"Kaas Plateau Square"

There was a time in my life when I wanted to get rid of the local trains (just google western railway Mumbai ..!!). What a pain it is to travel, in fact getting inside the train is the biggest challenge..! But now that the local train services are suspended since March and expected to remain suspended till 30^th of September, I must take roadways to reach office (I resumed office almost after 4 months of WFH). It is now, I understood the importance of local trains – how badly I miss my travelling, standing on the platform waiting for train to arrive ( by the way, they are hardly on time), standing ahead of everyone on the platform and jumping inside even before the train halts at the platform, chatting with my friends ( my morning train is fixed so I have a group of friends - of different ages, different ethnicities, different cultures but when we are in the train, we are one! ). I miss them all, that morning time was my energy booster for the whole day. 

 

‌We tend to take everything for granted when it is easily available, we only understand their importance when they are snatched away from us. This lockdown has taught me (or rather all of us) what is truly valuable in life and what is façade. It has changed our way to look at life, made us appreciate what truly matters: friends and family...! Lockdown let us rediscover ourselves and gave us time to rekindle our passions and interests which were lost in time (or due to lack of time).

 

‌A teeny tiny virus brought our lives to standstill and showed us how fragile the life can be...! It made us sit still and appreciate what we have rather than what we do not have. So, I have started taking one moment at a time...!! Last week we celebrated my son’s second birthday, so we are having our little good time at home. Also, during this time of the year ,we celebrate Ganpati festival in India (especially in the state of Maharashtra). It is one of the most awaited season of the year. Ganesh clay idols are installed privately at homes or in pubic pandals on large scale amid big processions but this year due to pandemic there is no noise in the pandals, no processions, but can still hear the hums of aartis (prayer songs/hymns) at night time but everything is happening on a very limited scale, in much simpler manner.

 

We normally visit my husband’s native place (trip I which, always look forward to..!) but this year we also dropped the plan of going there. Instead I made “Ukadiche Modak (steamed rice flour dumpling with coconut and jaggery stuffing)” and “Besan Laddoo (sweet made using Ghee roasted gram flour)” at home. But I missed the fun at the village.!

 

As I mentioned earlier that I am travelling by road to reach my workplace, I get my “Me Time” (almost 06 hours every alternate day!) that I use to read (currently reading “Norwegian Wood” by Murakami), crochet (presenting the pattern here😊)and either listening to music or watching documentaries (recently watched “Our Planet” - a documentary series by Netflix). I was so upset and distraught over the way we are displacing the habitat of other species, that I could not hold my tears at times.!

 

As David Attenborough rightly said that be responsible careful citizens of this planet which is our only home, and for the creatures that live in it..!

 

Coming back to the pattern, presenting “Kaas Plateau” square – I have always like to make floral centric square so this one also has flower in the center, also I was much inspired by the series so I decided to make some designs ( as and when I get time ) that will connect to India’s natural reserves.

 

I will speak less about the pattern, it is simple square aimed at beginners, uses basic crochet stitches!! But would like to share something about “Kass”, Kaas best known as Maharashtra’s valley of flower, is 280 Km drive away from Mumbai. It bears UNESCO World Heritage Site tag for its stunning biodiversity. Roughly during September and some days of October, the plateau blooms with a carpet of tiny, colorful wildflowers and with it come, various varieties of Butterflies..!

 

Kass Plateau Square

 

MATERIAL NEEDED:

Yarn of your choice

Matching hook

scissors

tapestry needle for weaving in your ends

YARDAGE:

350+ yards

 

FINISHED SIZE:

10 inches when made in fingering weight yarn and 3.5mm hook

 

PATTREN NOTES:

Join rounds with slip stitches in the first st made unless otherwise noted.

Pattern repeats are marked within round with any of the following: **, (), {}.

Stitch count for each round are listed at the end of the round.

Groups of stitches are marked in parenthesis () or {}.

Please go through the "STITCH GUIDE & ABBREVIATIONS" section before you begin. All stitches in this pattern are listed and/or explained in this section unless they are explained within the round itself.

It is always best to wash your product by hand and block appropriately.

