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Hi,

I have recently started to learn how to crochet. I have been looking through lots of free online patterns at allfreecrochet.com. I have downloaded a free ebook that contains different types of stitches and several patterns. So far I have been fairly successful and have managed to follow a hat pattern. I am now trying to make a shawl that has a motif pattern around the edge, and Im struggling to follow the motif pattern (below).

Round 1: Ch 1, work 7 sc in ring; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 2: Ch 8, slip st in same st as join, *(slip st, ch 8, slip st) in next sc; repeat from * 6 more times; (sl st, ch 4, tr) in first sc (at base of beginning ch-8).
Round 3: Ch 1, sc in space formed by last st of previous round, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-8 space, ch 2, *sc in next ch-8 sp, ch 2, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in next ch-8 sp, ch 2; repeat from * 2 more times; join with slip st in first sc.
Round 4: Ch 1, sc in same st as join, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, *sc in next sc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 dc, (2 sc, ch 2, 2 sc) in next ch-2 sp, sc in next 2 dc, 2 sc in next ch-2 sp; repeat from * 2 more times; join with slip st in first sc. Fasten off.

I have tried it several times from start to finish, but what Im doing clearly isn't quite right. I completely understand rounds 1, 3 and 4, but Im struggling with the end of round 2.

With round 2, once I have repeated the initial bit 6 times I end up with 8 petals. I then don't understand the bit with the (sl st, ch 4, tr) in first sc (at base of beginning ch-8). Does anyone know if I should be chaining 4, then a further 3 stitches for the start of the triple crochet stitch, and quite where this stitch should go?! I seem to end up with 8 identical petals plus a 9th very odd looking one, which then doesn't really look right. Plus, with my 9th odd-looking stitch it isn't very clear where to start off round 3 in the last stitch of round 2 . As round 2 isn't quite right, I end up with the wrong number of stitches in round 3, and so then round 4 isn't right either...

Any help would be very much appreciated as the shawl requires 19 of these!
Thanks,
Clare

Round 2: Ch 8, slip st in same st as join, *(slip st, ch 8, slip st) in next sc; repeat from * 6 more times; (sl st, ch 4, tr) in first sc (at base of beginning ch-8).

OK, so you've gotten to....
Round 2: Ch 8, slip st in same st as join, *(slip st, ch 8, slip st) in next sc; repeat from * 6 more times;

Then, into the single crochet stitch at the base of your very first Chain 8 you'll work the (sl st, ch 4, tr) and that should finish off the 8 shell pattern.

See, you say that you have 8 identical shell patterns then a 9th..... but the instructions tell you how to do the first one, then 6 more - that only gives you 7... the 8th shell should then be the sl st, ch 4, tr instead of the slip, ch8, slip.....

Any wiser??

Looks like an American pattern.

To convert to UK
sc=dc(UK)
dc= treble
treble= double treble (wind round hook twice before stitching but still only pull back through 2 at a time)

Sorry if that complicates things but it won't look the same as the picture unless you use the right stitches.

Then, as Julie says you have the 1st petal followed by 6 repeats, then finally you make the last petal in the base of the first one. By working half the number of chain followed by a treble (US) it leaves your hook near the top of the petal to start the next round instead of at the bottom as you have been with all the other petals.

Yeah, made that mistake before! the single crochet (sc) is an American term.

Julie and Green Aura have solved the problem already.
Have you checked ravelry.com for more free patterns?

Also try crochet on about.com for free patterns, and I think there is a conversion chart from US to UK/Continental stitching on one of her pages there, too.