Welcome to week 1 of the FrankenScrap crochet along, the ugliest and scrappiest crochet pattern that you ever did see!
Over the next 49 weeks, we are going to be making 53 different crochet stitches, each in a different piece of this patchwork blanket. The FrankenScrap was designed as a scrap project, so dive into your yarn stash and clear out those odds and ends that you’ve just not been sure what to do with.
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The FrankenScrap is a completely free crochet along. Each week the next piece of the pattern will be published on my blog, but if you want the concise and add free pdf delivered to you each week that will remain in your Ravelry library, you can purchase that for just £5 here. This is a one off payment that covers the entirety of this CAL.
If you want to prep ahead, you can find out how much yarn you need for each week here
Lets Talk Hook Sizes And Tension
Before we get started with this weeks piece, I want to give you a warning about tension.
Because we are using so many different crochet stitches, tension is going to be an issue. Typically we crochet tighter when making single crochet stitches than when we make any other stitches. If you do this, then you may want to go up a hook size for the single crochet based stitches in order to keep your gauge consistent. The first two weeks of this CAL are going to help you judge how you need to adjust your tension for other pieces going forward.
We will be joining all these pieces together, stitch to stitch, so if some of your pieces have a smaller gauge, your blanket may wrinkle up in places.
This is why I’ve chosen to start the FrankenScrap with the Rug stitch. It’s a looser stitch even though it is based on single crochet and can be used to gauge the size for your future pieces.
Week 1 Of The FrankenScrap Crochet Along
We’re starting off the FrankenScrap crochet along with the Rug stitch. This is really stretchy stitch that would make a good alternative to ribbing, or for clothing that you want to look more fitted, but has a good amount of stretch. This stitch is definitely on my list to make a pattern with, as I want to explore what type of patterns it would suit.
The Rug stitch is slow to make up, but I think is worth the effort as it has a fairly unusual texture and feel to it.
For this piece I used Sirdar Toscana DK – a 100% marled cotton yarn, which unfortunately has been discontinued. I only had one ball of this pretty yarn rattling around my yarn drawers, and now I’m wishing I had more as I’ve not seen any other yarns that have this type of colour marling to it and it was a nice smooth yarn to work with and didn’t split – if you’ve seen anything else like it , I’d love to hear your yarn recommendations – you can let me know in our Facebook group here
You will need 112 meters of yarn if you are sticking to my gauge of 16sc in 10cm, 19 rows in 10cm
Your Rug piece will be placed towards the centre of your blanket as shown in the layout below. If you want to plan out your yarn and colours, you can find the full layout by each week and the amount of yarn needed for each piece here
Making The Rug Stitch
Abbreviations (all in US terms)
- Slst = Slip Stitch
- Ch = Chain
- Sc = Single crochet
After making your foundation chain, you will start your first row of the rug stitch.
Insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Yarn over and pull through 1 loop only so that you still have 2 loops left on your hook. This is the part that will form the bump of the stitch, which will show up on the back of the row.
Insert your hook into the same stitch you were just working in, yarn over and pull up a loop. Now slst that 1st loop through both of the other loops on your hook.
That completes your Rug stitch. Repeat the above to make another Rug stitch
All the texture will appear on the back of the row as small bumps as shown in the picture below.
Week 1 Pattern
You can see how to make the Rug stitch in the video below, along with the stitch and row counts if you prefer to follow by video
Click here for the left hand video
You will need a 4mm hook and 112 meters of light worsted / DK yarn
Start by making a foundation chain of 37
Row 1. In the 2nd ch from your hook make a rug stitch. Make a Rug stitch in each chain of your foundation chain – 36 Rug stitches in total
Row 2. Turn and ch1. In the first st make a Rug st. Make a Rug stitch in each st across – 36 Rug stitches
Rows 3 – 39. Repeat row 2.
After you have completed row 39, you can cut off and weave in your ends. Your Rug piece should be 36 stitches long and 39 stitches high.
If you’re sticking to my gauge, your piece will measure 22.5 x 20.5cm. Remember this piece is very stretchy and will stretch out when it is joined to other pieces. Right now your piece probably looks much more rectangular than the measurements suggest.
That is week 1 of the FrankenScrap crochet along complete.
We won’t be adding any border to our pieces, they will be joined directly to each other which I’ll tell you all about next week with a full guide on how to match your pieces up and how they fit together
In the meantime, why not come and join our Facebook group – Froggity Frog’s Ribbit And Stitch and show us your completed Rug pieces. Our super friendly community where you can ask all of your crochet questions, share your latest make and connect with your fellow FrankenScrappers and make new crochet friends. Come join us now right here
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