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2022 VVCAL: Sunflower Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 12 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! The PDF is released! Enjoy!

PDF Version

Announcement! The 2022 VVCAL full PDF is now available to purchase from Etsy and Ravelry.

  • 42-Page PDF of the entire 2022 VVCAL
  • 36 full mix-and-match hexagons plus 2 half hexagons
  • 2 joining options plus border
  • All motifs have charted and written instructions
  • 2.5 pages of tips and tricks
  • Full layouts, motif progress tracker checklist, and yarn information for Scheepjes Catona Colour Pack, SW/RW Colour Pack (1 or 2 packs), and Metropolis Pack
  • Guidance and blank layout for Colour Crafter and Chunky Monkey stash yarn

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 12 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Sunflower Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Sunflower Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Sunflower Galaxy

M63, or the Sunflower Galaxy, is a beautiful spiral galaxy located about 37 million light-years away from Earth. Here are some interesting Sunflower Galaxy facts!

  • Galactic arms, sunflowers and whirlpools are only a few examples of nature’s apparent preference for spirals. Discovered by Pierre Mechain in 1779, the galaxy later made it as the 63rd entry into fellow French astronomer Charles Messier’s famous catalogue, published in 1781. The two astronomers spotted the Sunflower Galaxy’s glow in the small, northern constellation Canes Venatici (the Hunting Dogs). We now know this galaxy belongs to the M51 Group — a group of galaxies, named after its brightest member, Messier 51, another spiral-shaped galaxy dubbed the Whirlpool Galaxy. [More]
  • In the mid-19th century, Anglo-Irish astronomer Lord Rosse identified spiral structures within the galaxy, making this one of the first galaxies in which spiral structure was identified. The shape indicates a spiral form with no central bar feature (present in about half of spirals) and moderate to loosely wound arms. It appears to have an indeterminate number of spiral arms bound closely together, making it a flocculent galaxy (patchy and discontinuous arms). However, when observed in the near infrared, a symmetric, two-arm structure is seen. [More]
  • This galaxy is quite easy to find in the night sky, even though it lies in a relatively faint constellation. It is located about two thirds of the way from Alkaid, the bright star that marks the end of the Big Dipper‘s handle, to Cor Caroli, the brightest star in Canes Venatici. The best time to observe the Sunflower Galaxy from northern latitudes is in March, April and May. The galaxy is known for its bright yellow central disc. As well as a number of short spiral arm segments dotted with starburst regions and dust lanes. This is what gives it its name of the Sunflower Galaxy. [More]
  • A Type I supernova was detected in M63 on May 25, 1971. Designated SN 1971I, it reached a magnitude of 11.8 and was discovered in one of the galaxy’s spiral arms. In 1979, a faint feature resembling a giant arc-loop was detected in the galaxy’s halo, but it was unclear whether or not the feature was physically associated with the galaxy. In 2011, astronomers discovered this to be a tidal stellar stream in the halo and that it was likely the result of a merger with a much smaller dwarf satellite galaxy. The colour of the stars indicates that it was probably a galaxy belonging to the Local Group. [More]
The Sunflower Galaxy – image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.

Sunflower Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, beg dc, 11dc, ss in beg dc. [12 dc] 

Rnd 2 Beg 2dccl in next st, [ch2, 2dccl] 11 times, ch2, ss in beg 2dccl. [12 2dccl, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 2dccl in next ch-sp, [ch2, 2dccl in same ch-sp, ch2, 2dccl in next ch-sp] 12 times omt final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl. [24 2dccl, 24 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg dc in first ch-sp, [ch1, 1dc in same ch-sp, 1dc in next ch-sp] 24 times omt final dc, ss in beg dc. [48 dc, 24 sp] 

Rnd 5 * 1sc in next ch-sp, ch3, [1sc in next ch-sp, ch2] 3 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first sc. [24 sc, 24 sp] 

Rnd 6 [5sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next 3 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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 tr, 11tr, ss in beg tr. [12 tr] 

Rnd 2 Beg 2trcl in next st, [ch2, 2trcl] 11 times, ch2, ss in beg 2trcl. [12 2trcl, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 2trcl in next ch-sp, [ch2, 2trcl in same ch-sp, ch2, 2trcl in next ch-sp] 12 times omt final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl. [24 2trcl, 24 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg tr in first ch-sp, [ch1, 1tr in same ch-sp, 1tr in next ch-sp] 24 times omt final tr, ss in beg tr. [48 tr, 24 sp] 

Rnd 5 * 1dc in next ch-sp, ch3, [1dc in next ch-sp, ch2] 3 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first dc. [24 dc, 24 sp] 

Rnd 6 [5dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next 3 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Sunflower Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Week 12 Instructions

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 12 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway!

PDF Version

Announcement! The 2022 VVCAL full PDF is now available to purchase from Etsy and Ravelry.

  • 42-Page PDF of the entire 2022 VVCAL
  • 36 full mix-and-match hexagons plus 2 half hexagons
  • 2 joining options plus border
  • All motifs have charted and written instructions
  • 2.5 pages of tips and tricks
  • Full layouts, motif progress tracker checklist, and yarn information for Scheepjes Catona Colour Pack, SW/RW Colour Pack (1 or 2 packs), and Metropolis Pack
  • Guidance and blank layout for Colour Crafter and Chunky Monkey stash yarn

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

What to Expect Today

  • 3 blog posts: The Weekly Post with instructions for each blanket version (this post), plus 2 Cosmos Themed hexie designs
  • Patterns include written instructions in US and UK Terms, chart, step-by-step photos, and YouTube video (US Terms).

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Find your version below and get started!


Catona 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total + 2 half hexies:

Note: Use the same 10g ball for the 2 half hexies.

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.

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1 Pack SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


2 Packs SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total + 2 half hexies:

Note: Use the same 10g ball for the 2 half hexies.

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Metropolis 10g Colour Pack version

Photo coming soon!

Make 8 hexies total + 2 half hexies:

Note: Use the same ball for the 2 half hexies and save the ball as it may be used for more half hexies in future weeks.

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Colour Crafter stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 4 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


Chunky Monkey stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Half Hexie B

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 11 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Today the PDF is released! I will post a link below when it is posted in my shops!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 11 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Half Hexie B Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Half Hexie B Motif

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

Half Hexie B Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Note: Photo instruction is limited due to similarity to Plain Hexie B.

Row 1 (RS) MR, beg dc, ch1, [2dccl, ch2] 2 times, 2dccl, ch1, 1dc, turn. [3 2dccl, 2 dc, 4 sp]

Row 2 Beg dc, [ch1, 2dc in same sp, ch1, 2dc in next sp] 3 times, ch1, 1dc, turn. [14 dc, 7 sp]

Row 3 Beg dc, * [ch1, 2dc in next ch-sp] 3 times, ch1, 2dc in same ch-sp, rep from * 2 times omt final 2 dc, 1dc, turn. [20 dc, 10 sp]

Row 4 Beg dc, * [ch1, 2dc in next ch-sp] 4 times, ch1, 2dc in same ch-sp, rep from * 2 times omt final 2 dc, 1dc, turn. [26 dc, 13 sp]

Row 5 Beg dc, ch1, 2dc in next 2 ch-sps, (3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next 2 ch-sps, ch1, 2dc in same ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp) 2 times, 3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next 2 ch-sps, ch1, 1dc, turn. [35 dc, 4 sp]

Row 6 1sc in first sp, 1sc in all sts/sps across to final st, leave final st unworked, turn. [37 sc]

Row 7 2sc in first st, [11sc, 3sc in next st] 3 times omt final sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [43 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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)

Note: Photo instruction is limited due to similarity to Plain Hexie B.

