Testers Found - Fox's Cute Spring Square 12 x 12

Hi everyone,

I've got a list a mile long of charty projects I've been working on and didn't want ya'll to think I forgot you. I hope a few of you would be interested in testing this square for me.

It was designed using spring colors so what better time to put it out here for testing. After all, the first day of spring was a few days ago? I really think it would look good in just about any colors so feel free to use your imagination.

I'd like testing to be completed by Thursday night. I'll take the first 5 follower's who send me an email. Be sure your email includes your Follower name and real first name and I'd like to know if you've tested patterns before. Remember, once you complete the testing, I'll need a photograph of your finished masterpiece sent to me as an attachment to your email along with pattern corrections.

Donna

SmoothFox’s Crochet/Shadow Illusion Large Heart Square - Free Pattern

Created by Donna Mason-Svara aka SmoothFox ©2009 Version 3.0

Picture courtesy of Tammy L. from Glendale

Red Heart Super Saver Medium Worsted 4 ply
Heart Color: Pretty n’ Pink
Background Color: White

Hook Size: H 5.00 MM
Size: 9” x 9”
Skill level: Advanced beginner

Color changes: All color changes are worked during completion of last stitch of a row. For a color change on a half double crochet when 2 loops remain of final stitch. Example: YO, insert hook into current stitch, YO and pull through {2 loops on hook} - using new yarn color, YO and pull through the new color to complete the stitch. For a sc color change, insert hook into current stitch, YO with old color and pull through, YO with new color and pull through both loops on hook.

Special Stitches:
SC – Single Crochet
HDC – Half Double Crochet
BL – Back Loop
FL - Free Loop - Look on the side of crochet piece that is facing away from you. In the immediate row below you crocheted a BL stitch, insert hook in the unused free loop or better known front loop of this stitch and work a sc.

My Ravelry Store: http://www.ravelry.com/stores/smoothfox-crochet-designs
My Etsy Store: http://smoothfox.etsy.com/
My Crochet & Knit related gifts: http://zazzle.com/smoothfox*
My blog: http://smoothfoxlover.blogspot.com/

PLEASE READ BEFORE BEGINNING:

DO NOT FINISH OFF AND CUT THE YARN WHEN TOLD TO CHANGE COLORS. JUST DROP THE OLD YARN COLOR AND BRING IT UP THE SIDE OF THE WORK WHEN TOLD TO JOIN THE NEW COLOR. SEE ABOVE NOTES ON HOW TO CHANGE COLORS.

You can work each square individually and finish off or you can work continually in strips.
For a strip with the same color hearts throughout - After working rows 1 through 34, repeat rows 3 through 34 for each heart illusion section of your afghan.

For a strip alternating the heart colors for each repeat throughout - After working rows 1 through 34, repeat rows 5 through 34 and then rows repeat rows 3 and 4. When the pattern says to use Heart color, switch to your “new” heart color. In my example on page 1, the new heart color was the black that was the background color in the first section of the heart.

I ORIGINALLY CREATED THIS PATTERN USING SC'S WHERE YOU NOW SEE HDC'S WITHIN THIS PATTERN. THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THAT SOME TESTERS OF THE PATTERN SAID THAT THEIR HEART'S DIDN'T STAND OUT ENOUGH. IF YOUR HEARTS STAND OUT TOO MUCH USING HDC'S, PLEASE SUBSTITUTE SC THROUGHOUT THE PATTERN WHERE I REFERENCE HDC'S.

If you want a .pdf copy of this pattern or if you make this item – please click on this link and add your own pictures as a project on Ravelry. Just click on the crochet hook with the words “Hook It” if this is a crochet pattern or if it is a knit pattern click on the words “Cast On” near the top right side and this will add your item as a project. Then you can add the pictures when you have completed your project.

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/free-smoothfoxs-crochet-shadow-illusion-large-hearts-square

INSTRUCTIONS:

Row 1: Using Heart Color, ch 31. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, sc in next 29 ch’s. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 2: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across, [change to Background Color in last stitch– SEE INSTRUCTIONS] Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 3: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 4: Using Background Color – sc in each st across, [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 5: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 6: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 14 sts, hdc in BL of next 2 sts, sc in next 14 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (2 hdc, 28 sc)

Row 7: Using Background Color - Sc in next 14 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL [see special instructions] of next 2 sts, sc in next 14 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc).