I have done my best to make sure this pattern is accurate. However, if you find any errors or typographical mistake or have any query with regard to the pattern, please drop me an email on hooksbooksnme@gmail.com

In most of the rounds I start by saying, start your round with standing st and the position where the stitch has to be placed; this is just a starting instruction and should not be counted as a st . Moreover, you can start the round with slip st and corresponding chains for a standing st (such as ch3 for dc, ch4 for tr and so on)

Ch1 does not count as a stitch unless explicitly mentioned.

Single crochets in the back loop

Double crochets in the front loop

 

 STITCH GUIDE / ABBREVIATIONS (U.S. Terminology):

 

st	Stitch	sk	skip
yo	Yarn Over	hdc	Half Double Crochet
ss	Slip stitch	Ch1	Chain 1 sp
sc	Single Crochet	htr	Half Treble Crochet
dc	Double Crochet	bpsc	Back Post Single Crochet
fl	Front loop	bl	Back loop
fpdc	Front post double crochet	fphtr	Front post half treble crochet
fpsc	Front post single crochet	rsc	Reverse Single Crochet
dtr	Double Treble Crochet YO thrice, insert hook around the st indicated, YO and pull up a loop (5 loops on the hook), (YO and draw through 2 loops) × 4 times

COLOR GUIDE

Rust Orange

Turmeric Yellow

Cobalt Blue

Green

 

PATTERN INSTRUCTIONS:

Start with a double magic ring, if you are not comfortable with using MR, ch4 to form a ring.

 

ROUND 1 in Mustard Yellow

(Hdc, ch2) 6 times in the MR. Join with ss in the first st made.              ~ (6 hdc, 6 ch2 sps)

ROUND 2 in Mustard Yellow

Continue with the same color, ss in the ch2 sp, ch1, * (sc, ch1, 5 hdc ) in the ch2 sp, fpsc around hdc*  rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first sc made. Fasten off.               ~ (6 sc, 6 ch1 sps, 30 hdc, 6 fpsc)

ROUND 3 in Rust Orange

Start with standing sc in the hdc (from round 1 – working behind the project), * sc in the hdc, ch4* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.        ~ (6 sc, 6 ch4 sps)

You can turn your work to the wrong side and work sc’s in the hdc.

ROUND 4 in Rust Orange

Continue with the same color, ss in the ch4 sp, ch1, *(sc, ch2, 7 dc) in the ch4 sp, fpsc around sc * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first sc made. Fasten off.    ~ (6 sc, 6 ch2 sps, 42 dc, 6 fpsc)

ROUND 5 in Rust Orange

Start with standing sc in the sc (from round 3 – working behind the project), * sc in the sc, ch6* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.        ~ (6 sc, 6 ch6 sps)

ROUND 6 in Rust Orange

Continue with the same color, ss in the ch4 sp, ch1, *(sc, ch2, 9 htr) in the ch4 sp, fpsc around sc * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first sc made. Fasten off.     ~ (6 sc, 6 ch2 sps, 54 htr, 6 fpsc)

ROUND 7 in Green

Start with standing sc in the sc (from round 5 – working behind the project), * sc in the sc, ch6* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made. Fasten off.   ~ (6 sc, 6 ch6 sps)

ROUND 8 in Green

Start with standing sc in any ch6 sp, * (5 sc, 2 hdc, 2 dc, htr) ch6 sp, ch2, (htr, 2 dc, 2 hdc, 5 sc) in next ch6 sp, (2 hdc, 2 dc, htr, ch2, htr, 2 dc, 2 hdc) in next ch6 sp* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first sc made. Fasten off.        ~ (20 sc, 16 hdc, 16 dc, 8 htr, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 9 in Green