Row 1 (RS) MR, beg tr, ch1, [2trcl, ch2] 2 times, 2trcl, ch1, 1tr, turn. [3 2trcl, 2 tr, 4 sp]

Row 2 Beg tr, [ch1, 2tr in same sp, ch1, 2tr in next sp] 3 times, ch1, 1tr, turn. [14 tr, 7 sp]

Row 3 Beg tr, * [ch1, 2tr in next ch-sp] 3 times, ch1, 2tr in same ch-sp, rep from * 2 times omt final 2 tr, 1tr, turn. [20 tr, 10 sp]

Row 4 Beg tr, * [ch1, 2tr in next ch-sp] 4 times, ch1, 2tr in same ch-sp, rep from * 2 times omt final 2 tr, 1tr, turn. [26 tr, 13 sp]

Row 5 Beg tr, ch1, 2tr in next 2 ch-sps, (3tr in next ch-sp, 2tr in next 2 ch-sps, ch1, 2tr in same ch-sp, 2tr in next ch-sp) 2 times, 3tr in next ch-sp, 2tr in next 2 ch-sps, ch1, 1tr, turn. [35 tr, 4 sp]

Row 6 1dc in first sp, 1dc in all sts/sps across to final st, leave final st unworked, turn. [37 dc]

Row 7 2dc in first st, [11dc, 3dc in next st] 3 times omt final dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [43 dc]


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!


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 Half Hexie B Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Half Hexie A

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 11 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Today the PDF is released! I will post a link below when it is posted in my shops!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 11 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Half Hexie A Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Half Hexie A Motif

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

Half Hexie A Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Note: Photo instruction is limited due to similarity to Plain Hexie A.

Row 1 (RS) MR, beg dc, ch1, [2dccl, ch2] 2 times, 2dccl, ch1, 1dc, turn. [3 2dccl, 2 dc, 4 sp]

Row 2 Beg dc, [ch1, 2dc in same sp, 2dc in next sp] 3 times, ch1, 1dc, turn. [14 dc, 4 sp]

Row 3 Beg dc, ch1, 1dc in next ch-sp, [4dc, (1dc, ch1, 1dc) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final dc, 1dc, turn. [20 dc, 4 sp]

Row 4 Beg dc, ch1, 1dc in next ch-sp, [6dc, (1dc, ch1, 1dc) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final dc, 1dc, turn. [26 dc, 4 sp]

Row 5 Beg dc, ch1, 1dc in next ch-sp, [4dc, ch1, 4dc, (1dc, ch1, 1dc) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final dc, 1dc, turn. [32 dc, 7 sp]

Row 6 1sc in first sp, 1sc in all sts/sps across to final st, leave final st unworked, turn. [37 sc]

Row 7 2sc in first st, [11sc, 3sc in next st] 3 times omt final sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [43 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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)

Note: Photo instruction is limited due to similarity to Plain Hexie A.

Row 1 (RS) MR, beg tr, ch1, [2trcl, ch2] 2 times, 2trcl, ch1, 1tr, turn. [3 2trcl, 2 tr, 4 sp]

Row 2 Beg tr, [ch1, 2tr in same sp, 2tr in next sp] 3 times, ch1, 1tr, turn. [14 tr, 4 sp]

Row 3 Beg tr, ch1, 1tr in next ch-sp, [4tr, (1tr, ch1, 1tr) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final tr, 1tr, turn. [20 tr, 4 sp]

Row 4 Beg tr, ch1, 1tr in next ch-sp, [6tr, (1tr, ch1, 1tr) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final tr, 1tr, turn. [26 tr, 4 sp]

Row 5 Beg tr, ch1, 1tr in next ch-sp, [4tr, ch1, 4tr, (1tr, ch1, 1tr) in next ch-sp] 3 times omt final tr, 1tr, turn. [32 tr, 7 sp]

Row 6 1dc in first sp, 1dc in all sts/sps across to final st, leave final st unworked, turn. [37 dc]

Row 7 2dc in first st, [11dc, 3dc in next st] 3 times omt final dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [43 dc]


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!


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 Half Hexie A Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Porpoise Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 11 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Today the PDF is released! I will post a link below when it is posted in my shops!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 11 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Porpoise Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Porpoise Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Porpoise Galaxy

The Porpoise Galaxy is an interacting spiral galaxy just like the Antennae Galaxy. It is interacting with the elliptical galaxy located just beneath it. Here are some interesting Porpoise Galaxy facts!

  • The Porpoise Galaxy looks just like a dolphin, or a penguin protecting an egg, but in reality this is a system of two galaxies. The “dolphin” shape used to be a spiral galaxy, similar to our own Milky Way, but immense gravitational forces of the denser galaxy below (the “egg”) contorted its shape significantly. The dolphin’s “eye” was previously the spiral galaxy’s core within the Hydra constellation. In about a billion years, the pair will merge into one. [More]
  • The stars in the Penguin Galaxy are mainly new and young stars evidenced by the presence of blue stars where as in the egg, the stars are mainly old, red stars and not much new stars are being formed. Some of the blue stars may be old but because of the interaction of galaxies, they may have got a new lease of life and become hotter. After the collision, a new series of star forming will begin. [More]
  • Both parts of the Porpoise Galaxy were discovered by Albert Marth on Mar 3, 1864. On 20 June 2013, the Hubble Space Telescope examined and photographed the galaxy. [More]
  • This galaxy is physics become art. Even though it resembles a dolphin, it is in fact a galactic merger, with the “eye” of the dolphin being the core of a large spiral galaxy that is being distorted by the tidal influence of an even larger galaxy below it. The area to the left of the “eye” that looks like the nose of the dolphin, is in fact a huge star forming region, in which young, hot new stars illuminate the surrounding gas and dust clouds. It is expected that in about a billion or so years, the dolphin shape will have transformed itself into a regular galaxy as the merger runs its course. [More]
The Porpoise Galaxy

Porpoise Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg dc5tog beg dc, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook – join in full decrease to finish round
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dc5tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 5 times, yoh, draw yarn through 6 lps on hook
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, beg 2dccl, [ch2, 2dccl] 7 times, ch2, ss in beg 2dccl. [8 2dccl, 2 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg dc in ch-sp, [4dc in same ch-sp, 1dc in next ch-sp] 8 times omt final dc, ss in beg dc. [40 dc]

