Free Pattern: Chains Around My Heart Doily

  Once you discover how fast this project works up, your heart will be "chained" to the pattern! Chains, basic stitches, and some unusual placement are combined to create the designs in this elegant doily. It's perfect for Valentine's Day, but simply beautiful enough for year round use. You can also customize the pattern with your choice of color to match your home decor.




  *Beginners, don't be intimidated! Where a few unusual techniques are required, you'll find pictures along with the pattern for help. Give it a try! No extra-special stitches are needed; you'll just be creating the stitch in different loops than usual.




  With a finished size of 12" (30.5 cm), the pattern of this doily can still be seen from under a larger candle or dish, or use it as part of an accent piece with an arrangement of smaller objects. (It also goes great with a photo-bombing cat!) Share photos of your ideas for how to display this pattern, with or without your furry friends!

 




Skill level:

Materials:
Worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn
-Red Heart Super Saver in Cherry Red used
Crochet hook size J/10- MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Smaller hook or yarn needle to weave in ends
Split ring stitch markers (optional)




Gauge:
In 4" by 4" (10 cm by 10 cm)
6 rows of 14 double crochet




Notes:
Chains at beginning of rounds count as stitches. Mark with stitch markers if needed.




Stitches and abbreviations:
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)
Double crochet (dc)

Long single and double crochet stitches (Lsc and Ldc) - Worked the same as the basic stitch, but over more than one row. Pull up the base loop to the height of the current row. Pattern will designate where to create the stitch.

Extended double crochet (ext dc)- Yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop. Yarn over, pull through one loop. (Yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice.
*Pictures are shown in the pattern to help you with this stitch.

Beginning (beg)
Skip (sk)
Space (sp)
Stitch (st)




Directions:

Round 1:
To begin, ch 5, join into a ring with a sl st. Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc), make 11 sc in the ring. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1. (12 sc)

Round 2:
Ch 1, 1 sc in the same st. (Ch 2, sk 2, 2 sc) 5 times. Ch 2, sk 2, join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Round 3:
Ch 6 (counts as 1 sc, ch-5), *1 sc in the 1st sc after next ch-2 sp. Ch 5.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Round 4:
Sl st in the next available ch-5 sp, ch 6 (counts as 1 sc, ch-5), 1 sc in same sp. *(1 sc, ch 5, 1 sc) in the next ch-5 sp.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Round 5:
Ch 1, *(1 sc, ch 6, 1 sc) in the next ch-5 sp. 1 sc in each of the next 2 sc.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (1 sc, ch 6, 1 sc) in the next ch-5 sp, 1 sc in the next sc. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Round 6:
Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), *(1 dc, ch 8, 1 dc) in the next ch-6 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 4 sc.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (1 dc, ch 8, 1 dc) in the next ch-6 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 3 sc. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3.

Round 7:
Ch 3, *(1 dc, ch 6, 1 dc) in the next ch-8 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 6 dc.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. (1 dc, ch 6, 1 dc) in next ch-8, 1 dc in each of the next 5 dc. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3.

Round 8:
Ch 4 (counts as 1 sc, ch-3), *1 Lsc in ch-8 sp of Round 6, ch 3. Across the next 8 sts: (1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 sc, 2 sl st, 1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 sc). Ch 3.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. 1 Lsc in ch-8 sp of Round 6, ch 3. Across the next 7 sts: (1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 sc, 2 sl st, 1 sc, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1). Join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Round 9:
Sl st in ch-8 sp of Round 6, ch 3 (counts as 1st Ldc). *Ch 2, 3 dc in the base loops of Lsc (see pictures 9-1 through 9-3). Ch 2, 1 Ldc in ch-8 sp of Round 6 (see picture 9-4). Ch 9, 1 Ldc in same ch-8 sp of Round 6.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. Ch 2, 3 dc in base loops of Lsc, ch 2, join with a sl st to beg ch-3.

9-1. Insert the hook in the base loops (loops around the chains) of the Lsc stitch.

9-2. Make all 3 dc in the same base loops, creating each stitch below the last.

9-3. Making the stitches this way will cause the work to twist slightly. Don't worry, it will flatten out again once you work the stitches of the next row into these 3 dc.

9-4. To work the Ldc before and after the 3 dc, insert the hook in the ch-8 sp of  Round 6. Pull up a long loop, so the chains aren't pinched together. Complete as for a basic dc.

Round 10:
Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch-1), *2 dc in next dc. Ch 2, sl st in following dc. Ch 2, 2 dc in third dc. Ch 1, 1 dc in the next dc. Ch 3, 1 ext dc in ch-9 sp (see pictures 10-1 through 10-3). (1 dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in the base loops of ext dc just made (see pictures 10-4 and 10-5). Ch 3, 1 dc in next dc, ch 1.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. 2 dc in the next dc, ch 2, sl st in following dc. Ch 2, 2 dc in third dc. Ch 1, 1 dc in the next dc. Ch 3, 1 ext dc in ch-9 sp. (1 dc, ch 2, sl st, ch 2, 2 dc) in the base loops of ext dc just made. Ch 3, join with a sl st to beg ch-3.

10-1. For extended dc, yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop.

10-2. Yarn over, pull through only one loop.

10-3. (Yarn over, pull through 2 loops) twice as for a basic dc.

10-4. For the stitches in the base loops of the ext dc: Insert hook in the first 2 bottom loops available.

10-5. Continue with the stitches as usual, placing each consecutive stitch under the last stitch made in the loops.

Round 11:

Ch 1, *1 sc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 6, 1 sc in the following ch-1 sp. 1 sc in the next dc. (2 sc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 6, (1 dc, ch 1, 2 sc) in following ch-3 sp. 1 sc in the next dc. 1 sc the next ch-1 sp.* Repeat from * to * 4 more times. 1 sc in the next ch-1 sp. Ch 6, 1 sc in the following ch-1 sp. 1 sc in the next dc. (2 sc, ch 1, 1 dc) in next ch-3 sp. Ch 6, (1 dc, ch 1, 2 sc) in following ch-3 sp. Join with a sl st to beg-ch-1.

Round 12:

Ch 1, *7 sc in next ch-6 sp. 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, 1 sc in next ch-1. 8 sc in next ch-6. 1 sc in following ch-1 sp. 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc.* Repeat * to * 4 more times. 7 sc in next ch-6 sp. 1 sc in each of the next 4 sc, 1 sc in next ch-1. 8 sc in next ch-6. 1 sc in following ch-1 sp. 1 sc in each of the next 3 sc, join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Bind off, weave in ends.

With stitches made in base loops and long stitches pulling up chains, some places in this pattern might look a little wacky when you finish it! As with many crochet projects, it will come out fine with a gentle wash and some minor blocking. No need for a bunch of work, just spread it out evenly, and allow it to dry flat.

Happy Crocheting!