Sweet Nothings Crochet: MERMAID COCOON FOR A BABY

MERMAID COCOON

I am so thrilled that I can take yet another thing off my “to-do” list.

Usually, mermaid cocoons have used the lovely crocodile stitch, and I am sure I am going to make one of those too.. just not today.

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Materials used : Today I’ve used the lovely Indian Oswal Cashmilon 4-ply acrylic yarn, with a 4 mm crochet hook

This yarn isn ot specific for this pattern.

Use any yarn to make this project

Abbreviations used :

ch : chain ch-sp : chain space

sp : space rep : Repeat

sk : skip. sl-st : Slip stitch

hk : hook yo : yarn over

hdc : Half Double crochet

MC : Main Colour

CC : Contrast Colour

fsc : Foundation single crochet

dc : Double crochet

Stitches used : Using US terminology

Starting slip knot : Here’s how you start with a slip knot. https://youtu.be/lJcqsVcs8cw

Starting slip knot 1 or the Sloppy Slip knot : This is a neat new way to start your work without a slip knot. https://youtu.be/YfC7KmGpifs

Magic circle : To refresh your skill, please view this easy video https://youtu.be/ISC39yOqWro

What is a chain stitch ? Here is an easy video tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXx5ukBjKkY

What is a slip stitch : Here is a neat video tutorial at https://youtu.be/weB3QNbA8Iw

Single Crochet : Sc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (2 lps on hk); yo, draw through both lps. One sc made. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/ghACqBpA-3k

First stitch for Single Crochet : This is how I like to start my row of sc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/6pVYRfsf4_M

Half Double Crochet : Hdc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk) ;

yo, draw through all 3 lps. One hdc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/sDiELJdB2Dg

Chainless start for Half Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 start, and this is what I do to start my row of hdc. Check out the video at https://youtu.be/lWXpl1KdbZ8

Double Crochet : dc : yo, insert hk into st ; yo (3 lps on hk);

[yo, draw through 2 lps] twice. One dc made.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/xdnjB27zpYo

Chainless start for Double Crochet : I dislike the ch-2 / ch – 3 start, and this is what I do to start my row of dc.

Check out the video at https://youtu.be/wskv3iTjRx0

How to change colors seamlessly : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to change from the Main color to the Contrast or second color of yarn seamlessly. View it at https://youtu.be/fRzSBja9jno

How to carry your yarn when using two colors : Here’s an easy video tutorial to show you how to carry your yarn along when working with two colours.

View it at https://youtu.be/NuascBU3pxQ

Whipstitch to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the whipstitch at https://youtu.be/wZ-9LNzftMA

Invisible join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the embroidery needle and whipstitch to get an invisible join at https://youtu.be/a6XZQ6VzJFM

Single crochet to join : Here’s a quick tutorial on how to join using the single crochet at https://youtu.be/6FXoW_47_dI

Instruction information

Please note that I start all my rounds with a ch 1 turning chain for ease.

Please check the top of this blog for a video tutorial on all the stitches needed to make this full project.

For my mermaid cocoon pattern I’ve been inspired by this Pinterest link https://in.pinterest.com/pin/470063279836087528/

Materials used : Today I’ve used our lovely Indian Vardhaman Millennium 4-ply yarn with a 4.5 mm crochet hook

Our pattern stitch shelled pattern repeat is 5.

Now if you look at the chart, you will see that there are 11 dc to make a shell. With the yarn I’m using, it was way too thick, so I’ve adapted / tweaked the pattern a bit.

I have also decided to use two colours and while it does not matter which one comes first etc, for convenience, I’m going to call one MC and the other CC.

Check the top of this blog on how to work with two colours, if needed.

Finally, we are working on our mermaid blanket from the top down, so the 1^st fdc round we’re working will be that part around the neck / chest of the baby. As you’ll see once we start working on our shells, they’re going to look most scale-like so our mermaid cocoon is going to look fabulous!

Foundation double crochet (fdc) : This is a unique way of starting a project directly with a row of double crochet stitches. Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/hjNUYVvyU9k

Start with MC and with fdc in multiples of 5.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

I have decided to start with 80 fdc.

Round 1 : with MC : sc in the 1^st fdc ;

sk next 2 fdc, 5 dc in the next fdc ;

*sk next 2 fdc, sc in the next fdc ;

sk next 2 fdc, 5 dc in the next fdc* ;

rep *to* all around

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st sc.

Now we’re going to work in back loops only – so slip stitch in back loops and the 5 dc in back loops only.

Slip stitch in back loops : so this is exactly like a regular slip stitch, just that we will only go through the back loop and not the whole stitch.

So this is how we work a single crochet in back loop. Check this video below and work a slip stitch in the same way.

Single crochet back loop only (sc-blo) : Here is an easy video tutorial

https://youtu.be/TaQI3Vu9VRQ

We will be working our 5-dc set in the back loop as well.

