Crochet

Summer Direction CAL for Overlay Mosaic Crochet

This is my 5th Crochet-A-Long (CAL) since I started designing just over a year ago. My first CAL was some large flower squares for Mother’s Day 2020. Then I did a Father’s Day CAL of scarves that joined together to create a blanket. My third CAL was the Abstract Queen; it was the first one to be available with written instructions for both interlocking and overlay mosaic crochet (before that, the other CALs were just interlocking crochet, but they have been updated since then to include both techniques). A few months ago we did the MusicCAL (which had an easier and smaller repeat section compared to the Abstract Queen CAL). I also contributed to the Friends Around the World 6th Anniversary CAL, but since I didn’t host that one I don’t consider it one of “MY” Crochet-A-Longs.

You can find the links for all my Crochet-A-Longs (CALs) in one place here: https://ashleeslint.com/cals/

All of the images below (showing each of my previous CALs) use the interlocking crochet technique. Overlay Mosaic Crochet will produce the same images but you will have to deal with the tails on the sides from cutting and joining your yarn each row.

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My newest CAL, the Summer Direction CAL, like all of my patterns now, is written up for two different techniques: interlocking crochet and overlay mosaic crochet. This CAL has video walk-thrus for both techniques! That’s the big new thing about this pattern. I have also been updating all of my patterns to include charts marked with X’s for mosaic crochet – so this pattern includes those X’s.

You are viewing the landing page for the OVERLAY MOSAIC CROCHET version of the Summer Direction CAL. You may also wish to go to the interlocking crochet landing page. I also pre-released the yardage charts, but those charts are also in this post.

I created a video walk-thru for each section in this Summer Direction CAL! I began in the winter and I figured I would definitely be ready by summer. I know it is nearing the end of August now but IT IS STILL SUMMER! I insist on not living for pumpkin spice yet! Slow down, people!

The written instructions can be found FREE here online (one section released at a time) or you can purchase a nice PDF of the entire pattern (including a plain chart for interlocking and a chart marked with X’s for mosaic as well as links to each YouTube walk-thru for every section) on Etsy or Ravelry.

Get 50% off when you use code, “SUMMER2021” (offer ends 11:59 pm, CST, September 30, 2021; valid on Etsy and Ravelry on the pattern “Summer Direction CAL” only).

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Summer Direction CAL – Overlay Mosaic Crochet

Before we get started, brush up on your technique! If you’re new to mosaic crochet, you may want to check out my tutorials first! Remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notified when the videos are live! You can also subscribe to my mailing list and / or subscribe directly to the blog (there should be a spot to enter your email in the side bar).

Section 1 – Foundation Rows

The first section is very short. It is aptly called, “Foundation Rows” and we will decide how wide our project is going to be and how much yarn we will need. The YouTube video does not include information on yardage so please see the written portion for that!

Section 2 – Chevron A

This Chevron goes down and then up.

Section 3 – Chevron A

This section is the same thing as the previous section. Your row numbers will be different (your project will be at row 15 but the video and written portion will say row 5) so use some stitch markers to help you keep track!

Section 4 – Dark Arrows

These arrows are solid (of course, you may note, that my mosaic patterns all have these dots in the solid areas – I design first for the interlocking technique and it creates these gaps. I like the way our eyes still see a solid arrow and there are no flaps created by long sections of Dropped Double Crochets). There is a section later on that looks almost the same – however it is actually a reversed or mirrored image.

Section 5 – Chevron A

If you’ve been following the pattern as written, we are now at row 49. However, this section is identical to rows 5-14. Both the video and the written pattern will begin with row 5 and go through row 14. You may wish to use a stitch marker to mark row 49 so that you remember it counts as the beginning of this section.

Section 6 – Chevron B

This chevron differs from Chevron “A” because it goes up and then down instead of down and then up.

Section 7 – Light Arrows

These arrows are hollow, just the outline is drawn. This is our halfway point!

Section 8 – Chevron A

This section is identical to an earlier section so the YouTube video shows rows 5-14 while we are actually crocheting rows 95-104.

Section 9 – Chevron B

These Chevrons mirror the ones we just did in section 8. They are the same as rows 59-70 but we are on rows 105-116.

Section 10 – Dark Arrows Reversed

These look very similar to those dark arrows at the beginning of our project but their direction is actually reversed. Or perhaps a mirror-image is a better way to think of it. Either way, there’s a NEW YouTube video to accompany this section.

Section 11 – Chevron B

You are almost a pro at this crochet stuff by now! If you still need to reference the video please re-watch the section that covers rows 59-70. And, remember, the written portion also says 59-70 even though we are actually on rows 141-150 at this point.

Section 12 – Chevron B

Yes, this section is the same as the section before this. We’ve done this already, so you know what to do: follow the YouTube video for rows 59-70 or follow with the written pattern (our project is now at rows 151-160).

Section 10 – Top Border Lines

We are now finishing off the pattern with the final rows that match the beginning foundation rows. Instructions for a single crochet envelope border are included in the video. A link to a photo tutorial for my lazy double crochet envelope border is at the end of the written instructions.

This space will be updated with each new section release (with a link to the written section online and the YouTube tutorial for that section).

We are all done updating things! That’s the whole pattern – done!

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Overlay Mosaic Crochet Pattern

Let’s get started, shall we?

Remember, the written instructions can be found FREE here online or you can purchase a nice PDF of the entire pattern (including the X-marked chart) on Etsy or Ravelry. Get 50% off when you use code, “SUMMER2021” (offer ends 11:59 pm, CST, September 30, 2021).

To create a full-sized blanket, do 9 repeats for the width. You repeat the stitches between the stars as many times as you want. Each repeat will add about 4.5” in width. Each line may have brackets which you repeat the designated number of times, and the stars denote the sections you repeat based on how wide you want your project; like this:

JS, (dc1, sc1) x2, *sc8, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc7*, dc1, sc1, dc1, ES

To expand the brackets, it looks like this: JS, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc1, *sc8, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc7*, dc1, sc1, dc1, ES

For a 2-width repeat, it will look like: JS, (dc1, sc1) x2, sc8, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc7, sc8, dc1, sc1, dc1, sc7, dc1, sc1, dc1, ES

Yarn weight and hook size can easily be adjusted, just keep in mind your finished project will use a different amount of yarn and be a different finished size. A gauge swatch can help with that.

Foundation stitches and repeats, and yarn usage

To figure out how many stitches you start with: (four and nine repeats are just examples, you can use any number of repeats)

Mosaic Foundation	Single width	Four repeats	Nine repeats
Finished Size (41” height includes all the sections of the original designs)	6.5” x 41”	20” x 41”	42” x 41”
Chainless SC Foundation Repeats of 18 + 9	(1 x 18) + 9 = (18) + 9 = 27	(4 x 18) + 9 = (72) + 9 = 81	(9 x 18) + 9 = (162) + 9 = 171
Or, chain and SC back Add 1 to the final number above	27 + 1 = 28	81 + 1 = 82	171 + 1 = 172

When determining yardage, I design for two colors: Main Color and Contrasting Color. You could do a gauge swatch to get a more accurate representation of your yarn and personal gauge but if you’d like to use my estimates keep in mind I use a 4.5 mm hook and a thicker worsted weight yarn (4 – medium).

Mosaic Yardage	Single width	Four repeats	Nine repeats
Yardage Per color = base + repeats	60 + (120) = 180	60 + (120 x 4) = 540	60 + (120 x 9) = 1140
Plus optional envelope border = base + repeats	275 + (25) = 300	275 + (25 x 4) = 375	275 + (25 x 9) = 500
Total Yardage = first line x 2 (for MC and AC), plus optional border	180 x 2 = 360 + 300 = 660	540 x 2 = 1080 + 375 = 1455	1140 x 2 = 2280 + 500 = 2780

Important Details

• US crochet terminology
• Full blanket chart 169 x 165
• Single width chart 25 x 165, repeat width 18
• Full blanket measurements approximately 42” x 41”
• 4.5 mm hook (US7)
• Worsted weight yarn (Blanket: 2280-2780 yards)
  • Main color – 1140 yards
  • Contrasting color – 1140 yards
  • Plus optional envelope border – 500 yards
• Gauge: 16 stitches x 16 rows = 4”

Key

MC = Main Color: blue in chart
CC = Contrasting Color: white in chart
Sp = space
Sk = skip a stitch
CH = chain
SC = single crochet
sc = SC into Back Loop only
DC = double crochet
dc = DC into Front Loop of stitch, 2 rows below
JS = Joining Stitch: insert hook under both loops, pull up a loop, slip stitch, SC in same space
ES = End Stitch: SC under both loops, CH 1, cut yarn and pull through tightly

Mosaic Technique

Please see the YouTube tutorial for more details. I use a single-row mosaic technique where you join and cut every row.

• Remember to skip the same number of stitch(es) behind your dc(s) before doing your next sc
• The front of your work is always facing you (this is the right side, the side showing the design)
• You are always working from the right to the left
• You tie on a new yarn at the beginning of each row and cut it at the end
  • Tails don’t need to be longer than an inch and a half
• Yarn colors can be anything you like
  • They need to contrast well (try a black and white photo to see if they are too similar)
  • They need to be the same weight (size/thickness)
  • My charts use black as the Main Color and white as the Coordinating Color
• I prefer using a chainless SC to create my foundation row because then I have tails on both sides of my work just like all the other rows will have
• Even-numbered rows use MC; odd-numbered rows use CC

Foundation Row (Row 0): use Main Color (MC) (black on the chart)

Use a chainless SC technique to create repeats of 18 +9 SC. Or, chain repeats of 18 +10, SC in 2^nd from hook and all the way back across. Cut and tie off. See the chart with more details.

Switch to Contrasting Color (CC) {Even- rows use MC; odd-numbered rows use CC}

Repeat between the stars 9 times for a blanket.

1 – JS, sc4, *sc18*, sc3, ES

2 – JS, dc1, sc3, *sc18*, sc2, dc1, ES

3 – JS, sc4, *sc18*, sc3, ES

4 – JS, (dc1, sc1) x2, *sc18*, dc1, sc1, dc1, ES

The foundation rows can be a bit boring with all the counting. I apologize. It will be worth it!

Remember to subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notified when the videos are live! You can also subscribe to my mailing list and / or subscribe directly to the blog (there should be a spot to enter your email in the side bar).

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© 2021 Ashlee Brotzell.
All rights reserved. This publication is protected under federal copyright laws. Reproduction or distribution, in whole or in part, in any medium, is strictly prohibited.

What does this mean?
This is an original pattern by Ashlee Brotzell. You may not copy, reproduce, sell, or share any part of it whether for profit or not. This includes, but is not limited to, the written pattern, the chart, and the photos. No translations or video tutorials are allowed.

Sales of your finished items are, of course, unrestricted (and I wish you all the best!). I appreciate credit given to the designer when possible but it is not a requirement. You may tag me @AshleesLint or direct people to my website http://www.ashleeslint.com