Crochet stitch challenge #7 - Primrose stitch
Introduction
Welcome to my 7th self-imposed "stitch challenge". Since this stitch pattern requires 2 rows to create the "Primrose stitch", I thought that this would be a trickier challenge than usual. In some ways, it did prove to be a bit trickier, but I suspect I'm getting slightly better at doing these challenges as I go, though only time will tell. I suspect there will be a few that I will struggle to do simply because of the way the stitch patterns work. I have to admit that I needed to change the stitch pattern a little in slightly different ways to get it to work in the round and corner to corner. However, I've tried to keep the look of the stitch pattern each time. Like I did with the Primrose stitch in rows, I did 2 versions of each square in my stitch challenge - one in a single colour, and one in 2 different colours (green to represent stems and leaves and a contrasting colour for the 'primrose' flowers). I think the 2 colour versions definitely show off the pattern quite well.
Without further ado, here are the details of what I did for each square. I'm presenting each as the single colour version, but you can easily do each using two or more colours.
Primrose stitch in rows
With purple yarn ch 14
Row 1 Hdc in the 2nd ch from hook, *sk 2, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the next st* repeat across until you have 3 ch remaining. Sk 2, hdc in the last ch, turn. (6 ch, 6 sc, 2 hdc)
Row 2 Ch 3 {Counts as first dc}, 3 dc in each ch 2 sp across, dc in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (11 dc)
Row 3 Hdc in the first st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the middle dc of each group of 3 dc across, hdc in the last st, turn. (6 ch, 6 sc, 2 hdc)
Row 4 Hdc in the first st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the middle dc of each group of 3 dc across, hdc in the last st, turn. (11 dc)
Row 5 Ch 3 {Counts as first dc}, 3 dc in each ch 2 sp across, dc in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (6 ch, 6 sc, 2 hdc)
Row 6 Hdc in the first st, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the middle dc of each group of 3 dc across, hdc in the last st, turn. (11 dc)
Rnd 7 Sc evenly around the square (12 sc per side)
Primrose stitch in rounds
With purple yarn make a magic ring
Rnd 1 4 sc into the magic ring, sl st to the first st to join. (4 sc)
Rnd 2 Ch 1, *(sc, ch 2, sc), ch 2* 4 times. Join to the first st with a sl st. (8 sc, 8 ch 2 sp)
Rnd 3 Sl st to the next ch 2 sp, ch 3 {counts as the first dc}, 2 dc in the same ch 2 sp, ch 1. *Dc in the next ch 2 sp, ch 1, 3 dc in the next ch 2 sp, ch 1* 3 times. Dc in the last ch 2 sp, ch 1, join to the first st with a sl st. (16 dc, 8 ch 1 sp)
Rnd 4 Sl st to the middle dc of the first group of 3 dc. Ch 1, *(sc, ch 3, sc) in the same st, ch 1, sk 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the next st, ch 1, sk 1* 4 times. Join to the first st with a sl st. (16 sc, 4 ch 3 sp, 4 ch 2 sp, 8 ch 1 sp)
Rnd 5 Sl st to the next ch 3 sp, ch 3 {counts as first dc}, (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in the same ch sp. *3 dc in the next ch 2 sp, (3 dc, ch 1, 3 dc) in the next ch 3 sp* 3 times. 3 dc in the last ch 2 sp. Join to the first st with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (36 dc, 4 ch)
Primrose stitch worked corner to corner
Turning ch does not count as stitch unless otherwise stated
With orange yarn ch 2
Row 1 Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, ch 1 and turn (1 sc)
Row 2 3 Sc in the same st, ch 1 and turn. (3 sc)
Row 3 2 Sc in the first st, sc in the next st, 2 sc in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (5 sc)
Row 4 2 Hdc in the first st, sk 1, (sc, ch 2, sc) in the next st, sk 1, 2 hdc in the last st, turn. (2 ch, 4 hdc, 2 sc)
Row 5 Ch 3 {counts as first dc}, 2 dc in the same st. 3 Dc in the ch 2 sp, 3 dc in the last st, ch 1 and turn. (9 dc)
Row 6 2 Hdc in the first st, *sk 1, (sc, ch 2, sc)* 3 times. Sk 1, 2 hdc in the last st, turn. (6 ch, 4 hdc, 6 sc)
Row 7 Ch 3 {counts as first dc}, 3 dc in each of the next 3 ch 2 sp, dc in last st, ch 1 and turn. (11 dc)
Row 8 Hdc2tog, *sk 1, (sc, ch 2, sc)* 3 times. Sk 1, hdc2tog, turn. (6 ch, 2 hdc, 6 sc)
Row 9 Ch 2 {does not count as a st}, dc2tog {this is the first st and the first ch 2 sp}, 3 dc in the next ch 2 sp, dc2tog {this is the last ch 2 sp and the last hdc}, ch 1 and turn. (5 dc)
Row 10 Sc2tog, sc, sc2tog, ch 1 and turn. (3)
Row 11 Sc3tog, ch 1 (1)
Rnd 12 Sc evenly around the sides, 12 sc per side. Fasten off and weave in the ends.
Comparison of finished Primrose stitch squares
The photos below show a comparison of all my finished primrose stitch squares. I quite like how the 2 colour versions have come out, although I must admit it is a little tricker to see the flowers in the version created in the round. I'm not looking forward to weaving in all of the ends for the versions in rows and corner to corner though (I cheated slightly with the version in rounds and simply carried my yarn to where it needed to be the next round it was needed so fewer rounds will need ends woven in).
