Bavarian Crochet in Rows

Some time ago, I happened across a style of crochet I had never heard of before called Bavarian crochet. Legend has it that a mother and daughter of Bavarian descent created it, but no one knows for sure. In any case, it is a lovely textured stitch pattern.

My example shows it worked in rows, but traditionally it is worked in the round. The resulting fabric is textured and thick, yet still drapes really well. It’s perfect for all your fall projects!

Special Stitches

4-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 4 stitches, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the fourth fptr, yo and pull through all 5 loops on the hook. 4-fptr cluster is complete.

5-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 5 stitches, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the fifth fptr, yo and pull through all 6 loops on the hook. 5-fptr cluster is complete.

8-fptr cluster. Work a fptr over ea of the next 8 tr, keeping the last loop of ea fptr on the hook. After the eighth fptr, yo and pull through all 9 loops on the hook. 8-fptr cluster is complete.

Instructions

Beginning Ch: Multiple of 8 + 2.

Row 1. Sc in 2nd ch from hook, *skip 3 ch, (4 tr, ch 1, 4tr) in the next ch, skip 3 ch, sc in the next ch, rep from * across.

Change colors if desired.

Row 2. Ch 3; turn. 4-fptr cluster over next 4 tr, ch 4, sc in next ch-1 sp, *ch 3, 8-fptr cluster over next 8 tr, ch 4, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across. Ch 3, 5-fptr cluster over next 5 st.

Row 3. Ch 4; turn. 4 tr in top of first cluster, sc in the next sc, *(4 tr, ch 1, 4 tr) in center of next cluster, sc in next sc; rep from * across. 5 tr in top of last cluster.

Change colors if desired.

Row 4. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first tr, *ch 3, 8-fptr cluster over next 8 tr, ch 4, sc in next ch-1 sp; rep from * across, ending last rep with a sc in last tr.

Row 5. Ch 1; turn. Sc in first sc, *(4 tr, ch 1, 4 tr) in center of first cluster, sc in next sc; rep from * across.

Change colors if desired.

Rep rows 2-5, changing colors after each odd row if desired.

Abbreviations

• beg (beginning)
• ch (chain)
• ea (each)
• fptr (front-post treble crochet)
• rep (repeat)
• sc (single crochet)
• st (stitch)
• tr (treble crochet)
• yo (yarn over)