How to crochet the rings of love stitch (video and written instructions)

The rings of love stitch intersperses big, bold circles - a little like wedding bands - with clusters of stitches for a charming overall effect. It's an ideal stitch for glamorous and eye-catching shrugs and shawls, or would make a lovely blanket.
Although the pattern looks complicated, it doesn't involve any fancy stitches so that, although not suitable for total beginners, intermediate level crocheters will pick this up with ease.
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Watch the rings of love stitch video tutorial:
Materials
You can use any yarn for this stitch. It would look eye-catching made up in a light fingering weight yarn for a delicate effect, but equally a woolly DK will give a sturdy but no less stunning finish. Check your manufacturer's band for hook size suggestions. You will also need a pair of scissors and a tapestry needle for weaving in ends.
Abbreviations
* repeat from here as required
ch chain
dc double crochet
rep repeat
sc single crochet
sk skip
sl st slip stitch
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Written instructions
For this stitch, you need to make a foundation chain in multiples of 12, plus 7. The video tutorial also begins with two rows of single crochet to give a firm base layer to the stitch.
Row 1: ch 4, sk 1 st, 1 dc into 2nd st, ch 1, dc into same st, ch 1. Now add 8 more chs. *Sl st into 2nd ch from start. Ch 3. Turn work, 3 dc into top of ch ring. Turn back. Sk 5 sts, sl st into 6th st. Turn again, 5 dc into ring. Ch 1, turn work. Sk 5 st, 1 dc into 6th st, ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, then add 8 more chs and rep from * to end of row. Finish by sk 1 st, then 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into last st.
Row 2: ch 4, 1 dc into dc of previous row. Ch 1, into V shape below work 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc. *Ch 1. 1 sc into gap before ring. 9 dc into upper half of ring. Ch 1, sc into gap before V. Here, catch the 3rd ch at the end of the dcs from previous row and sc with it into the gap before the V. Now ch 1. 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into V. Repeat from * to end of row, ending with 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into 3rd chain of previous row.
Row 3: ch 4, then *ch 8. Sl st into 5th ch from start to make ring. Ch 3, turn, 3 dc into ring, turn again, sl st into V, turn work again, 5 more dc into ring. 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into middle of ring, then repeat from * to end, finishing with ch 1, 1 dc, ch1, 1 dc.
Row 4: ch 4, 1 dc into previous dc, *ch 1, 1 sc into gap before ring, 9 dc into ring. Sc into gap, catching 3rd ch of dcs as before. Ch 1, 1 dc, ch 1, 1 dc into V. Repeat from * to end of row as before.
Repeat rows 1 - 4 until project reaches desired length.
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