Week 7 of the Ray Of Hope crochet along features Waistcoat stitch, which is also known as the Knit Stitch. This is a single crochet stitch that is made through the centre of the stitch instead of the top loops, and ends up looking like a series of V’s like a knitted piece would.

The free pattern is below, but if you’d like the ad free printable version, it is available either as part of my Lifetime Pattern Pass, or you can purchase it on its own for £5 from Ravelry

If you would like to follow my colour scheme, you can find the list of colours in both Scheepjes Softfun and Stylecraft Special DK in this document here

The pattern is written in US terms, but the UK translation is below in brackets along with the abbreviations we will be using

• Chain = ch
• Single crochet (double crochet) = sc
• Double crochet (treble crochet) = dc

The Pattern

For this piece we will be using a 3.5mm hook

With Colour C make a chain of 22

Row 1. In the 4th chain from your hook make a dc (the turning chain counts as your first dc) dc in each chain across – 20 stitches

Row 2. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 18 stitches

Row 3. Turn, chain 1, make a sc in the first stitch. Sc in each stitch in the row. Keep your sc loose, or you will have trouble working into them in the next row – 18 stitches

Rows 4-8. Keep your tension loose for all your waistcoat stitches.

Turn, chain 1. Make a waistcoat stitch into what will look like the 2nd stitch (in the middle of the upside down V make a sc) 

make a waistcoat stitch in each stitch across including in the chain 1 at the end of the row – 18 stitches

Row 9. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 16 stitches

Rows 10-12. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 16 stitches

Row 13. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 14 stitches

Turn

Row 14. Turn, chain 1. Make a sc in the first stitch. Sc in each stitch of the row – 14 stitches

Rows 15-19. Turn, chain 1. Make a waistcoat stitch in the 2nd stitch (in the middle of the upside down V make a sc) make a waistcoat stitch in each stitch across including in the chain 1 at the end of the row – 14 stitches

Row 20. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in each stitch across until you have 2 stitches left. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 12 stitches

Row 21 – 23. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 12 stitches

Row 24. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 8 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 10 stitches

Rows 25-27. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 10 stitches

Row 28. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 6 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 8 stitches

Rows 29-31. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 8 stitches

Row 32. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 4 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 6 stitches

Rows 33-35. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 6 stitches

Row 36. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Dc in the next 2 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 4 stitches

Rows 37-39. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in each stitch across – 4 stitches

Row 40. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over the first 2 stitches. Make a dc2tog over the last 2 stitches – 2 stitches

Rows 41-43. Turn, chain 1 and make the alternate turning chain in the first stitch. Dc in the last stitch – 2 stithes

Row 44. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain2tog over both stitches – 1 stitch

Row 45. Turn, chain 1, make the alternate turning chain. Cut off and weave in your ends

The Border

With Colour E (your joining colour) and a 4mm hook, slst into each stitch along the narrow end. Down the sides make 1 slst into the side of each waistcoat stitch, and 2 slst into the side of each dc

When you get to the tip of the ray, make 2 slst into 1 side, but when you turn only make 1 slst into the other side of the stitch.

You should have 20 slst across the short end and 78 slst down one long side and 77 slst down the other

Weave in your ends, and you can join the bottom of the week 6 piece to the mandala, and join this weeks piece to week 6 exactly the same way as we joined in week 5.

To see how to join the pieces together click here

If you have any questions, or just want to join in the chatter, come on over to our super friendly and helpful Facebook group – The Ray Of Hope CAL group