Rnd 3 Beg dc5tog over first 5 sts, (ch5, dc5tog) 7 times, ch5, ss in beg dc5tog. [8 dc5tog, 8 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg dc in ch-sp, [7dc in same ch-sp, ch1, 1dc in next ch-sp] 8 times omt final dc, ss in beg dc. [64 dc, 8 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 st, * 1sc in next st/sp, ch3, sk2, [1sc in next st/sp, ch2, sk2] 3 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first sc. [24 sc, 24 sp]

Rnd 6 [5sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next 3 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg tr5tog beg tr, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook – join in full decrease to finish round
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • tr5tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 5 times, yoh, draw yarn through 6 lps on hook
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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] 7 times, ch2, ss in beg 2trcl. [8 2trcl, 2 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg tr in ch-sp, [4tr in same ch-sp, 1tr in next ch-sp] 8 times omt final tr, ss in beg tr. [40 tr]

Rnd 3 Beg tr5tog over first 5 sts, (ch5, tr5tog) 7 times, ch5, ss in beg tr5tog. [8 tr5tog, 8 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg tr in ch-sp, [7tr in same ch-sp, ch1, 1tr in next ch-sp] 8 times omt final tr, ss in beg tr. [64 tr, 8 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 st, * 1dc in next st/sp, ch3, sk2, [1dc in next st/sp, ch2, sk2] 3 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first dc. [24 dc, 24 sp]

Rnd 6 [5dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next 3 ch-sps] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Porpoise Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Antennae Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 11 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Today the PDF is released! I will post a link below when it is posted in my shops!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 11 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Antennae Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Antennae Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Antennae Galaxy

The Antennae Galaxy is a perfect example of 2 galaxies colliding! Here are some interesting Andromeda Galaxy facts!

  • There is a constellation in the Southern Hemisphere that has been hiding an incredible secret for over 200 million years. The two Spiral galaxies are being destroyed by each other and creating thousands of new stars at the same time. NASA says that this galaxy is in a state of “starburst,” whereby all the gasses are being used up to create new stars.
  • When the Chandra X-Ray Observatory first discovered many bright points in Antennae Galaxy, it sparked a new wave of research into what these stars could be. After carefully examining and analyzing their data for years, scientists concluded that they were either super star clusters or neutron stars because black holes emit no light. Super Star Clusters are a group of young stars that have been bound together by gravity. Neutron Stars, which are the core remains of a star that has collapsed due to its own weight, can be found in these clusters as well.
  • The black holes that secretly exist in Antennae Galaxy are bright since what is actually being observed is the hot gas from the stars within galaxies. The Antenna Galaxy is also known as the galaxy with a bright pink core. The Chandra X-ray Observatory discovered that iron, magnesium, silicon, and neon are present in large quantities within its central area. Scientists have found that two supernovas occurred in the colliding galaxies, back in 2004 and 2007. The confirmation of this event was confirmed by images from Hubble Telescope which confirms Chandra observations. The Hubble has taken at least three images of the Antennae Galaxy, in 1997, 2006 and 2013 respectively. [More]
  • British astronomer William Herschel discovered the colliding galaxies in 1785. This was four years after he discovered that the planet Uranus was not a star. William’s sister, Caroline, was his assistant for many of his deep space observations. William built more than 400 telescopes, though he is remembered most for the one that was forty feet (12 m) long, made of iron and perched upon a mount that was fully moveable. It was surrounded by a wooden frame that would not be dismantled until 1839. A 10 foot section of it still resides in the Royal Observatory, Greenwich. [More]
  • The two spiral galaxies started to interact a few hundred million years ago, making the Antennae galaxies one of the nearest and youngest examples of a pair of colliding galaxies. Nearly half of the faint objects in the Antennae image are young clusters containing tens of thousands of stars. The orange blobs to the left and right of image center are the two cores of the original galaxies and consist mainly of old stars criss-crossed by filaments of dust, which appears brown in the image. The two galaxies are dotted with brilliant blue star-forming regions surrounded by glowing hydrogen gas, appearing in the image in pink. See image below [More]
The Antennae Galaxy

Antennae Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

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
  • 3dccl 3dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg 3dccl (beg dc, 2dccl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3dccl
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, beg dc, 11dc, ss in beg dc. [12 dc]

Rnd 2 Beg dc in next st, [2dc in same st, ch2, sk1, 1dc in next st] 6 times omt final dc, ss in beg dc. [18 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 3dccl in next st, [ch3, 3dccl in same st, ch3, 1sc in next ch-sp, ch3, sk 1 dc, 3dccl in next st] 6 times omt final 3dccl, ss in beg 3dccl. [12 3dccl, 6 sc, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg 2dccl in first ch-sp, [(ch2, 2dccl in same ch-sp) 3 times, ch3, sk 2 ch-sps, 2dccl in next ch-sp] 6 times omt final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl. [24 2dccl, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 ch, 1sc in same ch-sp, * ch2, (1sc, ch2, 1sc) in next ch-sp, [ch2, 1sc in next ch-sp] 2 times, ch2, 1sc in same ch-sp, ch2, 1sc in next ch-sp, rep from * 5 times omt final sc, ss in first sc. [36 sc, 36 sp]

Rnd 6 [2sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next ch-sp, 2sc in next ch-sp] 12 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
  • 3trcl 3tr cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg 3trcl (beg tr, 2trcl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3trcl
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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 tr, 11tr, ss in beg tr. [12 tr]

Rnd 2 Beg tr in next st, [2tr in same st, ch2, sk1, 1tr in next st] 6 times omt final tr, ss in beg tr. [18 tr, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 3trcl in next st, [ch3, 3trcl in same st, ch3, 1dc in next ch-sp, ch3, sk 1 tr, 3trcl in next st] 6 times omt final 3trcl, ss in beg 3trcl. [12 3trcl, 6 dc, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Beg 2trcl in first ch-sp, [(ch2, 2trcl in same ch-sp) 3 times, ch3, sk 2 ch-sps, 2trcl in next ch-sp] 6 times omt final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl. [24 2trcl, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 ch, 1dc in same ch-sp, * ch2, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next ch-sp, [ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp] 2 times, ch2, 1dc in same ch-sp, ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp, rep from * 5 times omt final dc, ss in first dc. [36 dc, 36 sp]

Rnd 6 [2dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Antennae Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Week 11 Instructions

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 10 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

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

What to Expect Today

  • 5 blog posts: The Weekly Post with instructions for each blanket version (this post), plus 2 Cosmos Themed hexie designs, and the 2 half hexie designs
  • Patterns include written instructions in US and UK Terms, chart, step-by-step photos, and YouTube video (US Terms).

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Find your version below and get started!


Catona 10g Colour Pack version

I lost my 255 ball! Oh no!! So No. 255 is not shown here.

Make 6 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.

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1 Pack SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


2 Packs SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total + 2 half hexies:

Note: Use the same 10g ball for the 2 half hexies.

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Metropolis 10g Colour Pack version

Photo coming soon!

Make 9 hexies total + 2 half hexies:

Note: Use the same ball for the 2 half hexies and save the ball as it may be used for more half hexies in future weeks.

