What's not to love? They're colorful and useful at the same time!
See how pretty they are?
Last week, I was lying in bed and I was struck by an idea: I'd like to crochet a four-sided die! (from now on called only a d4)
d4's are the bane of the gamer. Just look at them! They're so pointy! If you drop one in the carpet, you're in big trouble! Stepping on one hurts like crazy. That's why my friends and I took to calling them "caltrops." I firmly believe that a field strewn with d4 would stop an army.
So I had this vision...a vision of an ouchless d4.
This free pattern will give you instructions on how to make your very own ouchless d4 (or pyramid, if you'd prefer). One of the coolest things about this pattern is that it can easily be modified to make a pyramid of different sizes!
Abbreviations: Note that this pattern uses US definitions.
Ch – chain
Sc – single crochet
Ss – slip stitch
All pyramids are done with a crochet hook, size G (4 mm).
Lets start with the small pink one.
Round 1: Ch 4. Join.
Round 2: 3 sc in each of the next 3 ch, sc in next ch. Do not join. Place marker: 10 sc
Round 3: Sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc: 16 sc
Round 4: Sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc: 22 sc
Round 5: Sc in next 3 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc: 28 sc
Round 6: Sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc: 34 sc
Round 7: Sc in next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc: 40 sc
Round 8: Sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc: 45 sc
Round 9: Sc in next 5 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 9 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 9 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 4 sc: 36 sc
Round 10: Sc in next 3 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 6 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 6 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 3 sc: 27 sc
Round 11: Sc in next 2 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 3 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 3 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 1 sc: 18 sc
Round 12: Decrease around: 9 sc
Stuff with fiberfill.
Round 13: Decrease around. In last sc of previous round, ss, tighten and finish off.
...and you're done!
The beautiful thing about this is that you can modify it to be any size!
Each increase round proceeds in the following pattern:
Round 9: Sc in next 7 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc: 52 sc
Round 10: Sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc: 58 sc
Round 11: Sc in next 9 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc: 64 sc
Round 12: Sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 11 sc: 70 sc
Round 13: Sc in next 11 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 22 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 22 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc: 76 sc
...etc. Whichever round you decide to make your last, replace the last (3 sc in next sc) with (2 sc in next sc).
The decrease rounds are a little harder, and will require some calculations. You take the number of sc in the last increasing round. Subtract 18 from this number, then divide by 3. The result will be the number of sc on each side of the pyramid. So, for example, if Round 13 just above was our last increasing round, you would have 75 sc (because you have replaced the last (3 sc in next sc) with (2 sc in next sc) ). 75 minus 18 equals 57. 57 divided by 3 is 19. Thus, the instructions for the next round would be:
Round 14: Sc in next 10 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 19 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 19 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 9 sc: 66 sc
For each subsequent decreasing round, subtract 3 sc per side (9 sc per round). To continue with the example, you would proceed as follows:
Round 15: Sc in next 8 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 16 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 16 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 8 sc: 57 sc
Round 16: Sc in next 7 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 13 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 13 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 6 sc: 48 sc
Round 17: Sc in next 5 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 10 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 10 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 5 sc: 39 sc
Round 18: Sc in next 4 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 7 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 7 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 3 sc: 30 sc
Round 19: Sc in next 2 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 4 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 4 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 2 sc: 21 sc
Round 20: Sc in next sc, decrease three times, sc in next sc, decrease three times, sc in next sc, decrease three times: 12 sc
Round 21: Decrease around: 6 sc
Calculating the decreasing is definitely more difficult than calculating the increases, so lets do another example:
This is a d4/pyramid which has sides of 20 sc at the widest part. First, you do the increasing rounds:
Round 1: Ch 4. Join.
Round 2: 3 sc in next 3 ch, sc in next ch. Place marker: 13 sc
Round 3: Sc in next sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 2 sc: 16 sc
Round 4: Sc in next 2 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 3 sc: 22 sc
Round 5: Sc in next 3 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 4 sc: 28 sc
Round 6: Sc in next 4 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 5 sc: 34 sc
Round 7: Sc in next 5 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 6 sc: 40 sc
Round 8: Sc in next 6 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 12 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 7 sc: 46 sc
Round 9: Sc in next 7 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 14 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 8 sc: 52 sc
Round 10: Sc in next 8 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 16 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 9 sc: 58 sc
Round 11: Sc in next 9 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 18 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 10 sc: 64 sc
Round 12: Sc in next 10 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 3 sc in next sc, sc in next 20 sc, 2 sc in next sc, sc in next 11 sc: 69 sc
(remember - in round 12, replace the last 3 sc with a 2 sc in next sc!)
Then, you decrease. Calculate the length of each side in the next round: 69 sc minus 18 sc is 51 sc; divided by 3 is 17 sc per side. Thus, we can figure out the next round as follows:
Round 13: Sc in next 9 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 17 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 17 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 8 sc: 60 sc
Then, just figure out each subsequent round by subtracting 3 sc from each side of the pyramid:
Round 14: Sc in next 7 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 14 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 14 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 7 sc: 51 sc
Round 15: Sc in next 6 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 11 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 11 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 5 sc: 42 sc
Round 16: Sc in next 4 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 8 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 8 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 4 sc: 33 sc
Round 17: Sc in next 3 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 5 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 5 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 2 sc: 24 sc
Round 18: Sc in next 1 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 2 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 2 sc, decrease three times, sc in next 1 sc: 15 sc
Stuff with fiberfill.
Round 19: Decrease around, sc in last sc: 8 sc
Round 20: Decrease around, ss in last sc, tighten and finish off: 4 sc
You can download a PDF of this pattern from Ravelry. I don't think you need an account to do so: download now!
If you have any trouble at all, feel free to drop me an e-mail at unforth@yahoo.com, or comment here, or message me on Ravelry (user name Unforth)...or whatever. :)
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