Row 8: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 9: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 10: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 12 sts, hdc in BL of next 6 sts, sc in next 12 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (6 hdc, 24 sc)

Row 11: Using Background Color - Sc in next 12 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 6 sts, sc in next 12 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 12: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 13: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 14: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 10 sts, hdc in BL of next 10 sts, sc in next 10 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (10 hdc, 20 sc)

Row 15: Using Background Color - Sc in next 10 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 10 sts, sc in next 10 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 16: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 17: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 18: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 8 sts, hdc in BL of next 14 sts, sc in next 8 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (14 hdc, 16 sc)

Row 19: Using Background Color - Sc in next 8 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 14 sts, sc in next 8 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 20: Using Background Color - sc in each st across [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 21: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 22: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 6 sts, hdc in BL of next 18 sts, sc in next 6 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (18 hdc, 12 sc)

Row 23: Using Background Color - Sc in next 6 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 18 sts, sc in next 6 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 24: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 25: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 26: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 6 sts, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, sc in next 2 sts, hdc in BL of next 8 sts, sc in next 6 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (16 hdc, 14 sc)

Row 27: Using Background Color - Sc in next 6 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 8 sts, sc in 2 next sts, sc in FL of next 8 sts, sc in next 6 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 28: Using Background Color - sc in each st across [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 29: Using Heart Color – sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 30: Using Heart Color - Sc in first 8 sts, hdc in BL of next 4 sts, sc in next 6 sts, hdc in BL of next 4 sts, sc in next 8 sts [change to Background Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (8 hdc, 22 sc)

Row 31: Using Background Color - Sc in next 8 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 4 sts, sc in next 6 sts, sc in Free Loop - FL of next 4 sts, sc in next 8 sts. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 32: Using Background Color - sc in each st across. [change to Heart Color in last stitch]. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 33: Using Heart Color, sc in each st across. Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

Row 34: Using Heart Color - sc in each st across, [change to Background Color in last stitch] Ch 1, turn. (30 sc)

OPTIONAL BORDER:

Join either the Heart color or the Background color in any corner with a sc. Sc in each st across to the next corner, turn strip sideways and sc in each st to the next corner, repeat around all four sides.


Created by Donna Mason-Svara aka SmoothFoxLover@yahoo.com ©2009

This pattern has been tested. Please notify me of any pattern corrections. I will answer any and all questions you may have with the instructions. Do not plagiarize this pattern. All patterns are my original designs. Please do not re-sell my patterns or give them away for free or post my patterns on the internet. You may sell items you make from my patterns at craft fairs, fund raisers or custom orders for friends and family but please do not sell finished items on the internet without my written permission. Do not claim designs as your own.

This pattern is copyrighted by me and I give my permission for you to post pictures of items made from my pattern on your website if you will post a link back to my ETSY store if the pattern is for sale. If the pattern is free, please direct people to my blog. Be sure to list the name SmoothFox as the designer.

Advice appreciated

I need your advice. I had a person who "commissioned" me to make this baby blanket in purples, yellows, greens etc., which you see above. Made in a pattern from Lion Brand that she picked out. After I completed it and let her know I was going to list it on ETSY for her to select payment to complete the transaction, she tells me she lost her job and can't afford to buy it now. Well I completely understand but now I have a baby blanket I don't need.

My question is, how do I avoid this happening in the future? Should I have asked for the money up-front? Would that have been proper? I'd like some feedback. If I was supposed to get partial payment up front, how would I have done that on ETSY? Any ideas?

Donna

Ask and you shall receive

Tammy from Gladstone sent me an email and asked if I had a "square" version of the crochet shadow illusion heart pattern. I modified the pattern making the heart larger and the pattern into a square and sent it to her and she went crazy crocheting squares LOL. It looks like she's made some pot holders and dishcloths. Tammy sent me so many pictures and I had a hard time trying to figure out which of them to use.

WTG Tammy and I'm so glad you're enjoying the pattern.

I'll be posting this larger - square heart pattern very soon.

Lauren's Winter Love Afghan

Lauren C. from Southern NJ, who is a follower of this blog along with being one of the awesome testers of my patterns, rose to the challenge when I asked for you wonderful people to send me pictures of completed items or things you've made with patterns I've designed. She sent me these pictures of an afghan she is making using two patterns I've designed. She's using Fox's Revised Heart of a Child and Fox's Easy Snowflake squares.

Here's what Lauren has to say about her afghan:

I call it my Winter Love Afghan.

I'm using Vanna's Choice Cranberry, White & Dusty Green, and I am connecting the squares with the Flat Braid Method.

This was with your Easy Snowflake 7x7, and the Revised Heart of a Child patterns. (I 'revised' the Revised one slightly for my needs. I made the part around the top of the heart a bit more solid and I had to add an extra round of SC to the final round to make the stitch number match the Snowflake one to do the flat braid connecting.)

I can't wait to get it done! This blanket can be used from Thanksgiving clear through Valentines day!

And your patterns are great! I love how they've turned out.

WTG Lauren and thanks for your pictures!!! Please follow up with pictures when you complete your project and I'll show everyone your afghan again.

Peace Pillow's

A wonderful tester / follower named Maggie aka Sassyjo tested both of the Peace Sign patterns and created these wonderful pillows. WTG!!!!! She said she used the "flat braid" method of joining them. I've never heard of a joining with that name. Maybe someone could point me to a web-site with the technique.

I LOVE THEM!

Send me some pictures of your projects you've completed using my designs and we'll post them for all to see.

Donna