February Scarf of the Month: Dancing Dragonflies Scarf

February's Scarf... In May?

Yes, it's late. Sometimes designing doesn't go the way you want it to. But that's a story for a Yarn Tales Tuesday post, right? Please don't forget about the Scarf of the Month program - a monthly (and sometimes late) pattern created to donate to charity.

  The design method for this scarf was part mathematical and part free form; the result is a beautiful lace with interesting texture. Made for the month of February, the Dancing Dragonflies Scarf was inspired by early spring dragonflies flitting about on a frosty morning. A heavily modified Butterfly Stitch and a pattern worked in the round creates a symmetrical design of dragonflies dancing around the foundation row. Even though this scarf seems light and lacy, worsted weight yarn and the bulkiness of the width will wrap you in warmth.


  Get ready: This pattern uses some out-of-the-ordinary techniques, but nothing that requires a ton of skill. Because the pattern is simple, but a bit strange, there will be a tutorial provided. I'll be working a shortened version of the scarf from beginning to end, so you can work along. However, there's over a hundred photos for it! (100!!!) It's too much to include in one post; all you'll need to do is follow the links provided throughout this post to get help with any part of the pattern. Update: All of the links for the tutorials/crochet along are now available.


***LOL! I have revisited this post after finding a design flaw in this scarf. I'm laughing at phrases like "sometimes designing doesn't go the way you want it to" and "out-of-the-ordinary techniques". But, this isn't really funny... Please read the warning in this post before you decide to continue with this pattern. Perhaps it would make a nice gag gift, but I no longer recommend this as a charity-worthy scarf.

  Finished size is 7" (18 cm) wide by 72" (183 cm) long. Stitch count of multiples is provided so you can make it shorter if you like. Adjust your foundation row by 11 for each multiple you subtract. What's not provided this time is the amount of yarn used... I re-worked this pattern so many times, I forgot to record it in the end. See the picture under "materials" to get an idea of how little yarn this pattern uses.

Skill level:

*I'm basing this skill level on the ability to understand the written pattern. Don't be intimidated; use the tutorials!



Materials:
Worsted weight (4) acrylic yarn
-Main Color (MC) I used Red Heart Super Saver in White
-Contrasting Color (CC) I used Red Heart Super Saver in Light Blue
Crochet hook size J/10 - 6.00MM or size needed to obtain gauge
Yarn needle or smaller hook to weave in ends

Here's the jumbo skein I used: Making this scarf barely touched it! Using the center-pull end of the skein, there isn't even a hole in the middle yet.

Gauge:
In pattern stitch -
Two multiples (22 stitches, 4 rows) = 6" by 3 1/2" (15 cm by 9 cm)
-or- One multiple (11 stitches, 4 rows) = 3 1/2" by 3 1/2" (9 cm by 9 cm)

In double crochet -
4 rows of 12 dc = 4" by 4" (10 cm by 10 cm)

Gauge swatch worked in double crochet

Notes:
Pattern is worked in multiples of 11 + 1 in four rows.

This pattern begins with a foundation row, then continues to be worked in the round.




Stitches and abbreviations:
Chain (ch)
Slip stitch (sl st)
Single crochet (sc)
Single crochet two together (sc2tog) - See tutorial photos
Double crochet (dc)
Double crochet two together (dc2tog) - Worked in two chain spaces. See tutorial photos 
Foundation single crochet (fsc)

Dragonfly Stitch (modified Butterfly stitch)
- Row 1: (Actually round 2 in this pattern) Ch 8, *remove hook, insert in back loop of 3rd ch from hook. Pick up dropped loop, pull through.* Ch 4, repeat from * to *. Ch 4, skip 10, 1 dc.
-Row 2: Ch 10, skip 10, 1 dc.
-Row 3: Repeat row 2.
-Row 4: (Actually round 5 in this pattern) Chain 5, insert hook in first ch-3 loop of row 1, pull up a long loop to the height of the previous dc. Insert hook in next ch-3 loop, pull up loop to same height. (3 loops on hook) Yarn over, pull through all three loops. (sc2tog) For "tail": Chain 4. Beginning in second chain from hook, slip stitch in each of next 3 stitches. Insert hook in the back of the sc2tog post, slip stitch. Ch 5, 1 dc in next dc.

