Raindrops Stitch

I have named this stitch "Raindrops" as I was told it looks like raindrops running down a window. Which I kind of think it does too. And as it happens, it was raining (a lot) during the grey February days when I was working on this pattern. So Raindrops it is.

I worked my original sample using chunky yarn on a 6mm hook, but the pattern works equally well using a DK weight yarn on a 4mm hook. You can see the two variations above. This is a very dense stitch pattern with a lovely surface texture, perfect for making cushions and bags. I think (hope) it would also make up into a super blanket in the DK weight, although I've yet to try it.
I'm writing using UK crochet terms, and the pattern is worked entirely in Half Treble crochet stitch. Some of the half trebles are normal size, some are longer and known as "Long Half Treble", as follows ::

htr [half treble]:: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US hdc stitch)

Lhtr [Long half treble] :: yarn over, insert hook into skipped stitch TWO ROWS BELOW, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (pull the loop right up so that it is level with the current row, it'll be a long-tall stitch!) Now yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.

To begin, make a foundation chain that is a multiple of 4, plus an extra 3.
For example, in this small sample my starting chain is 23 (20+3). For the 40cm cushion I made in chunky yarn, I chained 51 to begin (48+3).

:: ROW 1 ::
Beginning in the 3rd chain from the hook (as shown above), work a row of half trebles. Chain 2, turn.

:: ROW 2 ::
Make 1 htr in the very first stitch at the base of the ch-2, as shown above with my needle.

Chain 2, then skip 2 stitches...

..and work 1 htr into each of the next two stitches as shown above.

*Chain 2, skip 2 stitches, 1 htr into each of the next two stitches*
Repeat between ** until the last stitch....you'll be changing colours now, so when you work the last htr, the final "yarn over" of that stitch should be made with the new colour. I'll talk you through it.....ready? The final stitch of row 2 is worked as follows ::

{colour red}, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook). Now get your next colour ready {colour green} yarn over (ie get the yarn looped over your hook, as shown above) and simply pull the green loop through all three red loops on the hook.

Your new colour will be all ready to go now for the next row.

Chain 2, and turn.

:: ROW 3 ::
As before, you work your first htr into the very first stitch at the base of the ch-2, as shown above with my needle.

You will need to work over your tail ends if you can manage it, so get a hold of them and make sure they run across the top of your work, and pass the hook underneath them when you make your first stitch. Work the first 8-10 stitches over the tail ends, then leave them dangling. You will darn them in securely at the end.

1 htr into the next stitch, again remembering to work over your tail ends (as shown above).
The next two stitches are long half trebles and will be worked down into row 1 (the skipped stitches) as shown by my needle above. I'm going to talk you through it. So yarn over and insert the hook into that lower stitch two rows below....

Then yarn over and pull up a long loop until it is level with the first two stitches you made at the beginning of this row. You will have three loops on your hook, as shown above. Now yarn over, and pull through all three loops (see, this is worked just like a htr, but the loop of the stitch is longer).

Work a second Lhtr into the next skipped stitch from two rows below (as above)

Work 1 htr into each of the next two stitches, as shown above.

*Work 1 Lhtr into each of the two skipped stitches (2 rows below), then work 1 htr into each of the next two stitches (current row).*
Repeat between ** until the end of the row. Chain 2, turn.

:: ROW 4 ::

As before, you work your first htr into the very first stitch at the base of the ch-2, as shown above with my needle.

Chain 2 and skip two stitches, then work 1 htr into each of the next two stitches (as above)

*Chain 2 and skip two stitches, then work 1 htr into each of the next two stitches*

Repeat between ** until the last stitch. Remember you'll be changing colours now, so when you work the last htr, the final "yarn over" of that stitch should be made with the new colour, just as you did at the end of Row 2.

With your new colour loop pulled through, chain 2 and turn.

:: ROW 5 ::

This is a repeat of row 3, as follows :: 1 htr into the first stitch at the base of the ch-2. Remember to work over your tail ends for the first 8-10 stitches.

1 Lhtr's into each of the two skipped stitches of the row below (as shown by my needle above)

1 htr into each of the next two stitches

*1 Lhtr into each of the two skipped stitches of the row below, 1 htr into each of the next two stitches*

Repeat between ** to the end of the row.

Chain 2, and turn.

Right, before we go any further with the pattern we're going to talk about the tail ends now, so lets look at the back of the work....

When you work the beginning of each colour-change row, you should aim to crochet over your tail ends for about 8-10 stitches, then leave them dangling. Now get those dangly ends, thread them on to a darning needle, and darn them back on themselves. Take them all the way back under the stitches to the very edge of the work.....

