Acorn Border--Free Crochet Pattern!

I wanted something special to finish off my Totoro in the Rain Afghan, and I thought of the acorn motif in the movie.  Inspired by Moogly's Polka Dot Border and the Cupcake Celebration Granny Square by Acorn Tree Creations, I created this Acorn Border.  Would you like to try it?  You'll need a crochet hook that matches your project, and yarn in:

• a background color (I used off-white)
• dark brown for the acorns
• tan for the acorn caps

I'll give you instructions with detailed pictures first, then the pattern all together.

Begin with a row or two of sc in your background color.

Row 1: Sc, *ch3, 3 dc in side of sc just made 

 

(point made), 

 

skip 2 st, sc, 

 

ch 1, skip 1 st, sc*.  

 

Repeat instructions between *s. 

If you are crocheting around a corner, adjust so that the ch 1 stitch is directly over the center sc of the corner.

If you are crocheting all the way around a project, at the end of the first row ch 1, sl st to join first sc of the row, fasten off.

 Row 2:  Join dark brown with sl st in 3rd chain (top of a point), *4 tc in ch 1 space, 

sl st in top of next point*. 

Repeat between *s.

At the end of the round, sl st in first point, fasten off.

Row 3:  Join tan with sl st in 4th tc, ch 5.  *Dc 5 together in next 4 tc and sl st, ch 5*.

 (To dc 5 together, *yo, insert hook in next st, pull up loop, yo and pull through two loops*, leave two loops on hook.  Repeat between *s until you have 6 loops on hook. 

 Yo, pull loop through all 6 loops.)

 Repeat between *s, join with sl st at end, fasten off.

At corner, increase ch before and after corner acorn to 7 ch.

 Row 4:  Join background color with sl st in top of acorn cap.    

 *4 dc in top of background point (over tan chain and dark brown sl st),

 sl st in top of acorn cap*.

 Repeat between *s.  At end of round, sl st in first acorn cap, fasten off.

 No adjustment should be necessary at corners.

The acorns should puff up from the background stitches.

End with a row of sc in background color, and another row of sc in a contrast color, if you wish.  I used dark green to finish off the Totoro in the Rain Afghan.


Acorn Border

Row 1: Sc, *ch3, 3 dc in side of sc just made, (point made), skip 2 st, sc, ch 1, skip 1 st, sc*.  Repeat instructions between *s.

Row 2:  Join dark brown with sl st in 3rd chain (top of a point), *4 tc in ch 1 space, sl st in top of next point*.  Repeat between *s.

Row 3:  Join tan with sl st in 4th tc, ch 5.  *Dc 5 together in next 4 tc and sl st, ch 5*. Repeat between *s, join with sl st at end, fasten off.

Row 4:  Join background color with sl st in top of acorn cap.  *4 dc in top of background point (over tan chain and dark brown sl st), sl st in top of acorn cap*.  Repeat between *s.  Join with sl st in first acorn cap, fasten off.


I'd love to see what you make with the Acorn Border!