Crochet: A game of noughts and crosses

This nifty crocheted game board doubles as a bag for the noughtsand-crosses pieces, making it the perfect travelling companion.

Easy-peasy

A Bit More Tricky Hard–ish Quite A Challenge

Instructions overleaf

MEASUREMENTS

Board bag measures 24 x 26cm/9½ x 10¼in.

MATERIALS

1 x 100g (295m) ball of Stylecraft Special DK (100% acrylic) in each of Mustard (1823), Aster (1003), Magenta (1084) and Kelly Green

(1826). Size 4.00 crochet hook; toy stuffing, tweezers. The yarn is available from theknittingnetwork.co.uk.

TENSION

One square measures 8 x 8cm, using 4.00 hook.

ABBREVIATIONS

Ch, chain; st, stitch; dc, double crochet; tr, treble; htr, half treble; dtr, double treble; slst, slip stitch; chsp, chain space;

dc2tog, work 2dc together thus: [insert hook in next st, yarn round hook and pull through] twice, yarn round hook and pull through all 3 loops on hook.

NOTE

Yarn amounts are based on average requirements and are therefore approximate. Instructions in square brackets are worked as stated after 2nd bracket.

Board bag

First side: Square (make 9): 1st round: With 4.00 hook, wind Mustard round index finger of left hand to form a slip ring, insert hook into ring, yarn round hook and pull through, 3ch (counts as 1tr), 15tr into ring, slst in top of 3ch, pull end tightly to close ring – 16 sts.

2nd round: 3ch (counts as 1tr), work 1tr, 2ch and 2tr all in base of 3ch, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st, [work 2tr, 2ch and 2tr all in next st, 1htr in next st, 1dc in next st, 1htr in next st] 3 times, slst in top of 3ch.

3rd round: 3ch (counts as 1tr), 1tr in next st, work 2tr, 2ch and 2tr all in chsp, [1tr in each of next 7 sts, work 2tr, 2ch and 2tr in next chsp] 3 times, 1tr in each of last 5 sts, slst in top of 3ch – 44tr.

4th round: 3ch (counts as 1tr), 1tr in each of next 3 sts, work 2tr, 2ch and 2tr all in chsp, [1tr in each of next 11 sts, work 2tr, 2ch and 2tr all in next chsp] 3 times, 1tr in each of last 7 sts, slst in top of 3ch – 60tr.

Fasten off.

Arrange squares in 3 rows of 3 squares each and join squares horizontally as follows: With wrong side of two squares together and using 4.00 hook, join Aster to corner chsp of both squares, 1ch, insert hook under both strands of final round on each square and work 1dc, continue working dc along edge to next corner, then work dc along next two pair of squares.

Fasten off.

Work another horizontal join in same way, then join squares vertically as before.

Second side: Using Aster instead of Mustard and Mustard instead of Aster, work as first side.

With 4.00 hook and using Magenta, join sides together along three edges in same way as squares, working 3dc in each corner chsp.

Opening edging: With right side facing and using 4.00 hook, join Magenta to top of seam at open end of one side, 1ch, 1dc in same place as join, work 53dc evenly along edge to next seam, 1dc in seam, then work 53dc along other side, slst in first dc – 108dc.

Next round: 3ch (counts as 1dtr), [1dtr in next st] to end, slst in top of 3ch.

Next round: 1ch, [1dc in next st] to end, slst in 1ch. Fasten off.

Cord: With 4.00 hook and Kelly Green, make 125ch.

1st round: 1dc in 2nd ch from hook, [1dc in next ch] to end, slst in side of last dc and ch, now work along other side of ch thus: 1ch, [1dc in next ch] to end. Fasten off.

Thread cord between dtr of opening edging, taking cord over 6dtr each time. Join short ends of cord.

Noughts (make 5)

1st round: With 4.00 hook, wind Kelly Green round index finger of left hand to form a slip ring, insert hook into ring, yarn round hook and pull through, 1ch (does not count as a st), 9dc into ring, pull end tightly to close ring.

2nd to 35th rounds: [1dc in next dc] 9 times. Fasten off.

Using tweezers, stuff firmly. Join fastened off edge to top of first round.

Crosses (make 5)

Whole bar: 1st round: With 4.00 hook, wind Magenta round index finger of left hand to form a slip ring, insert hook into ring, yarn round hook and pull through, 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring, pull end tightly to close ring.

2nd round: [2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc] 3 times – 9dc.

3rd to 15th rounds: [1dc in next dc] 9 times.

Using tweezers, stuff firmly.

16th round: [Dc2tog, 1dc in next dc] 3 times – 6dc.

17th round: [Dc2tog] 3 times – 3dc.

Fasten off.

Run end along top of last round, pull up tightly and secure.

Half bars (make 2): 1st round:

With 4.00 hook, wind Magenta round index finger of left hand to form a slip ring, insert hook into ring, yarn round hook and pull through, 1ch (does not count as a st), 6dc into ring, pull end tightly to close ring.

2nd round: [2dc in next dc, 1dc in next dc] 3 times – 9dc.

3rd to 6th rounds: [1dc in next dc] 9 times. Fasten off.

Using tweezers, stuff firmly.

Sew open end of one half bar to centre of whole bar, then sew other half at opposite side.