Beginning (beg)
Contrasting Color (CC)
Main Color (MC)
Skip (sk)
Space (sp)
Stitch (st)




Directions:

Row/Round 1: Click here for Part One of tutorials
Make 221 foundation single crochet (fsc).



Round 2: 
Ch 4 (counts as 1 dc, ch-1), turn. 1 dc in same st. Work row 1 of Dragonfly st 20 times. Ch 1, 1 dc in the same st. Ch 2, (1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc) in the opposite side of the same stitch. Work row 1 of Dragonfly st 20 times. (Match dc's to dc on opposite side.) Ch 1, 1 dc in same st as last. Ch 2, join with a sl st to third ch of beg ch-4. (Part One of tutorials ends here)


Round 3: Click here for Part Two of tutorials
Sl st in ch-1 corner sp. Ch 5 (counts as 1 dc, ch-2), 1 dc in the same sp. *1 dc in the first available dc. (Ch 10, sk 10, dc) 20 times. (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in corner ch-1 sp. (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) in ch-2 sp.* (1 dc, ch 2, 1 dc) in corner ch-1 sp. Repeat from * to *. Join with a sl st to third ch of beg ch-5. (Part Two of tutorials ends here)


Round 4: Click here for Part Three of the tutorials
Sl st in corner ch-2 sp. Ch 6 (counts as 1 dc, ch-3), 1 dc in same sp. *1 dc in each of next 2 dc. (Ch 10, sk 10, dc) 20 times. 1 dc in the next dc. (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) in corner ch-2 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc. (1 dc, ch 4, 1 dc) in ch-3 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc.* (1 dc, ch 3, 1 dc) in corner ch-2 sp. Repeat from * to *. Join with a sl st to third ch of beg ch-6. (Part Three of tutorials ends here)


Round 5: (Click here for Part Four of the tutorials)
Sl st in corner ch-3 sp. Ch 7 (counts as 1 dc, ch-4), 1 dc in the same sp. *1 dc in each of the next 3 dc. Work row 4 of Dragonfly st 20 times. 1 dc in each of the next 2 dc. (1 dc, ch 4, 1 dc) in corner ch-3 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 4. (1 dc, ch 5, 1 dc) in ch-4 sp. 1 dc in each of the next 4 dc.* (1 dc, ch 4, 1 dc) in corner ch-3 sp. Repeat from * to *. Join with a sl st to third ch of beg ch -7.

Bind off MC, weave in ends. (Part Four of the tutorials ends here)


Round 6: (Click here for Part Five of the tutorials)
With CC, join with a sl st in corner ch-4 sp. Ch 3 (counts as 1 dc), (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp. *Ch 4, sk next 4 dc, 1 dc in ch-5 sp of first dragonfly. (Ch 5, sl st in tip of "tail". Ch 5, dc2tog - beginning in first available ch-5 sp, and ending in next) 19 times. Ch 5, sl st in tip of next tail. Ch 5, 1 dc in last available ch-5 sp. Ch 4, sk 4, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch-4 sp. 1 dc in each of next 6 dc. 6 dc in ch-5 sp. 1 dc in each of next 6 dc.* (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in corner ch-4 sp. Repeat from * to *. Join with a sl st to beg ch-3.

Bind off, weave in ends. (Part Five of the tutorials ends here)

Accent: (Click here for Part Six of the tutorials)
Locate beg corner of foundation chain. With CC, join with a sl st in same st as first corner. Ch 1 (counts as 1 sc). *Sc in b/L of each open fsc across, skipping stitches containing dc's. 2 sc in corner st. Ch 4,* 2 sc in opposite corner st. Repeat from * to *. 1 sc in same st as beginning. Join with a sl st to beg ch-1.

Bind off, weave in ends.

It's six feet long! This is me balancing on a chair out on my deck trying to get the whole thing in a picture, with the camera over my head. "I wish I was big..."  

Crochet along with these tutorials:

Part One - Beginning of pattern through end of second round

Part Two - Round 3 only

Part Three - Round 4 only

Part Four - Round 5 only

Part Five - Round 6 - the contrasting border!

Part Six - Adding the accent to the foundation row

Happy Crocheting!