Autumn Walk Blanket CAL: Week 5 - Finding Chestnuts
Week 5
Finding chestnuts
Story
On our way back there was a line of chestnut trees and we would always go and see if they were ready to collect and eat.
They were always very prickly and the days we came to collect chestnuts we would wear our thick winter gloves or oven gloves and gather them up in our bucket to take home and dry (I would be eating them before they had the chance to dry) but oh, my what a lovely seasonal thing to do.
It also meant that autumn was in full swing and that winter would be here soon.
The colours of the prickly shells varied in greens and browns and their contents sometimes spilled out when the squirrels got to them.
But they were always so prickly! The various shades of chestnuts inside the shell told us whether they were ready for us to eat. And the yellowy inside, delicious even just like that.
Of course you would have to scrape off the bitter skin first, and Moeke was so good at that, she would clean the skin off and manage not to eat them, me on the other hand, I scraped and ate all at the same time! Our chestnuts often did not last long enough to get dried and roasted on a fire. And if we did, I always managed to burn them (and the pan).
I remember all those rainy afternoons when grandma Anna would be crocheting next to the stove, I would be playing with my treasures from our walks in my little house in the corner of the room constructed of chairs and sheets while grandpa Frans would be watching a western on TV.
Those blissful days of yesteryear….
The colours this week represent the rich browns of the chestnuts and the dark leaves of the trees.
Pattern
Please note: consult the table for the colour changes!
Row 114: CH2, turn,*1 HDC on top of the DCs of the shell and when the CHSP comes up, do the HDC around it*, repeat *-* to end. (197)
Row 115: 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)
Row 116: CH2, turn, 1DC in next 2 st *sk2, 2DC 1CH 2DC in the 3rd st, sk2, 1DC in 3rd st*, repeat * - * to end, 1DC in the last 2 st. (32 repeats, 3DC at start, 2DC at end)
Row 117: CH2, turn, 1 DC in the next 2 st, *2DC 1CH 2DC into CHSP of shell below, 1DC on top of the DC in the row below*, repeat *-* to end, ending in 1DC in the last 2st. (32 reps, 3DC at start, 2DC at end)
Row 118 - 142: repeat row 117 adjusting your colour according to the table below
Row 143: CH2, turn, 1 DC in the next 2 st, *1 HDC in the next 5 st (3rd HDC is around the CHSP) then 1DC on top of DC from previous round* repeat *-* to end, 1DC on top of the last 2 st (197),
Colours
Did you see the fox scurrying in the undergrowth?
Tip: Be super ready for next week and sew in those ends!
Multiples
6 plus 5 197 stitches, 32 repeats
I hope that you enjoyed this part of the walk 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 the border next week…
Anja xxx
If you are still looking for an extra Autumn Walk Yarn pack or some great crochet accessories, please have a look at my shop here