2/19/2024

Wow, All I have done is print the pattern and try to read through it. OMG - It’s so complicated and there is a lot of go to these links to figure out what the designer is saying. Holy Cow! If I had known that, I would not have purchased such an expensive pattern!!!!!!

I spent DAYS figuring all of this out. The information is spread all over between the main pattern, the video (mandatory to watch), and the Double Border pdf.

Color A - 18 Frost Blue
Color B - Sirius (sparkly variegated dark)
Color C - 17 Light Blue

Color C - Used in Border. Because pattern did not give correct yardage and 18 Frost was sold out when I tried to get more.

Layout 1 = blanket pattern from pattern picture
Layout 2 = alternative layout

sc can stand for sc, blosc, modified center sc, and modified standing center sc.

dc stands for blodc

edc stands for extended dc

The pattern should use the appropriate Stitch Definition section to define the stitches. It should also use APPROPRIATE stitch abbreviations for each actual stitch.

Gauge - I used an H (5 mm) hook for making the foundation cord, row 1 of regular sc and the first/last modified center sc of each row. I used a G (4.25 mm) hook for everything else.

I-cord Foundation Cord
The choice of foundation chain or cord is given in the Double Border PDF/video. It is best to both watch this video and to carefully read the border PDF.

Even though she calls this an i-cord, it’s not. It’s a foundation cord. An i-cord is much harder to work.

I found that a tail of 100 inches worked for making my foundation cord.

My foundation cord was 131 stitches. I worked into the bottom of thefoundation cord as per the video instructions. Leaving the top of the foundation cord for the double border.

Stitch Definitions - Not found in the stitch definition section of the pattern

First stitch of all rows is a modified standing center sc. See video for how to make.

Last stitch of all rows is a modified center sc. See video for how to make.

blosc is used for all rows EXCEPT Row 1 and the Last Row. This does not include the 1st/last sc of every row.

Row 1 and Last Row are: 1st st - modified standing center sc, normal sc across, last st - modified center sc.

All other rows are: 1st st - modified standing center sc, blosc or blodc across, last st - modified center sc.

Charts use different stitch definitions. I haven’t figured these out yet.

Summarize (again)

• If there was an overview of how to use the pattern - for all the variations - that would improve it immensely.
• If she used an accurate stitch definition, that would help immensely.
• If she used appropriate stitch abbreviations instead of re-using standard abbreviations for specialized stitches, that would help immensely.
• If she had all of her stitch abbreviations listed IN the stitch definition section so that you could actually find them, that would help immensely.

Border prep - finishing tails
There is a special way to finish your tails. I found this in the double border video. It is not mentioned in the main pattern.

Border
I have questions even after watching the video.

• What skipped stitches? She says the following:

After you have worked as many rounds as the pattern says, close the round with an invisible join, cut yarn, fasten off. My apologies I haven’t mentioned the skipped stitches in the video.

• My suggestion is to skip all of the charting stuff in the double border PDF. It’s not worth it until you have completed at least 1 of her patterns. Trying to peruse through all of that stuff looking for the main border pattern about drove me blind.

Border Found
Finally - I found the border instructions. The written instructions for Layout 1 (body of blanket) end on page 6.

Then there are various written instructions, I think for making motifs of this pattern.

Then there are 12 pages of charts.

Scrolling through all that, you see gobbledygook on the last 2 pages. Usually, all written instructions come before the charts and gobbledygook that no one wants to print.

The border instructions are on the top half of Page 19, main pattern. They won’t make a lot of sense unless you have watched the border video.

• Remember, just because the pattern says “sc” does NOT mean that she wants you to really work a normal sc. You must watch the video to figure out what stitches she wants you to actually make in the double border.

The 2nd half of the page is gobbledygook (continues on to Page 20) which is why I didn’t realize there were actual pattern instructions buried there.

Round 1 of the border is confusing but I think that if you watch the video, you can see her skipping stitches on the corners but she doesn’t explain that on the video. You just have to put it all together.

I don’t believe I have enough of Color A yarn. Even though I ordered what the pattern page recommended for Layout 1 and it’s border which appear on the pattern page. I cannot get any more of the light blue in the same shade that I originally purchased. So frustrating. I will have less than 2 skeins to finish the double border with the light blue.

My skeins of light blue (color A) are 180 yards each. I get approximately 31 rows out of each skein. (counting all rows)

After finishing the last row of the blanket section - I have used 6.5 skeins of the light blue yarn. A total of approximately 1170 yards. I do not have enough to finish the border. I ordered 1260 yards of the light blue. The pattern says 867 yards for the blanket section. I even used the same brand and color of yarn. And a smaller hook.