....so that they hang out at the edge (as above). Don't pull the darning threads too tightly as that will pull and distort the stitches. Keep it soft. Now you can simply snip the ends off at the edge of the work. This is a secure way of dealing with ends, plus they shouldn't work their way loose and start poking out in the middle of a row. My advice is to deal with your tail ends at the End of Each Row!!! Listen to Lucy! Be disciplined! You are changing colours every two rows with this pattern, and that will mean a LOT of dangly ends to deal with. Do it as you go along, that's my best advice.

OK, lets get back to making Raindrops.....

:: Row 6 ::

This is a repeat of Row 2, as follows ::

work 1 htr into the stitch at the base of the ch-2 (as above).

*Chain 2, skip 2 stitches, 1 htr into each of the next 2 stitches*

Repeat between ** to the end of the row, remembering to change colours with the last stitch, ready for the next row.

Carry on repeating rows 3 and 2, changing colours every other row. If this is the very last row of your work, replace the stitch pattern of rwo 2 with a complete row of half trebles to finish.

I hope I've not made this stitch sound too complicated, as it is really very easy and there is a lovely, gentle rhythm to the pattern once you get into it. It should be a great pattern for new hookers, as there is minimal counting and only one stitch to get to grips with.

You can see in the above blue sample, I ended with a row of half trebles to create a solid finishing edge. This replaces the "2htr's-chain 2-skip 2" pattern.

Here is the pattern written in traditional format, for you to copy and paste if you wish ::

To begin, make a foundation chain which should be a multiple of 4 plus an extra 3.

:: Row 1 :: starting in 3rd ch from hook, work 1 htr in each stitch to the end. Ch-2, turn.

:: Row 2 :: work 1 htr in very 1st st at base of ch-2. *Chain 2, Skip 2, htr twice*

Repeat between ** until end of row, changing colours in the very last stitch. Ch-2, turn.

:: Row 3 :: work 1 htr in very 1st st at base of ch-2. *Work 1 Lhtr into each of the 2 skipped stitches from two rows below, htr twice*

Repeat between ** until the end of the row, ch-2, turn.

:: Row 4 :: repeat as for row 2, changing colours in the very last stitch.

:: Row 5 :: repeat as for 3.

:: Row 6 :: repeat as for row 2.

Repeat the pattern as for rows 3 and 2, changing colours at the end of every other row.

When you work the very last row of your design, replace row 2 pattern with a straight row of htr's to create a solid edge to finish.

I hope you have fun with your own Raindrops, whether you decide to make a cushion, a blanket, or something else entirely. As always, I am happy to provide my tutorials for you to enjoy for free, but if you would like to buy me a coffee, well, I would love that too.....

♥ Thank you so much for your hooky love, it's very, very much appreciated.♥

ps for details about making the Raindrops cushion in the above photo, please read my blog post here.

 

 

Comments

[Rosemary]

Have you seen the current emerging artists exhibition at the Town Hall Skipton. In particular crochet by https://jfoocreates.uk/stuck-in-a-loop/?
She has crocheted a QR code!

[Jennifer]

Just bought rainbow cushion pack, need a pattern. Thank you.

[Andrea Nicholas]

Good Morning

Hope you are well. My friend purchased the rainbow cusion for my birthday. I am trying to download the pattern with no luck. Do you have a link to the Pdf please?

Thank you
Andrea

[Abida Rafiq]

Hi
Can you please tell me how much yarn ball use in one cushion.
Thanks

[Donetta]

I can't wait to try this Raindrop Stitch! It looks awesome! Thank you for sharing this awesome pattern!

[Gwen Holmes]

I've made a blanket & a matching cushion in the Raindrops Stitch in DK - the blanket did have the 'RH slant' that everyone else has bother with, but I altered it slightly for the cushion & it turned out better. After two or three attempts at making a straight blanket, I gave up & have learned to live with the wonkiness. No-one else has noticed yet as it's always wrapped around me and/or my legs. I'm now busy with the Hydrangea stitch blanket in your original pack colours but with several of my own added to make a bit more 'rainbowiness'. Your blogs cheer me up no end when I can't get out because of my arthritis.Thank you

[Paloma]

Is there an answer to the common wonk issue?

[Paloma]

Is there an answer to the common wonk problem? I keep undoing and redoing and comparing to Lucy’s photos and they look the same except for the wonky raindrops. Help please! Thank you

[Susan]

I can't wait to see a blanket made from this. Make sure you sell a yarn pack. I love this stitch!

