Today begins our Art Deco adventure!
Art Deco Afghan on Ravelry – $2.50
If you aren’t aware of the CAL details, go ahead and read all about it HERE.
Let’s create our own beautiful piece of art deco – crochet style! This design was inspired by a quilt interpretation of art deco, as well as various art pieces that fascinated me – some used for color palettes. Each week, I’ll reveal my inspiration for that particular section of the afghan. It’s quite fun dreaming up each component, but sometimes can be frustrating when conveying my ideas to my hook. If only my hook were a magic wand, and it would do whatever I told it to do. Lol
But I’m quite proud of this design, and I think it represents the Art Deco genre very nicely. I tried to make it simplistic enough so that it represents the symmetrical and geometric qualities that art deco is known for. I threw in a few different techniques to keep your interest – such as building components on top of each other, carrying colors, increasing and decreasing, and various stitches. In the end, you’ll have your very own, beautiful piece of art – which you created all by yourself!
The first section of our afghan consists of the clamshell shape. This shape is very prevalent in quilt making, and is where I first entertained the idea of a crochet version. I’m always seeing some interesting quilt, fabric, tile (even a bathroom floor!), tissue box, etc. – and wondering if it could be interpreted in crochet. I know I’m not the only one who does this. Lol We will spend the first 3 weeks making all the components for our clamshell section.
Here are my clamshell inspirations:
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
I hope you like my rendition. Here we go!
MATERIALS & GUIDELINES
YARN
Cascade Anthem – Lempicka Kit
A – Raspberry
B – Silver
C – Rose Shadow
D – Roasted Coconut
E – Denim
F – Fuchsia Rose
HOOK – I / 5.5 mm
Use the hook size appropriate for your yarn and tension.
FINISHED SIZE
Circle – 8” diameter / Half Circle – 8” straight edge
ABBREVIATIONS
Beg = beginning
Ch/s = chain/s
Cont = continue/ing
Dc= double crochet
Hk = hook
Lp/s = loop/s
Rnd = round
Sl St = slip stitch
Sp/s = space/s
St/s = stitch/es
Yo = yarn over
NOTES
Changing Colors
To change colors work the last st in first color until the last yo. Pick up new color with hk and draw through lps on hk to complete the st.
Carrying Colors
Lay the unused strand of yarn across the top of the stitches of the previous rnd. Then, using the new color, work the stitches in the current rnd and encase the strand.
WEEK 1 VIDEOS:
Right Hand – Art Deco CAL Week 1
Left Hand – Art Deco CAL Week 1
INSTRUCTIONS
CIRCLE – Make 10 in colors A & B
Note:
Always work with RS facing.
Carry unused yarn. Do not finish off after each round.
Rnd 1
(A) Ch 4, join with sl st to form a ring, or make a magic ring, ch 3, 5 dc in ring, change to color B in last st.
(B) 6 dc in ring, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (12 dc)
Rnd 2
(A) Ch 3, dc in same st, (2 dc in next st) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (2 dc in next st) 6 times, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to beg ch-3. (24 dc)
Rnd 3
(A) Ch 3, 2 dc in next st. (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) 6 times, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (36 dc)
Rnd 4
(A) Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) 6 times, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (48 dc)
Rnd 5
(A) Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) 6 times, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (60 dc)
Rnd 6
(A) Ch 3, dc in same st, dc in next 4 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) 6 times, change to color A in last st, join with sl st to top of beg ch-3. (72 dc)
Rnd 7
(A) Ch 3, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) 5 times, change to color B in last st.
(B) (Dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) 6 times, change to A in last st. join with sl st to top of beg
ch-3. Finish off. (84 dc)
HALF CIRCLE – Make 4 in colors A & C
Notes:
· Turn after each row.
· No joining at end of rows.
· If desired, with color A, leave a beg tail of about 40” to work Edging.
· Do not carry yarn. Drop unused yarn to WS.
Row 1 (RS)
(A) Ch 4 (last 3 chs count as first dc), 2 dc in 4th ch from hk, change to color C in last st.
(C) 3 dc in same ch, turn. (6 dc)
Row 2 (WS)
(C) Ch 3, dc in first st, (2 dc in next st) twice, change to color A in last st.
(A) (2 dc in next st) 3 times, turn. (12 dc)
Row 3 (RS)
(A) Ch 3, 2 dc in next st. (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) twice, change to color C in last st.
