Mallika - crochet doily free pattern

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Mallika means Jasmine flower in Indian languages. It also has different meanings in other languages. Ideally it is a pineapple doily but since I love to give names to my patterns I chose the name Mallika because the cluster stitches worked in the pineapples reminded me of jasmine buds. Of all the doilies or mandalas I have designed so far I consider this as my best. I had just one ball of this Anchor knitting cotton with me, so I wanted to make something small enough that wouldn't require me to buy anymore balls of thread. I designed the final few rounds keeping that in mind, otherwise I would have gone for a bigger doily. Anyway I feel this is perfect. It looks so elegant and I just can't stop admiring it.

If you want a PDF version of this pattern you can purchase it from here for a small price.

Materials

For making this doily I used:
Anchor mercerized knitting cotton 50 gm
Crochet hook size B/2 mm
Yarn needle

Size

The doily has a diameter of approximately 15.5 inches

Crochet Terms/Stitches Used

The pattern is written in standard American terminology

** - Repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
[ ]/{} - Work instructions within parenthesis as a set as many times as directed
ch - chain
st/sts - stitch/stitches
sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet (UK - double crochet)
dc - double crochet (UK - treble)
dc2tog/dc3tog - double crochet worked together in 2/3 consecutive stitches (dc decrease)
cluster - double crochet 3 stitches worked together in the same stitch/space
picot - ch 3, sl st in the previous dc

Instruction 

Round 1: Make a magic ring. Ch 4, dc into ring, ch 1, repeat [dc into ring, ch 1] 14 more times. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd ch at the beginning of round. (You will have 16 ch-1 spaces.

Round 2: Sl st in next ch-1 space, repeat [ch 3, sc in next ch-1 space] around.

Round 3: Sl st in ch-3 space, ch 6, sl st in the 4^th ch (forms a picot), dc in same space, **ch 3, [dc, picot, dc] in next ch-3 space, ** Repeat from ** to ** around. Instead of the last ch 3, work a dc into the 3^rd ch at the beginning of round to join.

Round 4: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc, picot, dc in same space, ch 5, [2 dc, picot, dc] in next ch-3 space ** Repeat from ** to ** around finishing the round with ch 2, dc in the 3^rd ch at the beginning of round.

Round 5: **Ch 7, [sc, ch 3, sc] in next ch-5 space** Repeat from ** to ** around.

Round 6: Sl st in next 3 ch, ch 1, [sc, ch 3, sc] in same space, ch 7, **[sc, ch 3, sc] in next ch-7 space, ch 7** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 1^st sc.

Round 7: Sl st in ch-3 space, ch 1, sc in same space, ch 2, 7 dc in next ch-7 space, ch 2, **sc in ch-3 space, ch 2, 7 dc in next ch-7 space, ch 2** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to 1^st sc.

Round 8: Sl st in 2 ch, sl st in 1^st dc, ch 2, dc in next st (counts as dc2tog), dc in next 3 dc, dc2tog, ch 3, sc in ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in next ch-2 space, ch 3, **dc2tog, dc in next 3 sts, dc2tog, ch 3, sc in ch-2 space, ch 1, sc in next ch-2 space, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to dc2tog at the beginning of round.

Round 9: Ch 2, dc in next st (counts as dc2tog), dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, [dc, ch 2, dc] in ch-1 space, ch 3, **dc2tog, dc in next dc, dc2tog, ch 3, [dc, ch 2, dc] in next ch-1 space, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to dc2tog at the beginning of round.

Round 10: Ch 2, dc2tog (counts as dc3tog), ch 3, 6 dc in ch-2 space, ch 3, **dc3tog, ch 3, 6 dc in ch-2 space, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to dc3tog.

