Harley Afghan with a Fleece Background

Yvonne L just finished her Harley Afghan.  She put a fleece backing on it to protect it.  The flaming background looks really cool!

If you would like to make this afghan you can find it here.

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How to Make Yarn Bobbins for Tapestry Crochet

I'm getting ready to make another Harley Davidson Afghan.  The last one nearly drove me crazy because I just had the yarn attached to the afghan in balls and they kept unrolling and getting all tangled up.  So this time I decided to use yarn bobbins to keep the yarn from doing this.  The only problem is I can't seem to find any here in town and the one's on Amazon seemed too small.  So I decided to make my own.

• Foam Core board
• Ruler
• Pencil
• Exacto Knife
• Small piece of cardboard to put underneath to protect your table or cutting surface
• Tape

I'm going to use this bobbin as a guide on how mine should look.

Bulky Yarn Bobbins

First draw a rectangle on the foam core board that is 5 inches long and 3 inches wide.

Then use your straight edge to help you draw this shape.  You can use a protractor for the rounded edges.  I just drew mine freehand.

Place the foam core board on top of a piece of cardboard to protect your cutting surface.

Use straight edge and an Exacto knife to score the foam core board then go back over again with the Exacto knife until the part is cut loose.  For curved areas you will probably just have to use the Exacto knife, unless you have a protractor.

If you are having trouble cutting a piece off, try turning over and cutting on the lines that are showing to help you remove the piece.

Once you have cut out your first bobbin, you can use it as a guide to draw the rest of the bobbins that you need.

The last step is to cover the bobbin in tape.  This will make the edges smoother and make the thinner parts of the bobbin stronger.

Now wind the amount of yarn you need to use around the bobbin.

Once you have wound your bobbin, cut it loose from the skein and then start using it.

It works well.  Even when it's hanging it doesn't unwind.

Happy Hooking!

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How to Customize a Lacy Top from a Russian Diagram, Part II

You can find Part I here.

Abbreviations

Ch(s)--chain(s)         dc(s)--double crochet(s)         sl st--slip stitch         tr(s)--triple or treble crochet(s)
sc(s)--single crochet(s)                tr CLUSTER(s)--triple or treble CLUSTER(s)                    sk--skip  
sp--space                      beg--beginning                       YO--yarn over                     st(s)--stitch(es)      
*  *--repeat instructions between stars                                (  )--repeat instructions between brackets


Figuring out how to do an Increase
The diagrams don't show any increases, but on the picture of the top, it appears that the increases were made on the side seams.

So I had to do a little improvising.  I decided to add staggered shells on the side seams.  If your top is a different size (has a different number of shells across the front and back) just try to to the increase as close to each side seam as possible.  The increases are where the round differs from the original diagram.  I started the increases by adding extra ch-5 spaces on the sides of the top. I've marked the increases on the pattern this way [increase].

Begin Increase at side seams
Rnd 5: [increase] Ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp before 1st tr CLUSTER (at side seam),

*ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, ch 5 , sc in the ch-2 sp after 6th tr CLUSTER (near next side seam) ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp before 1st tr CLUSTER, *ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, [increase] ch 5, sl st in base of beg ch-5, fasten off. (8 shells. 36 loops)

Rnd 6:  Attach yarn in loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs in first shell,

 ch 4 (counts as first tr), do 6 trs in the same loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, [increase]*ch 5, sc in next loop,* 3 times, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, [increase] ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop and top of 1st ch-4 at the same time. (8 shells, 21 loops)

Rnd 7: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), *tr in next tr, ch 1 * 5 times, tr in next tr,  sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, [increase] *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, [increase] *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, sc in same loop as last ch 5 and in 4th ch of beg ch-5 at the same time. (8 shells, 19 loops (4 extra loops on one side, 3 extra on side at end of rnd, will make another loop at the beg of next rnd))

Rnd 8: Ch 5 *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* I did this part 4 times, [increase] *ch 5,sc in next loop* 3 times ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* I did this 3 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, ch 5, sc in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (8 shells, 7 ch-5 loops)

