Week 2 

Collecting leaves 

Story 

Towards the middle of the forest, there would be a crossing of paths, like a T-junction, and it would be a little bit more open just where the crossing was. 

Here we would have a little rest on one of the tree stumps along the side of the path. 

I would gather leaves into heaps and make ‘walls’ with them around the tree stump where Pepe was resting. I made him a ‘house’ around his tree trunk so he could be safe and gather his breath.

There were beech trees and birches, ash and one or two horse chestnut trees, but of course we can’t eat those chestnuts. 

This was the location where we would find the largest array of various leaves, and ooh, the colours, at the start of autumn, all the various colours from green to yellow, orange, red, and brown. 

And then towards the winter, everything would be various colours of brown. A feast for the eyes. And oh, we heard our four-legged friend scurrying in the undergrowth. It took a while for him to appear…

I remember one day when my teacher had asked to bring in some autumn leaves we went into the forest for our walk and came here to this location to collect leaves. I think I filled a whole shoebox with them, all nice specimen in various stages of autumn colouring. The next day at school I was able to tell them all about my walk and collecting the leaves, I had had so much fun! 

We would not take the path veering off to the other side of the hill, because that would take us to the village, where the school was. We continue on to the next part of the woods. 

The stitch used in this section of the blanket represent the leaves in all their different autumnal colours.

Pattern

Please note: consult the table for the colour changes! 

Path

Row 28: CH2, turn, 1DC in the next 2st, *1HDC on top of the DCs of the shell (when you meet the CHSP, do the HDC around it), 1DC on top of the DC* repeat *-* to end, 1DC in last 2 st. (197), 

Row 29: CH5, turn, Yarn over (YO), insert into the 3rd CH, YO and pull up a loop, YO, insert into the location for the next stitch YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the bottom DC), YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the top DC)

Then from the next stitch you YO, insert into the horizontally lying strand halfway down the stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO, insert into the location for the next stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the bottom DC), YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the top DC), repeat to end. (197)

Leaves

Row 30: CH2, turn, sk 2, 2DC 1CH 2DC in the next st, *sk4, 2DC 1CH 2DC in the next st*, repeat *-*  to end, sk2, 1DC in last st. (39 repeats. 1DC, 1DC)

Row 31: CH2, turn, *2DC 1CH 2DC in the next CHSP* to end, 1DC in last st. (39 repeats. 1DC, 1DC)

Row 32 - 55: repeat row 31 whilst also adjusting your colour according to the table below. 

Colours

It took a while but the fox did make an appearance…

Explanation of the Path Stitch (PS)

You will need to do a CH5 to start and turn your work, then 

Yarn over (YO), insert into the 3rd CH, YO and pull up a loop, YO, insert into the location for the next stitch YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the bottom DC), YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the top DC).

Then from the next stitch you yarn over (YO), insert into the horizontally lying strand halfway down the stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO, insert into the location for the next stitch, YO and pull up a loop, YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the bottom DC), YO and pull through two, YO and pull through two (this completes the top DC) 

Multiples

5 plus 2, 197 stitches, 39 repeats 

I hope that you enjoyed collecting leaves with me and my grandpa that you were able to have some crochet me-time along the way. 

Please don’t hold back posting your progress updates in the group Ophelia Talks Crochet on Facebook.

I am already looking forward to next week…

Anja xxx