How to: Make a Raised Seashell Motif

I really wish I could have included this in the same post as the Seashell Soap Saver pattern, but there were too many pictures! After taking photos of the soap saver in progress, I discovered that it was too confusing to see what's going on in the picture. So - I've done a neat little thing here - Instead of the pattern being worked in the round as for the soap saver, this tutorial shows it worked in rows.

(That means, if you want to use this raised motif for another pattern, you've got it!)

Without the extra chains behind the work, this row version is so much clearer. Now, keep in mind - It will look a bit different when you work it in the round, because you won't be turning. However, the stitches are all symmetrical, so it works either way!

If you're using this tutorial for the Soap Saver (SS), find the round you'll be working into in parenthesis ( ) .

To those of you who are using this for your own designs, and not for the Soap Saver (SS) pattern, sorry, you'll have to put up with a few unnecessary explanations as you follow along. But here's some bonus info for you: You can work this pattern with any number of chains! Need help adjusting it? Just ask.

Everybody, look for the asterisks (*) to compare differences.

Let's get started!

-You'll see a few abbreviations -

Chain (ch)

Chain space (ch-sp)

Double crochet (dc)

Slip stitch (sl st)

-SS is for Soap Saver

*First, take a look at what we have after Round One of the SS pattern. You can still see the chain-3 space of Round Two, but here, it's part of Row One. (Let's just pretend that the beginning chain counts as Round 1 of the SS.) Row Two and Three here are the chain-4 spaces of Round Three and Four in the SS pattern. An extra double crochet is added to the edges where another chain space would be in the SS pattern.

*For everybody: I told you you can work this pattern with any number of chains; as in chain-(...). You'll still need to work this pattern over three rows of chains (meaning, start in the 4th row).

Make 1 double crochet (dc) in the last available dc before the chain space.

For all of the following stitches: Bring the yarn in front of the work. Insert the hook from front to back under the chain space, then back to the front of the work from above the chain space. You will be grabbing the yarn from the side facing you, instead of from behind the work.

*For the SS pattern, chain (ch) 1.

*Everybody else: You may need to adjust the number of chains you make, depending on where you want the motif to sit. If you're using more chains across, you'll need to make more chains here. -or- You can also make more than one motif in a long chain!

Make 1 dc in the chain space (ch-sp) of (Round 2) the third row down.

The top of the current row will fold down a bit once you work this stitch.

Make 1 dc in the ch-sp of (Round 3) the next row up.

You may find it easier to rotate the pattern slightly, so you're working right to left (opposite for lefties), instead of from the bottom up.

Make a double crochet around both ch-sps of (Round 3 and 4) the current and next row.

Because you're working into an open row at the top, you can grab the yarn for this and the next two stitches from behind as usual.

Ch 1. Make a dc in the ch-sp of (Round 4) the last row only.

Chain 1. Make 1 dc around both ch-sps of (Round 3 and 4) the top row and the next row.

Time to work with the yarn in front again! Make 1 dc in the ch-sp of (Round 3) the middle row only.

Again, you may find it easier to rotate your work so that you're working in the proper direction, instead of downwards. However, if you turn to work in the correct direction here, your yarn will be coming from the opposite direction, and you will have to insert the hook from left to right (opposite for lefties). Be careful to not twist the stitches, or turn in the same direction as before, and work to the right (left for lefties).

Make 1 dc in the ch-sp of (Round 2) the first row only.

*For SS pattern, ch 1.

*Everybody else: Make the same number of chains as before the first lower dc.

Dc in the next dc.

*SS pattern: We're picking up here at the first dc after the fpdc in Round 6.

*Everybody else: You'll need to make 1 dc in the dc before the chain-1 (or other number of chains)