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Colour Crafter stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 4 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


Chunky Monkey stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Evil Eye Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 10 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 10 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Evil Eye Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Evil Eye Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Evil Eye Galaxy

The Black Eye Galaxy (also called Sleeping Beauty Galaxy or Evil Eye Galaxy) is a relatively isolated spiral galaxy 17 million light-years away in the mildly northern constellation of Coma Berenices (Berenice’s Hair). Here are some interesting Evil Eye Galaxy facts!

  • The Evil Eye Galaxy was discovered by Edward Pigott on March 23, 1779, just 12 days before Johann Elert Bode found it independently on April 4, 1779. Roughly a year later, Charles Messier independently rediscovered it on March 1, 1780 and cataloged it as M64. However, Pigott’s discovery got published only when read before the Royal Society in London on January 11, 1781, while Bode’s was published during 1779 and Messier’s in late summer, 1780. Pigott’s discovery was more or less ignored and recovered only by Bryn Jones in April 2002! [More]
  • The galaxy is known for the enormous light-absorbing dust band in front of its central region, which gives the galaxy its name. This spectacular dark band obscures the stars in the galaxy’s bright core, yet it is still a popular target for amateur astronomers because it can be observed even in a small telescope or binoculars. A large telescope reveals the bright nucleus and the many arms spiraling outwards in the galaxy’s inner region. It is hard to note as a spiral galaxy because the arms are wound so tightly.
  • The galaxy is also known for being composed of two counter-rotating disks, roughly equal in mass. The inner disk contains the galaxy’s spectacular dust clouds and lanes. All the stars in the Black Eye Galaxy rotate in the same direction as the gas in its core region, clockwise, while the gas in the outer regions rotates in the other direction. As the two disks are rotating in opposite directions, this may explain the intense starburst activity with the galaxy. The gases in the disks collide, which results in new star formation. The Black Eye Galaxy is home to about 100 billion stars. [More]
  • Active formation of new stars is occurring in the shear region where the oppositely rotating gases collide, are compressed, and contract. Particularly noticeable in the image are hot, blue young stars that have just formed, along with pink clouds of glowing hydrogen gas that fluoresce when exposed to ultraviolet light from newly formed stars. Astronomers believe that the oppositely rotating gas arose when M64 absorbed a satellite galaxy that collided with it, perhaps more than one billion years ago. This small galaxy has now been almost completely destroyed, but signs of the collision persist in the backward motion of gas at the outer edge of M64. [More]

Evil Eye Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 7 lps
  • 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 Elongate lp to height of a puff st, [puff st, ch2] 2 times in all 6 sps, ss in top of first puff st. [12 puff sts, 12 sps]

Rnd 3 3sc in 12 sps, ss in first sc. [36 sc]

Note: tr sts on Rnd 4 should be squashed toward you in order to make tiny bobbles.

Rnd 4 1sc in next st, * (1tr, 1sc) in same st, [1tr, 1sc] 3 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final sc, ss in first sc [24 tr, 24 sc]

Stop and give your motif a smooch! Isn’t it the cutest! Okay, on to Round 5.

Rnd 5 [1sc in sc, ch2] 24 times, ss in first sc. [24 sc, 24 sp]

Rnd 6 [3sc in next ch-sp, 2sc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first sc. [60 sc]

Rnd 7 Beg dc in next st, * ch1, 1dc in same st, [ch1, sk1, 1dc] 5 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [36 dc, 36 sp]

Rnd 8 [3sc in next ch-sp, 11sc] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • 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
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 7 lps
  • 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 Elongate lp to height of a puff st, [puff st, ch2] 2 times in all 6 sps, ss in top of first puff st. [12 puff sts, 12 sps]

Rnd 3 3dc in 12 sps, ss in first dc. [36 dc]

Note: dtr sts on Rnd 4 should be squashed toward you in order to make tiny bobbles.

Rnd 4 1dc in next st, * (1dtr, 1dc) in same st, [1dtr, 1dc] 3 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in first dc [24 dtr, 24 dc]

Stop and give your motif a smooch! Isn’t it the cutest! Okay, on to Round 5.

Rnd 5 [1dc in dc, ch2] 24 times, ss in first dc. [24 dc, 24 sp]

Rnd 6 [3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first dc. [60 dc]

Rnd 7 Beg tr in next st, * ch1, 1tr in same st, [ch1, sk1, 1tr] 5 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [36 tr, 36 ch]

Rnd 8 [3dc in next ch-sp, 11dc] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Evil Eye Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Andromeda Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 10 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 10 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Andromeda Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Andromeda Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Andromeda Galaxy

The Andromeda Galaxy is a barred spiral galaxy and the nearest large galaxy to our home galaxy, the Milky Way. Here are some interesting Andromeda Galaxy facts!

  • The galaxy’s name stems from the area of Earth’s sky in which it appears, the constellation of Andromeda, which itself is named after the Ethiopian (or Phoenician) princess who was the wife of Perseus in Greek mythology. The name Andromeda derives from the Greek for “ruler of men”. The Milky Way and Andromeda galaxies are expected to collide in around 4-5 billion years, merging to form a giant elliptical galaxy or a large lenticular galaxy. [More]
  • There are about one trillion stars in the Andromeda Galaxy (there are 200 to 400 billion stars estimated in the Milky Way). This spiral galaxy lies 2.5 million light-years away from Earth. Since it is easily visible to the naked eye on dark nights, the Andromeda Galaxy has been observed many times in the past. The earliest known record of this galaxy was that of Abd al-Rahman al-Sufi, a Persian astronomer around the 10th century. Simon Marius, a German astronomer, also gave it a description in the early 1600s. [More]
  • Until the 1920s, the consensus among astronomers was that the Milky Way comprised the entire Universe, and that the fuzzy patches that could not be resolved into individual stars using early 20th century telescopes were simply clouds of gas, known as nebulae. The galaxy was therefore known as the Andromeda Nebula. The Andromeda Galaxy is best observed when it’s reasonably dark outside, because then it is very easy to spot, but it may come as a surprise to most people that the Andromeda galaxy appears six times wider than the full Moon in the night sky. 
  • Despite the physical size of Andromeda being over two and a half times that of the Milky Way, and containing several times its number of its stars, the mass of the Andromeda Galaxy is only 400 billion times that of our own Sun. The Milky Way is imagined to be considerably heavier because it probably possesses more Dark Matter and Dark Energy than Andromeda. What sets it apart from our own galaxy is the fact that it has a double-nucleus, likely because somewhere between five and nine billion years ago two smaller galaxies merged together and the nuclei are now in orbit around each other. One of the compact star clusters is designated P1, while P2 is dimmer, but contains a black hole. They will eventually blend into one body in a few billion years.
  • As with all large galaxies, including our own Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy has a supermassive black hole at its center. Andromeda also has a large central bulge much bigger than the one at the core of our own galaxy, which allows for more black holes to form there, and so far astronomers have detected at least 34 additional black holes. Surrounding the supermassive central black hole is a light-year wide disk of around 400 hot blue stars orbiting it at 2.2 million miles per hour. The disk is situated five light-years away from the black hole, and in turn is encircled by an elliptical ring of older, red stars. The unusual juxtaposition of these blue and red stars suggests that the blue stars are actually older stars that on their way to becoming red giants shed their outer layers to reveal their blue-hot cores. The number of blue stars then falls with the distance away from the center, and the galaxy’s outer rim holds the older, more mature red stars. [More]
The Andromeda Galaxy

