Great Canadian Landscapes CAL Week Two!

Hello Everyone and welcome to week two of the Great Canadian Landscapes Crochet Along! Today we continue our crochet journey across Canada in my home province of Nova Scotia!

If you are traveling from Newfoundland and Labrador across Canada you may very well opt to take the ferry or fly across into Nova Scotia!

I’m not going to lie, Nova Scotia holds a very special place in my heart – I was born, grew up there, was married there and still return every couple of years while on vacation. If you have never visited, it’s a must!

The Province:

From the highlands of Cape Breton to the rocky shores of Peggy’s cove, there are no shortage of things to do and see while visiting Nova Scotia. Of course, I would recommend visiting Halifax harbour and Peggy’s cove, but there are a few other favourite places that are not as publicized!

(Photo above, the Halifax Harbour in the fog during the Tall Ships 2017 visit)

Iona, Cape Breton – so beautiful! We visited there a couple of times each year as a family growing up as my mom is a watercolour artist and would paint the landscapes there.  As we got older the evenings were spent with friends and at the occasional ceilidh! You also won’t be disappointed by the views and the historical villages. While in Cape Breton, I also loved visiting the Fortress of Louisbourg: It’s really a step back in time with reenactments and shops.

Fall Colours and Tides!

If you happen to be driving from Cape Breton toward Truro during the fall, be sure to take in the fall colours as you drive through Antigonish, Salt Springs and Marshy Hope. They are stunning with the colours of the trees amongst the rolling hills flashing reds, greens, oranges and yellows!

While in Truro, stop for lunch and catch a glimpse of the Tidal Bore. The Maritime provinces boast of the highest tides, and here you will see them in action (some days are better than others!)

For dinner, you’ll want to try some lobster… I will confess though, it’s not a personal favourite (but ask my dad, he loves it!)

Whale watching! I love whale watching and my absolute favourite place is on Briar Island on the south end of Nova Scotia. The humpback whales are very animated there come August!

Finally, don’t forget to catch a few sunrises and sunsets, take a tour of one of the many lighthouses, and enjoy some Scotsburn ice cream!

Now that I have successfully convince you of your need to visit Nova Scotia, let’s get on with the crochet!

Today’s panel is the second one (light blue) in from the left! It features a wavy cluster stitch which I felt was fitting for Nova Scotia.

Did you miss the first two weeks of the Crochet Along? Not to worry, the links are below:

Canadian Landscapes Blanket – Crochet Along – Introduction and Materials

Great Canadian Landscapes CAL Week One!

Also, don’t hesitate to check out the video tutorial demonstrating the stitch provided following the written pattern.

The final layout for the blanket panels is as follows:

Other than that, please head over to my Facebook Page (https://www.facebook.com/richtextures/) and from there you can join the community group where you will be able to share photos and see other’s progress! Also you’re invited to subscribe to my YouTube Channel (it’s updated weekly @ https://www.youtube.com/c/RichTexturesCrochet/ ) where you’ll find all of the pattern videos for the CAL as they become available.

Thank you so much again for joining this crochet along! I look forward to meeting up again soon!

Sarah

The Pattern:

This panel measures approximately 43 x 9 inches.  Should you wish to change the size, use a chain multiple of 5 + 1.

For this project I used a worsted weight yarn by Mary Maxim in the colour light denim.  You may use any worsted weight yarn! (For more details, see the “Introduction and Materials” for the CAL linked in this post above.)

Hook: 5.5 mm

This pattern is worked in rows.

Stitches and Abbreviations:

Ch – Chain
CL – Cluster ((Yo, insert hook from front to back around the post of the next Sc, yo and pull up a loop, yo and draw through two loops on your hook) 3 times. Yo and draw through all four loops on your hook).
Dc – Double Crochet
Rpt – Repeat
Sc – Single Crochet
Sl St – Slip Stitch
St – Stitch
Yo – Yarn over

To Begin:

Ch 146.

Row 1: Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and in each st across. Turn.

Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc here and throughout), dc in the next st and in each st across. Turn.

Row 3: Ch 3, dc in the same st, * CL over the next 3 dc, 2 dc in each of the next 2 sts; Rpt from * across to the last 4 sts, CL over the next 3 dc, 2 dc in the last st. Turn.

Row 4: Ch 3, dc in the next st and in each across.

Repeat rows 3 and 4 until work from the beginning measures approximately 9 inches.

Edging:

Note: If you have changed the size of your blanket your will have to adjust the edging stitch counts accordingly.  What matters most is that each of your panels has the same number of stitches along the edges.  This will make it much easier to join them in the end!

The edging for each panel is a simple round of sc stitches.  Proceed as follows:

With the right side facing, join yarn with a sl st in the top right corner.

Rnd 1: Ch 1, evenly work 144 sc across the top of the panel, 3 sc in the corner st, evenly work 29 sc along the short edge, 3 sc in the corner st, evenly work 143 sc across the bottom of the panel, 3 sc in the corner st, evenly work 29 sc along the next short edge, 2 sc in the final corner st; join with a sl st in the first sc. (356 sc)

Fasten off, weave in ends.  Block if desired.

Video Tutorial:

Set this panel aside and get ready for next week! We will join them all together the final week.

Check out this video tutorial for the panel below:

Happy Crocheting!

Sarah