Starfish - Crochet Pattern

Here is the pattern and photo tutorial for the Starfish.  For a more concise version of the pattern, please scroll down to the bottom of the post to find links to a printable PDF version.  

Pattern Notes

 Pattern is written in UK crochet terms.

 Yarn: DROPS Paris (see all colours available)

• red 
• orange
• strong yellow
• 35 vanilla

 Hook Size: 5mm

 Abbreviations:

• ch   chain
• ch sp   chain space
• cl   cluster
• dc   double crochet
• dtr   double treble
• 3dctog   three double crochet together
• htr   half treble crochet
• tr   treble crochet
• 2tr cl   two treble cluster
• 3tr cl   three treble cluster
• 6tr cl   six treble cluster
• ss   slip stitch
• sts   stitches
• yo   yarn over
• * *   repeat instructions between the two asterix
• ( )   brackets outline a group of stitches, they often all go in the same place

Stitch Information

Cluster Stitches are stitches that are grouped together at the top and the bottom. They usually all go in the same space or stitch at the bottom and then are joined together at the top.There are a range of cluster stitches in this pattern. 2tr Cluster = yarn over hook, work the first part of the treble stitch omitting the last stage to leave two loops on hook, work next stitch in the same way, you should now have 3 loops on hook, yarn over hook and pull through all three loops.

3tr Cluster = yarn over hook, work the first part of the treble stitch omitting the last stage to leave two loops on hook, work next two stitches in the same way, you should now have 4 loops on hook, yarn over hook and pull through all four loops.

6tr Cluster = yarn over hook, work the first part of the treble stitch omitting the last stage to leave two loops on hook, work next five stitches in the same way, you should now have 7 loops on hook, yarn over hook and pull through all seven loops. Please note the six treble cluster in this pattern is split into two parts at the bottom but joined at the top.

Join yarn – insert hook, yo pull loop through using the new colour

Chain space – this is the space or gap created when chains are used in the previous row instead of stitches.  Crochet into the space/gap created, rather than into the individual chains themselves.

Puff stitches: puff stitches are created by crocheting a multiple number of htr stitches
together.  Each htr stitch is put on the hook, then instead of removing the loops they are left on the hook until all the stitches have been made. At the end all the stitches are removed in one go.  Take care to keep your loops loose and equal in size, so that it is easier to get the hook through all the stitches at the end. The puff stitches in this pattern are all 4htr puff stitches.

4htr puff stitch

• yo, insert hook, yo pull loop through. 3 loops on hook
• yo, insert hook, yo pull loop through. 5 loops on hook
• yo, insert hook, yo pull loop through. 7 loops on hook
• yo, insert hook, yo pull loop through. 9 loops on hook
• yo, pull loop through all 9 loops on the hook

Front & back loops – each stitch has a front loop, a back loop and a back bump.  If you crochet into the front loop only the back loop is left free, ready to be crocheted into later.

Picot – a picot is a little point, usually created by slip stitching back into a previous chain or stitch.  In this pattern the picot is made either by crocheting 2 chains then adding a slip stitch into the back bump of the first chain (2ch picot) or by crocheting 1 chain and adding a slip stitch into the back bump of the first chain (1ch picot) .

The Starfish Pattern

 Begin with a magic ring. (please note that this video shows you how to create a magic ring then a series of dc stitches. For the Starfish, you only need the first 25 seconds of the video, once you have made the magic ring go to  R1 below.)

DROPS Crochet Tutorial: How to make a magic circle crochet loop from Garnstudio Drops design on Vimeo.

 Round 1: ch2, 2tr cluster, ch3 *3tr cluster, ch3*, 4 times, close magic ring, ss to top of initial 2tr cluster. 5 clusters in total. Fasten off. (see picture below)

  Round 2: Join new colour in ch sp to the right of the first cluster stitch from round 1.

Ch3, 3tr cluster into the next ch sp,

ch6, *6tr cluster – place the first 3tr in the chain space before the cluster stitch from round 1 and the final 3tr in the chain space after the cluster stitch, ch6* 4 times.

2tr cluster, ss to top of initial 3tr cluster, introduce the next colour during the slip stitch. (yarn over with the new colour and bring the loop through)

  Round 3: (dc, dc, htr, tr, ch1, tr, htr, dc, dc) into each chain space. Ss to initial dc, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 4: ch5, *(3dtr, ch3 3dtr) between the two dc stitches from round 3, ch1* 4 times.

3dtr, ch3, 2dtr,

ss to the top of the 4^th chain of the initial ch5, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 5: dc into the ch space in between the two tr from round 3,  *ch5, (puff stitch, ch3, puff stitch) into the chain space, ch 5, dc into the ch space in between the two tr from round 3 * 5 times,

ss into the initial dc, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 6: *ch1, dc over the chain from round 5 into the top of the tr stitches from round 4, 3 times. 2dc into the ch sp. dc into the top of the puff stitch. (puff stitch, ch3, puff stitch) into the ch3. Ch2. dc into the top of the puff stitch. 2 dc into the ch sp. dc over the chain from round 5 into the top of the tr stitches from round 4, 3 times* 5 times. Ss into the initial ch 1, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 7: ch1, *dc into the back loops only of the next 8sts. (puff stitch, ch3, puff stitch), ch2, starting at the top of the puff stitch, dc into the back loops only of the next 8sts, htr into the V part of the dc stitch from row 5* 5 times. Ss to the initial dc, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 8: ch1, dc into the back loops only of the next 10sts.

*Htr, ch1, puff stitch, ch2, htr into the chain space. Dc into the back loop only of the next 9sts, 3dctog, dc into the back loop only of the next 9sts * 4 times.

You should now be at the top of the last point......

Htr, ch1, puff stitch, ch2, htr into the chain space, dc into the back loop only of the next 9sts, 2dctog, ss to initial dc, bring though the next colour during the ss.

 Round 9: ch1, ss into the back loop of the next st, (ch1 picot, ss into the back loop of the next 2sts) 5 times.

*Ch1, (htr, tr) into the chain space before the puff stitch, ch2 picot, (tr, htr) into the ch sp after the puff stitch, ch1, ss into the back loop of the next 2sts, (ch1 picot, ss into the back loop of the next 2sts) 10 times* 4 times.

Ch1, (htr, tr) into the chain space before the puff stitch, ch2 picot, (tr, htr) into the ch sp after the puff stitch, ch1, (ss into the back loop of the next 2sts, ch1 picot) 5 times, ss into the back loop of the next st, ss into the initial ch1 to complete the round.

Fasten off and darn in ends.

If you would like to crochet my Starfish too, you can either download the free pattern here, from my Cotton Pod store or download it from my Ravelry page. 

Please also share your finished Starfish projects on my Facebook or Ravelry page, it is such a reward for me to see everyone's work!