Mardi Gras Masque
This week our family was invited to our first Mardi Gras celebration since before we had children, but ah non! Times are tough post-COVID, and this year I’ve resolved to try to make-do or make-new before I go out and buy anything. Thank goodness I have my crochet skills to fall back on! Why go out and buy a Mardi Gras mask when I can whip one up from scrap materials I already have on hand? This beauty works up in just a couple of hours, so you’ll be ready for even last-minute celebrations.
Finished Size: About 6.5 inches wide, not including ties.
Pattern Level: Intermediate
Materials:
- MC: scrap worsted weight wool or acrylic yarn
- CC: Scrap metallic baker’s twine, or 1/8-inch ribbon, or DK weight yarn
- Size F (3.75 mm) crochet hook
- Size H (5.0 mm) crochet hook
- 2 stitch markers
- Yarn needle
Note: Pattern is worked in the round without turning between rounds.
Right Eye
With F hook and MC, ch 27; join with sl st in first ch to form a loop, taking care not to twist the loop.
Rnd 1. Ch 1; sc in first 25 ch, sc2tog over last 2 ch. Join with sl st in first sc. 26 sc.
Rnd 2. Ch 1; hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st (place a st marker in the second dc), 2 hdc in next st, sc in next 8 st, hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 11 st, hdc in next st; join with sl st in first hdc. Finish off and weave in end. 30 st.
Left Eye
With F hook and MC, ch 27; join with sl st in first ch to form a loop, taking care not to twist the loop.
Rnd 1. Ch 1; sc2tog over first 2 ch, sc in ea rem ch around. Join with sl st in first st. 26 sc.
Rnd 2. Ch 1; hdc in next st, sc in next 11 st, hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st, hdc in next st, sc in next 8 st, 2 hdc in next st, 3 dc in next st (place a st marker in the second dc), hdc in next st; join with sl st in first hdc. Finish off, leaving a 12-inch tail for sewing. 30 st.
Assembly
Using tail and holding right sides together, sew Left Eye to Right from the last stitch in Rnd 2 up to the marked dc. Tie off and weave in ends.
Border
With F hook and RS facing, join MC with sl st in seam.
Rnd 3. Beginning around Right Eye, ch 5, skip next unworked st, *sc in next st, ch 1, skip next 2 st, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next st, ch 1, skip next 2 st; rep from * once. (Sc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, sc) in next st, **ch 1, skip next st, (dc, ch 1) 3 times in next st, ch 1, skip next st, sc in next st; rep from ** once. (Ch 1, skip next st, sc in next st) 3 times, ch 1, sc in seam.
Continuing around Left Eye, (ch 1, skip next unworked st, sc in next st) 4 times, ch 1, *(dc, ch 1) 3 times in next st, skip next st, sc in next st, ch 1; rep from * once. (Sc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, dc, ch 1, sc) in next st, ch 1, skip next 2 st, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next st, ch 1, sc in next 2 st, ch 1, skip next 2 st, ch 1, skip next 2 st, (dc, ch 1) 4 times in next st, ch 1, dc in seam, ch 1, join with sl st in third ch of beg ch. Finish off. 10 shells + 8 ch-sp around nose.
With H hook, join CC with sl st in first ch-sp of Rnd 3 (under the beg ch-5).
Rnd 4. Sc in same sp as joining, skip next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, (2 sc, picot, sc) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, sc2tog across next 2 ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, (2 sc, picot, sc) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, (sc, picot) in next ch-sp, sc in next ch-sp; make Right Tie.
Right Tie
Sc in next ch-sp, ch 61, sl st in second ch from hook and ea rem ch, sl st in sc.
Border, cont.
Rnd 4, cont. *Sc2tog over next 2 ch-sp, (3 sc, picot) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp; rep from * once. Loosely sc in next 5 ch-sp, **(3 sc, picot) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, sc2tog over next ch-2 sp; rep from ** once. Make Left Tie.
Left Tie
Worked same as for Right Tie.
Border, cont.
Rnd 4, cont. Sc in next ch-sp, (sc, picot) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, (2 sc, picot, sc) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, sc2tog across next 2 ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, (2 sc, picot, sc) in next ch-sp, 3 sc in next ch-sp, sc in next ch-sp, (sc, picot) in next ch-sp; join with sl st in first sc of rnd. Finish off.
Block for best results.