Round 11: Ch 1, **[sc, ch 3, sc] in dc3tog, ch 3, [dc in next dc, ch 1] 5 times, dc in next dc, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to sc at the beginning of round.
Round 12: Sl st in ch-3 space, ch 5 (counts as dc + ch 2), dc in same space, ch 1, skip next ch-3 space, cluster in ch-1 space, [ch 3, cluster in next ch-1 space] 4 times, ch 1, skip next ch-3 space, **[dc, ch 2, dc] in ch-3 space at the top of dc3tog, ch 1, skip next ch-3 space, cluster in next ch-1 space, [ch 3, cluster in ch-1 space,] 4 times, ch 1** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd st.

Round 13: Sl st in ch-2 space, ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), dc in same space, ch 2, cluster in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space] 3 times, ch 2 **[dc, ch 3, dc] in ch-2 space, ch 2, cluster in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space] 3 times, ch 2** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd st.

Round 14: Sl st in ch-3 space, ch 3 (counts as dc), 4 dc in ch-3 space, ch 3, cluster in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space] 2 times, ch 3, **5 dc in next ch-3 space, ch 3, cluster in next ch-3 space, [ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space] 2 times, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd st.

Round 15: Ch 4 (counts as dc + ch 1), [dc in next dc, ch 1] 3 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, [cluster in ch-3 space after cluster, ch 3] 2 times, **[dc in next dc, ch 1] 4 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, [cluster in ch-3 space after cluster, ch 3] 2 times** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd st.

Round 16: Ch 6 (counts as dc + ch 3), [dc in next dc, ch 3] 3 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space after cluster, ch 3, **[dc in next dc, ch 3] 4 times, dc in next dc, ch 3, cluster in ch-3 space after cluster, ch 3** Repeat from ** to ** around. Join with a sl st to the 3^rd st.
Round 17: Sl st in ch-3 space, ch 1, [sc, picot,sc] in same space, {ch 3, [sc, picot, sc] in next ch-3 space} 3 times, ch 5, [sc, ch 3, sc] in cluster, ch 5, **[sc, picot, sc] in ch-3 space after dc, {ch 3, [sc, picot, sc] in next ch-3 space} 3 times, ch 5, [sc, picot, sc] in cluster, ch 5** Repeat from ** to ** around. Fasten off and weave in the ends.

The doily needs blocking.

I hope you enjoyed this pattern.

Jaylin is the name!

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Thank you for your responses here, on facebook as well as on Instagram. Of the total 34 responses received 10 of you got it right. The majority of you had chosen Jayden. Congratulations Kaikelasa and Yvonne Dunmore for getting the answers right. If you provide me your email address I can send you the pattern. 

I have designed a pattern after a gap of almost 7 months. The last time I released a pattern was in August last year. Moving to a new house had changed my routine and I was forced to put off designing any new item. I was also distracted by my newfound obsession for dollhouses which I somehow managed to pull myself away from. No, I haven't entirely given up on dollhouses. I'm making one from scratch but the process is very time consuming and needs a lot of patience. I have to wait for some materials to arrive, wait for somethings to dry, just wait, wait and wait. During these waiting times I did manage to crochet a couple of garments for myself, not my own designs, but unfortunately they did not turn out as expected and so I had to frog them both. The cardigan turned into a pullover which I wore a lot during this winter and a pullover is becoming a cardigan which needs the sleeves to be completed. 

The Jaylin baby blanket is an easy pattern, suitable for a beginner. You don't need to refer to the pattern for each and every row, it can easily be remembered. I have also included instruction to customize the blanket. This blanket measures approximately 32 x 34 inches using DK weight yarn and a size G/4 mm hook. You can purchase the blanket from here, here or here.

The tatty bear that you see above can be purchased from here or here. My next pattern is going to be a free one and is getting ready. Have a great week ahead!

Guess the name and win the pattern!

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My latest pattern is this lovely baby blanket which is ready and will be available in my shops on Monday but before that I want to play a small game. I have already given a name for this blanket and all I want you to do is guess what it is. You have to choose from the options given below and if your answer is correct you will get the pattern for free. The options are:
a. Jaylin
b. Jayden
c. Jayson

You have the whole weekend to choose and the name will be announced on Monday.
You can leave a comment here or on my facebook page or Instagram
Have a great weekend!

