Popcorn Baby Crochet Layette Set

This baby layette set was inspired by a pattern I found for a popcorn stitch baby afghan.  I used the stitch to create this jacket, hat and matching tote bag in lemon and white.  If you want to make the blanket too the pattern is in the book 'Donna Kooler's Crocheted Afghans', from Sterling Publishing Co.  The pattern creator is Carol Carlile (in the book it is titled "Pink Square Afghan").

POPCORN STITCH
The popcorn effect is created by making 4 chain which 'pops out' between dc.  On all rows, you work your dc stitches only into the dc of previous row, ignoring the 4 chain 'popcorns', and making sure you push the popcorn through to the right side of the work.  If your chains are loose you may want to pull them a little tighter or work ch 3 instead of ch 4 so the popcorns look neat.

JACKET
Worked in Baby DK on 3.25 and 4mm crochet hooks; requires 100g lemon, 100g white (or any two other complementary colours). Also requires 4 buttons. Finished size 9" (23 cm) chest.

LEFT FRONT
Using colour A and 4 mm hook, make 21 chain.
Base row: working 1st dc into 3rd chain from hook, dc to end. Work 2 rows straight dc.
Pattern row 1: 1ch, 1 dc into next dc. (4 chain, 2dc into next 2 stitches) to end of row.
Pattern row 2: dc into dc only to end.
*Pattern row 3: 1 ch, I dc into each of next 9 stitches, 4 ch, dc to end.
Pattern row 4: dc into dc only to end.
Repeat pattern rows 3 and 4 three times, then rows 1 and 2 once.** Change to colour B and repeat from * to ** until work measures 13 cm, ending with a wrong side row, and changing colours after each repeat of rows 1 and 2; maintain colour sequence throughout all shaping.
First armhole row: 1 ch, dc2tog, 1dc, (4ch, 2dc) to end.
Second armhole row: 1 ch, dc to last 3 stitches, dc2tog, 1 dc.
Third armhole row: 1ch, dc2tog, 4 dc, 4 ch, dc to end.
Next row; dc to end.
Continue with pattern, working four single popcorns between each full row of popcorns until armhole measures 6cm.
Neck row 1: 1 ch, pattern to last 3 dc, turn.
Neck row 2: 1 ch, dc2tog, pattern to end.
Neck row 3: 1 ch, pattern to last 3 dc, dc2tog, I dc.
Neck row 4: 1 ch, dc2tog, pattern to end.
Neck row 5: 1ch, pattern to last 3 dc, dc2tog, 1dc.
Continue in pattern without shaping till armhole measures 11 cm, ending on a wrong side row. Fasten off.

RIGHT FRONT
Using A and 4 mm hook, make 21 chain.
Base row: working 1st dc into 3rd chain from hook, dc to end.
Next row; dc to end.
Buttonhole row: 1 ch, dc to last 3 dc. Ch 2, miss 2dc, 1dc.
Next row; work pattern row 1 as for left front, working 2 dc into 2 ch space. Continue with pattern and colour changes as set for left front, inserting 2 ch space buttonhole on every fourth repeat of row 3 until work measures 13 cm.
Armhole row 1: work pattern to last 3dc, dc2tog, 1 dc.
Armhole row 2: 1 ch, dc2tog, pattern to end.
Armhole row 3: 1 ch, pattern to last 3 dc, dc2tog, 1 dc.
Continue without shaping until armhole measures 6 cm.
Neck row 1: ss to last 12 dc, 1 ch, pattern to end.
Neck row 2: 1 ch, pattern to last 3 dc, dc2tog, 1 dc.
Neck row 3: 1 ch, dc2tog, pattern to end.
Neck row 4: 1 ch, pattern to last 3 dc, dc2tog, 1dc.
Continue without shaping until armhole measures 11 cm. Fasten off.

BACK
Using A and 4 mm hook, make 37 chain.
Base row: working first dc into 3rd chain from hook, dc to end.
Work two rows dc.
Pattern row 1: 1ch, 1dc, (4ch, 2 dc) to end.
Pattern row 2: dc to end.
*Pattern row 3: ch 1, dc 11, ch 4, dc 12, ch 4, dc to end.
Pattern row 4: dc to end.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times, then rows 1 and 2. **
Repeat from * to ** , changing colours after each repeat, until work measures 13 cm.
Armhole shaping: decrease 1 stitch at each end of next 3 rows. Continue without shaping till armhole measures 11 cm, ending with wrong side row. Fasten off.

