Expert: Bea Harrell - 6/5/2008

Question
I have been trying to figure out a very simple pattern but for the life of me I cannot seem to make it work. This is a pattern from a Home and Gardens crochet magazine and more recently in the Romantic Looks book by Leisure Arts on page 28.  Specifically,
I need to know about the "mesh pattern" portion.  When I CH. 82 complete Row 1, Row 2, Row 3 and the repeats it is not right.   

Row 1 (RS)DC in 6th ch from hook-counts as 1 ch-1 mesh: ch 1, sk next ch, *dc in next ch, ch1, sk next ch: rep from* across; dc in last ch- 39 ch 1 mesh.  Ch 3 - counts as first dc of next row; turn  

Row 2: DC in next ch-1 sp, *ch 1, dc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across, end dc in 3rd ch of turning -ch 6 - 38 ch-1 mesh. Ch 4-counts as first dc and ch-1 of next row: turn.

Row 3:  DC in next ch-1 sp. *ch 1,dc in next ch-1sp: rep from * across, end ch 1, dc in top of turning ch- 39 ch-1 mesh.  Ch 3, turn.  Rep Rows 2 -3 for Mesh pat until piece measure 9" from beg, ending with WS row.

The mesh pattern is either crooked or just wrong.  I have tried the dc in the chain and around the chain or even starting row 2 after the first ch 1 space but I am not getting the correct count of mesh pattern (Row 1- 39, Row 2- 38, Row 3- 39). I've tried everything but I am just doing something wrong.  Hopefully you can help me - thanks in advance --- Karen

Answer
Hey, Karen! I can't find anything wrong with the pattern, so I'm going to have to try & make this! Give me a couple of days, and maybe I can see what the problem is!  I'll use the follow up form, when I find something!

Best,  Bea



Follow up:  OK Karen!  The pattern works up just fine, although at the end of row 2, that ch 6 should not be there, so ignore that. I'm thinking you either have the wrong number of stitches in your starting chain, or your row 1 starting mesh is off somehow.  You need to count down 6 chain spaces from your hook. This counts as a chain 1 and your first mesh. use your fingers, and square it up, so it looks like a square, just so you'll know where the corners are. Now you'll start working across the chain. so, ch 1, skip the next ch, and *dc in the next ch, ch 1, skip the next ch, repeat from * across. Dc in the last ch. At this point you should have 39 squares/meshes,so count to make sure.If not, you'll need to make sure you haven't dc in one stitch twice, or skipped more than one chain space. Work on getting your count right for this first row, and if you need more help, just E me again.

Best Wishes,  Bea