6" Flower burst 2

Worsted weight yarn (3 colors)

Size 5mm/F crochet hook (or whatever size you normally use)

Special stitches:

FPdc – front post double crochet: YO, insert hook from front to back around post of next st, YO and pull up a loop even with last st worked, and complete dc.

FPBN8 or 10--front post Bullion 8 or 10: Wrap yarn top to bottom toward you 8 or 10 times-as indicated by the number after BN-, insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated. YO pull loop through, YO pull loop through all loops on hook giving enough slack for bullion to stand up straight. (Do NOT ch 1 to close)

Rnd 1- Color A

Ch 6, sl st into first chain made to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc into center of ring, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. (12 dc)

Rnd 2

Join color B with sl st to any dc, (ch 3, dc, FPBN8) in same st-(see special sts you will be working 2 dc in same st, then FPB8 around the post of the same dc) *(2 dc, FPBN8) all in next st* Repeat  from *to * around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3, being careful to hold yarn behind work and between bullion and beg ch to work the sl st. (24 dc, 12 bullions)

Rnd 3

Sl st in between next 2 dc, ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, (skip bullion, 2 dc in between the next 2 dc, ch 1) all the way around, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. (24 dc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4

Ch 1, sc in between next 2 dc, *FPBN8 around next BN from Rnd 2, keeping yarn behind hook and to the right of hook,  sl st back into the same sp as last sc just made, ch 2, FPBN8 around same BN, sc between next 2 dc keeping yarn behind hook as above. * repeat from * to * around, sl st to 1^st sc. Fasten off color A. (24 bullions, 12 sc, 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5- Color B

Join color B with sl st to any ch-2 sp from rnd 4, (ch 3, 3 hdc) in same ch-2 sp, (4 hdc in each ch-2 sp) around, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off Color B-you may want to pull Color A through the last stitch made. (48 dc)

Rnd 6-Color A

Join Color A between 2^nd dc of any 4 dc in rnd 5, ch 3, *(2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) (corner made), *  ** FPBn10, hdc behind Bn, 4 hdc, FPBn8, hdc behind Bn, 4hdc, FPBn10, hdc in next st, ** (2dc, ch 2, 2 dc) *Repeat * to * 2 times,  then repeat ** to ** for last side and sl st to beg ch.

Rnd 7-Color B

Join Color B with sl st in any corner ch-2 sp, * (ch 3, dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in same sp (corner made), hdc, 12 sc across skipping hdc behind bullions,* repeat * to * three more times and sl st to beg ch.

© Copyright April 2012 by Linda Carlson. All rights reserved. This pattern may not be

reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including

photocopying -- without the written permission of Linda Carlson. Projects made from this

pattern may be gifted, swapped or sold. If you use this pattern to sell items on the internet,

kindly credit Linda Carlson as the designer.

His Design Devotional

I recently had to minister to one of the convalescent homes I go to and wasnt sure what God wanted me to bring as a message. I had something in mind but I really wasn't certain that was what God wanted me to minister on.
It wasn't until that morning that God revealed a message to me. I woke up with a crochet design in my mind. It was the design of a cross afghan square. I very excitedly got up, got out my yarn and crochet hook and got to it. While I was crocheting God brought the verse in Psalm 139 to mind. "You are fearfully and wonderfully made."
I finished the design and brought it with me as my visual aid and was so grateful for God's perfect timing and wonderful message.

