I can’t think of a better time to decorate your windows with suncatchers than during the winter months.  This suncatcher is created with crochet cotton thread and a steel crochet hook.  The center shells are created with multiple double crochet stitches worked in the same chain.  This technique causes a curling effect.  After completion of the lace piece, the tips are attached to a brass ring.

Shell Suncatcher

FP320
Original Design By: Maggie Weldon
Copyright 2010 Maggie Weldon

Skill: Easy
Size: About 8″ round.
Materials: Size 10 Crochet Thread: White – 75 yards; Brass Ring – 8″ diameter; Thread Needle.
Note: Since Cotton stretches over time it’s a good idea to make sure your piece is a tight fit when sewing it onto the ring. You may want to increase the ring size for a tighter fit depending on the size of your piece.
Crochet Hook: Steel No. 7 (1.65 mm) or size needed to obtain gauge.
Gauge: Rnd 1 = ½ inch across

Special Stitches
Picot: Ch 3, sl st in first ch.
Double Triple (dtr): Yo hook 3 times and insert hook into st or sp indicated. Yo, draw lp through st or sp. (Yo, pull through 2 lps on hook) 4 times.
V-Stitch (V-st): (Dc, ch 2, dc) in same st or sp indicated.
SHELL: (V-st, ch 2, dc, ch 5, dc, ch 2, V-st) in same st or sp indicated.
SHELL2: (V-st, ch 2, V-st, ch 5, V-st, ch 2, V-st) in same st or sp indicated.

SUNCATCHER
Rnd 1: (Right Side) Starting at center, ch 6, join with sl st to first ch to form ring; ch 1, 12 sc in ring; join with sl st to first sc. (12 sc)
DO NOT TURN EACH ROUND.
Rnd 2: * Ch 12, 5 dc in 4^th ch from hook, 5 dc in next 8 ch (Curlicue made), sl st in same st as joining, sl st in next 2 sc; rep from * around, omitting last sl st on final repeat. (6 Curlicues)
Rnd 3: Ch 13 (counts as first dtr and ch 8 ), sc in tip of next Curlicue, ch 8, * dtr in sc of first rnd between Curlicues, ch 8, sc in tip of next Curlicue, ch 8, rep from * around; join with sl st to first dtr. (6 dtr)
Rnd 4: Ch 5 (counts as first dc and ch 2), dc in same st as joining, ch 3, (V-st, ch 5, V-st) in next sc, ch 3, * V-st in dtr, ch 3, (V-st, ch 5, V-st) in next sc, ch 3; rep from * around; join with sl st to first dc. (18 V-sts)
Rnd 5: Sl st in ch-2 sp, ch 3 (counts as first dc now and throughout), (dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp, ch 3, SHELL in next ch-5 sp, ch 3, * (2 dc, ch 2, 2dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, SHELL in next ch-5 sp, ch 3; rep from * around; join with sl st to first dc. (6 Shells)
Rnd 6: Sl st to ch-2 sp, ch 3, (2 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in same sp, ch 5, SHELL2 in the next ch-5 sp, ch 5, * (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in next ch-2 sp, ch 5, SHELL2 in next ch-5 sp, ch 5; rep from * around; join with sl st to first dc. (6 Shells)
Rnd 7: Picot, sl st in same st as joining, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch-2 sp, ch 3, skip next 2 dc, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next dc, ch 3, skip next 2 ch, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next 3 ch-2 spaces, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in ch-5 sp, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next 3 ch-2 sps, ch 3, skip next 2 ch, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch, ch 3, * (sl st, picot, sl st) in next dc, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch-2 sp, skip next 2 dc, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next dc, ch 3, skip next 2 ch, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next 3 ch-2sps, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in ch-5 sp, ch 3, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next 3 ch-2 sps, ch 3, skip next 2 ch, (sl st, picot, sl st) in next ch, ch 3; rep from * around, join with sl st in first ch of first picot. (72 Picots) Finish off and weave in ends.

Finishing
- Using Needle and Crochet Thread, stretch and sew points to Brass ring.

All Rights Reserved ©2011 Maggie Weldon

Enjoy,
Maggie

Download/Print