Some progress and some losses

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Hi everybody, I hope you are all staying warm. I have been reading about the polar vortex in USA and watching all the crazy freezing mid-air videos and feeling thankful for having comparatively warmer weather here, but here too it has been unusually chilly for the past week or so. 

Two weeks ago we had hailstorm and these are the hail stones.

I frogged the cardigan that I showed you here. I was not happy with the way it turned out. It didn't look good on me. So I unravelled the whole thing and it has now become a simple raglan sleeved pullover which I'm wearing right now. The yarn is a bit scratchy but it does keep me warm although I made the sleeves a little shorter than intended. So I might have to lengthen them but that it for a later date. I'm done with it for now.

I have made some progress with the doll house. The living room is almost done and I'll be starting the kitchen soon.

This is the living room. I'm making everything from scratch. The house is made of cardboard. I used popsicle sticks for the floor. I'm using scrapbook paper for the walls and thin cardboard for the panels all glued to cardstocks. These will finally be glued to the cardboard. I made the staircase out of mdf sheets and giant reed canes. These are similar to bamboo. My husband and son brought these from a field nearby. 

For the brick fireplace and stone hearth I used egg cartons. I'm starting from the lower floor and will be working my way up. There will be an upper floor and attic. 

Speaking of my losses, I lost all my data. ALL except for a copy of my pdf patterns. I have this habit of saving everything in my external hard drive and keep nothing in my computer. I have had some bad experiences before where my computer crashed and I had to lose my data stored in the computer, so I always saved everything on an external hard drive. Though my husband insisted on retaining a copy in the computer as well I never did it and I also I didn't listen to my son who asked me to store everything online. Finally one day last week my external crashed and everything's gone, all my patterns, pattern photos, collection of ebooks, thousands of other stuff and above all almost 13 years' worth of photos! My husband says he'll give it to some expert and try to retrieve the data but I'm not sure. I can only hope. Even if everything is lost I hope we get back our personal photos atleast. I terribly regret not retaining a copy of everything elsewhere.

I showed you the baby pigeons in my last post. There were 3 babies, 2 outside the house on a window sill and one inside our house. Well, one of the 2 that were outside died yesterday. We used to watch them everyday as they grew up.

Few days ago we found one baby with an injured wing. The wound was bleeding and my husband brought him home and applied an antibiotic ointment and left him back in the nest. He was alright then, there was no more bleeding. A couple of days ago the other baby flew off and this one stayed in the nest. Even before the babies left the nest the mother had laid a couple of more eggs. I guess the mother pushed the baby out of the nest because we found him twice sitting on the stairs and put him back in the nest. 

On Saturday, my son found him outside our door and brought him in. He just walked around exploring the rooms and settled in one place. In the evening my husband put him back in the nest but within a couple of hours we found him again outside our door. So we brought him in and put him in a box beside our bed because we didn't want him to spend the cold night out in the stairs, but poor thing, we found him dead the next morning. Don't know what happened. May be we could have done something to save the poor thing. Feeling bad!  

New year, new beginnings and some old memories

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Hi to all of you who still visit my blog and read my posts. I know I disappeared from blogland all of a sudden. There have been some major events that happened since my last post in early August. We moved to a different house in October. Preparing to move, moving, settling into the new home and new routine all took my mind away from blogging and also crocheting. I like this new house better than the older one (both not our own).

There are plenty of pigeons in our building. The house has a courtyard and it makes it easier for the pigeons to even come into the house. 

One even built a nest inside a box that I had temporarily stored on a cupboard. At the same time another one made a nest outside the house on a windowsill. There were two eggs in the one outside on the windowsill and 1 egg on the cupboard. All 3 hatched on the same day, that was 2 days before the new year. For the first time I saw baby birds this close and that too within a few minutes of hatching.

There are a few squirrels living in a tree close to a window. They are not very scared of humans and always coming in through the open window demanding to be fed. I always leave some nuts for them. They remind me of our pet squirrel named Bujju from many years ago.