Rnd 9: *Ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, [increase] ch 5, sc in next loop (near next side seam) 7 trs in next loop, *ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, [increase] ch 5, sc in next loop, 7 trs in next loop, sl st in base of beg ch-5, fasten off. (2 shells, 34 loops)

Rnd 10:  Attach yarn in loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs in first shell, ch 4 (counts as first tr), do 6 trs in the same loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 2 times, 7 trs in next loop, sc in next loop, [increase] ch 5, *tr in next tr, ch1* 6 times, tr in last tr, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, 7 trs in next loop, [increase] ch 5, *tr, ch 1* 6 times, tr in last tr, ch 5, sl st in top of beg ch-4. (12 shells (2 staggered), 16 loops)

Rnd 11: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), *tr in next tr, ch 1 * 5 times, tr in next tr,  sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, *ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, * sc in next ch-5, ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2* 6 times, ch 2, sl st in  ch-5 sp and in 4th ch of beg ch-5 at the same time. (12 shells, 11 loops)

Rnd 12: Ch 2 *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* I did this part 3 times, *ch 5, sc in ch-1 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5 sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTERs, ch 5, sc in top of next sc, ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* ch 5 sl st in top of next sc, ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* 3 times, Ch 2 *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sl st in top of next sc, ch 5, sc in ch-1 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5 sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTERs, ch 5, sl st in top of next sc. (12 shells,12 loops) 

Rnd 13: *Ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, ch 5 , sc in next loop (near next side seam) ch 5, sc in next loop, 7 trs in next loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in in ch-2 sp before 1st tr CLUSTER *ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, 7 trs in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sl st in base of beg ch 5.  (40 loops and 2 shells)

Rnd 14:  Attach yarn in loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs in first shell,  ch 4 (counts as first tr), do 6 trs in the same loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, tr in next tr,*ch 1, tr* 6 times, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, tr in next tr, *ch 1, tr in next tr* 6 times, ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5, sc in next sc,  ch 5, sc in next loop and top of 1st ch-4 at the same time. (12 shells, 24 loops)

I am still continuing to use my well fitting top as a guide to make sure the top will fit when it's finished.

Rnd 15: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), *tr in next tr, ch 1 * 5 times, tr in next tr,  sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, *ch 2, tr CLUSTER* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, *ch 2, tr CLUSTER* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in same loop, ch 5, sl st in next loop and in 4th ch of beg ch-5 at the same time. (12 shells, 11 loops)

Rnd 16: Ch 5 *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2* 6 times, sc in next loop, *(ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp) 6 times, ch 2, sc in loop* I did this part 3 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in tops of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *ch 2, (tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2) 6 times, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-2 sp before 1st CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in tops of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sl st in next loop and in 3rd ch of beg ch-5. (12 Shells,13 loops )

Rnd 17: *Ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, 7 trs in next loop, sc in next loop *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times,*ch 5, ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, 7 trs in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next sc, ch 5 , sl st in base of beg ch-5, fasten off. (2 shells, 39 loops)

Rnd 18:  Attach yarn in loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs in first shell, ch 4 (counts as first tr), do 6 trs in the same loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, *tr in next tr, ch 1* 6 times, tr in last tr, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times,  *7 trs in next loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, * tr in next tr, ch 1* 6 times, tr in last tr, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, ch 5, sl st in next loop and top beg of ch-4.  (12 shells, 24 loops )

Rnd 19: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), *tr in next tr, ch 1 * 5 times, tr in next tr,  sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, *ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times,  *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-5, ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, ch 5, sl st in  ch-5 sp and in 4th ch of beg ch-5 at the same time. (12 shells, 15 loops)

Rnd 20: *Ch 2 (tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2) 6 times, sc in next loop, * I did this part 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in ch-1 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5 sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTERs, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, *ch 2, (tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2) 6 times, sc in next loop* 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times , ch 2, sl st in top of next sc. (12 shells, 16 loops)

Rnd 21: *Ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, 7 trs in next loop, sc in next loop *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times,*ch 5, ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER,*I did this 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 4 times, 7 trs in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times ch 5, sl st in base of beg ch-5, fasten off. (2 shells, 46 loops)

