The Sumana Crochet JAYG Motif – A Story of Small Shapes and Big Possibilities

Hello everyone!

Let me introduce you to my latest design — the Sumana Motif! A versatile join-as-you-go pattern you can turn into coasters, table runners, shawls, blankets, and more. It’s simple, elegant, and full of creative possibilities. In this post, I’ll tell you all about the design, the stitches, and the yarns I love using for it.

Sumana: Small Shape, Big Possibilities
I’ve always had a soft spot for small, join-as-you-go motifs. They’re magical little pieces that can turn into anything you like — a blanket, a shawl, a table runner, a set of coasters, a gift tag or even a key fob. The Sumana motif is especially versatile because it has a simple yet elegant joining round that works beautifully to make all sorts of larger shapes: squares, rectangles, circles, triangles, and diamonds.

You’ll find the Sumana motif pattern in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.

And that’s really the joy of a tiny motif like this: it never boxes you in. Instead, it invites you to play. With just a handful of rounds, you can explore colour stories, build textures, and experiment with layouts without committing to a huge project right away. Want a quick win? Make a single motif and turn it into a bookmark or a pretty little ornament for your craft space. Want something more adventurous? Keep joining, shaping, and arranging until you have something entirely unexpected — a runner with a scalloped edge, a wrap, or a bold wall hanging filled with colour movement.

Because the Sumana motif is small, it becomes the perfect testing ground for new ideas. You can try out that yarn you’ve been curious about, use up scraps in joyful combinations, or explore a whole gradient one motif at a time. And the best part? Every piece you add feels like a tiny step forward — satisfying in its own right, but even more magical when they all come together.

It’s amazing how something so small can grow into something so personal, expressive, and entirely your own. That’s the charm of the Sumana motif: simple to start, endlessly inspiring from there.

Pattern
The pattern has all you need to ensure your making journey will be an easy and relaxed one:

• A chart
• Clear written instructions
• An elaborate photo tutorial

You’ll find the Sumana motif pattern in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.

Below an impression of the endless possibilities with this motif. Please check back in the coming few days for more photos and ideas.

Skill Level

Skill-wise, this pattern sits in the adventurous beginner to intermediate range. If you’re familiar with single, double, and post stitches, you’ll find your rhythm quickly. The instructions are written in clear bullet-point format, and there’s a chart and photo tutorial for every step — plus a handy table with UK/US terms.

Yarn
For yarn, I used Scheepjes Catona (mercerised cotton) for the triangle shape coasters and table runner as this yarn is quite sturdy and keeps its shape very well. However, Cotton Create (a softer cotton) works well too. If you’re planning to make something larger, like a shawl or scarf, I recommend a yarn with more drape like Scheepjes Organicon, Cotton Create or Bamboo Soft. Stone Washed would make for a lovely throw.

You’ll find the Sumana motif pattern in my Etsy and Ravelry shops.

Sumana Triangle Coaster
Here's one of my favourite ways to use coasters: to put plants on. Doesn't it look cute? I love how the plant stands out on a table with a lovely and unique handmade coaster to showcase it :)
And you can match the colours of the coaster to the plant and plant pot. Of course you can also make the coaster as large as needed, that's the benefit of join-as-you-go motifs! Enjoy!

More to come about the Sumana Motif

Please check back in the coming few days for more articles about the Sumana Motif, in which I will write about the meaning of the name, how I taught myself the join as you go technique and more.

Where to shop for Scheepjes Catona, Cotton Create and other yarns
Scheepjes yarns are available from WoolWarehouse (International shipping) and Caro’s Atelier (The Netherlands, International Shipping). If you purchase yarn through the affiliate links below, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!*

Click on the link and it will take you to the shops where you can search for the yarn you’d like:

UK Wool Warehouse: http://shrsl.com/17owu

NL Caro’s Atelier:

https://caros-atelier.webshopapp.com/tracking/tradetracker/redirect/?tt=27390_12_296927_&r=%2F

Or shop at other Scheepjes stockists.

*Affiliate links.
The affiliate links in this post support giveaways, free patterns, discounts and the running of this blog. By purchasing yarn through these affiliate links, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. Thank you!

Thank you to Scheepjes for providing the yarn for this project.