Andromeda Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 2dccl 2 dc cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg 2dccl (beg dc, 1dc) in st/sp – counts as 1 2dccl
  • 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, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back in first dc, pull lp through to close
  • 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, [1sc, ch2, pc, ch2] 3 times, ss in first sc. [3 pc, 3 sc, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg 2dccl in same st as ss, [ch3, 1sc in pc, ch3, 2dccl in next sc] 3 times omitting final 2dccl, ss in beg 2dccl. [3 2dccl, 3 sc, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 [3sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next st] 6 times, ss in first sc. [36 sc]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 st, beg dc in next st, * ch1, sk1, (1dc, ch1, 1dc) in next st, [ch1, sk1, 1dc] 2 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [24 dc, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Beginning in first ch-sp, 1sc in every st and sp around, ss in first sc. [48 sc]

Note: tr sts on Rnd 6 should be squashed toward you in order to make tiny bobbles.

Rnd 6 1sc in same st as ss, [1tr, 1sc] 23 times, 1tr, ss in first sc. [24 tr, 24 sc]

Rnd 7 1sc in same st as ss, [ch2, 1sc in next sc] 23 times, ch2, ss in first sc. [24 sc, 24 sp]

Rnd 8 Ss in 1 ch, 1sc in same ch-sp, * ch2, (1sc, ch3, 1sc) in next sc, [ch2, 1sc in next ch-sp] 4 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final sc, ss in first sc. [36 sc, 36 sp]

Rnd 9 [2sc in next ch-sp, 3sc in next ch-sp, 2sc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 2trcl 2 tr cluster: [yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps on hook] 2 times, yoh, draw yarn through all 3 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg 2trcl (beg tr, 1tr) in st/sp – counts as 1 2trcl
  • 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, remove lp from hook, insert hook front to back in first tr, pull lp through to close
  • 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, [1dc, ch2, pc, ch2] 3 times, ss in first dc. [3 pc, 3 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg 2trcl in same st as ss, [ch3, 1dc in pc, ch3, 2trcl in next dc] 3 times omitting final 2trcl, ss in beg 2trcl. [3 2trcl, 3 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 [3dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next st] 6 times, ss in first dc. [36 dc]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 st, beg tr in next st, * ch1, sk1, (1tr, ch1, 1tr) in next st, [ch1, sk1, 1tr] 2 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [24 tr, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Beginning in first ch-sp, 1dc in every st and sp around, ss in first dc. [48 dc]

Note: dtr sts on Rnd 6 should be squashed toward you in order to make tiny bobbles.

Rnd 6 1dc in same st as ss, [1dtr, 1dc] 23 times, 1dtr, ss in first dc. [24 dtr, 24 dc]

Rnd 7 1dc in same st as ss, [ch2, 1dc in next dc] 23 times, ch2, ss in first dc. [24 dc, 24 sp]

Rnd 8 Ss in 1 ch, 1dc in same ch-sp, * ch2, (1dc, ch3, 1dc) in next dc, [ch2, 1dc in next ch-sp] 4 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in first dc. [36 dc, 36 sp]

Rnd 9 [2dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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.

NOTE: Rounds 1 and 2 of the chart differ slightly from the written instruction, photo instruction, and video. The difference is negligible and the motif will end up the same. Not a big deal, just pointing it out.

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!


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 Andromeda Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Week 10 Instructions

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 10 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

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

What to Expect Today

  • 3 blog posts: The Weekly Post with instructions for each blanket version (this post), plus 2 Cosmos Themed hexie designs
  • Patterns include written instructions in US and UK Terms, chart, step-by-step photos, and YouTube video (US Terms).

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Find your version below and get started!


Catona 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-2.png

1 Pack SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


2 Packs SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Metropolis 10g Colour Pack version

Photo coming soon!

Make 9 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Colour Crafter stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 4 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


Chunky Monkey stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Milky Way Galaxy Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 9 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 9 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Milky Way Galaxy Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Milky Way Galaxy Motif

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

The Cosmos: Milky Way Galaxy

The Milky Way is our cosmic neighborhood. It is the galaxy that contains our Solar System. We live in the golden era of Milky Way research. Here are some interesting Milky Way Galaxy facts! (Side Note: I found this one particularly interesting!)

  • The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy around 13.6 billion years old with large pivoting arms stretching out across the cosmos. Its disk is about 100,000 light-years across and just 1000 light-years thick. Just as Earth orbits the sun, the solar system orbits the center of the Milky Way. Despite hurtling through space at speeds of around 515,000mph (828,000kmph) it still takes our solar system approximately 250 million years to complete a single revolution – that is how large the Milky Way is. The last time our planet was in this position, dinosaurs were just emerging and mammals were yet to evolve. 
  • The Milky Way’s name is ancient. Before the advent of electric lights, everybody on Earth had an unobstructed view of the night sky. The enormous milky band of stars crossing it was impossible to miss. Ancient peoples gave different names to the cloud-like structure of our galaxy, but our modern version derives from the Greeks, who had a myth about the infant Hercules being brought to the goddess Hera, who nursed him while she was asleep. When she awoke and pulled away, her breast milk spilled across the heavens. The source of the Greek name itself has been lost to the ages, Matthew Stanley, a professor of the history of science at New York University, states. “It’s one of those terms that’s so old that its origin is generally forgotten by now.” [More]
  • The Milky Way resides within the Local Group of over 30 galaxies including Andromeda, Triangulum and Leo I. The Milky Way is currently hurtling towards the Andromeda Galaxy at 250,000mph (400,000 km/h). Though there is no need to worry just yet, this crash of cosmic proportions is not due for another 4 billion years. (Outer Space is so vast.) Lying at the very heart of the Milky Way is a supermassive black hole called Sagittarius A*. About 4 million times the mass of the sun, this beast consumes anything that strays too close, gorging on an ample supply of stellar material enabling it to grow into a giant. Though we cannot directly view this glutton at the core of our galaxy, scientists can suggest its presence by investigating its effect on nearby matter. (On May 12, 2022, at 9am EDT, an announcement will be made likely regarding imaging of Sagittarius A*.) [More]
  • Since we are located about 26,000 light years from the Milky Way’s center we cannot take pictures of the entire disk at once. Any representation that you have ever seen of our galaxy is either a different spiral galaxy or what an artist thinks it might look like. If the Milky Way were reduced in diameter to a width of 100 meters, the solar system would be no more than 1 millimeter in width. In order for the Milky Way to achieve its current great size and shape it has consumed other galaxies throughout its history. Our galaxy is currently consuming the Canis Major Dwarf Galaxy by adding the smaller galaxy’s stars to its own spiral. [More]
  • It is said that only 10% of our Milky Way galaxy is visible, while the other 90% is dark matter. The visible portion is comprised of stars, gasses, and interstellar dust. Hydrogen gas makes up 90% of the interstellar gas and the other 10% is helium. Knowing the exact number of objects in the Milky Way poses some challenges because of distance. Most of the stars in the galaxy are concentrated near the center and decrease further out. If there is at least one planet for each star, then our galaxy likely has 100–400 billion planets. Some of them orbit a yellow star like the Sun. It is believed that there are also billions of rogue planets in this galaxy (planets that do not orbit a star). [More]
Image of the night sky above Paranal, Chile on 21 July 2007, taken by ESO astronomer Yuri Beletsky. (Laser points to galaxy center.)

