Alice motif crochet pattern (US terms skill level: confident intermediate - Advanced )

15 months ago I saw an afghan called Sophies Universe that went on to change my life. She was big. beautiful and very complicated but I had to have one. There was one huge catch I'd have to make her myself, so I picked up a crochet hook and some yarn and got stubborn. Over the next four months there where tears, tantrums and lots of ripping out but eventually she was finished. But it didn't stop there I have been crocheting ever since determined to create beautiful crochet patterns others might want to make. 

(if you want to find  out more about Sophies universe and how she changed my life check out this post.)

 I'm delighted to be able to publish my first pattern with you all  in what might just be Steemits longest ever post. If you'd like to see how Alice grows as i continue my yarn doodling adventure you can find me here on Ravelry

 To save your scrolling fingers you will find the requirements, abbreviations and special stitches here

 To get started 

make a magic circle, or ch4 and join with a slst to the first ch, whichever is your preferred method.Round 1ch3 (counts as first dc), dc into magic circle, [ch1, 2dc into circle] 5 times, ch1, join with a slst into the top of ch-3. 

Stitch count: 12 x dc 

Round 2 

slst into next ch-1 space, ch1, [sc into ch-1 space, ch3] 6 times, slst into first sc. 

Stitch count: 6 x sc

Round 3 

If changing colour, make a stdc in any ch-3 space, 3dc in same ch space, ch2, 

If using same colour, slst into next ch-3 space, ch3, 3dc in same ch space, ch2,

[4dc in next ch-3 space, ch2] 5 times, join with a slst to stdc or top of initial ch-3. 

Stitch count: 6 x 4dc groups = 24 stitches

Round 4 

 [slst into space between second and third dc of the next 4dc group, 12dc* in ch-2 space between 4dc groups] 6 times, slst into the same space as your inital slst. 

Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later. 

Stitch count: 6 x 12dc fans = 72 stitches  

*Note: the 12dcs are a tight squeeze. If you’re struggling, you can pull the stitches you have already made over towards your hook hand, making more space for your remaining dcs. They will fit, I promise.

Round  5

 Stbptc (counts as first bptc) around the slst between any two petals (the petals will have pulled the slst up, making the loop more visible), ch3, bptc around the same slst, ch3, bpdc in 6th and 7th dc) of fan, ch3,

[bptc around the slst between next two petals, ch3, bptc around the same slst, ch3, bpdc around middle post (between sixth and seventh dc’s)of fan, ch3] 5 times,  join with a slst into stbctc. If changing colour, cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later. 

Stitch count: 12xbptc 

Round 6 

If changing colour, make a stsc into the ch-3 space between any two bptcs, 2sc into same space (place a stitch marker in the first sc),

  If using same colour, slst into next ch-3 space (between two bptcs), ch1, 3sc in same ch-3 space (place a stitch marker in second sc), 

[4sc in next ch-3 space, sc in second bpdc, 4sc in next ch-3 space, 3sc in ch-3 space between bptcs (mark second sc)] 5 times omitting last 3scs, join with a slst to stsc (sc if you didn’t change colour) Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later. Stitch count: 26 x sc

Round 7 

( the stitch markers from the last round mark your sides) Make a stsc in any of your marked stitches, ch1, sc in same stitch,[sc in next 11 stitches, [sc, ch1, sc] in marked stitch] 5 times omitting last [sc, ch1, sc], join with a slst to stsc.  

Stitch count per side: 13 x sc

Round 8 

ch1,[[sc, ch, sc] in corner ch-1 space (move marker to new ch-1 space), sc in next 2 stitches (making sure not to skip the hidden stitch), [ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc] 4 times, ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc in next 2 stitches] repeat for each side,join with a slst to 1st sc.  

Stitch count per side 10 x sc 

Round 9  

 Note: we will be using a variety of popcorn stitches (see Special Stitches) into the skipped stitches of round 7.  When working these stitches, it’s important to make sure you are working in FRONT of the chain stitches from round 8. 

[slst into ch-1 space, ch3, hdcpc in skipped stitch of round 7 (work in front of ch-1 space), ch1, skip 1 stitch,pc in skipped stitch of round 7, ch1, skip 1 stitch,tpc in skipped stitch of round 7, ch1, skip 1 stitch,pc in skipped stitch of round 7, ch1, skip 1 stitch,hdcpc in skipped stitch of round 7, ch3, slst into corner ch-1 space]repeat for each side, using last slst to join the round. Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later.  

Stitch count per side: 2x hdcpc 2x pc 2 x tpc = 6 stitches

Note: the tiered popcorn stitches will give your work a rounded appearance and the piece will be quite wavy at this point. It will straighten it out over the next few rounds.

Round 10 

Note: work in FRONT of any chains from previous round.

sttc in any corner ch-1 space from round 8, ch2, tc into same space (the skipped stitch from round 9 should sit between the tcs), tc into next (hidden) stitch from round 8, dc into the ch-3 space from round 9,[3dc in next ch-1 space, [3hdc in next ch-1 space] twice, 3dc in next ch-1 space, dc in ch-3 space, tc in last stitch before corner ch-1 space of round 8, [tc, ch2, tc] in corner ch-1 space, tc in hidden stitch of round 8] repeat on each side omitting the last tc,join with a slst to sttc.Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later.

Stitch count per side: 6 x dc 3 x hdc 3 x tc =12 stitches

Round 11

stsc in dc of any side (this should sit directly over the second hdcpc from round 9),[[6dc, picot-3, 6dc] in corner ch-2 space, skip 3 stitches (the first will be hidden), [sc, sc, ch1, skip 1 stitch] twice, sc, [ch1, skip 1 stitch, sc, sc] twice] repeat on each side omitting last sc,join with a slst to stsc.

Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later.

Stitch count per side: 12x dc  9x sc =21 stitches

Round 12 

Attach new yarn with a slst into first ch-1 space on any side,

[6dc in next ch-1 space, 6dc in next ch-1 space, ch5, bpsc into 6th stitch of fan with a picot, bpsc into 7th stitch of fan, ch5, slst into next ch-1 space] repeat on each side, join with a slst to first slst.

Cut yarn leaving enough of a tail to weave in later.

Stitch count per side: 12x dc 2x bpsc 14 stitches 

And you are all done if you run into any problems or would like permission to use this motif in a pattern of your own you can contact me via Ravelry.com

Special thanks to my pattern testers ( you ladies are amazing) especially Debbie H who gave permission for me to use a photo of her work. And to my Tech editor who has the patience of a saint for helping me translate my dyslexic ramblings into a readable pattern.