Start with standing sc in any ch2 sp, *(sc, ch2, sc) in ch2 sp, sc in next 15 sts* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made. Fasten off.                     ~ (68 sc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 10 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 5 sts, ch1, skip next st, sc in the next 5 sts, ch1, sc in the next 5 sts* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made..        ~ (68 sc, 8 ch1 sps, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 11 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 6 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 5 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 6 sts* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                  ~ (76 sc, 8 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 12 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 6 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next 6 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.        ~ (32 sc, 60 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 13 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 8 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 8 sts* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                      ~ (84 sc, 16 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 14 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 8 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 8 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                       ~ (40 sc, 68 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 15 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 10 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 10 sts* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                    ~ (92 sc, 24 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 16 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 5 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 5 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                   ~ (60 sc, 64 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 17 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 4 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 5 st, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 7 sts one round below, sc inthe next st, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 5 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 4 sts * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                    ~ (88 sc, 44 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 18 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 4 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 st, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 st, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next 4 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                        ~ (76 sc, 64 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 19 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 6 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 st, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 2 sts, dc in the next 5 sts one round below, sc inthe next 2 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 6 sts * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                    ~ (96 sc, 52 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 20 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 6 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 st, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 3 st, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 5 sts, dc in the next 2 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 6 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                        ~ (84 sc, 72 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 21 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 8 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc inthe next 3 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 8 sts * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                ~ (104 sc, 60 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 22 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc, dc in the next 8 sts one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 3 sts, dc in the next 3 sts one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next 8 sts one round below, sc in the next st* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                ~ (84 sc, 88 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 23 in Green

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in the next 10 sts, dc in the next 7 sts one round below, sc in the next 4 sts, dc in the next st one round below, sc in the next 4 sts, dc in the next 7 sts one round below, sc in the next 10 sts * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.             ~ (120 sc, 60 dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 24 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing htr in the corner ch2 sp of round , *(2 htr, ch2, 2 htr) in the ch2 sp of round , dc in the next 10 sts one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next 4 sts one round below, sc in the next st, dc in the next 4 sts one round below, sc in the next 7 sts, dc in the next 10 sts one round below* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                    ~ (60 sc, 112 dc, 16 htr, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 25 in Midnight Blue

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in each st across * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                ~ (196 sc,  dc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 26 in Mustard Yellow

Start with ss in the front loop of first st before any ch2 sp, * reverse sc in the fl of each st acorss, ch3* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                     ~ (196 reverse sc, 4 ch3 sps)

ROUND 27 in Rust Orange

Start with ss in first st afte any corner ch2 sp, * ( (YO × 4) puff in the st, ch1, skip next st ) × 24 times, (YO × 4) puff in the next st, (dc, ch2, dc) in the corner ch2 sp* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.             ~ (100 puffs, 96 ch1 sps, 8 dc, 4 ch2 sp)

ROUND 28 in Rust Orange

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, fpsc around dc, (fpsc around puff, sc in the ch1 sp) × 24 times, fpsc around puff, fpsc around dc * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.             ~ (108 fpsc, 104 sc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 29 in Rust Orange

Start with standing sc in the corner ch2 sp, *(Sc, ch2, sc) in the ch2 sp, sc in each st across * rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                ~ (220 sc, 4 ch2 sps)

ROUND 30 in Mustard Yellow

Start with ss in the front loop of first st before any ch2 sp of round 28 , * reverse sc in the fl of each st acorss, ch1, dtr in the the ch3 sp of round 26, ch1* rep from * to * around. Join with ss in the first st made.                    ~ (212 reverse sc, 4 dtr, 8 ch1 sps)

 

Yay..!! And here we are done with our square.

Please remember to follow me on my Instagram page @stardust0901 if you want to support me and if you have any questions, I will be glad to help you. You can tag me on your finished (#kaasplateausquare) or send me a picture. I am extremely excited to see your color selection.

More designs are available on Ravelry @ https://www.ravelry.com/designers/hooksbooksnme-designs

Follow my page HooksBooksNMe Designs on Facebook, you may also join my Facebook group HooksBooksNMe Designs Support Group.

 

Copyright 2020 HooksBooksNMe Designs – All rights reserved

 

Please do not redistribute this pattern in whole or in partial, with or without change. You may sell items made using this pattern but please credit me as designer. Thank you for understanding.

And now time for some food for thought, WoW ( Words of Wisdom).

As I have mentioned in the beginning of my post that I am currently reading “Norwegian Wood”, it is a novel by Japanese author Haruki Murakami. It is genuine, emotionally engaging and describes highs of adolescence as well as lows. I can read Murakami’s work again and again, it always feels afresh, you will always find something new to admire that you missed during your last reading. The characters, the story line of his books is much deeper, more mysterious, more vulnerable than we could comprehend in a single read or so do I feel..!

 

 

Times are hard but never lose hope. Take good care of yourself, until we meet here again.

Love,

Jessica