In crochet you start with a foundation row, and with this square you work in the round starting in the center and working your way around. Working from inside to the outside.
That is kind of like how we are and God's design for us. He puts a substance in us, the foundation, when he creates us. He has a purpose and plan for us and it's a good one. Life can often throw things at us that could mess up that design, at least that is Satan's plan. However when we are saved God takes over. Sometimes as a result of sin in us and around us there are flaws in the design. Sometimes we try to decide what we think the design should be and try to create it ourselves. Then we fail and falter and it is only when we submit to God everything we are, is he able to take those mistakes, tangles and snarls in the design and fix them. God may have to do some ripping back to correct those places. "Ouch" is an understatement. Usually it's our pride that hurts, or things don't go along with what we pinned our hopes on and it hurts to realize that that was not the right dream God had in mind.
Sometimes we get stuck on a row because we don't understand where it is leading us. We don't see how going in this particular direction will fit into the whole design. I have followed patterns where I couldn't see how the design was going to look like the picture until several rows were done, because the rows build on each other and only made the whole design take shape when I finished the next row. That can be a scary place to be. The anxiety builds and worry sets in. Will it come out ok? What will it look like to others if I'm mess this up? I don't understand this next stitch (step), it doesn't seem right. We can get frustrated and want to put the whole thing away and hide it somewhere so no one will see. We can get to a place where we dont' make any progress at all because we just don't trust the directions and in turn trust the one directing.
God wants our trust but he will never force us to make the next step. He waits patiently, but sometimes has to give us a little nudge to get to the next level. The next row can only be started by somehow getting from the top of the previous row to the top of next row. Often we have to chain up to get the height of the next stitches for the new row. In life we don't always feel we are ready to take that step in the next level. We don't feel prepared. But we have to stretch ourselves a little and work that beginning chain. Taking a leap of faith to step out to where God wants us.
 And of course we all get frustrated sometimes when Jesus is on the inside working his way out but he is not showing through enough because our humanness often falls short. That is where we need the Holy Spirit to step in and fill the gaps, or support our previous efforts (stitches) to create the design God intended.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

The expected end is God's whole design for us. One with peace in its works.The good news is God knows what he is dong. Phew! I certainly don't. I don't have a clue and can't see the future. Good thing because I think if I did I would cower in fear of some of those rocky paths ahead. Or tricky stitches in this case. :)


Pattern for this square coming soon.

This is a picture of my painting. I used picasa to darken the edges of the photo.
Letters are actually sheet music from the song Christ the Lord Is Risen Today

6" Flower Burst square

6" Flower Burst square      
Pattern currently being tested and edited

Worsted weight yarn (3 colors)

Size 5mm/F crochet hook (or whatever size you normally use)

Special stitches:

FPdc – front post double crochet: YO, insert hook from front to back around post of next st, YO and pull up a loop even with last st worked, and complete dc.

FPBN8--front post Bullion 8: Wrap yarn top to bottom toward you 8 times, insert hook from front to back around post of st indicated. YO pull loop through, YO pull loop through all loops on hook giving enough slack for bullion to stand up straight. (Do NOT ch 1 to close)

V-stitch: (fpdc, ch 2, fpdc) all in stitch indicated (worked as front-post-dc around top of bullions).

Rnd 1- Color A

Ch 6, sl st into first chain made to form ring. Ch 3, 11 dc into center of ring, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off color A. (12 dc)

Rnd 2 – Color B

Join color B with sl st to any dc (ch3, dc, FPB8) in same st-(see special sts you will be working 2 dc in same st, then FPB8 around the post of the same dc) *( 2dc, FPB8) all in next st* Repeat *to * around, sl st to 3rd ch of beg ch-3, being careful to hold yarn behind work and between bullion and beg ch to work the sl st.. (24 dc, 12 bullions)

Rnd 3

Sl st in between the ch-3 & dc just made, ch 3, dc in same st, ch 1, (skip bullion, 2 dc in between the next 2 dc, ch 1) all the way around, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. Place marker in any ch-1 sp. (24 dc, 12 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 4

Ch 1, sc in between next 2 dc, V-stitch (see special sts) around top of next bullion, *skip ch-1 sp, sc in between next 2 dc, V-stitch around top of next bullion* Repeat from * to * all the way around, sl st to beg sc. Fasten off color B. (12 sc, 12 v-sts=24 fpdc, 12 ch-2 sps)

Rnd 5- Color C

Join color C with sl st to any ch-2 sp, (6 sc in each ch-2 sp) around, sl st to 1^st sc. Fasten off color C. (72 sc)

Rnd 6- Color A

Working behind flower petals, join color A with sl st to any ch-1 sp in Rnd 3 (where marker was placed), (ch 3, 3 dc) in same ch-1 sp, (4 dc in each ch-1 sp) around, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. (48 dc)

Rnd 7

(Ch3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same st (makes 1^st corner), *(hdc, 9 sc, hdc) over next 11 sts,

(2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in next st (corner made)* Repeat from * to * 2 more times, (hdc, 9 sc, hdc) over next 11 sts, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. Fasten off color A. (36 sc, 16 dc, 8 hdc, 4 ch-1 sps)