SLEEVES (Make 2)
Using A and 4 mm hook, make 27 chain. Working first dc into 3rd chain from hook, work 2 rows dc.
Row 3: dc, increasing 1 stitch at each end.
Row 4: 1 ch, 1 dc, (4 ch, 2 dc) to end.
Row 5: dc to end.
Row 6: 1 ch, increase 1 stitch, dc 8, 4 ch, 12 dc, 4 ch, dc to last stitch, increase 1.
Row 7: dc to end.
Repeat rows 6 and 7 three times, then rows 4 and 5 once, increasing one stitch at each end of every third row and incorporating into pattern. Change to B and continue with pattern as set, increasing every 3rd row until you have 36 stitches, then without shaping till work measures 15 cm.
Shape top: decrease 1 stitch at each end of next 3 rows, making sure you end with a wrong side row. Fasten off.

COLLAR
Using A and 4 mm hook, make 51 chain. Working first stitch into 3rd chain from hook, work 2 rows dc.
Next row: 1 ch, 1 dc, (4 ch, 2 dc) to end.
Continue in dc till work measures 6 cm. Fasten off.

Join shoulder seams. Stitch collar in place, making sure the popcorn row will be facing outwards. Sew sleeves in place and join side and sleeve seams. Using B and 3.25 mm hook, reattach yarn to bottom corner of right front and work crab stitch around the bottom of the garment, up the left front, around the collar edge and down the right front to your starting point. Fasten off. Using B and 3.25 mm hook, work crab stitch around the bottom of each sleeve. Sew buttons on left front to match buttonhole placements on right front.

HAT
Worked in baby DK on 3.50mm and 3.25 mm hooks. Takes about 50g white, 50g lemon.
Using A, make 63 chain.
Base row: 1 dc in second chain from hook, dc to end.
Work 1 row dc.
Pattern row 1: (2 dc, 4 ch) to end.
Pattern row 2: dc.
Pattern row 3: 1 ch, 5 dc, 4 ch, 10 dc, 4 ch to last six stitches, 6 dc.
Pattern row 4: dc to end.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 twice, then rows 1 and 2. Change to B. Continue in pattern till work measures 9cm ending with a right side row.
Decrease row: 1 ch, dc2tog to last stitch, 1 dc.
Next row: 1 ch, 2dc, 4ch, (5 dc, 4ch) to end.
Repeat decrease row.
Next row: 1 ch, 2 dc, (4ch, 3 dc, 4 ch, 2 dc) to end.
Next row; 1 ch, dc2tog to end.
Work 1 row dc.
Next row: dc2tog to end. Fasten off leaving long end. Using a needle work end through last row and draw tight, stitching to secure.
Using B and 3.25 mm hook, work a row of crab stitch around brim.
Using both colours, make small pompom and secure to crown.

TOTE BAG
Worked in baby DK on 3.50 mm hook throughout. Amount requires depends on size of bag you make.
Using A, make 4 ch, ss to form a ring.
First round: ch 3, 11 tr in ring, ss to top of 3 ch.
Second round: ch 3, 1 tr in next stitch, 2 tr in each stitch to end, ss to top of 3 ch.
Third round: ch 3, *2 tr in next stitch, I tr in next stitch, repeat from * to end.
Continue in trebles, adding I stitch between each increasing stitch until base reaches size desired. Change colour after each four rounds. Be sure you finish with an even number of stitches.
Next row: 2 ch, work 1 dc into the back of every stitch to end, ss to top of chain. Work rows in dc until you reach the next colour change, ending with a wrong side row.
Pattern row 1: 2 ch, 1 dc, (4ch, 2 dc) to end, ss to top of ch. TURN.
Pattern row 2: 2 ch, dc to end, ss to top of ch. TURN.
Pattern row 3: this will vary depending on how large a base you made. Work in dc interspersing 4 ch popcorns at
Regular intervals (mine came out at 20 dc between popcorns). TURN.
Pattern row 4: 2 ch, dc to end.
Repeat rows 3 and 4 three times, then rows 1 and 2. Change colour.
Continue in pattern, turning at the end of each row, till bag is the size you desire, ending on a right side row. Do NOT turn at the end of this and all following rows.
Next row (drawstring row): 2 ch, 1 dc into next 2 stitches, (2ch, miss 2 dc, 3 dc) to end.
Next row: ch into first space. Ch 3, (2tr, 1 ch, 3 tr) into space. Work (3 tr, 1 ch, 3 tr) into each space to end, ss to top of 3 ch. Fasten off.
Using A and B together, make a drawstring long enough to close your bag ( a rough guide is to make the length the diameter of your base times two or three). Leave a long tail of wool at each end of the string, and sew through the last few chain to make a simple bobble; or alternatively, make two very small pompoms and sew one to each cord end. Thread through the spaces on the drawstring row and secure to bag with a couple of stitches through the cord at the centre back.

[In reply to a question, the gauge is roughly 20 stitches and 10 rows to create a 10cm square.]  

[In response to another comment, and thanks to Marcia for pointing out the problem, I have altered the start of the pattern to make it clearer how the popcorns are formed.]