I have to confess, I struggled with coming up with the perfect stitch for this Twilight Blue era. I started with the star stitch since she used stars so much during that time, but that stitch pulled the yarn too, too tight and even with a larger hook, the measurements wouldn’t come out right.
Then I tried the lotus stitch (for karma) but that stitch just didn’t work well with the blanket yarn and looked lumpy instead of like a stitch. I also tried the cat stitch (too tall and the counts didn’t work) as well as the cats eye stitch, but neither of those worked either.
Ultimately, while looking for stitch Inspiration for the final white era, I came across the bead stitch. I bet you can imagine how quickly my brain immediately thought of friendship bracelets! I had never tried this stitch before, but I am now definitely a huge fan. It is a gorgeous stitch!
The yarn color choices were pretty much a no-brainer for me. I knew I wanted to use a dark blue solid (isn’t Twilight the perfect name too) and I was lucky enough to come across Moon Dusk for the variegated yarn. The colors represent the album perfectly! Then the combo of Sapphire and Eggplant for the worsted weight yarn looked stunning together. Which colors did you choose?
Now go grab your hook & yarn and let’s get to it! Don’t forget to share your finished blocks in our Eras Crochet Along Facebook group! I absolutely enjoy seeing all of your different versions and yarn choices!
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So Make the Friendship Blanket (bead stitch version)
Difficulty
Intermediate
Materials
(Click the product links below to find your materials!)
- 1 – 10.5 oz Skein #6 Bernat Blanket Yarn in Moon Dusk or Twilight
- OR 1 – 7 oz Skein #4 Big Twist Value both in Varsity Navy Blue and in Purple
Tools
Measurements
The finished block will measure approximately 6″ by 48″ with the blanket yarn.
It will measure approximately the same using two strands of #4 medium-weight yarn.
Gauge
4 bead stitches = 4 inches
3 bead stitch and 2 single crochet rows = 4 inches
Special Stitches
Bead Stitch:
After a double crochet is completed, yarn over and insert the hook behind the double crochet and yarn over, pull the hook back around to the front, 3 loops on hook. Yarn over again and insert the hook behind the double crochet and yarn over, pull the hook back around to the front, 5 loops on hook. Yarn over again and insert the hook behind the double crochet and yarn over, pull the hook back around to the front, 7 loops on hook. Yarn over and pull through 6 loops. Yarn over and pull through two remaining loops. Note: each bead stitch will create 2 stitches at the top to be crocheted into on the next row, 1 from the double crochet and one from the bead stitch.
Instructions
Chain 109.
Row 1: Single crochet into the 2nd chain from the hook. Single crochet into each chain across. (108 single crochets) Chain 1, turn.
Row 2: Single crochet into the 1st stitch and each stitch across the row. (108 single crochets) Chain 3, turn.
Row 3: Chain 3 counts as the 1st stitch. Double crochet in the next stitch. Bead stitch around that double crochet. Skip 1 stitch. *Double crochet in the next stitch. Bead stitch around that double crochet. Skip 1 stitch.**
Repeat * to ** across. Double crochet into the last stitch. (53 bead stitches/ 108 stitches) Chain 1, turn.
Note: See special stitch instructions above. Each double crochet with bead stitch combo will create 2 stitches to be worked into on the next row.
Row 4: Single crochet in the 1st stitch and each stitch across. Single crochet into the top of the chain 3 at the end of this row since it counts as a stitch. (108 single crochets) Chain 3, turn.
Row 5: Chain 3 counts as the 1st stitch. *Double crochet in the next stitch. Bead stitch around that double crochet. Skip 1 stitch.**
Repeat * to ** across. Double crochet into the last stitch. (53 bead stitches/ 108 stitches) Chain 1, turn.
Rows 6: Single crochet in the 1st stitch and each stitch across. (108 single crochets) Chain 3, turn.
Row 7: Chain 3 counts as the 1st stitch. *Double crochet in the next stitch. Bead stitch around that double crochet. Skip 1 stitch.**
Repeat * to ** across. Double crochet into the last stitch. (53 bead stitches/ 108 stitches) Chain 1, turn.
Row 8: Single crochet in the 1st stitch and each stitch across. (108 single crochets) Chain 1, turn.
Row 9: Single crochet in the 1st stitch and each stitch across. (108 single crochets)
Cut the yarn, tie off, and weave in the ends.
So what are your thoughts on the bead stitch? Do you agree they look like little beads? I feel like this stitch has a lot of potential and I’d love to try it again with different yarn weights. I was worried this would be another yarn eater stitch, but because of all the skipped stitches, it all worked out fine.
Have You Seen the Other Eras Crochet Along Blocks?
Sea Green Era: Just Another Pattern to Burn
Golden Era: Romeo, Take Me Somewhere We Can Buy Some Yarn
Amethyst Era: You Are the Best Hook That’s Ever Been Mine
Crimson Era: Frog the Patriarchy Keychain on the Ground
Sky Blue Era: I Could Show You Incredible Skeins
Ebony Era: They Said I Stitched Something Bad
Rosy Pink Era: I’d Marry You With Magic Rings
Slate Gray Era: Please Crochet Me in the Trees
Burnt Orange Era: Every Woven End Was a Work of Art
Twilight Blue Era: So Make the Friendship Blankets ⇦ You Are Here
Milky White Era: Lights, Camera, Stitch Smile
The Anthology: Hey, Kids! Joining Is Fun!
Thanks for stopping by!
Please let me know if you have any questions or need help with your block!
See you next month!
– Marie