My husband brought home this baby found abandoned on the road. Our Bujju loved coffee! Every time I finish my morning coffee and leave the cup on the table he will dive into the cup and finish off the remaining few drops. 

He was more attached to me than my husband or kid. Whenever I sit on the table to work he used to climb to my shoulders and lick my neck. His tongue was scratchy like a cat's tongue.

He was with us only for a few months. We lost him to a stray cat that sneaked into the house and carried him away. Poor baby, we still miss him. I never knew squirrels could be this friendly until we had Bujju in our life. 

Moving on to other things, something else is keeping me distracted from crochet. I suddenly find myself attracted to miniatures and dollhouse making. I had always liked miniatures and dollhouses but this sudden obsession is something which is new. I don't know what started it but the next thing I knew I was pinning dollhouses, miniature stuff and tutorials, watching youtube videos and following miniature blogs. I even started making a dollhouse out of cardboard, the progress is slow and I'm making plenty of mistakes but learning from them. I might even make a tutorial here on how to build a dollhouse from scratch. I'm not entirely giving up on crochet but I have already started exploring ways to combine both.

This is the unfinished shell of my dollhouse. It will have 3 floors, lower floor, upper floor and an attic. Not so attractive to look, right? Wait and watch! 

As I said I haven't stayed away from crochet. I did make a cardigan for myself. I was even planning to write a free pattern for it. It looked alright after finishing, it looked alright on my dress form but it doesn't look alright on me. I'm not pleased with the neck. It looks way too broad on me but I'm not going to alter it now. 

I also started a pullover for my son. It's almost done but I'm not pleased with that one too. Something is not looking right. I think I didn't get the armholes right but I'm not going to do anything about it now, maybe later. I'm too distracted by dollhouses.

The scrap yarn hexagon blanket is taking a lot of time to complete. I wanted to finish it by the end of the year but obviously now it's going to need probably another year. 

I'll leave you with this. I have rambled enough for now. Most probably my next post would be a tutorial on dollhouse. Enjoy your weekend!

New patterns - launch offer 30% off

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I have listed 2 new patterns in my shops. The blue one is the Madelyn top pattern which is easy consisting of only few basic crochet stitches and therefore is suitable for a beginner. I have written the pattern for 2 sizes - adult small/medium which would fit a bust size of 34-36 inches and medium/large for a bust size of 38 to 40 inches

The grey one is the twisted cables cardigan which consists of advanced crochet stitches and would be suitable only for someone who knows advanced crochet stitches and has a knowledge of how cables are worked. This is my most difficult pattern to design ever. It gave me plenty of headaches but I was determined not to give up at any point and I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. I have written this pattern for 5 adult sizes ranging from a bust size of 34 to 42 inches.  

I made it with and without sleeves. 

As a launch offer I'm giving 30% off of these two patterns when you buy them from my webstore and also from Ravelry. You don't need any coupon code. The price will be automatically reduced during check out. I hope you enjoy these patterns.

Other than crochet

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I used to be a hobby-hopper, always hopping from one craft to another, but after taking up crochet seriously I haven't done much of hopping around. Once in a while I do try other things like sewing, knitting or sketching and I thought I would show you some of the things other than crochet that I made recently or still making. I should mention though that I am only at the beginner level and not an expert.

I am very pleased with the way my kindle sleeve turned out. I never used my sewing machine to sew anything other than repairing or altering clothes. Except for the basic ones I'm not even familiar with most of the functions of my sewing machine. So making a Kindle sleeve is a big achievement for me though the finishing is not that good. I used my son's old shirt. I even embroidered a flower with the aid of Youtube videos. 

I love to draw but I don't consider my drawings show-off worthy so they don't get featured here often. Anyway I thought I'll show you a couple of interesting pages from my sketch book - the A and B pages. I'm trying to fill each page with images starting with each letter but so far I have managed to fill in only the A and B pages though I started this roughly 2 years ago. 2 years for 2 letters, so will it take me 24 more years to finish this? 

A for ...

B for ...

I am also doing a cross stitch. It's called Victorian elegance. 

    Ok, so that's it.