Milky Way Galaxy Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 3dccl 3dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3dccl (beg dc, 2dccl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3dccl
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all lps
  • sc single crochet
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, beg dc, 17dc, ss in beg dc. [18 dc]

Rnd 2 Elongate lp to height of a puff st, [puff st, ch1] 18 times, ss in top of first puff st. [18 puff st, 18 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 3dccl in first ch-sp, [ch2, 3dccl in next ch-sp] 17 times, ch2, ss in beg 3dccl. [18 3dccl, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 ch, beg dc in first ch-sp, * ch1, 2dc in same ch-sp, [ch1, 2dc in next ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [48 dc, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 ch, beg dc in first ch-sp, [ch1, 2dc in same ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp, 3dc in next ch-sp, 2dc in next 2 ch-sps] 6 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [66 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 6 [3sc in ch-sp, 11sc] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 3trcl 3tr cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3trcl (beg tr, 2trcl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3trcl
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – 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
  • puff st (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through all lps
  • 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 tr, 17tr, ss in beg tr. [18 tr]

Rnd 2 Elongate lp to height of a puff st, [puff st, ch1] 18 times, ss in top of first puff st. [18 puff st, 18 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg 3trcl in first ch-sp, [ch2, 3trcl in next ch-sp] 17 times, ch2, ss in beg 3trcl. [18 3trcl, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 ch, beg tr in first ch-sp, * ch1, 2tr in same ch-sp, [ch1, 2tr in next ch-sp] 3 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [48 tr, 24 sp]

Rnd 5 Ss in 1 ch, beg tr in first ch-sp, [ch1, 2tr in same ch-sp, 2tr in next ch-sp, 3tr in next ch-sp, 2tr in next 2 ch-sps] 6 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [66 tr, 6 sp]

Rnd 6 [3dc in ch-sp, 11dc] 6 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Milky Way Galaxy Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Planet Nine Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 9 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 9 Instruction post, please head there first and see the instructions for the version that you are working. Below, you will find the Planet Nine Motif pattern, in US, and UK Terms, Chart, Video, and Step by step photos.

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Planet Nine Motif

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

The Cosmos: Planet Nine

Planet Nine is a hypothetical planet that could be at the edge of our Solar System. (Don’t worry Pluto, you’re forever planet nine in my eyes.) Here are some interesting Planet Nine facts!

  • In January 2015, Caltech astronomers Konstantin Batygin and Mike Brown announced new research that provides evidence of a giant planet tracing an unusual, elongated orbit in the outer solar system. The prediction is based on detailed mathematical modeling and computer simulations, not direct observation. The gravity of this large object could explain the unique orbits of at least five smaller objects discovered in the distant Kuiper Belt.
  • The Caltech scientists believe Planet Nine may have has a mass about 10 times that of Earth and be similar in size to Uranus or Neptune. The predicted orbit is about 20 times farther from our Sun on average than Neptune (which orbits the Sun at an average distance of 2.8 billion miles). It would take this new planet between 10,000 and 20,000 years to make just one full orbit around the Sun (where Neptune completes an orbit roughly every 165 years). [More]
  • Astronomers first began searching for Planet Nine in 2016 (or 10 years after Pluto was demoted from its position as our solar system‘s ninth planet to become a mere dwarf planet). Astronomers noticed that six rocky objects beyond the orbit of Neptune clustered in a strange way, with the most-distant points in their orbits located much farther from the sun than the nearest points of their orbits. The team calculated that the gravitational pull of an unseen planet measuring five to 10 times the size of Earth could explain the eccentricity in those rocks’ orbits. [More]
  • A paper published in 2021 showed that astronomers scanned 87% of the sky visible from the southern hemisphere over six years using the 6-meter Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) in Chile to search for Planet 9. They then processed the images to search for faint sources but the quest came up empty. Although the results so far have been fruitless, the team acknowledged in the statement that more advanced surveys may yield more information. It’s the latest in a string of fruitless searches in the past decade, after a team of astronomers Chadwick A. Trujillo (then of Gemini Observatory) and Scott S. Sheppard (of the Carnegie Institution for Science) argued in Nature in 2014 that such a large world might explain a strange large gravity source in deep solar space. [More]
  • Attempts to detect planets beyond Neptune by indirect means instead of direct observation date back to before the discovery of Pluto. Among the first was George Forbes who postulated the existence of two trans-Neptunian planets in 1880. One would have an average distance from the Sun of 100 astronomical units (AU), 100 times that of the Earth. The second at 300 AU. His work is considered similar to more recent Planet Nine theories in that the planets would be responsible for a clustering of the orbits of several objects, in this case the clustering of periodic comets near 100 and 300 AU. [More]
Theoretical Planet Nine Orbit

Planet Nine Motif Pattern

Scroll down past written instruction for chart and video.

Reference

Stitch Guide (US Terms)

Note: Scroll down for UK Terms.

  • 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
  • 3dccl 3dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3dccl (beg dc, 2dccl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3dccl
  • 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 dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • 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
  • 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 3dccl, [ch2, 3dccl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 3dccl. [6 3dccl, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 [5sc in next ch-sp, ch1] 6 times, ss in first sc. [30 sc, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 Ss in next st, [(1sc, ch3, 1sc) in next st, ch2, 1sc in ch-sp, ch2, sk2] 6 times, ss in first sc. [18 sc, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 ch, beg dc in ch-3 sp, [ch1, 1dc in same ch-sp, 2dc in next ch-sp, ch2, 2dc in next ch-sp, 1dc in ch-3 sp] 6 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [36 dc, 12 sp]

Rnd 5 Beg pc in ch-sp, [(ch2, 2trcl) 4 times in ch-2 sp, ch2, pc in ch-1 sp] 6 times omitting final pc, ss in beg pc. [6 pc, 24 2trcl, 30 sp]

Rnd 6 * [1sc in next ch-sp, ch1] 2 times, (1sc, ch2, 1sc) in next ch-sp, ch1, [1sc in next ch-sp, ch1] 2 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first sc. [36 sc, 36 sp]

Rnd 7 [2sc in next 2 ch-sps, 3sc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • 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
  • 3trcl 3tr cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3trcl (beg tr, 2trcl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3trcl
  • beg pc beginning popcorn: (beg tr, 3tr) 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 tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • 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
  • 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 3trcl, [ch2, 3trcl] 5 times, ch2, ss in beg 3trcl. [6 3trcl, 6 sp]

