Alka and Arts: Crochet Gift Item Part 1: Swan Pair Home Decor for New Year, Valentine Day

On the eve of new year I am writting this post. I made this Swan pair show piece specially for Valentine Day and I am publishing it on New Year's day so that if any one wants to make this. He/she can complete this before Valentine day. In India there are two differnt opinions about this day, whether one should celebrate it or not. But what I feel is, if this is the "Love Day" then as a human being we should live every creature in this world. In Maharashtra, there was a great poet, Kusumagraj, about whom I have written on 10th Feb 2018 (again on Valentine day occassion), please read, So definitely we love all beautiful creations. Above creation "Swan pair ahow-piece" is that which will be loved by everyone.This show piece consists of three parts, 1. two swans, 2. Big heart which is decorated by flowers and leaves and 3. Water pond for swans. When I searched for Swan pattern, I saw the German pattern of Swan which I liked very much. The wonderful Google gave me the translation of the page which is very useful for me. On that basis with some changes, I made this swan pair. Pattern: Body: Chs 31. R1: sc 1 in each ch starting from second ch . (30 sts) R2: ch 1, sc 1 in each st Repeat this row till total rows are 24.

Next we work in round. Join with first st as shown.

Neck: Round 25: dc 1 in each st (30 sts). Note that first dc means ch 3. R26: In this rnd we have to equally decrease 13 sts. Ch 1 sc 1 in same st, (2sctog) 6 times, sc 1 in 2 sts, (2sctog) 7 times, sc 1 in 1 st, (17 sts). Here onward we shall not close the round by sl st, go on working in spiral. So always place marker at the first st. R27 to R31: sc 1 in each st, cl

R32: sc 1 in 4 sts, (2sctog), sc 1 in 4 sts, (2sctog), sc 1 in 3 sts, (2sctog). (14 sts) R33 to R37: sc 1 in each st. R38: sc 1 in 1 sts, (2sctog), sc 1 in 3 sts, (2sctog), sc1 in 3 sts, (2sctog), sc 1 in 1 st. (11 sts)

R39 to R43: sc1 in each st. R44: sc 1 in 2 sts, (2sctog), sc1 in 3 sts, (2sctog), sc 1 in 2 sts. (9sts) R45 to R54 sc 1 in each st.

Head: R1: sc 2 in each st. (18 sts) R2 to R5: sc 1 in each st (18 sts) R6: (2sctog) thoughout. (9sts) R7: sc 1, (2sctog) 4 times. (5 sts) R8: sc1, (2sctog) 2 times. (3 sts) R9: sc1, 2sctog. (2 sts) R10: 2sctog, (1 st) Bind off.

Tail: Join yarn at one end at tail side. R1: (2sctog) in first and last 2 sts, sc 1 in between. Repeat this row till there is only one st.

Upper part: Join white yarn at the starting of tail part, R1: (dc 1, ch1 skip 1 ch sp) rep in each st of the upper portion only. We get boxes as shown.

R2: [ In next box make dc2, in next box make dc1, (ch4-picot, ch5-picot, ch4-picot), dc1] rep till end.

Wing: CO ch 7, R1: sc 1 in second ch, dc1 in next, (tr3) in next 2 sts, dc1, sc1. (10 sts) R2 to R4: ch1 turn, sc1 in each st. ch1 turn, R5: sc1, hdc1, dc1, (tr3) in each of next 4 sts, dc1, hdc1, sc1. (18 sts) R6: Work in back loop only, (sc1, skip 1 st) rep till end (10 sts)

R7: Cast on ch7, sc1 in each of 5 sts starting from second, skip last st, join by sl st with the next st in row 6 (5 sc-sts) R8: sl st 1 in each of the 5 sts, ch3, turn R9: sc1 in second and third ch, sc1 in each of those 5 sts of previous row, sl st in the next st of row 6. (7 sts) R10: sl st 1 in 7 sts, ch3 turn

R11: sc 1 in second and third st, sc 1 in those 7 sts, sl st in the next st of row 6 (9 sts) turn, R12: sl st in each st, extend 3 chs Repeat this till we reach the end of each st in row 6. We increased the sts till 21.

Another wing: R1 to R6 as in previous wing. R7: Make chs 22 instead of 5, because we have to make this wing as a mirror image of this wing.

Then go on skipping last 2 sts each time thus decreasing from 21 to 19 to 17 to 15 and so on till we reach 5 scs.

Beak: R1: With red yarn in a magic loop, make ch3, dc 4, cl (5 sts) R2: with black, sc2 in each st, cl (10 sts) R3: ch1, sc1 in 2 sts, ch1 turn, R4: sc 1 in 2 sts, BO with 6” yarn end. Join black yarn exactly opposite to the first one. R1: Make ch1, sc1 in 2 sts, ch1, turn, R2, sc 1 in both sts BO with 6” yarn end.

Sew beads at the place of eyes. Also sew this part to the white head part.

Sew wings at proper place. Stuff in the body and pass a chain-cord through the windows close it. Also sew by one st neck with body. The swan is ready.