Up My Sleeve (Crochet Dread Sleeve)

by jndc for bruggadung! I would like to claim this is a well written, well thought out pattern but the truth is I scribbled some stuff down as I worked and then went back through the scattered notes to cull together this pattern. Apologies. Gauge will vary depending on the yarn and hook choice. I chose Peru Naturtex Partners Pakucho Organic Cotton and a 4mm hook. Using a 4mm hook, chain enough stitches to go around your head. In my case, my massive cranium requires a 70 chain, approx 23" (for 1/2" negative ease. My shaven head is 23.5). I then joined the chain into a loop, and, working around the chain, I work 1sc into each foundation chain st joining the last st of the round to the first stitch with a ss. (For each round which follows I end by joining the end of each round to the beginning of each round with a ss and I start each new round with a chain.)

Chain 2 (I know most people do a ch 1 for sc, 2ch for dc etc, but I always crochet the first few stitch tightly thus I need a longer "turning chain". When changing colours do the last yo or chain of the end of the round in the new colour. That is to say, for the ss, insert hook, yo in the new colour and pull yo through.) I work one more round of sc (I prefer to start with sc so that the edge has greater firmness). Round 3 - (join colour B) work 2ch in new colour then work 1hdc in each sc around. Round 4 - chain 3, work a dc into each hdc around. Round 5 - 2ch, work a hdc into each dc around. Round 6 - (join colour C) 2ch, work a hdc in each hdc around Round 7 - 5ch, *skip the next hdc, ch 2, dc in the following* rep around. Chain 2, join the round. Round 8 - ch 2, *hdc into ch2 space, hdc in dc* rep around. Chain 3, join round. Rounds 10-11 - (join colour B) dc in every st around. Round 12 - (join colour A) ch 1, sc in each dc around. Round 13 - chain 5, skip next st, dc in following sc, *skip next st, ch 2, dc in following* rep around. Chain 2, join round. Round 14 - ss in first ch sp, dc, ch 2, skipping dc of previous round work into ch sp, *dc into next ch sp, ch2* rep around. Join round. Round 15 - ch 3, *dc in chain sp, ch2* around. Round 16/17 - (join colour C) ch3, skip next stitch, dc in following st. Working behind the stitch you just created, work a dc in the skipped stitch. *Skip the next st, work dc in following st, work behind just completed stitch to work dc in skipped st* rep around (I suck at explaining things so check out this link if you have no idea at all what I mean. Sorry :D)

Round 18 - (join colour A) Ch 2 work sc in each dc around. Round 19-21 (using colour A, rep rounds 10-12) Round 22 - (join B) sc in each st around. And you are done. Again, I suck at explaining how to do things. I tend to take it for granted people already know and just need a quick outline. Send me a message if you need help translating my crappy crappy notes. And I promise to have better pix one day. Soon(ish). Later!

jndc