Rnd 2 [5dc in next ch-sp, ch1] 6 times, ss in first dc. [30 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 3 Ss in next st, [(1dc, ch3, 1dc) in next st, ch2, 1dc in ch-sp, ch2, sk2] 6 times, ss in first dc. [18 dc, 18 sp]

Rnd 4 Ss in 1 ch, beg tr in ch-3 sp, [ch1, 1tr in same ch-sp, 2tr in next ch-sp, ch2, 2tr in next ch-sp, 1tr in ch-3 sp] 6 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [36 tr, 12 sp]

Rnd 5 Beg pc in ch-sp, [(ch2, 2dtrcl) 4 times in ch-2 sp, ch2, pc in ch-1 sp] 6 times omitting final pc, ss in beg pc. [6 pc, 24 2dtrcl, 30 sp]

Rnd 6 * [1dc in next ch-sp, ch1] 2 times, (1dc, ch2, 1dc) in next ch-sp, ch1, [1dc in next ch-sp, ch1] 2 times, rep from * 5 times, ss in first dc. [36 dc, 36 sp]

Rnd 7 [2dc in next 2 ch-sps, 3dc in next ch-sp] 12 times, ss in first dc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 dc]


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!


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 Planet Nine Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Week 9 Instructions

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 9 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

This week, we transition from the Planet section of the VVCAL to the Galaxy section!

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

What to Expect Today

  • 3 blog posts: The Weekly Post with instructions for each blanket version (this post), plus 2 Cosmos Themed hexie designs
  • Patterns include written instructions in US and UK Terms, chart, step-by-step photos, and YouTube video (US Terms).

Social Media Hashtags: #VVCAL and #CypressTextiles

Find your version below and get started!


Catona 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is image-2.png

1 Pack SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 4 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


2 Packs SW/RW 10g Colour Pack version

Make 6 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Metropolis 10g Colour Pack version

Photo coming soon!

Make 9 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge.


Colour Crafter stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 4 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


Chunky Monkey stash version

Photo coming soon!

Colors are not given for this version because it is made with stash yarn in any desired palette.

Make 2 hexies total:

Gauge note: All hexies should be compared back to the Week 1 Plain Hexie A hexagon that you made throughout the CAL to maintain gauge. Note: Since this version does not use 10g balls, it doesn’t matter as much that your hexagons meet the spec below. As long as they are all the same size as your Plain Hexie A, you will be golden.


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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Saturn Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 8 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 8 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

Saturn Motif

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

The Cosmos: Saturn

Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second-largest in the Solar System, after Jupiter. It has 62 known moons. Here are some interesting Saturn facts!

  • Saturn is the most distant planet that can be seen with the naked eye. It is the fifth brightest object in the solar system and is also easily studied through binoculars or a small telescope. Saturn was known to the ancients, including the Babylonians and Far Eastern observers. It is named for the Roman god Saturnus, and was known to the Greeks as Cronus. [More]
  • Saturn is the least dense planet in the Solar System with a density of 0.687 grams/cubic centimeter. Just for comparison, water is 1 g/cm3 and the Earth is 5.52. Since Saturn is less dense than water, it would actually float like an apple if you could find a pool large enough. About two tons of Saturn’s mass came from Earth—the Cassini spacecraft was intentionally vaporized in Saturn’s atmosphere in 2017. [More]
  • Saturn is a flattened ball that spins so quickly on its axis that the planet flattens itself out into an oblate spheroid. You see this by eye when you look at a picture of Saturn; it looks squished, because the rapid spinning causes the equator to bulge out. While the distance from the center to the poles is 54,000 km, the distance from the center to the equator is 60,300 km. We have a similar phenomenon here on Earth, where points on the equator are more distant from the center of the Earth, but on Saturn, it’s much more extreme. [More]
  • Its beautiful rings are not solid. They are made up of bits of ice, dust and rock. Some of these bits are as small as grains of sand, and some are much larger than tall buildings, up to a kilometer (more than half-a-mile) across. The rings are huge but thin. The main rings could almost go from Earth to the moon, and yet they are less than a kilometer thick. While other planets have rings, Saturn’s are the only ones that can be seen from Earth. All you need is a small telescope. [More]
  • Saturn shares some similarities with Jupiter. Just like Jupiter, Saturn has an inner mantle made of metallic hydrogen, due to its heat and pressure. Under those conditions, hydrogen turns from a gas into a metallic liquid, which also generates Saturn’s powerful magnetic field. Compared to Jupiter’s outer mantle, Saturn’s has more helium. Unlike Jupiter’s fragmented core, all evidence points to Saturn’s core existing in one piece. Saturn generates radio waves of its own. This is yet another similarity it shares with Jupiter, but Saturn’s radio waves aren’t nearly as strong as those of Jupiter’s. Much like with the planet’s magnetic field, scientists believe that reactions in the metallic hydrogen in Saturn’s depths produces its radio waves. [More]

Saturn 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
  • 3dccl 3dc cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • 3trpc 3 treble popcorn: 3tr 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 3trpc
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3dccl (beg dc, 2dccl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3dccl
  • beg 3trpc beginning 3 treble popcorn: (beg tr, 2tr) 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 3trpc
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • beg dc5tog beg dc, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dc5tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 5 times, yoh, draw yarn through 6 lps on hook
  • dtr double treble crochet (wrap yarn 3 times)
  • hdc half double crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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 3dccl, [ch3, 3dccl] 3 times, ch3, ss in beg 3dccl. [4 3dccl, 4 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg 3trpc in first ch-sp, [(ch2, 3trpc in same ch-sp) 2 times, ch2, 3trpc in next ch-sp] 4 times omitting final 3trpc, ss in beg 3trpc. [12 3trpc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg dc in first ch-sp, [4dc in same ch-sp, 1dc in next ch-sp] 12 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc. [60 dc]

Rnd 4 Beg dc5tog over first 5 dc, [ch5, dc5tog over next 5 dc] 11 times, ch5, ss in beg dc5tog. [12 dc5tog, 12 sp]

Rnd 5 [(3sc, 2hdc) in next ch-sp, ch2, (2hdc, 3sc) in next ch-sp, 1sc in next dc5tog] 6 times, ss in first sc. [24 hdc, 42 sc, 6 sp]

Rnd 6 [4sc, 3sc in ch-sp, 7sc] 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
  • 3trcl 3tr cluster: (yoh, insert hook in st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 3 times, yoh, draw yarn through 4 lps
  • 3dtrpc 3 double treble popcorn: 3tr 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 3dtrpc
  • beg beginning
  • beg 3trcl (beg tr, 2trcl) in same st/sp – counts as 1 3trcl
  • beg 3dtrpc beginning 3 double treble popcorn: (beg dtr, 2dtr) 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 3dtrpc
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • beg tr5tog beg tr, (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 4 times, yoh, draw yarn through 5 lps on hook
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • tr5tog (yoh insert hook into next st/sp, yoh, pull up lp, yoh, draw yarn through 2 lps) 5 times, yoh, draw yarn through 6 lps on hook
  • dtr double treble crochet
  • htr half treble crochet
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • ttr triple treble crochet (wrap yarn 3 times)
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, beg 3trcl, [ch3, 3trcl] 3 times, ch3, ss in beg 3trcl. [4 3trcl, 4 sp]

