Weather vane

Try out your new and improved Bruges crochet skills and make this pretty mobile by Becky Skuse.

YOU WILL NEED

■ Lily Sugar n Cream Ombres (100% cotton, 56.7g/86m), 1 ball of each: Yarn A Daisy Ombre (165) Yarn B Denim Blue Prints (192)

■ A 4mm (US G/6) hook

■ Embroidery hoop, approx 20cm diameter, available at www.johnlewis.com

■ Split ring approx 3cm diameter, available at www.the-beadshop.co.uk For yarn stockists, contact Readicut 01162 713 759 www.readicut.co.uk

MEASUREMENTS

Sun Motif measures 12cm (4 in) in diameter

Chunky Sun measures 17cm (6 in) in diameter

Cloud measures 10x8cm (4x3in)

ABBREVIATIONS

For a full list, see page 92 If you like, you can add a lightning bolt to hang from the cloud motif. Designer Becky Skuse says: “Brighten up a nursery and have fun with Bruges crochet by making cloud and sun motifs for this adorable baby mobile. The techniques are easy to master, so the motifs are quick to make, and there’s plenty of scope for personalisation. You can make as many suns and clouds as you like, with raindrops or lightning if desired. We used two variegated yarns for a textured look and, if you fancy a challenge, try making yarn-pooled sun motifs, with one colour at the centre and a contrast colour at the tips.”

NOTES

We have made nine Motifs in total; however, you can make more or fewer depending on how you wish your Mobile to look. Leave a long starting tail for each Motif as this is used to hang them from the hoop.

SUN MOTIF MAKE 4

Using Yarn A, ch10.

Row 1 Tr in seventh ch from hook, ch2, tr in last ch, turn. [2 tr, ch-2 sps and ch-6 loops]

Row 2 Ch6, ss to third ch (picot made), ch3, tr in first tr, ch2, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-2 sps, and ch-6 loop with ch-3 picots]

Row 3 Ch6, tr in first tr, ch2, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-2 sps and ch-6 loops] Repeat Rows 2-3 until you’ve worked 20 rows in total.

FORM THE CIRCLE

Working into the ch-6 loops without the picot, ch3, *insert hook in next chain loop to the left, yrh and pull up a loop; rep from * to end (11 loops on hook), yrh and pull through all 11 loops, ch3. Overlap the two ends and slip stitch together.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx. 50cm) for hanging.

CHUNKY SUN MOTIF MAKE 1

Follow instructions for the Sun Motif, using two strands of Yarn A.

CLOUD MOTIF

Using Yarn B, ch13.

Row 1 Tr in 11th ch from hook, ch1, tr in last ch, turn. [2 tr, ch-1 sps and ch-10 loops]

Row 2 Ch3, tr in first tr, ch1, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-1 sps, and ch-3 loops]

Row 3 Ch6, tr in first tr, ch1, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-1 sps and ch-6 loops]

Rows 4-6 Repeat Rows 2-3, ending on Row 2.

Row 7 Ch10, tr in first tr, ch1, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-1 sps and ch-10 loops] Row 8 Repeat Row 2.

Rows 9-10 Repeat Rows 7-8.

Row 11 Repeat Row 3.

Row 13 Ch12, tr in first tr, ch1, tr in last tr, turn. [2 tr, ch-1 sps and ch-6 loops]

Row 14 Repeat Row 2.

Rows 15-18 Repeat Rows 13-14.

Row 19 Repeat Row 3.

Row 20 Repeat Row 2.

To form the Cloud shape, work into the ch-6 and ch-10 loops.

Row 21 Ch5, *insert hook in next chain loop to the left, yrh and pull up a loop; rep from * to end (11 loops on hook), yrh and pull through all 11 loops on hook, ch5, tr in first tr of Row 20, ch1, tr in last tr.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx 50cm) for hanging up.

Allow the Motif to ripple slightly, rather than forcing it flat, to create a 3D look.

DROPLET OPTIONAL

Using Yarn B, ch6, leaving a long tail (approx 15cm), ss to first ch.

Fasten off and weave in end.

Use long tail to dangle the droplet from the base of a Cloud.

Make another two droplets and attach them all to one Cloud.

LIGHTNING OPTIONAL

Using Yarn B, ch14.

Row 1 Dc in second ch from hook and each of next 4 ch, 3dc in next ch, dc in each of next 2 ch, skip 3 ch, dc in next ch, 2dc in last ch.

Fasten off, leaving a long tail (approx 15cm).

Weave in starting tail and use the long tail to sew the lightning to the base of one Cloud Motif.

TO MAKE UP

Remove the outer layer of the embroidery hoop that the Motifs will hang from. Use Yarn A to run four even lines of yarn between the inner embroidery hoop and the metal ring. Try using one long piece of yarn, moving back and forward between the hoop and the ring, then dangle the two ends down into the centre of the hoop. Attach these two ends to the Chunky Sun Motif (approx 10cm down from the hoop).

Use the long tails on each Motif to hang them from the inner embroidery hoop as desired. Once you’ve finished your desired arrangement, place the outer embroidery hoop in position to secure everything.