Did I get your attention with that title? I tried to be all creative and pun-ny, but school’s back in session, and my brain is a little fried.

Life as a homeschooling mom is interesting. I sometimes wonder what happens when other people’s kids go off to school. Do they have more time to themselves? Do they sit around eating bon-bons? Do they clean, clean, clean? Do they…crochet?

We’ve hit the stage in parenting that our kids are mostly self-sufficient. They can at least all put on clothes, make themselves breakfast, and use the potty unassisted. That means, I do have a little time during the day to devote to myself and my hobbies.

Still, my laundry’s a mess, the kids watch too much TV, and I am constantly convincing myself that I have failed at life.

That’s not it though, is it? I think it’s pretty hard to fail at life. After all, I’m not the one really in control of it all. That privilege belongs to the man upstairs. He knows how many hairs are on each of my kids’ heads. I don’t know that. He knows their inmost thoughts and feelings. I only know what they tell me. He’s known them since before I even did–before I even was! I think maybe I need to trust him more and give up some of the control.

And maybe throw in a crochet lesson or two so my children care share in my hobbies. After all, the great thing about homeschooling is the flexibility.

But, back to the matter at hand.

If you’d prefer, a PDF of this complete pattern (parts 1-5 and borders) can be purchased for $2.99 here.

Alphabet Blocks CAL: Part 3

Yarn: I used Herrschners Teddy Bear Yarn in six colors in my first version. In the second version I used Lion Brand Mandala yarn.

Hook: For the Herrschners yarn use a G-hook. For the Mandala yarn, use an H-hook.

Abbreviations: dc-double crochet; ch-chain; st-stitch; sk st-skip stitch

Special stitches: CDC–connecting double crochet (see this post); Ch 2 Join (see this post)

Notes: In this pattern, the next stitch will be either a dc or a ch. The ch 2 at the beginning of each row counts as the first dc.

Strip 3

Before starting strip 3, make sure you’ve completed strips one and two.

Y Block

Row 1: Join color E to the bottom right stitch of strip 2 with a sl. st. Ch 24. Dc in 3rd st from hook and each across. CDC in last st.

Row 2: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 11 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 11 st.

Row 3: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 11 st. CDC in last st.

Rows 4-6: Repeat rows 2 and 3 once, then row 2 again.

Row 7: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 2 times. Dc in next 8 st. CDC in last st.

Row 8: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc 5. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 9: Ch 2, dc in next 8 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc 5. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. CDC in last st.

Row 10: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 11: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 12: Ch 2, Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to Color F in the last st. (If you are not changing colors, skip the last step.)

U Block

Row 13: With Color F, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 14: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 7 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 4 times. Dc in last 8 st.

Row 15: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 16: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Rows 17-23: Repeat rows 15 and 16, four times. Then repeat row 15 once more.

Row 24: Ch 2, Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to Color A in the last st.

P Block

Row 25:  With color A, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 26: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 17 st.

Row 27: Ch 2, dc in next 16 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Rows 28-30: Repeat Rows 26 and 27, twice. Then Row 26 again.

Row 31: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 4 times. Dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 32: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 33: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 34: Repeat Row 32.

Row 35:  Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 3 times. Dc in next 6 st. CDC in last st.

Row 36: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to color B in the last st.

K Block

Row 37: With color B, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 38: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 39: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 40: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc 7, ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 41: Ch 2, dc in next 8 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1 dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 42: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 11 st.

Row 43: Ch 2, dc in next 12 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 3 times. Dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 44: Repeat Row 42.

Row 45: Repeat Row 41.

Row 46: Repeat Row 38.

Row 47: Repeat Row 39.

Row 48: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to color C in the last st.

F Block

Row 49: With color C, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 50: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 17 st.

Row 51: Ch 2, dc in next 16 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 52-54: Repeat rows 2 and 3 one time, then row 2 once more.

Row 55: Ch 2, dc 10. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 4 times. dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 56-58: Repeat rows 2 and 3 one time, then row 2 once more.

Row 59: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 6 times. dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 60: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st, changing to color D in the last st.

B Block

Row 61: With color D, ch 2, dc in next 22 st. CDC in last st.

Row 62: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 7 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 3 times. Dc in last 10 st.

Row 63: Ch 2, dc in next 8 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 64: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 7 st.

Row 65: Ch 2, dc in next 6 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 9 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 5 st. CDC in last st.

Row 66:  Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 67: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 4 times. Dc in next 4 st. CDC in last st.

Row 68: Repeat row 66.

Row 69: Repeat row 65.

Row 70: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 5 st. Ch 1, sk 1 dc in next 7 st. Ch 1, sk 1, dc in last 9 st.

Row 71: Ch 2, dc in next 10 st. [Ch 1, sk 1, dc] 3 times. Dc in next 6 st. CDC in last st.

Row 72: Ch 2 Join, dc in next 23 st. Fasten off.

That’s Part 3 of this CAL. Please share your pictures on my Facebook page and tag them #alphabetblocksCAL.