CAL | Crochetology.net

The Square Motif Belt with Pineapple Fringes is a pattern that I designed nearly two years ago. The pattern calls for cotton thread size 8. I am looking back on that old pattern now and have decided to re-write, re-design and use that opportunity for a Crochet and Design Along for anyone who is interested.

This wide hip belt is worked with join-as-you-go motifs . Edging and the fringed pineapple tips are worked separately

If you would like to join this Crochet Design Along, I would encourage you to use the pattern instructions provided here as guides for developing your own design if possible. So you don’t have to stick to the pattern instructions if you don’t wish to.

Likewise, along the way, I may be modifying the pattern and will write out the new pattern design at the end of this Crochet Design Along. The final pattern will be a free pattern.

YARN: Instead of cotton thread, I am now trying this pattern with worsted weight yarn in olive colour. (I am using Patons Classic Wool)
HOOK: 3.5mm aluminium crochet hook
DESIGN NOTES: The original pattern is designed as a hip belt with ties. I would like to re-design this belt this time as a waist belt, perhaps resembling a “corset-belt.” This means making a length that is shorter than my waistline by about 1-2 inches.

The pineapple edging and fringes are still tentative. These widen the belt but do not provide support. I am thinking of radically redesigning this section of the belt, as well as the design of the ties.

Instructions

Motif:

Ch 5, sl st in fifth ch fr hook to make ring.

Rnd 1: Ch 3, 2 dc in ring, *ch 5, 3 dc in ring, rep from * twice more, ch 2, tr in top of ch-3.

Rnd 2: *Ch 5, with one loop of each remaining in hook dc in next 3 dc, yo, and pull through all loops on hook (3-dc-cluster made), ch 5, sc in 5-ch loop, rep from * 3 more times ending last rep with ch-5 and sl st in base of first ch-5.

Rnd 3: Ch 3 (count as 1 dc), 3 dc in same st, *sc in next 5-ch loop, ch 5, sc in next 5-ch loop, 4 dc in next sc, ch 3, 4 dc in same sc, rep from * 2 more times, sc in next 5-ch loop, ch 5, sc in next 5-ch loop, 4 dc in next sc, ch 1, dc in top of ch-3.

Rnd 4: Ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, *sk 4 dc, dc in sc, ch 4, sc in 5-ch loop, ch 4, dc in next sc, sk 4 dc, 4 dc in 3-ch loop, ch 3, 4 dc in same loop, rep from * 2 more times, sk 4 dc, dc in sc, ch 4, sc in 5-ch loop, ch 4, dc in next sc, sk 4 dc, 4 dc in 3-ch loop, ch 3, sl st in top of first ch-3 to join. Fasten off.

Second motif:

Ch 5, sl st in fifth ch fr hook to make ring.

Rnds 1-3: Same as motif above.

Rnd 4: (Joining) Ch 3, 3 dc in same sp, sk 4 dc, dc in sc, ch 2, with wrong sides facing each other sc in first 4-ch loop of previous motif, ch 2, sc in ch-5 loop of current motif, ch 2, sc in next 4-ch loop of previous motif, ch 2, dc in sc of current motif, sk 4 dc, 4 dc in 3-ch loop, ch 1, sc in ch-3 loop of previous motif, ch 1, 4 dc in same loop of current motif, sk 4 dc, *dc in sc, ch 4, sc in 5-ch loop, ch 4, dc in next sc, sk 4 dc, 4 dc in next 3-ch loop, ch 3, 4 dc in same loop, rep from * ; dc in sc, ch 4, sc in 5-ch loop, ch 4, dc in next sc, sk 4 dc, 4 dc in next 3-ch loop, ch 1, sc in ch-3 loop of previous motif, ch 1, sl st in top of first ch-3 of current motif to join. Fasten off.

Join more motifs in the same manner until you reach desired length.

If you are interested in this Crochet Design Along, please leave a comment here and share your work in progress. You may also join the Crochet Design Along on the Crochetology Group on Ravelry.

A few days ago, I finished crocheting my second bra, this time using a different way of constructing the cups and of assembly.

The midriff section of the band is crocheted first.

This time, I start by crocheting the midriff (ch 6, sc in 2nd ch fr hook and in each ch across (makes 5 sc), ch 1, turn, sc in each sc across, ch 1, turn, etc.)

From one end of the midriff and working along the rows of the midriff, I started making the cups, this time using a pattern that increases in the bottom centre for the bra dart/shaping.

The cups are crocheted along the midriff band.

I’ve also just discovered while working on the first bra that combinations of rows of sc, back loop sc, hdc, back loop hdc, make for combination of soft fabric and rigid fabric. So with sc’s, I am hoping that the midriff would be fairly rigid, then the bottom section of the cup in back loop hdc, it would stretch a bit, then halfway up the cup would be sc in both loops to provide rigidity, then the upper half might be in lace.

A lace trim is crocheted around the cups.

However, the yarn I am using is really quite soft, so a contrast in rigidity as far as the cups are concerned is not really possible. So I decided to crochet the cups entirely in the same yarn with no laces, and just added the lace in along the edges of the cups.

The side band is crocheted along the side of the cup under the lace trim and attached to the midriff.

I used sc increase to make the dart in the lower middle portion of the cups. When I finished the cups, I wove the yarn along the top all across the top of the two cups and pulled gently to gather the top edges carefully, sewing the yarn into sections where I want the gathered edges to be secure. This process made it easy to shape the cups without need for shaping by crocheting.

Yarn is woven along the upper edge of the cups and pulled gently to give shape to the cup. This is done before the straps are sewn on.

Then I worked the side bands and back bands of the bra. I crocheted the side band directly onto the side of the cups, all just in sc’s.

The straps are crocheted separately and then sewn on. The straps are not adjustable so I took my own measurements and worked the straps in the length required, just slightly shorter since the crocheted fabric will stretch.

The straps that go over the shoulders are crocheted separately and then sewn onto the cups and the bands at the back.

At the ends of the bands at the back, I sewed on the hook and eyes. Perhaps later when I make another bra, this section should get some reinforcement using a different fabric.

The finishing touch – a crochet flower and pearl bead sewn to the centre of the bra.

Crochet flower and pearl bead are sewn to the centre of the bra.

And here is the finished bra!

The finished bra - crocheted in sport weight cotton-cashmere yarn.

For this project I used a 3mm hook for the sport weight yarn. For the lace trim and flower I used a 1mm hook with 2 strands of Silk-Camel Lace (2-ply) yarn.

So while I still wasn’t able to make the sheer lace triangle bra, I’m very happy with the result of this project!