2022 VVCAL
Published on April 1, 2022

2022 VVCAL: Pulsar Motif

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Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 5 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I’m so glad you’re here!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 5 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Pulsar Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Pulsar Motif

Find the Ravelry Page for this motif here and add your project!

The Cosmos: Pulsar

A Pulsar, (from pulsating radio source) is a highly magnetized rotating neutron “star” that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation out of its magnetic poles. Wow! Here are some fun Pulsar facts!

  • Pulsars are spherical, compact objects that are about the size of a large city but contain more mass than the sun. Scientists are using pulsars to study extreme states of matter, search for planets beyond Earth’s solar system and measure cosmic distances. Pulsars also could help scientists find gravitational waves, which could point the way to energetic cosmic events like collisions between supermassive black holes. Discovered in 1967, pulsars are fascinating members of the cosmic community. 
  • From Earth, pulsars often look like flickering stars. On and off, on and off, they seem to blink with a regular rhythm. But the light from pulsars does not actually flicker or pulse, and these objects are not actually stars. Pulsars radiate two steady, narrow beams of light in opposite directions. Although the light from the beam is steady, pulsars appear to flicker because they also spin. It’s the same reason a lighthouse appears to blink when seen by a sailor on the ocean. [More]
  • A pulsar is formed when a massive star collapses and exhausts its supply of fuel. It blasts out in a giant explosion known as a supernova, the most powerful and violent event in the universe. Without the opposing force of nuclear fusion to balance it, gravity begins to pull the mass of the star inward until it implodes. As the star collapses, it begins to spin rapidly in what is known as the conservation of angular momentum. The process is similar to that of an ice skater pulling their arms in close to spin faster. [More]
  • When a pulsar first forms, it has the most energy and fastest rotational speed. As it releases electromagnetic power through its beams, it gradually slows down. Within 10 to 100 million years, it slows to the point that its beams shut off and the pulsar becomes quiet. When they are active, they spin with such uncanny regularity that they’re used as timers by astronomers. In fact, it is said that certain types of pulsars rival atomic clocks in their accuracy in keeping time. [More]
  • The study of pulsars has resulted in many uses in physics and astronomy. Major examples include the proof of gravitational radiation as forecasted by general relativity and the first proof of exoplanets. In the 1980s, astronomers measured pulsar radiation to prove that the North American and European continents are drifting away from one another. This movement is evidence of plate tectonics. [More]
Highly magnetized rotating neutron star – artist rendition

Pulsar Motif Pattern

Reference

Chart

Note: Chart is meant as a visual guide to the written instruction and might not be able to stand alone due to special stitches.

Video

Note: Video is spoken in US Terms. Watch on mute to avoid confusion for UK Terms.

Subscribe on YouTube for more videos like this one!

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • 2trcl 2 treble cluster: * yoh 2 times, insert hook in st, yoh pull through, (yoh, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, rep from * 1 time, yoh and pull through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full dc st
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full tr st
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg pc beginning popcorn: (beg dc, 3dc) in st/sp, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg dc, grab lp, pull lp to front of work to close beg pc
  • beg tr (1sc, ch2) – counts as 1 tr
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • pc popcorn: 4dc in st/sp indicated, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first dc, grab lp, pull to front of work to close pc
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • yoh yarn over hook

Written Instructions & Step-by-step Photos (US Terms)

Rnd 1 MR, beg 2dccl, [ch2, 2dccl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 2dccl. [6 2dccl, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg pc in first ch-sp, [ch3, pc in same ch-sp, ch1, pc in next ch-sp] 6 times omitting final pc, ss in beg pc. [12 pc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 2dccl in ch-sp, [(ch2, 2dccl) 3 times in same ch-sp, ch2, 1sc in next ch-1 sp, ch2, 2dccl in next ch-sp] 6 times omitting final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl. [24 2dccl, 6 sc, 30 sp]

Rnd 4 [2sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next ch-sp, 2sc in next ch-sp, ch4, sk 2 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first sc. [42 sc, 6 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in next 2 sts, beg 2trcl in next st, [(ch2, 2trcl) 3 times in same st, ch1, (2dccl, ch2, 2dccl) in ch-4 sp, ch1, sk 3 sc, 2trcl in next st] 6 times omitting final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl. [24 2trcl, 12 2dccl, 36 sp]

Rnd 6 3sc in next 3 ch-sps, 1sc in ch-1 sp, 3sc in next ch-sp, 1sc in ch-1 sp] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]

Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2tr cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through 3 lps
  • 2dtrcl 2 double treble cluster: * yoh 2 times, insert hook in st, yoh pull through, (yoh, pull through 2 lps on hook) 2 times, rep from * 1 time, yoh and pull through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full trst
  • beg 2dtrcl (beg dtr, 1dtr) in st/sp indicated – when joining rnd, ss into full dtr st
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg pc beginning popcorn: (beg tr, 3tr) in st/sp, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through beg tr, grab lp, pull lp to front of work to close beg pc
  • beg dtr (1dc, ch2) – counts as 1 dtr
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dtr double treble crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • pc popcorn: 4tr in st/sp indicated, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back through first tr, grab lp, pull to front of work to close pc
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • yoh yarn over hook

Written Instructions & Step-by-step Photos (UK Terms)

Rnd 1 MR, beg 2trcl, [ch2, 2trcl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 2trcl. [6 2trcl, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg pc in first ch-sp, [ch3, pc in same ch-sp, ch1, pc in next ch-sp] 6 times omitting final pc, ss in beg pc. [12 pc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 2trcl in ch-sp, [(ch2, 2trcl) 3 times in same ch-sp, ch2, 1dc in next ch-1 sp, ch2, 2trcl in next ch-sp] 6 times omitting final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl. [24 2trcl, 6 dc, 30 sp]

Rnd 4 [2dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp, ch4, sk 2 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first dc. [42 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in next 2 sts, beg 2dtrcl in next st, [(ch2, 2dtrcl) 3 times in same st, ch1, (2trcl, ch2, 2trcl) in ch-4 sp, ch1, sk 3 dc, 2dtrcl in next st] 6 times omitting final 2dtrcl, ss in beg 2dtrcl. [24 2dtrcl, 12 2trcl, 36 sp]

Rnd 6 3dc in next 3 ch-sps, 1dc in ch-1 sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 1dc in ch-1 sp] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]

Links to Weekly Instruction Posts

Quick Links to Each Week: 1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8/9/10/11/12/13/14/15/16/17/18/19/20

Links to Published Hexagon Patterns

Pin the Pulsar Motif!

Thank you so much for stopping in for this week of the 2022 VVCAL!

Happy Crafting,

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