Border Yardage Error - I do not understand how she used LESS of the color A than Color B for the border. According to the instructions, you use the Color A to make the first half of the double border (the back side) in Color A. This means all of those border rows are Color A.

Then on the front of the border, you use a mix of Color A and Color B. Just thinking about that means that you use more Color A than you do Color B for the border. Her yardage for the double border makes absolutely no sense. Which you would not figure out until you get to the point of working the border.

Actually working the border
I started with the alternative blue for the back of the border.

After watching the video (this is mandatory to have any understanding of following the instructions), finish your tails.

The video will have explained what she means by “working through the post” of a sc. This is her modified center sc on the ends of each row. - This only applies to the border because you need to know how to work Round 1 of the back and front border sections into these stitches on the body of the blanket.

Then go to the Border PDF, page 6. These instructions will get you through the back portion of the double border. The main PDF border instructions do not include any information about the tails or the back section of the Border. These instructions tell you which stitches to skip on the corners.

Border PDF, Page 6, Step 3 are written instructions to work the back portion of the double border.

Border PDF, page 7-8 of Step 3 are a photo tutorial of how to work Round 1 of the back and the front border sections.

After completing 6 rounds of the back border, fasten off.

Main pattern, page 19, border section for the front portion of the double border. The pattern says that there is a chart for this but I have no idea which chart it is. The border PDF labels the last 2 as border chart samples.

Following Main pattern, page 19, border section written instructions for the border. I wish there was a stitch count for the horizontal and vertical sides. That way you would know if you had done round 1 correctly for the back and the front to match.

Back border round counts
top horizontal row Rnd 1 - 129 sts
right vertical side Rnd 1 - 162 sts
bottom horizontal row Rnd 1 - 129 sts
left vertical side Rnd 1 - 162 sts

Put stitch markers in the ch 1 corners. This helps while working rounds and it helps when you match front to back border.

Front border round counts
top horizontal row Rnd 1 - 129 sts
right vertical side Rnd 1 - 162 sts
bottom horizontal row Rnd 1 - 129 sts
left vertical side Rnd 1 - 162 sts

Front Border
I haven’t found any where in the main PDF, the border video, the border PDF - which states how you change colors when working mosaic in the round. She vaguely mentions that you change the yarn. But you are left on your own to figure it out.

The way I did it was to first join my round then draw up a loop of the other color and do a chain 1. Which then started me on the round with that color. I tugged the previous color loop snugly. The first loose end of yarn from Color B was tied to Color C in a knot to be left on the inside of the double border.

I carried the colors up the back of the front border without cutting them each round.

Last border round - I went back to the video to see how to work this round. In the corners, you go under both loops or into the ch 1 space - sc, ch 1, sc.

On the sides, you use the back loop of the front border you are on and the back loop of the back back border. Remember the back loop of the back border would be if you turned it around and looked at it as you made the rounds. Essentially you are going under only 1 loop from each border. This maintains the “back loop only” appearance on both front and back borders.

Working the last border round is a lot harder than she makes it look. I found that beyond just having stitch markers in the corner ch 1 spaces, I used stitch markers to hold the sides together every few inches. I did not bother with matching up stitches with my side markers. They were just to hold the two sides of the border together to take the weight off of my hook when I was working.

Look at both the front and back side of your last border round frequently. That way, if you have made a mistake, you will find it immediately.

Hindsight
This really is a beautiful pattern. The designer has invented some innovative techniques. She has also tried to include extras. All of this is good.

My complaint is that as a new person trying to work the pattern, it was extremely confusing. It could be made a lot easier to understand with a better layout for the pattern, an overview for each of the different options. Not re-using stitch abbreviations for various stitches used throughout the pattern. It could be made a lot simpler to get started.

It’s great that there is an added video and border PDF. Unfortunately, the necessary information is scrambled all over the 3 different parts - main PDF, border video and border PDF.

The pattern could use some re-writing to make it understandable. The designer really is talented.

DONE!!!!

Dimensions

width - 34.5 in

height - 44 in

Pattern says size is: 35.8 in x 42.1 in

Yarn - Malago Solids acryilc yarn washed up super soft. Lovely yarn to snuggle up with. Too bad it is so expensive in tiny skeins. I won’t be purchasing on my own. Only for a commissioned item like this.