[Elken]

Hi Lucy, my mum and I have also bought the packs from ww and we can't stop the slanting either (despite following comments on this thread) perhaps you need to address this your pattern as many of us have had the same issue. It's a shame as many of us will have bought the packs in good faith that the pattern is totally fine - andvsone of us just can't work out how to fix it. Thanks in advance.

[Lana]

Hi Lucy
I love love love the Attic, and I have the exact same questions as posted here but I don't see any responses. Seems if you're getting the same question it would be awesome if we could see the answers so you're not getting the same question over and over. Do you answer questions? I sure hope you do cause I adore your website and can't wait to order more yarn for my next project!!

[Annie Storkey]

I found in order to get the number of stiches right I needed to put the first half treble in the next stitch to the chain 2, not the same stitch. The result of this is I need to stitch into the chain at the end of the row. However, by moving along one stitch I appear to have solved the problem of the slant - my crochet is perfectly straight and my raindrops lined up. Perhaps the answer is to move one stitch along?

[Mitch]

Hi
I'm having problems subscribing to feed - I also need to stop my crochet going off 'on the wonk'.
Please help - I'm loving the pattern & want to get cracking.

[Marie Gordon]

Hi Lucy, I love your Rainbow Stitch cushion so much I bought myself your Attic24 Special Chunky Rainbow Pack (8 balls, 8 buttons & cushion pad) before Christmas to make myself one. I also bought Attic24 Moorland Crochet Along Stylecraft Special DK (15 Shades) to join in your CAL tomorrow. I hoped I'd have completed the cushion by now! What am I doing wrong? I think I've pulled it out more times than there is rows of the finished item!! I've followed your detailed instructions but my last 2 stitches of a row end up as 2 chain stitches so I've made adjustments and reduced my foundation chain by 2. This has worked but I can't get my rainbow stitch to line up. Please help!! I want to start the the blanket tomorrow!! Thanks

[Fiona Lake]

Hi Lucy, I have made several attempts at making this cushion using the yarn pack (i have managed the bag already), but I can't get the sides to be straight. After several rows I end up with a trapezium rather than a rectangle. What am I likely to be doing wrong? thanks!

[Clare Roberts]

Hi Lucy. I received the chunky rainbow stitch yarn pack as a christmas present Just wondering what starting chain should be used to work with the cushion insert that was included? Many Thanks in advance. x

[Lyn]

Hi there, I am trying to perfect the raindrop stitch as I'm planning on making a cushion of my own (my first!), and am also having trouble lining the raindrops up. They seem to be slightly offset to the right each row. Do you know what I'm doing wrong? Thanks in advance, hope you can help as it's such a pretty stitch xx Lyn.

[Debra]

Hi Lucy,
Greetings from Australia. I am new to crochet and my teacher suggested I take a look at your blog couple of years ago and I frequently drop in to see what you have been up to. I feel so uplifted and inspired when I see what your latest projects are. You are a very talented lady. I am trying to perfect your raindrops stitch, but I can't line up the raindrops. Do you know why this happens? Is it my technique??? Would love to hear your solution, if you have one. Kind regards, Debra

[Carol Mickleburgh]

Love the raindrops cushion and the bag. I have the pack for cushion bought at Yarndale. Please do you have a printed version of the pattern as it would be so much easier to follow. Have completed 2 of your blankets which my grown up grandaughters love. I understand that there is enough yarn in the cushion pack to make the bag. Again do you have a printed version of this please.

[Sophie]

Loving your tutorials as a newbie to crochet. I'm having a bit of difficulty with the raindrops stitch as its coming out wonky and I can't work out why, so I'm wondering if you can help. I'm more than happy to send you a photo.

[Emily Green]

Hi - lovely patterns and use of color. But... add me to the gang who's crocheting on the bias and can't figure out what's wrong.

Sounded like you had the same problem but didn't explain what you corrected to fix it. Could you weigh in with an explanation of what sends it off at an angle?

[Solveig]

I'm new at crocheting but your patterns are usually so well written and with so many pictures that I easily understand them. Thanks so much for it!

[Laure Anderson]

I just started using your Raindrops pattern to make a blanket. I saw several comments saying that they were having trouble lining up the long half trebled. I am also having that problem. Is it because the row of chains and skipped stitches is too loose?

Looking forward to seeing your reply.

Thanks, Laure

[Pam]

I have bought a few of your kits the latest one being the rainbow cushion.perfect for cold weather to cosy up and crochet style craft is soooo soft thank you for your inspiration

[Maria Luisa Luque]

Oh dear I realy realy love this blog, it has inpired me a lot. I have no mony to donate beacuse I realy can´t sell any of my stuff to buy new material or donate anything. A simple comment that I realy LOVE your work it´s nothing. But I just wanted you to kow it