Crochet Pattern: El Guaba

El Guaba, free wrap pattern by Underground Crafter with U.S. pattern abbreviations

Earlier this year, I was invited by the yarn dyer, Stitchjones, to create a one-skein project for her Yarnageddon 2014 Yarn Club. (She’s currently taking sign up for her 2015 club here.) I didn’t have any project idea in mind until the yarn arrived. The yarn is a stunning and vibrant semi-solid red, and my picture doesn’t do it justice. Sharon (a.k.a. Stitchjones) included a note saying that the yarn club (and therefore, pattern) theme was “Real Life Wild Women.”

Stitchjones yarn featured in free crochet pattern by Underground Crafter

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I immediately knew I had to make something inspired by Celia Cruz, who was known as the Queen of Latin Music and La Guarachera de Cuba. I have countless childhood memories of hearing Celia’s music in the background while visiting my paternal grandparents. I even listen to her songs in my iPod to this day. In addition to her music, Celia was a fashion icon, known for her wild stage costumes, hair, and neckware. (If you’re not that familiar with Celia, you may want to check out my Celia Cruz Pinterest board to see what I mean, or watch this 3-1/2 minute bio on YouTube.)

Celia Cruz Pinterest board inspiring free crochet pattern by Underground Crafter
Just a small preview of my Celia Cruz Pinterest board.

One of my favorite Celia Cruz songs is “El Guaba” from her 1986 album, La Candela. You can check out a live performance of “El Guaba” from the PBS special, Celia Cruz & Friends: A Night of Salsa, recorded in 1998 when Celia was 73(!) on YouTube here.

So, what exactly is El Guaba? Well, it’s a whip spider. And that’s when the inspiration for the pattern hit me. I combined octagons (because there’s one side for each spider leg) to create a simple wrap to wear over any outfit to add a bit of Celia glam to your day. Many of us are not necessarily going to dye our hair blue or wear a dress that looks like a piano, but nonetheless, there are moments when we’d still like to be in the spotlight! I’m sharing the pattern here free on my blog to kick off my celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month 2014. I’ll be continuing my annual series, interviewing Hispanic crochet and knitting designers, bloggers, and makers. I hope you enjoy the pattern and the series!

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El Guaba Crochet Pattern

By Underground Crafter

02-easy 50US terms 50 4-medium 50Crochet a quick wrap using octagonal motifs, an homage to the titular whip spider in Celia Cruz’s “El Guaba.”

 

Finished Size: Fits bust size (after blocking): XS (28-30”/71-76 cm), [S/M (32-38”/81-96.5 cm), L/XL (40- 46”/101.5-117 cm), 2X (48-50”/122-127), 3X (52-54”/132-137), 4X (56-58”/142-147 cm), and 5X (60-62”/152-158)]. Pictured sample is 2X.

Materials:

  • Stitchjones Big Sky Bulky (100% Montana Targhee wool, 4.75 oz/138 g/220 yds/201 m) – 1, [1, 1, 1, 2, 2, 2] skein(s) Power Reds, or approximately 200 – 360 yards (183 – 329 m) in any medium weight yarn.
  • I-9/5.5 mm crochet hooks, or any size needed to obtain correct gauge.
  • Yarn needle.
  • Gauge: 1 motif = 5” (13 cm) before blocking. For best fit, check your gauge.

El Guaba, free crochet pattern from Underground Crafter with U.S. pattern abbreviations.

Abbreviations Used in This Pattern:

  • BLO – back loop only
  • ch – chain
  • dc – double crochet
  • ea – each
  • hdc – half double crochet
  • rep – repeat
  • Rnd(s) – Round(s)
  • RS – right (front) side
  • sc – single crochet
  • sk – skip
  • sl st – slip stitch
  • sp – space
  • st(s) – stitch(es)
  • tr – treble crochet
  • yo – yarn over
  • *+ Rep the instructions following the asterisk and/or plus sign as indicated

Pattern Instructions:

Center Octagon – Make 1

  • Ch 4, join to first st with sl st to form ring.
  • Rnd 1: (RS) Ch 3 (counts as dc, here and throughout), 15 dc in ring, join with sl st to BLO of top of first ch 3. (16 sts)
  • Rnd 2: Ch 1, 2 scBLO in same st and in ea st around, join with sl st to first sc. (32 sts)
  • Rnd 3: Ch 7 (counts as dc + ch-4 sp), sk 3 sts, *dc in next st, ch 4, sk 3 sts; rep from * around, join with sl st to third ch of first ch 7. (8 sts + 8 ch-4 sp)
  • Rnd 4: Sl st in next ch-4 sp, *(2 sc, dc, ch 2, dc, 2 sc) in ch-4 sp; rep from * around, join with sl st to BLO of first sc. (64 sts)
  • Rnd 5: Ch 3, dcBLO in next st, hdcBLO in next st, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st,** dcBLO in next 4 sts, hdcBLO in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, dcBLO in next 2 sts, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. Fasten off. (64 sts + 8 ch-2 sp)
El Guaba, free crochet pattern from Underground Crafter with U.S. pattern abbreviations.
First Octagon (left) and Joining Octagon (right) before blocking.

