Thunder Bolt - Free Crochet Pattern

We are a Thunder-Lovin' household. Family. City. State. We are proud of our NBA team! And we show it. Not only are we the loudest arena in the league (I have never even been to another arena, but I promise it can't get louder than ours...people's ears would bleed) but we wear our colors proudly. You can't go anywhere in the city without seeing the signs, and the shirts, and the jewelry, the bumper stickers. Blue and Orange. Thunder Bolts.

Last season I got a hankering (How's that for Okie?) for some yarny Thunder Gear...and figured I'd best be gettin my stitch on. Okay enough, people who are actually from here might get offended (i.e. my husband)...

And this is what I came up with:

I have used this trusty little bolt for hats, headbands, barrette clips, earwarmers...you get the picture. It's versatile. (I want to use it for bunting and for a weather themed crib mobile too...and for so many other ideas...)

I am not a professional pattern writer. So bear with me. Let me know if you have any questions. You can you use any yarn and any sized hook. I use a worsted weight with a (smaller) hook that made the stitches pretty tight. The hdc also helps the stitches to be pretty "dense." Basically, what I'm saying is, gauge is not an issue here.

There are three sections of the bolt (separated by a space, if that helps you visualize). In rows 4, 8, and 11 you will be decreasing in the center (or in row 8, close to the center).

Thunder Bolt Pattern

Ch - Chain
Hdc - Half Double Crochet
Hdc Dec - Half Double Crochet Decrease

(The numbers in parentheses at the end of each row are the number of stitches in the row once complete)

Ch 7
Row 1: Hdc in second ch from hook, Hdc to end (6)
Row 2 and 3: Ch 1, turn, hdc across (6)
Row 4: ch 1, turn, hdc across, hdc dec in center of row (5)

Row 5: ch 4, turn, hdc in second ch from hook, hdc in two remaining ch and in next two hdc (5 hdc)
Row 6 and 7: ch 1, turn, hdc across (5)
Row 8: ch 1, turn, hdc across, hdc dec in center of row (4)

Row 9: ch 3, hdc in second ch fr hk, hdc in remaining ch, hdc in next two hdc (4)
Row 10: ch 1, turn, hdc across (4)
Row 11: ch 1, turn, hdc across, hdc dec in center (3)
Row 12: ch 1, turn, hdc dec remaining 3 stitches (1) Finish off and weave in ends.

Then, if you would like, you can crochet around the edge in another color. I usually join the alternating color into the top of the bolt (anywhere really) and sc around, doing 2 sc around the corners.

Enjoy.

©2013 ThirtyTwoTwentyKnits/Kelly Ottinger, All Rights Reserved

Feel free to sell items you make with this crochet pattern, but if you sell them online, please add the link to this crochet pattern. You may not sell this crochet pattern or claim it as your own. You may post a link to this crochet pattern, but you may not publish or post this crochet pattern in whole or in part.