These polka dot motifs were originally inspired by antique penny rugs that were hand sewn using woollen clothing scraps to create something new, beautiful and useful. I have chosen my favourite linen yarn to crochet these streamers, which comes in a stunning range of colours and I often have lots of leftovers that are perfect for crocheting polka dot motifs. Thanks to this streamer design, you can keep adding new polka dots whenever your stash of leftovers begins to overflow!
Large-centre motif
Small-centre motif
This design will work well with almost any other weight of yarn, I would recommend 4ply or double knit (fingering or worsted) weight so that the streamer doesn’t become too heavy.
Using 2 strands of yarn held together, 6 rnds in tr sts (12st increase each rnd) = 10cm (4in)
Polka dot motifs approx. 5cm (2in) diameter
Length of garland approx. 2.3m (21⁄2yd)
This is the perfect project for using up oddments of sock yarns or beautiful hand-dyed snippets that you can’t bear to lose.
Off-white
Peach
Emerald
Yellow
Sky
Mint
Magenta
Orange
Each polka dot motif is worked with two strands of the same colour yarn held together throughout.
The main colour of the streamer is off-white (yarn A), which is used in round 1 of each small-centre motif and round 3 of each large-centre motif. The remaining colours (referred to as ‘second colour’ below) are then repeated in every seven motifs and six times throughout the streamer; refer to the colour placement diagram as a guide.
Begin the streamer with a small-centre motif then a large-centre motif, which is joined-as-you-go to the first motif. Then repeat a small-centre motif joining it to the second motif as you go. Continue in this way alternating between the two motif variations and repeating colours as described above.
Make 21 (first and every alternate motif).
Foundation ring: using yarn A and 3mm hook, ch5, ss to form ring
Round 1: ch3 (counts as first tr), 11tr into ring (12sts), fasten off invisibly
Round 2: join second colour in any st, ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into base of ch3, 2tr inc into each st around, ss to 3rd of starting ch3 (24sts)
First motif only round 3: ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into base of ch3, tr into next st *2tr inc, tr* rep from * to * around (36sts), fasten off invisibly
Third and every following alternate motif round 3: ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into base of ch3, tr into next st *2tr inc, tr* rep from * to * 6 times, jn into first st of rnd 3 of prev motif, rep from * to * 6 more times (36sts), fasten off invisibly
Make 22 (second and every alternate motif).
Foundation ring: using second colour and 3mm hook, ch5, ss to form ring
Round 1: ch3 (counts as first tr), 11tr into ring, ss to 3rd of starting ch3 (12sts)
Round 2: ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into base of ch3, 2tr inc into each st around (24sts), fasten off invisibly
Round 3: join yarn A in any st, ch3 (counts as first tr), tr into base of ch3, tr into next st *2tr inc, tr* rep from * to * 6 times, jn into first st of rnd 3 of prev motif, rep from * to * 6 more times (36sts), fasten off invisibly
Using a press cloth, steam press on reverse with a hot iron.