Rnd 8- Color C

Join color C with sl st to any corner ch-1 sp, (ch 3, dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in same sp (1^st corner made), *ch 2, skip next 2 sts, dc in next 5 sts, ch 1, skip next st, dc in next 5 sts, ch 2, skip next 2 sts**, corner as (2 dc, ch 1, 2 dc) in ch-1 sp*  Repeat from * to * 3 more times ending at ** on final repeat, sl st to 3^rd ch of beg ch-3. (56 dc, 4 ch-2 sps, 12 ch-1 sps)

At this point if your square is 6 inches, fasten off. If it is not, you may work an additional round in this manner: sc in every dc, 2 sc in each ch-sp, (sc, ch 1, sc) in corner ch sps.
         (tested by Carleta3021)

© Copyright April 2012 by Linda Carlson. All rights reserved. This pattern may not be reproduced – mechanically, electronically, or by any other means, including photocopying -- without the written permission of Linda Carlson. Projects made from this pattern may be gifted, swapped or sold. If you use this pattern to sell items on the internet, kindly credit Linda Carlson as the designer.

Search and Try me

In Psalm 139:23-24 it is telling God to search me and try me. That takes trust to give God the reins and let him examine every dark corner of my heart. To find all the things that he doesn't want there and purify my heart. That can be a scary place to be. A very vulnerable place. Who wants to be exposed and raw like that?
 I know God already knows me and my thoughts so why do I want to even hold back? He is not surprised by what he finds. It's just me that cringes when his light and truth expose the places I tried to make secret. Things I don't want to look at are coming to the surface, but I am not met with judgement and disdain from God. I am met with his healing love instead. His Holy Spirit is gently and lovingly leading me on. He knows it is for my good and not for my harm to bring me to full healing.

The rest of Psalm 139 is wonderful to read to remind myself exactly who I am to God. When I get to a dark place in my heart that I don't want to look at, I can read that I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Marvelous are God's works, including me. It says that I am on God's mind and many are his thoughts toward me. It says he knows everything about me and is with me everywhere, even in the dark it is as light to him. Nothing is hid. His hand is upon me and I cannot go anywhere where he is not. He will lead me no matter where I go.

Examine, eliminate

Ps 139:23 - 24 Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if [there be any] wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

The concordance says that wicked in this verse is from the word otseb which means

  pain, sorrow, or  idol

Wow that just jumped off the page and straight to my heart. I was just talking about hurts and holding onto them instead of letting Jesus set me free from them. And that these things hold me back from serving him fully.

 If there is something we hold onto that has become more important, or an excuse that keeps us from serving God, it is an idol.

I am very convicted by this, but there is hope. This psalm is telling me that God can help me search these things out and that God will lead me to healing and freedom from them.

God search my heart and help me to let go of these hurts and sorrows that have become idols, that stand in the way of my serving you. Reveal any lies I have believed from my past. Let your Holy Spirit's light shine through to expose these things and help me release them to you. In Jesus name I pray.

Challenge to heal: Echos of the past

We have all had moment that come up in our everyday where we have reacted badly. Our buttons get pushed and and we over react to something said or done as if it was the worst possible thing that could have been done to us. Until something else comes along and becomes the worst thing ever done or said.
I have been the type to have emotional knee jerk reactions to what people do or say. Then eventually I calm down and get over it, or so I think. The truth is that the reaction I have is quite often above and beyond a reaction to that one event. Most of the time the reaction is based on  echos of the past. Hurts that go deeper then the immediate circumstance, resurface and trigger all kinds of messages learned from other times in my life.  My reaction to a co-worker's/spouse's/ friend's remark will stir familiar feelings of not being of value, not being approved of, being rejected and alone, or being unworthy of love and acceptance.
I am challenging myself to take these reactions to God. Praying to the Holy Spirit to reveal where these hurts stem from and offer them up to God to be finally and completely nailed to the cross Jesus died on.The Bible says Jesus died on the cross, bore our griefs and carried our sorrows. Why then am I still holding on to those hurts? He died to set me free so why do I continue to keep the things that make me enslaved to the past?

Is 53:4 Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.

Jesus wants me free to serve him and be fully his. I cannot continue where I am, with piles of hurts bogging me down, and serve him fully and wholeheartedly. Those weights that so easily beset me are those hurts. They keep me in fear and from stepping out in faith to serve the God I love with the passion and fervency that he requires.
His desire is to make me more like him. To be able to die to self and look upon the ones that caused the hurt and say "Father forgive them" with the love of Christ in my heart.