Serenum_MAL_Week2_Cover-WEB

SERENUM CARDIGAN/ SWEATER MAKE ALONG!
Week 2: Your progress. Block Stitch.

Serenum MAL other blog posts:

Today's post:

Week 2 (July 7th)

Upcoming:

Serenum Cardigan

This MAL is hosted by Official Scheepjes-International Facebook Group and Scheepjes Nederlandse Groep.

Pattern is available in English and Dutch languages.

Pattern regular price of $5.49 is reduced to $4.39 throughout the MAL duration June 9th - July 27th, 2021.

(20% off, no code is needed, VAT applies):

Ravelry

Etsy

Affiliated yarn links (I receive a small commission from the seller at no additional cost to you):

Yarn at Wool Warehouse >>

Affiliated link

Garen bij Caro's Atelier >>

Geaffilieerde link

Today we will crack block stitch code and admire each other's progress!

Block stitch body:

Block stitch body is started from the side of 9 middle motifs of 11-motif stripe, but make sure to complete following steps first (pay extra attention to point 4):

Watch following video and check out step pictures (also in the pattern).
Check the gauge: start block stitch along the side of at least 2 motifs and work for at least 10 rows (5 rows of blocks). 15 blocks should be equal in width to 2 motifs. Make adjustments if needed by using a different size hook. It's very important to make sure that 7.5 blocks are equal to 1 motif in width.
After working out block stitch gauge, start body from the side of 9 middle motifs (skip Motifs 1 and 11).
After making 33 (16 rows of blocks) and before narrowing your piece to 45 blocks, make sure that the height of 16 rows of blocks is equal to 2 motifs width (measure height in the middle of block stitch piece rather than at its side for accuracy). It might be a good idea to block the whole piece at this point. Make adjustments if needed by adding or eliminating rows. After finishing block stitch body, 2 motifs will be joined as you go to the side of first 33 or your custom number of rows.

Rows 1, 2 highlights:

Right side (RS). Finish Row 1 with ch 2 and place marker in the last loop to keep stitch open.
(RS). After finishing Row 2, draw last loop of Row 1 through last loop of Row 2 (images 1-2). Do not fasten off C.
Wrong side (WS). To start Row 3, turn, make first sc in space between ch-2 and last dc of Row 2 (image 3).

1/1

Extended single crochet (esc):

This stitch is used in Row 3. While designing the garment, I tried regular single crochet and half double crochet, but extended single crochet gave the best result making the fabric not too dense and not too much see-through.
Extended sc requires one extra step: yarn over, draw yarn through only one loop on hook, finish like regular single crochet.
Watch video below to learn esc (time mark 2:23, and other extended stitches).

1/1

Row 3, 4 highlights:

(WS). Finish Row 3 with chain 2 and place marker in the loop to keep stitch open (image 1).
To start Row 4, go back to the end of Row 2 (RS). Insert hook in first sc of Row 3, pick up YarnC (image 2) and draw it through sc, turn and make Row 4 (image 3). Finish row the same way you finished Row 2.

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Altering pattern to a cardigan or a pullover only with narrower sleeves:

I personally love the kimono style sleeves. There is something graceful about them: you can't really do any job if you have such sleeves, do you? :)) You chin goes up, your spine goes straight, you become a subject for admiration!
But if you are ok with only a cardigan or only a pullover (not a cardigan/ pullover), you can alter the sleeve width if you wish. See schematic below: