Do the Fan Dance Wrist Cuffs

 

I've developed a new obsession. 

With these gorgeous things. Wristlets, aka, wrist cuffs. 

I've also seen them referred to as 'wristers' but that sounds like Emergency room slang the nurses use when they get patients with household objects stuck in strange places.

They're so easy you won't be able to contain yourself.  

You'll wonder why you never made these before! You'll make heaps and heaps in all of the colours to wear with all the things to go to all of the places!

Don't be put off by this seemingly loooooooong tutorial.  They are actually very quick to make and not too hard.  I just always like to include LOTS of photos to show what I'm doing.


Tools of the Trade

3ply crochet cotton

2.5mm crochet hook

2mm crochet hook

Scissors & needle for sewing in your ends

Stitches used are in American Terms

Sl st- slip stitch

Ch- chain

Sc- single crochet

dc- double crochet

The Cuff

To start take your 2.5mm crochet hook and ch 34.  (I use a larger hook for the beginning chain to prevent any tightness as you start to work with the chain.)

Then switch down to a 2mm hook.

Row 1: Dc in the 4^th ch from the hook.  Dc in each ch across.  Ch 3, then turn.

Row 2-22: dc in each dc of the previous row across to the end. Ch 3, then turn.  At the end of the last row of your cuff, don’t tie off as you will then fold the piece widthways and slip sitch the 2 ends together to form your cuff.

I have crocheted 22 rows to fit my chubby little wrists, but please check your measurements and crochet more or less rows accordingly.

The beginning chain, the dc in the 4th ch from the hook

Row 2 of the Cuff

Row 8, shut the gate...

Row 22, nuthin' left to do! (except sew together then commence the super freaky lacy stuff but let's not focus on that. I'm too busy rhyming.)

So did you slip stitch up the 2 ends? Don't forget not to finish off!  Then turn and you can start working on the elbow end of your cuff!

The Subtle Frilly Pretty Bit on the Elbow End

Turn your work 90 degrees so you are now working around the rim of the cuff. 

This will be the soft shell edging on the elbow end.

Row 1: Ch1, then work 2 sc in each dc post around. Continue around, then join with a sl st to the beginning ch 1.

See photo below!

Row 2: Ch 3, sk 2 scs, sc in the 3rd sc. Continue around the cuff, joining with a sl st to the first ch of the beginning ch 3.

Row 2 recap: Ch3, sk 2, sc etc

Row 3: Sl st into the first Ch3 space. In each ch 3 space: sc, 2 dc, sc.  EASY!!  Do this in each ch 3 spaces around.  Then join the beginning sc with a sl st, finish off and weave in your ends!

How to make these sweet little shells: first sc in the ch 3 space...

Then dc...

And another dc...

Sorry it's a bit blurry but now do the last sc, and repeat!

Told you it was easy!!  Looks great. You're doing fab!

Now for the Fun Part- The Big Frilly Part on the Hand End.

Turn your work now to the other holey end bit where your hand will stick through.  Join your crochet cotton on one edge where your joining seam is (so all the beginnings and ending happen in one place).

Row 1: The fan pattern is worked up in a space of 10 stitches. To ensure the pattern works around completely and even with no half fans at the end you may need to add in extra single crochets.

Ch 1 & Sc evenly all the way around the cuff edge. Generally you will work 2 sc per dc post as shown in the photo below. BUT in order to ensure you finish in 10s, you may have to work some extra scs in. This pattern used 22 rows of DCs. Therefore with 2 scs per dc post, I would have ended up with 44scs. I need to have either 40, 50 or 60 scs etc. So I worked in an extra 6 scs evenly around the cuff.  Better to increase than decrease as this will give a nice flared out effect.

Row 2: Ch1, sc in same space, then sc in each of the next 4 sc of the previous row, *Ch3, sk 2 stitches, sc, ch 4, sl st back into the same space to create a loop. Ch 3, sk 2 stitches, 5 sc. Repeat from *. Continue to the end, then join with a sl st to the beginning ch1.

See that cute little loop and the skipped stitches and all that jazz? 

Now Row 1 is finished! Not much further to go...

Row 3: Now we want to create a little pyramid of scs.  So after joining up with the first of the 5 scs of the previous row, sl st to the 2nd sc (essentially skipping the 1st) and Ch1, then sc in that and the next 2 scs of the previous row (scs in the middle three stiches).  *Ch4, join with a single crochet to the 4ch loop of the previous row, ch4, sl st back into that loop, ch 4, sl st back into that loop, ch 4, sl st back into that loop. Now you made a shamrocky looking thing! Then Ch 4, sk the chains of the previous row AND the first sc of the 5 scs, 3 sc in the next 3 scs of the previous row.  Repeat from *.  When you've gone all the way around, join with a sl st into the beginning ch 1.

For close up photos, see below...

So skip the first sc, the 3 scs, skip the last sc. 

Chain 4, sc to the loop, ch 4 again....

And join back into the loop...

After doing this 2 more times you have a little shamrocky thingo!

Row 4: Now To begin Row 4, finish Row 3 by joining to the beginning ch 1, then slip st to the middle of the 3 scs, ch 1, then sc in the same space. *Dc over to the first loop in your little shamrock skipping the next sc and all the chains. Dc again into the first shamrock loop, ch 1, then 2 dc into the same shamrock loop.  See next 5 photos below for close ups.

Now To begin Row 4, finish Row 3 by joining to the beginning ch 1, then slip st to the middle of the 3 scs, ch 1, then sc in the same space.

From that sc, sk the next sc and chains to dc into the first of the 3 loops.

Then dc again

Ch 1 then 2 more dcs into the loop (2 dcs, ch 1, 2 dcs)

Do the same thing in the other 2 loops as well.

Then sc into the middle sc of the 3scs of the previous row to complete this part of the fan!

Almost finished! 1 more row to go :)

Row 5: *Sc in the first dc of the fan, ch 2, then sl st into the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next dc,
 sc into the ch1 of the previous row, sc in the next dc, ch 2, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in the next 2 dcs, 
ch 2, sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook, sc in the next dc and ch 1 space, sc, ch 2, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next 2dcs, ch 2, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, sc in the next dc, sc in the ch 1 sp, sc in the next dc, ch 2, sl st in the 2nd ch from the hook, dc. This completes our micro picots on one fan. Continue from * on all the fans around.

See the next bunch of photos for close up details.

SC in the first dc

Here's where I sl st in the 2nd chain from the hook

When you get all the way around, sl st into the first sc, then finish off. 

Weave in your ends and now make another. That one gloved fashion trend went out in the 1980s, so you will need another cuff!
Then stand back and admire your gorgeous new cuffs!  You did good kid!

If you make yourself a pair or two, show them off! Pop on over to my Red Haired Amazona Facebook page and post your pictures, or just say hi! I love seeing what everyone is making and meeting new peeps!

If you did enjoy my tutorial or any others you've found on my little blog.  Many of my tutorials are free for everyone, however if you'd like to make a little donation, it would be gratefully received and contribute towards future free tutorials!