Learn to Crochet: Continuing the Shell Washcloth

Oh my gosh how far you've come! No, really, give yourself a pat on the back. You've hit the point that there is nothing to teach you but to help continue breaking the pattern down for you.

Just to refresh, this is the 4th post in the Learn to Crochet series and you should now know how to create the Foundation Chain, Chain (ch), Single Crochet (sc), Half-Double Crochet (hdc), and Double Crochet (dc). You've also learned how to read the * asterisks * that indicate a row repeat, how to [ read between the brackets { even when they contain confusing looking stuff} for easy reading ] and how to work around stitches. This is better than beginner level stuff we're talking about here. 

We're using the White Shells Crochet Washcloth from the Shell Washcloth Duo pattern for this part of the series so that you can learn crochet easy, fun, and wind up with a product you're going to love using.

The Shells Washcloth Duo Pattern is Free, published on Yahoo! and copyright to Phebe Durand

So in this post of the Learn to Crochet series I simply have the next parts of the pattern and its breakdown. Nothing fancy - but once you've finished these rows, you've only got two steps until you're finished with a boutique style crochet shell washcloth at a fraction of the cost and a huge boost to your ego credit bank.

The Instructions:

Row 3: Chain 3, [2 double crochet, chain 1, {single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet} over side of 3rd double crochet].*Single crochet in the next chain 1 space, shell in the next single crochet. Repeat from * across to last stitch, working 3 double crochet in the last stitch of row.

Row 4: Chain 3, *Shell in the next single crochet, single crochet in the next chain 1 space across. Double crochet in the last stitch of row.

Rows 5-11: [Repeat rows 3 & 4] 7 times.

So you don't have to go searching, the pattern for the shell is:

Shell: [3 dc, ch 1, {sc, hdc, dc} over side edge of 3rd dc in 3 dc group] in indicated stitch. 

Alright, so if you've been following along with the exercises you should be able to move from one row to the next with absolute ease. If not, just be patient with yourself and begin at the start of the Shell Washcloth Duo pattern for the White Shells Crochet Washcloth. This is the pattern we're using for the first steps in learning how to crochet. If you're unsure of how to perform these steps, simply jump back to the Foundation Chain entry in the Learn to Crochet series and continue from there.

Let's switch up how we dissect rows now that we're really getting the hang of things. We're going to read each row as it's written, but spelled out fully with explanations so that you can easily compare.

Row 3: Chain 3. [double crochet in each of the next 2 stitches (2 dc), then chain 1. Insert the hook around the side of the 3rd double crochet (dc) and do a single crochet (sc), half-double crochet (hdc), and double crochet (dc) all around that post.] *Now we move into the row's pattern repeat that starts with a single crochet (sc) in the next chain-1 space of Row 2 (usually referred to simply as 'the previous row') and work a shell into the next single crochet (sc).* Repeat from * across to the last stitch, and work 3 double crochets (dcs) into that last stitch of the row.

Row 4: Chain 3. *We're immediately doing the row's pattern repeat by working a shell into the next single crochet (sc) and skipping over to the next chain 1 (ch-1) space where we're going to work 1 single crochet (sc) across. Since it says 'across' there is no second * asterisk in the pattern. It is assumed you will know to just repeat based on the wording. Now, we work a double crochet in the very last stitch of the row.

Rows 5-11: [We're starting off with brackets because the end of this part of the directions are in numerals, so it is much easier to read than it would be without them. All that we're going to do is repeat rows 3 and 4] seven times. This leaves us with 11 rows done and a nearly finished washcloth - just feel its exfoliating goodness! 

I am not including an exercise with this lesson for 2 reasons: 1) it will take you a little bit to get the shell stitch worked out and to create all 11 rows. Not a lot of time, but a little bit, and 2) because you may want to make a set of these washcloths. 

Try making them in sets of 3 at a time so that you can work up to the traditional set of 6 washcloths, either in matching or contrasting colors to match your bathroom's color scheme. Just leave each one at this point of 'finished' so that you can easily take the next to steps to wrap them all up and start using the lovelies!