I am not much of a sports fan. My contribution to sporting events is sort of, “go, team, go! Which color am I cheering for again?” and, in the words of comedian Brian Regan, “go my favorite sports team! Score a goal… unit… basket… beat the opponents… soundly!”

One time when I was watching football with my husband’s family (we were only dating back then) when the team scored a touchdown I yelled “football!” instead of “touchdown!” and they have never let me live it down.

When I started crocheting this one I estimated it would take me a week to do both the interlocking sample and the overlay mosaic sample. But we had a few house issues (see my blog entry on our watery adventures) and the kids (and the grown ups, to be honest) are not handling our 3rd move in the last 14 months that well. We are all tired and life is just big lately. So, all that to say, this pattern has taken me longer than I anticipated.

Interlocking sample next to overlay mosaic sample – see the differences in the mesh dots

Because of the move, and my own frugalness, I wanted to use up some of my yarn stash for these pieces. I thought they were small enough that it would work out but I did put a few extra scraps in my bag just in case. It’s a good thing I did that because I ran out of yarn a few times.

I crocheted the interlocking sample first. The light blue yarn is the 2nd color, that is the “Accent Color”, and I know that terminology confuses people sometimes, especially in a piece like this where the light blue seems dominant. The camo green was my Main Color and I am glad the colors didn’t make the image hard to see – sometimes that can happen with yarn that isn’t a solid color.

I used my trusty 4.5 mm hook but the light blue yarn is a baby worsted weight (aka. thinner than worsted weight) so my finished piece is actually 23″ x 18.25″ – not 27” x 21” because I didn’t actually meet gauge.

I wanted to show the difference in the two techniques for this pattern – the interlocking mesh dots that are a natural byproduct of that technique don’t need to be included on the overlay mosaic version, so I didn’t include them. But, having so many dropped double crochets next to each other changes the gauge so you may notice that the finished size for the mosaic piece is larger than the interlocking piece.

I also had to use a larger hook than normal for my mosaic sample because the red yarn I had pulled out of my stash before we packed it all up and moved was one of those super thick “worsted” weight yarns. Isn’t it crazy how “worsted” weight has such a large range?

I had to use two strands of the light blue to match the red and then I couldn’t find my 5 mm hook so I used a 5.5 mm hook. Oh, the joys of moving.

Just like with the interlocking sample, the light blue is the “contrasting color” (not the “main color” even though it looks like it is the most visible color). Always look at the charts to make sure you’re using the colors the right way – and ask for help if needed! I really don’t mind those messages asking for confirmation to make sure you’re doing it the way you want it!

You can’t tell in the picture, but my mosaic sample is 32″ x 23″ instead of the expected 29” x 25”. And you can definitely see where I ran out of red. But you can’t see where I also ran out of green. And then purple. And then blue. *Picture my face getting more and more frustrated even though it’s a bit funny now.*

Here, on the back of the mosaic sample, you can see where I tried to use purple where it wouldn’t be seen to keep the green visible through the final rows. And then you can see I also didn’t have enough purple – I knew there wouldn’t be enough when I grabbed it but I didn’t give myself many options in this bag of scraps that I kept out of the packed section of our house. I had to use a small amount of black/white camo yarn to sew my final blue envelope border together as well.

This fun adventure is FINALLY over. And just in time for my upcoming Winter 2021 CAL to begin! Tomorrow is the final day to grab the pre-sale price of 50% off (grab the code in the link above) and then the Crochet-A-Long begins on December 21!

Get the Pattern

Use code “21GOALS” to take 30% off my sports-themed patterns until December 24, 2021.

Sale code valid on Ravelry for “Hockey Sticks“, “Canoe 20“, “Tire Tread Scarf“, “Tire Tread Border Scarf“, “Checkerboard Scarf“, “Fishing Hooks Scarf“, “Football Scarf“, and “To Sail Away“.
Valid on Etsy for “Hockey Sticks“, “Tire Tread Scarf“, “Tire Tread Border Scarf“, “Checkerboard Scarf“, “Fishing Hooks Scarf“, “Football Scarf“, and “To Sail Away“.

Interlocking Crochet

  • Chart is 109 x 85
  • Finished measurements approximately 27” x 21” / 70cm x 54cm
  • 4.5 mm hook (US7)
  • Worsted weight yarn (700-730 total)
    • Main color (MC) – 350 yards plus 30 for optional border
    • Accent color (AC) – 350 yards (light blue in photos)
  • Gauge: 16 DC x 8 rows = 4”

Overlay Mosaic Crochet

  • No interlocking mesh dots
  • Finished measurements approximately 29” x 25” / 74cm x 62cm
  • 5 mm hook (H-8)
  • Worsted weight yarn (900 – 1200 yards)
    • Main color – 350 yards
    • Contrasting color (light blue in photo) – 550 yards
    • Plus, optional envelope border – 300 yards
  • Gauge: 14 stitches x 15 rows = 4”