Joining Octagon – Make 3 [4, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10]

  • Rep through Rnd 2 as for Center Octagon.
  • Rnd 3: Ch 3, dc in next 3 sts, *ch 2,** dc in next 4 sts; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join with sl st to BLO of top of first ch 3. (32 sts + 8 ch-2 sp)
  • Rnd 4: Ch 1, scBLO in same st and in next 3 sts, *(dc, ch 2, dc) in ch-2 sp,** scBLO in next 4 sts; rep from * around, ending last rep at**, join with BLO to top of first sc. (48 sts + 8 ch-2 sp)
  • Rnd 5: Ch 3, dcBLO in next 3 sts, hdcBLO in next st, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, dcBLO in next 4 sts, hdcBLO in next st; rep from * 5 more times, (sc, ch 1, join to RS of previous octagon with sc through ch-2 sp, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, dcBLO in next 4 sts, hdcBLO in next st, (sc, join with sc through next ch-2 sp of previous octagon, ch 1, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. Fasten off. (64 sts + 8 ch-2 sp)

El Guaba, free crochet pattern from Underground Crafter with U.S. pattern abbreviations.

Final Octagon – Make 1

  • Rep through Rnd 4 as for Joining Octagon.
  • Rnd 5: Ch 3, dcBLO in next 3 sts, hdcBLO in next st, +(sc, ch 1, join to RS of previous octagon with sc through ch-2 sp, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, dcBLO in next 4 sts, hdcBLO in next st, (sc, join with sc through next ch-2 sp of previous octagon, ch 1, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, *(sc, ch 2, sc) in ch-2 sp, hdcBLO in next st, dcBLO in ea of next 4 sts, hdcBLO in next st; rep from * 3 more times, rep from + to * once, join with sl st to top of first ch 3. Fasten off. (64 sts + 8 ch-2 sp)

Top Edging

  • Rnd 1: With RS facing and starting at 2nd (3rd, 3rd, 4th, 4th, 5th, 5th) octagon from Center Octagon, join with sl st to st before first ch-2 sp on flat edge, ch 1, sc in same st, *sl st in ch-2 sp, sl stBLO in next 8 sts, sl st in next ch-2 sp, sc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 sts, yo twice, insert hook in next st, +yo and draw up a loop, (yo and draw through 2 loops) twice,++ yo twice, insert hook in second st after next ch-2 sp on next octagon, rep from + to ++, yo and draw through 3 loops, ch 1, sk 1 st, dc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st, hdc in next st, ch 1, sk 1 st,** sc in next st, rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join with sl st to BLO of top of first sc.
  • Rnd 2: Ch 2 (counts as hdc), *scBLO in ea of next 10 sts, hdcBLO in next st, dcBLO in ea of next 11 sts,** hdcBLO in next st; rep from * around, ending last rep at **, join with sl st to top of ch 2. Fasten off.

Finishing

  • Weave in ends with yarn needle. Spray or wet block. 

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© 2014 by Marie Segares (Underground Crafter). This pattern is for personal use only. You may use it to make unlimited items for yourself, for charity, or to give as gifts. You may sell items you personally make by hand from this pattern. Do not violate Marie’s copyright by distributing this pattern or the photos in any form, including but not limited to scanning, photocopying, emailing, or posting on a website or internet discussion group. If you want to share the pattern, point your friends to this link: http://undergroundcrafter.com/2014/09/15/free-pattern-el-guaba/. Thanks for supporting indie designers!

15 thoughts on “Crochet Pattern: El Guaba”

  1. What a great way to kick off the 2014 Hispanic Heritage Month !!! Celia Cruz is definitely synonymous with the “wild woman” Latin style and a true icon of Latin music.

    Thank you for posting “El Guaba” pattern which outlines this unique design!!
    Best regards, Victor

    Reply
  2. Thank you for introducing me to some wonderful music and a great voice. I love Latin music, but I had never heard of Celia. Now I will listen to as much of her music as I can find. Wonderful.

    Reply

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