(C) (1 dc in next st, 2 dc in next st) 3 times, turn. (18 dc)
Row 4 (WS)
(C) Ch 3, dc in first st, dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) twice, change to color A in last st.
(A) (2 dc in next st, dc in next 2 sts) 3 times, turn. (24 dc)
Row 5 (RS)
(A) Ch 3, dc in next 2 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) twice, change to color C in last st.
(C) (dc in next 3 sts, 2 dc in next st) 3 times, turn. (30 dc)
Row 6 (WS)
(C) Ch 3, dc in first st, dc in next 4 sts, (2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) twice, change to color A in last st.
(A) (2 dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts) 3 times, turn. (36 dc)
Row 7 (RS)
(A) Ch 3, dc in next 4 sts, 2 dc in next st, (dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) twice, change to color C in last st, finish off color A.
(C) (dc in next 5 sts, 2 dc in next st) 3 times, DO NOT FINISH OFF, DO NOT TURN. (42 dc)
Edging (Keep RS facing)
(C) Cont with color C, ch 1, rotate to work on straight edge, work 13 sc evenly across to beg ch, 1 sc in beg ch, pick up color A beg tail/new strand and change colors in last sc.
(A) Work 13 sc evenly across to end. Finish off. (14 sc in C, 13 sc in A, 27 total sc)
Now you can set this aside, and wait for next week’s instructions.
© 2021 Melinda Miller – All rights reserved
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Ravelry: Melinda Miller Designs
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When do I receive the pattern for the dunard affagan
Hi Donna – There is only one pattern. Dunand is just one of 9 colorways. The pattern will be published over a period of 8 weeks, with this post being week #1.
So there is no pattern as shown in the picture. Is there anywhere I could but that pattern
The pattern as shown in the photo will be published over a period of 8 weeks, one part at a time. The first part is available above. Every Wednesday another part will be published, and after 8 weeks you will have finished your afghan, as pictured above. The pattern is not published as a whole, but in parts.
Is there any trick to making the interface between the two colors straighter or can that be managed if blocking later?
Also, I am doing Dunand and so we are talking black and cream. How to better hide the cream yarn when following through the black portion of the row.
What are the Letters assigned to he yarn in the Cascade Anthem Erte kit?
Hi Mary, Check out this information post. It contains the color keys to all kits. https://mocrochet.blogspot.com/2021/06/cal-art-deco-afghan.html
You may want to watch Tania's videos, as she shows how to do this step. 🙂
When carrying the unused yarn, make sure it is sitting as far towards the back as possible, and that the tension of the unused yarn is snug (gently pull it every now and then.)
Where are Tania’s videos? I don’t see a link.
My circles had crooked joins between the colors the first 5 times I attempted the circle. I finally figured out I was joining in the first dc not the chain 3.
The video links are listed right above the pattern Instructions. 🙂
Thank you
I must be a slow crocheter, we just got the instructions for week three and I’m still working the circles for week one. : ) I made my first circle using a 5.5 mm hook. It turned out to be just a little shy of the needed 8” dia, maybe 3/16”. I made circle 2 with a 6 mm hook. That turned out way too big, maybe 9” dia. For circle 3, I went back to a 5.5 mm hook, but worked with less tension. That circle is just a bit over 8” dia, maybe 8.25”. *sigh* Any advice? Maybe these discrepancies won’t show up in the finished piece?
You are doing better than I am. I am one circle away from finishing week 1. I’m thinking about skipping week too and going to week three so that I can be asking any questions I have at the proper time. I am fairly certain I can get through a week to later but of course cannot put them all together without completing week 2.
I have one circle that is a little smaller and two that are a little larger than 8 inches but I am hopeful that it won’t matter.
Hi Lisette – Everyone has different tension, even with the same hook and yarn, so yours may not be the exact same size as mine. As long as you try to keep the same tension throughout the project, it should work out fine. If some of your pieces are a tad under, you could try to gently stretch them out before joining. Otherwise, I don't think it will affect the overall outcome very much. Blocking works wonders, even with acrylic yarn. 🙂
Hi Cathy – Above all else, take your time and enjoy the CAL. There are many others working at their own pace, so you're not alone. Feel free to ask any questions at any time. Thanks for sharing your progress. 🙂