My mom discovered a hot pad her grandmother had made for her and I have attempted to replicate the pattern and write it down. I’m calling it Nicolina’s star. Nicolina is my great-grandmother, an Italian immigrant to the United States who taught my mom to crochet. My mom taught me, and I have taught two of my daughters, I’m still holding out hope for the other two. I don’t know what I will make this to be. It’s not practical to be a hot pad I don’t think. I’d like to make it with even smaller thread and maybe turn them into Christmas ornaments. But for now, they are great practice for slip-stitch and learning how to decrease.

Materials

I’m using cotton, size 2 weight. (The brand I used specifically was named Sinfonia and I bought it at Hobby Lobby), I used a “2.5mm” hook.

Pattern

1. Create a magic ring, chain 3, and DC 19 into the magic ring. Pull the ring tight into a circle. Slip stitch into the top of the chain 3. (Tip: to make it look nicer, always slip stitch under both loops of the chain) (20 DC, the chain 3 counts as a DC.)

2. Chain 4, (counts as a DC and a CH 1) DC into the top of the next DC, (not the base of the chain 3) chain 1, DC and chain 1, into each of the remaining stitches. (20 DC, the chain 3 counts as a DC)

3. Chain 3, (counts as a DC) * DC 2 into the chain 1 space, DC into the top of the next DC of the row below.* Repeat the instructions listed in between the *. slip stitch into the top of the chain 3. (60 DC)

4. Chain 3, (counts as a DC) DC into the next 11 stitches. *CH 2, DC into the next 12 DC*, repeat ** 3 times. Slip stitch into the top of the DC, not the chain 3. This will decrease a space for the start of the star pattern.

5. Chain 3, DC into the next 9 stitches, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain 1 space, *CH 2, skip next DC, DC into the next 10 DC, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain 2 space,* repeat ** 3 times. slip stitch into the top of the DC, not the chain three.

6. Chain 3, DC into the next 7 stitches, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain space, chain 2, 3 DC into the next chain space, *chain 2, skip next DC, DCinto the next 8 DC, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain 2 space, (2 times)* repeat ** 3 times. chain 2 and slip stitch into the top of the DC.

7. Chain 3, DC into the next 5 stitches, *chain 2, 3 DC into the chain space, (repeat * 2 more times), *chain 2, skip next DC, DC into the next 6 DC, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain 2 space (3 times)* repeat * 3 times. slip stitch into the top of the DC.

8. Chain 3, DC into the next 3 stitches, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain space, (repeat 3 more times), *chain 2, skip the next DC, DC into the next 4 DC, chain 2, 3 DC into the chain 2 space (4 times)* repeat ** 3 times. Slip stitch into the top of the TURNING CHAIN. (Note, this is different than you’ve been doing)

9. Chain 3, DC3 together over the next 3 DCc, (This will make the point of the star), *chain 2, 3 DC into the chain space (repeat 4 more times),DC4TOG over the next 4 DC, (making another point to the star) *repeat 3 more times. chain 3 and join into the top of the DC4TOG.

10. Chain 3, work 2 DC into the chain space, (the chain 3 counts as a DC), *chain 2, 3DC into the chain spaces. Repeat * all the way around the circle.