Tapestry crochet braces

Get your colour on in geek chic style with a powerful pair of hooky braces, designed by Matthew Spiers. Yarn and Colors Must-Have Minis (100% cotton, 10g/25m), 3 balls of Yarn A Lollipop (036), 2 balls of each: Yarn B Blue Lake (066) and Yarn C Sunglow (013), 1 ball of Yarn D Violet (053) 1.25mm (US 12 steel) hook 4 brace clips (we used 1in round enamel clips from BreesBasement on Etsy) Stitch markers

TENSION

7 sts and 7 rows to measure 2.5x2.5cm (1x1in) over double crochet using a 1.25mm hook or size needed to obtain tension

MEASUREMENTS

A single brace strap meas approx 77x2.5cm (30¼x1in)

NOTES

Braces can be extended as necessary by adding additional repeats of the tapestry crochet section.

BRACES STRAP !MAKE 2"

With Yarn A ch8, leaving a starting tail of approx 15cm.

Row 1 Dc in second ch from hook and each ch to end, turn. [7 sts]

Rows 2-10 Ch1 (does not count as st throughout), dc in each st to end, turn.

TAPESTRY CROCHET SECTION

The following section is worked in tapestry crochet, following the Chart on p94. See Chart Notes for Pow Pocket Patch.

Rows 11-22 Working as Row 2, follow the Chart for the colour changes. Repeat (Rows 11-22) 14 more times.

Next row Using Yarn A only, ch1, dc in each st to end, turn. Work a further 9 rows as Row 2 with Yarn A only. Fasten off, leaving a tail of yarn for sewing clip.

EDGING

Work a row of dc along each side of strap, along the tapestry crochet sections only. Work 1dc in each row end, and work both rows from the RS. The edging stops at the Yarn A ends to leave a narrower tab for attaching to the clips.

TO MAKE UP

With WS facing, thread Yarn A only section (at start and end of strap) though clip, so that edging starts at clip. Use Yarn A tail to sew the end of the strap in position. Meas 8cm from the clip at one end of the strap, and mark with waste yarn or a marker. Repeat at 12.5cm on the same strap, measuring from the same end. Repeat for the second strap, measuring from the same end as the first strap. Overlap the straps into an ‘X’ shape so that the marks line up, as shown in the diagram on p94. Pin and sew the overlapping parts of the straps in position. Weave in all ends.