Rnd 2 Beg 3dtrpc in first ch-sp, [(ch2, 3dtrpc in same ch-sp) 2 times, ch2, 3dtrpc in next ch-sp] 4 times omitting final 3dtrpc, ss in beg 3dtrpc. [12 3dtrpc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Beg tr in first ch-sp, [4tr in same ch-sp, 1tr in next ch-sp] 12 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr. [60 tr]

Rnd 4 Beg tr5tog over first 5 tr, [ch5, tr5tog over next 5 tr] 11 times, ch5, ss in beg tr5tog. [12 tr5tog, 12 sp]

Rnd 5 [(3dc, 2htr) in next ch-sp, ch2, (2htr, 3dc) in next ch-sp, 1dc in next tr5tog] 6 times, ss in first dc. [24 htr, 42 dc, 6 sp]

Rnd 6 [4dc, 3dc in ch-sp, 7dc] 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 Saturn Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs

2022 VVCAL: Gliese Motif

Hello, and a huge welcome to Week 8 of the 2022 Vibrant Vintage Crochet-A-Long (VVCAL)! I can’t believe we are almost halfway! Remember on Week 11, the full pattern PDF will be released – on May, Friday the 13th!

Attention!

If you have not yet seen the Week 8 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

Gliese Motif

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

The Cosmos: Gliese

Wilhelm Gliese was a German astronomer who published his Catalogue of Nearby Stars in 1957. Today, some stars are still referred to by the number Gliese gave them, such as Gliese 380 and Gliese 710. Here are some interesting Cosmic Bodies with the name Gliese!

  • Gliese 581, red dwarf mother star: Gliese 581 is 22 light years away from the Solar system. This makes it the 89th closest known star to the Sun. Astronomers have discovered some planets that orbit Gliese 581. The astronomers agree that four of the planets are real, but some think there are two more planets. The star has a radius and mass about a third that of the Sun. Its estimated temperature is 3,498 Kelvin (4125 Celsius, 7457 Fahrenheit). People on Earth can see Gliese 581 in the constellation Libra by using a telescope. [More]
  • Gliese 581g, A Goldilocks Exoplanet – *Just right* for life: Gliese 581g is an unconfirmed and frequently disputed exoplanet claimed to orbit the Gliese 581 star. It was discovered by the Lick–Carnegie Exoplanet Survey; however, its existence could not be confirmed by the European Southern Observatory / High Accuracy Radial Velocity Planet Searcher survey team, and its existence remains controversial. It is thought to be near the middle of the habitable zone of its star, so it could sustain liquid water if there are favorable atmospheric conditions on the planet, and if it even exists… [More]
  • Gliese 832c, Super-Earth Exoplanet: An international team of astronomers has discovered an exoplanet in the star Gliese 832’s “habitable zone.” The planet, known as Gliese 832c, lies just 16 light-years from Earth. (For perspective, the Milky Way galaxy is about 100,000 light-years wide; the closest star to the Sun, Proxima Centauri, is 4.2 light-years away.) Gliese 832c is a “super-Earth” at least five times as massive as our planet, and it zips around its host star every 36 days. But that host star is a red dwarf that’s much dimmer and cooler than our sun, so Gliese 832c receives about as much stellar energy as Earth does, despite orbiting much closer to its star. [More]
  • Gliese 1132b, The One With a Second Atmosphere: Gliese 1132b is similar to Earth in a striking number of ways. Its radius is only slightly larger, as is its mass. Even its age — 4.5 billion years old — is similar to that of our planet. But this world orbits much closer to its red dwarf parent star, completing an orbit in just 1.6 Earth days (Earth’s orbit takes about 365 days). This means Gliese 1132b has a much higher surface temperature than our planet at 278 degrees F (137 degrees C), with the intense radiation stripping the exoplanet’s atmosphere. And the huge gravitational influence of its star — 20% larger than the sun — creates intense tidal forces that squeeze and stretch the planet. This “flexing” gives rise to violent volcanic activity and causes gases to rush to the world’s surface. These gases are building the world a second atmosphere, according to NASA. [More]
Comparison of Gliese 832C to Earth

Gliese 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.

  • beg beginning
  • beg dc (1sc, ch1) – counts as 1 dc
  • chN chain N number of times
  • dc double crochet
  • dtr double treble crochet (wrap yarn 3 times)
  • lp loop
  • MR make ring: slip knot, ch3, ss in third ch from hook
  • 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, [1sc, ch10] 11 times, 1sc, ch5, 1dtr in first sc – ch5 and dtr count as ch-10 sp. [12 sc, 12 sp]

Rnd 2 1sc in same ch-10 sp, [ch3, 1sc in next ch-10 sp] 11 times, ch3, ss in first sc. [12 sc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Ss in 3 chs and in 1sc, 4sc in 12 sps, ss in first sc. [48 sc]

Rnd 4 Beg dc in next st, * [1dc in same st, 3dc] 3 times, 3dc, rep from * 3 times omitting final dc, ss in beg dc, turn work. [60 dc]

Note: The tr sts on Rnd 5 will form tiny “bobbles” on the RS of the work.

Rnd 5 1sc in same st as ss, * (1tr, 1sc) in same st, [1tr, 1sc] 5 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final sc, ss in first sc, turn work. [36 tr, 36 sc]

Rnd 6 [3sc in corner tr, 11sc] 6 times, ss in first sc, cut yarn and weave ends. [84 sc]


Stitch Guide (UK Terms)

  • beg beginning
  • beg tr (1dc, ch1) – counts as 1 tr
  • 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
  • sp space (ch-sp = chain space)
  • ss slip stitch
  • st stitch
  • tr treble crochet
  • ttr triple treble crochet (wrap yarn 3 times)
  • yoh yarn over hook

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

Rnd 1 MR, [1dc, ch10] 11 times, 1dc, ch5, 1ttr in first dc – ch5 and ttr count as ch-10 sp. [12 dc, 12 sp]

Rnd 2 1dc in same ch-10 sp, [ch3, 1dc in next ch-10 sp] 11 times, ch3, ss in first dc. [12 dc, 12 sp]

Rnd 3 Ss in 3 chs and in 1dc, 4dc in 12 sps, ss in first dc. [48 dc]

Rnd 4 Beg tr in next st, * [1tr in same st, 3tr] 3 times, 3tr, rep from * 3 times omitting final tr, ss in beg tr, turn work. [60 tr]

Note: The dtr sts on Rnd 5 will form tiny “bobbles” on the RS of the work.

Rnd 5 1dc in same st as ss, * (1dtr, 1dc) in same st, [1dtr, 1dc] 5 times, rep from * 5 times omitting final dc, ss in first dc, turn work. [36 dtr, 36 dc]

Rnd 6 [3dc in corner dtr, 11dc] 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 Gliese Motif!

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

Happy Crafting,

Rachele C. – The Art of Crochet Blankets

You may also enjoy these completed CALs