TULIP SHELL

CROCHET

ABBREVIATIONS

CH – CHAIN

SC – SINGLE CROCHET

HDC – HALF DOUBLE CROCHET

DC – DOUBLE CROCHET

TR – TREBLE CROCHET

SC2TOG – DECREASE BY

CROCHETING 2 SINGLE

CROCHET STITCHES TOGETHER

ST(S) – STITCH(ES)

– NUMBER OF STITCHES YOU

(6)

SHOULD HAVE AT THE END OF

THE ROUND

MATERIALS

For crocheting:



100 % cotton yarn, in 2 weights



Crochet hooks



Scissors



( Needle to weave in ends)

I used for shell body:



Madame Tricote “Camilla”,

(100% cotton, 50g=125m)



,5 mm hook

I used for trim and border:



Madame Tricote “Maxi”

(100% cotton, 100gr=565 m)



1 ,0 mm hook

For shaping:



White glue



Water



Small plastic bags



Rubber gloves (optional)

TIPS AND TRICKS



For nice and tight stitches use

crochet hook couple of sizes

smaller than indicated on yarn

label.



Work in continuous rounds, do

not join or turn unless otherwise

noted.



You might want to use stitch

marker and place it in the first

stitch of each round or row to

mark the beginning of it.

Crocheting the shell

Starting from the tip of the shell and working in continuous rounds and in back loops only.

Rnd 1: 6 sc in a magic ring (6)

Rnd 2: * 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next; rep from * 1 more time (8)

Rnd 3: * 1 hdc in each of next 3 sts, 2 hdc in next; rep from * 1 more time (10)

Rnd 4: * 1 dc in each of next 4 sts, 2 dc in next; rep from * 1 more time (12)

Rnd 5: * 1 dc in each of next 2 sts, 2 dc in next; rep from * 3 more time (16)

Rnd 6: * 1 dc in each of next 3 sts, 2 dc in next; rep from * 3 more time (20)

Rnd 7: * 1 tr in each of next 3 sts, 2 tr in next; rep from * 4 more time (25)

Rnd 8: * 1 tr in each of next 4 sts, 2 tr in next; rep from * 4 more time (30)

Turn and continue working in rows from now on:

Row 1: working through front loops only:

ch 1 (=1 sc), 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (31) Row 2: working through both loops from now on: ch 1

(=1 sc), sc2tog, * 1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next; rep from * 7 more times; 1 sc in each of last 4 sts; turn

(38)

Row 3: ch 1 (=1 sc), 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (39)

Row 4: ch 1 (=1 sc), sc2tog, 1 sc in each st; turn (38)

Rows 5, 7, 9, 11: same as Row 3 Rows 6, 8, 10: same as Row 4

Row 12: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts, rep from * 8 more times; 1 sc in last 2 sts; turn (30) Row 13:

ch 1 (=1 sc), 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (31)

Row 14: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts, rep from * 6 more times, 1 sc in last 2 sts; turn (24)

Row 15: ch 1 (=1 sc), 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (25)

Row 16: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts, rep from * 5 more times; turn (19)

Row 17: ch 1 (=1 sc), 2 sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (20)

Row 18: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next 2 sts, rep from * 3 more times, 1 sc in last 3 sts; turn (16) Row 19:

ch 1 (=1 sc), sc in next st, 1 sc in each st; turn (16)

Row 20: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * 3 more times, 1 sc in last 3 sts; turn (12) Row 21: ch 1

(=1 sc), 1 sc in each st; turn (12)

Row 22: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * 2 more times, 1 sc in last 2 sts; turn (9) Row 23: ch 1

(=1 sc), 1 sc in each st; turn (9)

Row 24: ch 1 (=1 sc), * sc2tog, 1 sc in next st, rep from * 1 more time, 1 sc in last 2 sts; turn (7) Rows 25, 26,

27, 28: ch 1 (=1 sc), 1 sc in each st; turn (7)

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Crocheting the border

Trim:

Using 1,00 mm hook and thin thread.

Attach yarn to the front loop of last stitch of last round.

Working into those front loops : 2 sc in one stitch all the way to

the center of the shell.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Border:

Using 1,00 mm hook and thin thread.

Attach yarn to the top of the shell opening.

Ch 1 and then sc all the way around the shell opening inserting

hook into the stitches.

Now work 2. row only down of the opening of the shell by

working 2 dcin one stitch and 1 dc in next. Few stitches before

the tip of the shell make 2 hdc and 4-5 sc instead of dc.

Fasten off and weave in the ends.

Shaping the shell



In a cup mix 2 parts of water with 1 part of glue.



Immerse the crocheted shell into the glue and water mixture

wear rubber gloves if necessary) until it’s fully wet.

(



Carefully squeeze out excess glue-water mix.



Start shaping the shell by gently pulling at the crochet fabric

and giving it a desired shape.



Use something (like chopstick) to help you straighten out the

long ant thin shell top.



Use small plastic bags to fill up the shell – it helps to hold it’s

shape while the shell is drying



Pinch the bottom of the shell together and shape an opening.

Pull at trim.



Continue until you are satisfied with the shape.



Leave it to dry on a towel.

Few more tips and

tricks



I use for most of my small crochet work 100% cotton yarn

which has 125 m of yarn per 50 grams. Many brands have this

weight. Some examples: Madame Tricote “Camilla”, Kartopu

“Organica”, Anchor “Creativa Fino”, Schachenmayr “Catania”

and there are many more.



Yarn label calls for 3,o mm hook for these yarns but I

recommend to use as small hook as you possibly can. I usually

work with 1,5 mm. If this feels too uncomfortable then try a bit

larger hook like 1,75 mm or 2,00 mm. The smaller the hook,

the tighter the stitches and the prettier an end result. But it has

to feel comfortable! Crocheting always has to be fun not a

struggle 



Variegated yarn also gives a lovely effect to the shell. I’ve used

Alize “Bahar Batik” with great success.



I like to use even thinner yarn and smaller hook (1,0 mm) for

added details. Like border and trim in this shell pattern. I

mostly use Madame Tricote “Maxi” (100 gr = 565 m) or Alize

“Miss” (50 gr = 280m). But again- there are many other

options available depending on where you live.



If you feel uncomfortable using that thin of the hook and yarn,

you can add border and trim with same yarn you did the body

of the shell – no problem! In this case I recommend you do *sc,

ch 1 or crab stitch for trim. For second row in shell opening try

dc, ch1, or plain 1 dc in each sc.



Let’s talk some more about shaping the shell. I use regular

white glue. It’s available all over the world. I mix either 2 parts

of water to 1 part of glue or 1:1 if I want my end result to be

even stiffer If you have sensitive skin please wear rubber gloves

while using glue mix. If you like the feel of cotton yarn and

don’t want to add any stiffness to your shell you can just

wet it in water, give it a desired shape and leave it to

dry. I encourage you to experiment and find the way

what suits you best!



Finally let’s talk about further embellishing your shells.

I have used watercolors or diluted acrylic paint to add

some extra color to my shells. I’ve also experimented

with adding some glitter and sealing it with some

varnish. Or hand stitched on some seed beads (must be

done before shaping with glue).