Week 6 A Lotus Border 

Among the symbols of significance in Ancient Egypt, the lotus flower held a particularly special place. Two types of lotus, the white (Nymphaea lotus) and the blue (Nymphaea caerulea), were commonly found and appreciated for their beauty and symbolism. 

The lotus flower was often used in art, architecture, and religious rituals, symbolising rebirth and regeneration. 

This is because the flower closes at night and sinks underwater, only to re-emerge and bloom again at dawn, mimicking the sun's daily journey and the cyclical process of creation in the beliefs of the Ancient Egyptians.

Lotus flowers take a prominent place.

Hook: use your normal hook for DK 

Check the colour table below to find out which colour you are using and which stitch row you are doing for each of the rows of this week.

Part 1 

Slipstitch

Lotus Round 0

With the good side of the blanket facing towards you, place slipstitches (SS) (in Parchment) all around the edge of your blanket

Designate your corner stitches with 2 stitch markers each (one on each side) and these are not counted in the below amounts 

PLEASE NOTE 

You need to have a certain amount of slipstitches.

(Not counting the corner ones)

Short side 188 SS   

TIP: Take off 2 st for your corners, and then make sure you create 1SS over two stitches at the start and at the end of the row, then continue giving each st a SS, and this should give you 188 SS 

Long side 237 SS

Make sure you do 47 SS along the side of Week 1, 3 and 5 and 48 SS along the side of week 2 and 4. 

Part 2 

Lotus Back border

Lotus Round 1 

With the wrong side facing towards you (you have the one strand of the SS facing you), starting with a STHDC, place 1HDC in each stitch around, corners are made up of 2HDC 1CH 2HDC, SS to close the round. Do not cut off the yarn, but continue with Round 2

(Short side: 192 HDC/ Long side: 241 HDC/ 4 corner CH)

Please note the HDC in the corner SS are counted! 

In this round you need a multiple of 7 plus 3 

Lotus Round 2 

CH2, 1HDC in each stitch around, corners are made up of 2HDC 1CH 2HDC, SS to close the round. Cut off yarn. 

(Short Side: 196 HDC / Long side : 245 HDC / 4 corner CH)

Lotus Round 3 

@ Starting with a STSC3rdL on the first st after a corner CHSP, next do a TC around the body of the HDC in row 1 located before the CHSP of the corner (in Round 1), sk1 st, 1SC3rdL in the next 4 st, then work 1TC around the body of the 5th HDC in Round 1, (start counting after the CHSP of the corner in Round 1), CH2, 1TC around the same HDC in Round 1, sk 3, *1SC3rdL in the next 4 st, then skip 6 HDC on Round 1, work 1TC around the body of the 7th HDC in Round 1, CH2, 1TC around the same HDC in Round 1, sk 3*, repeat *-* to end, 1SC3rdL in the next 4 st, 1TC around the HDC just after the corner CHSP in Round 1, sk1, 1SC3rdL in the next st (stitch before corner ch), CH3. Now continue from @, but with a SC3rdL

End by doing 3CH and SS into that very first SC you did. 

Short side     27 TC Vs 

Long side     34 TC Vs

Corner     1 TC V

Lotus Round 4 

Starting in a corner CH3SP, with a STTC, do 10TCs, then place a SC in between SC2 and SC3 of the 4 SCs you did after the corner. 

7TCs around the next CH2SP, 1SC in between SC2 and SC3 of the 4SCs you did after the V.

Continue like this doing 7 TCs for the shells on the sides and 10 TCs for the four corner shells. 

SS to close the round. 

Happy Crocheting, 

Anja x 

Key 

CH        chain

SS        Slipstitch

SC        Single Crochet 

ST        Standing

STSC        Standing Single Crochet 

STSC3rdL    Standing Single Crochet in the 3rd loop of the stitch below

STHDC    Standing Half Double Crochet

HDC        Half Double Crochet 

DC        Double crochet     

TC         Treble Crochet (YO2)

(XX)        number of stitches you should have 

sk        skip

CHSP        chainspace

YO        Yarn Over 

TC V        1TC 3CH 1TC