Cross Sprays Stitch
The Cross Sprays Stitch is a bit tricky to wrap your mind around in the very beginning but trust me when I say, when you get it... it rocks!
This stitch can be found on a baby sampler afghan that is free for all to use. Get the free pattern for the entire afghan, Baby Sampler Squares Afghan.
I will give you advice to avoid the head scratching confusion. You can use this stitch for the afghan that is featured or you can adventure on your own. I have provided the multiple counts below should you want to do an entire afghan or other project with this stitch.
To Make Different Sizes
Multiple of 6 sts + 2.
Remember the + number at the end of the sentence means that you are to add chains at the very end to maintain the pattern as written.
Advice Before You Begin
I really had a hard time visualizing what is being asked in this stitch. I highlighted an instruction below in blue. If you look at the blow up of the stitch at he top of this article, you will notice the sprays look bulky that lean over toward the left.
When the instruction says to work around the last 3 dc made, it's asking you to put 3 dc over top so that it's inside The sprays strands are from the 2nd group of 3 DC's as they are puffed up in appearance because the first group of 3 dc's are inside the stitch itself.
There will be a tutorial coming up showing this for those who need a better visualization.
Also, in the red instructions, it says to skip the next sc, dc into the next. I have provided my own stitch diagram to show you where that skipped stitch is happening. You can see the repeat pattern in my diagram to help you.
Recommended Pattern
This is block 4 of 4 of the Baby Sampler Afghan Pattern.
Ch 44.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each remaining ch across—43 sc.
Row 2 (RS): Ch 3 (counts as first dc here and throughout), *sk next 3 sc, 3 dc in next sc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in 2nd skipped st, sk next sc, dc in next sc; repeat from * across, turn—50 dc.
Row 3: Ch 3, 3 dc in first dc, sk next 3 dc, [sc in next ch-3 sp, sk next 4 sts, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in 3rd skipped dc] 6 times, sc in next ch-3 sp, sk next 3 dc, 4 dc in top of turning ch, turn.
Row 4: Ch 3, [sk next 4 sts, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in last skipped dc, sc in
next ch-3 sp] 6 times, sk next 3 dc, sk next sc, 3 dc in next dc, ch 3, working around last 3 dc made, 3 dc in last
skipped dc, sc in top of turning ch, turn.
Rows 5–18: Repeat Rows 3 and 4 seven times.
Row 19: Repeat Row 3.
Round 20 (RS): Ch 2, dc in first dc, 5 dc in next sc, [sc in next ch-3 sp, 5 dc in next sc] 7 times, dc in top of
turning ch, do not turn at end of row, work 3 sc in corner, working in ends of rows, work 41 sc evenly across side
edge; work 3 sc in corner, work 41 sc evenly across opposite side of foundation ch, work 3 sc in corner; work 41
sc evenly across other side edge, work 3 sc in corner; join with sl st in top of beginning ch. Fasten off.
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