Double crochet 5-tog as a decrease stitch : dc 5-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 5-tog over 5 sts at https://youtu.be/Dh2viux_fBA

Double crochet 5-tog as a decorative stitch : dc 5-tog : Here is an easy video tutorial for working a dc 5-tog all in the same stitch as a decorative stitch at https://youtu.be/5806EIpgcV8

So the main problem with working in back loops is that if ‘feels’ like it’s a single yarn (as against using two, when going through the full stitch), but with a little bit of a jiggle, trial n error, you can manage to find the loops from the stitch below.

In my case, I am using a dark and light pink. When working with the light pink, for e.g, I will go through the back loop of the light pink and the loop of the dark pink from the stitch a round below, so enhancing the ‘thickness’ of my loop and the grip of the stitch.

Yes, this seems a little like gibberish, but try it.

If using a second colour, attach CC now, and ensure you move your MC up each round till needed again.

Round 2 : with CC : 3 dc in the 1^st sc - blo ;

*sk next 2 dc, sl-st-blo in the next dc ;

sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next sc - blo * ;

rep *to* all around ;

2 dc in the last sl-st-blo

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

You are now in the centre of that last shell

Round 3 : with MC : sl-st-blo in the 1^st dc ;

sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next st - blo ;

* sk next 2 dc, sl-st-blo in the next dc ;

sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next st - blo * ;

rep *to* all around

and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Round 4 : with CC : 3 dc in the 1^st st - blo ;

*sk next 2 dc, sl-st-blo in the next dc ; sk next 2 dc, 5 dc in the next st - blo * ;

rep *to* all around ; 2 dc in the last st and join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Ensure you take the un-used yarn to the next round, if using two coloured yarns.

See what we’ve created.. beautiful, isn’t it. See how working in that back loop shows off all the shelled stitch ends, and makes it pop out a bit.. I love it.

and if you’ve used two (or more) colours, one will wonder how you got that continuous line above shells – and we can just give an evil smile

OK.. so just carry on with this stitch repeating the pattern Rounds 3 – 4 till your cocoon is of the length you need. I worked till I had a length of about 19”.

Last Round : hdc in the 1^st st and in each st all around.

Join with a sl-st to the 1^st st.

Fasten off and leave a long tail to attach.

MERMAID TAIL FIN

Inspired by this free pattern at http://www.daperfectmix.blogspot.in/2014/07/crochet-mermaid-tail-fin-pattern.html, I’ve made a small change. That said, please do check out this link and choose the pattern that suits you best.

We will work in back loops only through the full tail fin. We will work two parts for the tail fin and then join the two together first. We will then fold the ends of our tail fin (on the top only) and allow it to open out towards the bottom. We will finally attach the tail fin to the body of our mermaid cocoon. So let’s get to it.

Foundation Single Crochet : fsc : To refresh your skill on the fsc, please view this video https://youtu.be/mcT85fwh4mA

Start : with MC : and 40 fsc. Turn.

Half double crochet back loop only (hdc-blo) : Here is an easy video tutorial https://youtu.be/mMZhS37JP2k

Row 1 : hdc-blo in each fsc till end. Turn.

Row 2 : with CC : hdc-blo in each hdc till the last 2 hdc , sk the last 2 hdc. Turn.

Row 3 : with CC : hdc-blo in each hdc till the end. Turn.

Row 4 : with MC : hdc-blo in each hdc till the last 2 hdc , sk the last 2 hdc. Turn.

Row 5 : with MC : hdc-blo in each hdc till the end. Turn.

Rows 6 - 9 : Rep Rows 2 – 5 once.

Rows 10 - 11 : Rep Rows 2 – 3 once.

Fasten off and weave in ends for this first section. This is one half of the tail fin.

For the second half, repeat Rows Start – Row 11 and leave a long tail for attachment.

Join the two halves of the tail.

We will then attach the top of the tail fin to the bottom of the mermaid cocoon.

Finishing :

We need to attach the tail fin to the bottom of our mermaid cocoon. First we have to attach the two halves of the tail fin to make one complete tail fin.

We then need to fold just the tops of the tail fin in half, so that it comes together only at the top and then the bottom part of the fin opens out.

We will then close the bottom of the mermaid cocoon. So what I’ve done is run a round of running stitch all across the bottom of the mermaid cocoon closing and tightening that end in such a way that it equals the width of the tail fin. So basically we not only close this, but we also bunch this bit up.

We will then attach the tail fin to this just closed bottom.

Fasten off and weave in ends.

And we’re done !!

Doesn’t this just look too cute? I am so sure that you will be making another one really soon as you’re sure to get more orders for this. Do remember to tag me on Facebook and credit me and daperfectmix for this pattern.

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Have a great day and see you soon.

I’ve made some other cute diaper sets that I’d like to share with you. Here are the links