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Learn crochet intarsia! Ma Chérie Keyring by The Almond Snug

We LOVE patterns from Dawn at The Almond Snug, so we were thrilled when she created the sweet Ma Chérie top especially for summer! Use your left-over cotton to make a little Ma Chérie keyring to match, and learn how to work crochet intarsia with Dawn's easy to follow tutorial!

Make your own Ma Chérie Summer Top!

Materials

To make your Ma Chérie keyring, you will need three colours of MillaMia Naturally Soft Cotton (perfect for using up your leftovers if you've made the summer top!), a 2.75mm crochet hook, a tapestry needle and a key ring.

Pattern notes:

Yarn colours A, B and C are:

Yarn A: French Navy (320)

Yarn B: Sweatpea (352)

 Yarn C: Bright Red (331)

Finished size: 10cm (4 inches) X 7cm (2.75 inches).

 When referring to the chart read all odd (rs) rows from right to left and all even (ws) rows from left to right.

 If you are a left-handed maker you will need to add an extra row at the beginning and reverse the rs and ws so read all odd (ws) left to right and all even rows (rs) right to left.

The pattern uses US crochet terms.

1

step 1

Make the back:

Foundation: Using yarn A, 3ch.

Row 1(rs): 3sc in third ch from hook, turn. (3sc)

Row 2(ws): 2ch (chs at the start of the row do not count as a st here and throughout), 2sc in the first st, 1sc, 2sc in the last st, turn. (5sc)*

Row 3: 2ch, 2sc in the first st, 1sc in each st to last st, 2sc in the last st, turn. (7sc)

Rows 4-8: As row 3. (ending row 8 with 17sts)

Rows 9-26: 1ch, 17sc, turn.

Fasten off.  Weave in ends.

2

step 2

Make the front:

Work as for back to *

Row 3:

Using the intarsia method start a new length of yarn for each change of colour and keep all strands on the ws of work.

2ch, 2sc in the first st, 2sc using yarn A

3

step 3

To change colour, work only the first yrh of the last st in A before changing to yarn B and work the last yrh with B.

4

step 4

1sc,

This time, work only the first yrh of the st in B before changing back to A for the last yrh 

Always begin the colour change in the previous st, then continue to work each st in the yarn indicated.

To minimise the crossing of yarn join a new strand of A to work the sts on this side.

2sc in the last st using yarn A, turn (7sc).

Continuing the colourwork:

For the next row you will be working from the ws, remember to keep moving all strands to this side as you change colour and pick up and drop the colours as required

5

step 5

Row 4: 2ch, 2sc in the first st, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 3sc, 2sc in the last st. (9sc)

Row 5: 2ch, 2sc in the first st, 3sc, change to yarn B, 3sc, change to yarn A, 1sc, 2sc in the last st. (11sc)

6

step 6

Row 6: 2ch, 2sc in the first st, 1sc, change to yarn B, 4sc, change to yarn A, 4sc, 2sc in the last st. (13sc)

7

step 7

Row 7: 2ch, 2sc in the first st, 4sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 1sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 2sc, 2sc in the last st. (15sc)

Row 8:  2ch, 2sc in the first st, 2sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 2sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 5sc, 2sc in the last st. (17sc)                                                                              

Row 9: 1ch, 6sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 3sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 4sc.

Row 10: 1ch, 3sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 4sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 6sc.

Row 11: 1ch, 5sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 5sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 3sc.

Row 12: 1ch, 3sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 5sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 5sc.

Row 13: 1ch, 4sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 5sc, change to yarn C, 3sc, change to yarn A, 3sc.

Row 14: 1ch, 2sc, change to yarn C, 4sc, change to yarn A, 5sc, change to yarn B, 2sc, change to yarn A, 4sc.

You have now finished with B so you can cut any excess yarn.

Row 15: 1ch, 3sc, change to yarn C, 3sc, change to yarn A, 4sc, change to yarn C, 5sc, change to yarn A, 2sc

Row 16: 1ch, 2sc, change to yarn C, 4sc, change to yarn A, 4sc, change to yarn C, 4sc, change to yarn A, 3sc. 

Row 17: 1ch, 2sc, change to yarn C, 5sc, change to yarn A, 4sc, change to yarn C, 3sc, change to yarn A, 3sc.

Row 18: 1ch, 10sc, change to yarn C, 4sc, change to yarn A, 3sc.

Row 19: 1ch, 3sc, change to yarn C, 3sc, change to yarn A, 11sc.

Continue in yarn A only.

Rows 20-26: 1ch, 17sc, turn.

Fasten off.  To manage the yarn ends on the ws either tie 2 strands near each other with a square knot or weave them in. 

Referring to the chart, use a tapestry needle, backstitch and 2 strands of yarn B to add the lettering to the front.  Dot the i with a French knot.

8

step 8

With the front and back ws together, insert hook through the starting chain of both pieces, join yarn B.

9

step 9

1ch, inserting hook through both pieces sl st along the row ends and the stitches along the final row thus joining the front and back together ending with a sl st in base of the 1ch at the start of round.

10

step 10

To join the clasp 4ch, cut yarn and thread the chain and yarn tail through the clasp,  sl st in base of 4ch, fasten off.  Weave in ends.

11

step 11

Wet or steam block to finish.

Our fave patterns from The Almond Snug