Rnd 22:  Attach yarn in loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs in first shell, ch 4 (counts as first tr), do 6 trs in the same loop, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *7 trs in next loop (between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs), sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, *tr in next tr, ch 1* 6 times, tr in last tr, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times,  *7 trs in next loop between 3rd and 4th tr CLUSTERs, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop*4 times, *tr in next tr, ch 1* 6 times, tr in last tr, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 4 times, ch 5, sl st in next loop and top beg of ch-4.  (12 shells, 31 loops)

Rnd 23: Ch 5 (counts as tr and ch 1), *tr in next tr, ch 1 * 5 times, tr in next tr,  sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop, *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 3 times, ch 5, sc in next ch-5 sp, *ch 2, tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next ch-5 sp, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times,  *(tr in next tr, ch 1) 6 times, tr in next tr, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in next loop* I did this 4 times, *,  *ch 5, sc in next ch-5* 3 times, ch 2, *tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2* 6 times, ch 2, sc in next loop, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times, ch 5, sl st in  ch-5 sp and in 4th ch of beg ch-5 at the same time. (12 shells, 18 loops)

Rnd 24: *Ch 2 (tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp after first tr, ch 2) 6 times, sc in next loop, * I did this part 4 times, ch 5, sc in next loop, ch 5, sc in ch-1 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5 sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTERs,  *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, *ch 2, (tr CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2) 6 times, sc in next loop* 4 times, *ch 5, sc in next loop* 2 times, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 1st and 2nd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 3rd tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in top of 4th tr CLUSTER, ch 5, sc in ch-2 sp between 5th and 6th tr CLUSTER *ch 5, sc in next loop* 3 times , ch 2, sl st in top of next sc. Faste off. (12 shells, 16 loops)

I ended up doing a total of 6 rounds of shells.

You can see here the the crocheted top matches up pretty well to the white top I used as my pattern guide.

Finishing

If you want to round the edges of the neck line and sleeves you will need to make partial squares.

Row 1: Ch 3, sl st in 1st ch to form a circle.

Row 2:  Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), do 5 dcs into circle. (6 dcs)

Row 3: Ch 6, turn, CLUSTER in the same st (refer to Part I), ch 1, CLUSTER in next dc, ch 1, CLUSTER in next dc, ch 5, *CLUSTER in next dc, ch 1*2 times, CLUSTER in top of turning ch, ch 3, dc in same st. (6 CLUSTERs)

Row 4:  Ch 3 (counts as 1st dc), turn, 2 dcs in ch-3 sp, ch 2, CLUSTER in next c-1 sp, ch 1, CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, 5 dcs in ch 5 sp, ch 2, CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 1, CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 2, 3 dcs in ch-6 sp. (4 CLUSTERS, 11 dcs, 5 per corner)

Row 5: Ch 4 (counts as 1st dc, ch 1), turn, dc in same st, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 3, CLUSTER in ch-1 sp (between CLUSTERs on last row), ch 3, *dc in dc, ch 1* 2 times, *dc, ch 1*3 times all in next dc, dc in next dc, ch 1, dc in last dc, ch 3, CLUSTER in next ch-1 sp, ch 3, dc in dc, ch 1, dc in next dc, ch 1, (dc, ch 1)2 times in next top of turning ch. Fasten off, leaving a long tail for joining. (4 CLUSTERS, 28 dcs, 7 per corner)

You can use a half square to round the sleeve hole.

 You can sew on a half square like this:

I decided instead to make more of a dart.

This is the side where the dart is, it fits smoothly.

 This is the side without the dart, you can see kind of sticks out.

 You can also make half squares to round the neckline.

I decided I liked the square neckline better, so I left it the way it was.  If you want to do an edging you can use reverse single crochet or do a row of single crochets around the neckline and then on the next row single crochets with a picot stitch every 3 to 4 stitches.  I decided I liked mine the way it was.  So I just wove in all the loose threads.

Happy Hooking!

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