Crochet basics - Sign seeker belt

Today we continue with our crochet lessons, learning how to single, double and treble crochet, plus chain stitch and the magic ring cast-on. We’ll be making a belt inspired by Susan Cooper’s ‘The Dark is Rising’ novels (incidentally, if you haven’t read these books, please do check them out! I’ve reread them every year since my English teacher recommended them when I was 12. Also, please don’t be put off by the travesty of a movie…)

You could also use the pattern as an afghan square, but I quite liked the idea of making a belt of the six signs, like Will Stanton’s belt.

“When the Dark comes rising, six shall turn it back,
Three from the circle, three from the track;
Wood, bronze, iron; water, fire, stone;
Five will return, and one go alone.“

You’ll need:

• Yarn, in various colours. Choose 2 colours for each sign – wood, bronze, iron, water, fire and stone – that suggest that element to you. You’ll only need small amounts, so this is a good project for using up scraps. I used medium-weight acrylic, as it’s what I had to hand, though I’d really love to do one in rich-coloured handspun!
• Crochet hook, in size recommended for yarn
• tapestry needle for finishing
• (optional) D-ring to make belt closure, ribbon

OK, lets start with the pattern.

start with magic ring. Round 1 : chain 3, triple crochet 1 into ring, chain 5. (triple crochet 2 into ring, chain 5) 3 times. Join round with slipstitch. Pull magic ring tight to close centre. Round 2: Chain 1, (work 2 single crochet, 3 double crochet, 2 single crochet into loop, chain 1) 4 times. Slipstitch Round 3: Chain 1, single crochet plain all round, making 3 single crochets into the same stitch at the corners. Join round with slipstitch Round 4: Change to second colour. Chain 2, double crochet 3, *make 3 double crochet into corner stitch, double crochet 4. Make 3 double crochet into hole formed by chain stitches in round 2*, double crochet 4 Repeat from * to * 3 more times to complete round, join round with slipstitch, draw yarn through last stitch and pull tight to finish.

If any of the stitches are unfamiliar to you, you can check the video in Wednesday’s post for how to make a magic ring, or watch this video which demonstrates all the stitches used in this pattern.

To make the belt, make 6 squares, one for each sign. We’ll use a whipstitch to sew them together edge to edge. Finish by weaving in loose ends, and sewing a D-ring to one end, and ribbon or crochet chains to the other.

What are some of your favorite books? Have they ever inspired you to craft something?

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