Grandma Perkins’ Crocheted Folded Fortune Teller
Fun and Fortunes!
By Pan Perkins
Do you remember folding notebook paper in the school-yard?
When I was in grammar school, all the kids would love making Fortune Tellers.
We would color them and write secret fortunes inside.
And then share them with our best friends.
And I’d like to share this pattern with you.
This is an easy pattern that uses single crochet and slip stitches.
It is also a good way to use up scrap yarn.
Who knows what the future holds for you.
It’s always good to know,
“There is happiness in your future.”
Demonstrated on You-tube link:
Materials:
Caron Simply Soft (WW Med yarn)
~ ½ oz. each color:
Red (9729)
Blueberry Mist (0023)
Sundrop Yellow (0014)
Limelight Green (9607)
Black (9727)
D (3.25mm) Hook (for
the squares)
B (2.25mm) Hook (for
crocheting the piece together)
Needle for sewing and weaving in yarn
Optional:
Sport
Wt yarn for embroidering numbers
Gauge: 6 sc and 6 rows = 1” Not crucial.
Finished Size: about 5½” (14 cm) Square
Abbreviations:
~ =
Approximately
Ch = Chain
Sc =
Single Crochet
Ss = Slip Stitch
Ss = Slip Stitch
St(s) = Stitch(es)
FO =
Fasten Off
Notes:
I am using the “Magic Square” pattern from ages
ago, that was used for double thick potholders.
But it is folded differently.
The recommended hook size for Caron Simply Soft is
an H-8 (5mm)
But in order to have a stiff Fortune-Teller that
will hold its shape, you will need to use a smaller hook.
Each round will be joined with a slip stitch, and
chain 1.
Uses US
Terminology
To use a different yarn or hook:
You might need to change the stitch and row
count.
The beginning chain should be about 3½” (9
cm) long.
3 sc in 2nd
ch from hk, sc across with 3 sc in last st.
Continue
working sc on the other side of the
foundation-chain to the end, and join.
First completed round should be ~3 ¾” to 4”
(10 cm),
and should have a stitch count that is double
the # of chs you started with.
If you started with 20 chs, your completed
first round should be 40 sc.
You will have to measure to see when you have
enough rounds to be able to fold it into a square.
If your rectangle is about 4” (10 cm), you
will need about 2” (5 cm) in height.
This is just an estimate. The folded square is what matters.
Square:
(make 4: each in a different
color and with D/3.25mm hook)
Rnd 1: Ch 20, 3
Sc in 2nd ch from hk, Sc in 17, 3 Sc in last st.
Continue
working on other side of foundation-ch. Sc in 17, and join to the first sc with a
ss. (40 sc)
Rnds 2-10: Ch 1, Sc in the first st (same
as the join st) and each st around. Join. (40)
Note: You may need to add or subtract a row or two to fold it into a square shape.
(See next step how To Fold
the rectangle)
Rnd 11: (Final Rnd: mark stitch 12
and 32 with safety pins)
Ch 1, Sc around and join.
Do Not ch 1.
Ss in the next 2 sts (to be in the center position for stitching pockets).
FO with ~ 6” (15 cm) end
to sew. (40 sc and 2 ss after the join-st)
Alternate way to do the Square (Ami style):
This should work just as well, and should not look that
different.
(make 4:
each in a different color and with D/3.25mm hook)
Rnd 1:
Ch 20, 3 Sc in 2nd ch from hk (MARK
the first sc), Sc in 17, 3 Sc in last st.
Continue
working on other side of foundation-ch. Sc in 17.
DO NOT JOIN.
DO NOT CH 1. (40 sc)
Rnds
2-11 Sc in the first st and each st around.
Use a
piece of yarn or thread to mark the beg st of each rnd. (40)
Mark
the 14th and 34th stitch
with threat or safety pins.
At the
end of round 11, ss in the next 4 sts.
TO Fold the rectangle into a
square:
Your rectangle should
be about 4” (10 cm) in width, and about 2” (5 cm) in height.
This is
just an estimate. The folded square is
what matters.
Spread the open
end by pulling the safety pins gently in opposite directions.
Flatten it into a square
shape.
The last round
(rim edge) should meet in a center line with the safety pins at opposite
corners.
It is important that the edges meet to form
a square.
There should not
be a gap or an overlap: if so add or
subtract a row to compensate.
When folded, it
should be about a 2¾ to 3” (~ 7 to 7½ cm) square.
Invert half the square
Push the corner (the
side with the tail-yarn-end) to flip it inside-out.
The square now has
a triangular pocket on the front and
the back.
Sew one side into 2 pockets:
With the Tail end,
sew the triangular flap in half.
The yarn should
already be in the correct position to start the first stitch to connect the
back to the flap.
Start by anchoring
the top stitch 2 times.
Be sure not to
catch the other flap on the flip-side of the square.
Then continue to
weave through each stitch (back and forth), straight down the center to the corner-point.
Anchor the last st
and weave in horizontally on the back side.
Note: Follow
the center spaces of the beg-ch-foundation,
which might be a bit easier to see on the back side.
One side of the
square will have 2 small triangular pockets and the other will have one big
one.
Do this with all four squares.
Assembly:
Note:
If you want, you can sew the squares together with a whip-stitch or a
mattress-stitch.
If you prefer to
crochet them, follow the directions below.
Place the 4
squares with the Pocket-sides all pointing
to the center (See photo).
Place the pockets
in two stacks, being careful to keep the center points together.
You can mark the
center corners and points with a thread or safety pin.
Hold the two
squares (shown in green and red in photo)
together with stitches matching as close as possible.
With a contrasting color and B/2.25mm hook:
Join with a slip stitch through the two marked sts (the ones with the
safety pins).
Ch1, slip stitch in the next stitch down the side.
Note: This stitch will be through four layers
(front and back of both pockets).
Continue (Ch 1, Ss
in each st) down this side to the last stitch, which will be in the corner-point of both squares.
Then join the next 2
squares (shown in blue and yellow
in photo) through the next two corner-point-
sts.
Ch1, slip stitch in the next stitch down the side.
Continue, as with the previous square:
(Ch 1, Ss in each
st) down this side to the last stitch with the safety pins. Ch 1
and FO.
Then fold the
piece in half with the center open-sides together and sts matching (shown in red and yellow in photo below).
Note: This
side of the Fortune Teller will be stitched in
the same manner as first side.
Join with a ss and the contrasting color through
the two marked sts.
Continue to Ch 1, Ss
in each st down to the last st in the corner-point.
Then join the next 2
squares (blue and green) through
the next two corner-point- sts.
Continue, as with the previous square:
Ch 1, Ss in each
st down this side to the last st with the safety pins. Ch 1
and FO. Weave in all loose ends.
Shaping:
After stitching
and weaving in, fold the Fortune Teller and squeeze all the seams tight to form
the shape.
Note: You can add embroidered numbers on the
inside above the pockets, if you like.
You could also add colored appliques, such
as star, circles, squares, hearts or whatever to the outside.
If you download the pdf from Ravalry, there are two pages of fortunes that you can print.
