightforward so far... 

Now with the outer ring colour, make another magic circle.  Make the circle by wrapping the yarn twice around your middle fingers - you will need to be able to adjust this magic ring for size later.

Chain 2 (does not count as a stitch.)

Then work 24 hdcs into the ring.

Roughly adjust the size of the middle circle by comparing with the inner circle...

Join with a sl st to top of 1st hdc (not the ch 2). (24 sts)

Next row - we will join the inner and outer circles on this row by working into both at the same time.

Start by ch 3 on outer circle.

Then place outer circle over inner circle and work 1 dc in next stitch - ALSO CATCH IN THE CORRESPONDING STITCH ON THE INNER CIRCLE.

ENSURE THAT YOU CATCH IN THE INNER CIRCLE IN EVERY STITCH ON THIS ROUND.

*2dc in next stitch, 1 dc; rep from * around.

When you are about half way around the circle, make your final adjustments to the outer circle magic ring...  I needed to make mine a little bit bigger - but don't make it too loose!

Fasten off the magic loop end at this point securely by stitching back and forth behind the hdc stitches.

Carry on around the circle until you have 36 dcs.  Join with a sl st to the top of the 1st chain 3.

Make into a square by working - [1dc, 2 hdc, 2 sc, 2 hdc, 1 dc (1dc, ch 2, 1 dc in next stitch)] - repeat 3 more times.  Join with a sl st to 1st ch 3 and fasten off.

One Porthole Square...  but you don't have to put the inner circle in if you don't want to...  Just leave it out, and start with the outer circle...  you can put fabric behind instead if you prefer...

Let your imagination run away with you...  ok, I'm off now to fight my sweet cravings!

Happy crocheting everyone!!

Karen

http://colourinasimplelife.blogspot.co.uk/2012/07/porthole-square.html