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Crochet iCord

Mar26

Knowing how to make a crochet iCord is another great technique to have within your stitch file.  It is a pretty simple repeat stitch pattern and you will find many uses for an iCord for your clothing, accessories, appliques, etc.

The basic concept is working with three chain stitches to form a tube.  So to begin you would crochet three chains stitches, then insert your hook in the second chain from hook, yarn over (yo) and pull through loop.  Repeat this step in the third chain from hook.

Made 3 chains, ready to insert into 2nd n 3rd chain from hook

Made 3 chains, ready to insert into 2nd n 3rd chains from hook

3 loops on hook, ready to begin making iCord

3 loops on hook, ready to begin making iCord

Now you want to slide off the first two (2) chains from your hook onto another holder like a knitting needle, chop stick, or a large tapestry needle.  I personally have success using a bamboo knitting needle.

Sliding on to your holder, knitting needle

Sliding on to your holder, knitting needle

Two stitches on holder and one one crochet hook

Two stitches on holder and one on crochet hook

 

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have those two chains placed on your holder, you will begin making a chain stitch (*yo and pull through the loop) with the remaining loop on your crochet hook.  Now slide your 1st chain stitch loop back onto your crochet hook, make a chain stitch (*) and then slide your 2nd chain stitch loop back onto your crochet hook, and again make a chain stitch (*).

YO ready to make 1st chain with loop on hook

Ready to make 1st chain with loop on hook, YO pull through loop

Sliding 2nd chain back onto crochet hook

Sliding 1st chain stitch loop back onto crochet hoo

You just keep repeating this process until your cord is the length that you want.  To fasten off, just do a yarn over and pull through the three loops on your hook, now cut your yarn and pull it through the last remaining loop on  your hook.

First row completed

First row completed

You can create different size iCords by varying your yarn weight and hook size.

Various sizes of iCords you can make

Various sizes of iCords you can make

 HAPPY CREATING!!

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Variation on Crochet Seed Stitch

Mar12

Whether knitting or crocheting, the seed stitch creates a neat bumpy look to accent your project.

The crochet technique for making a seed stitch is usually based on alternating a single crochet with a double crochet, which creates a strong, dense looking pattern.  My variation is created by alternating a half double crochet stitch and a treble crochet stitch.  This gives a more open look to your crochet design pattern.  Of course, type of yarn used and size of crochet hook will make different looks too.

 

1st row of alternating HDC and TR

1st row of alternating HDC and TR

For my sample, I used a Size H crochet hook and 100% cotton yarn.  You want to begin by chain stitching an odd number of chains, (I chained 21 stitches in sample).  Now make a HDC (half double crochet) in the 2nd chain from hook.  In the next chain, make a TR (treble crochet), in next chain make a HDC,  next chain a TR and so forth until to get to the end of your chain stitches.  If you started your first row with a HDC, you will end with a TR crochet and have 20 stitches in your row.

 

Turn, make a SL stitch in first stitch, CH 1 (counts as your first HDC), then continue in pattern – TR, HDC, TR, HDC, TR, making last TR stitch in top of CH 1 stitch from previous row.

Go thru both loops of previous row to make your HDC and TR stitches

Go thru both loops of previous row to make your HDC and TR stitches

So your pattern is alternating HDC and TR within each row as well as alternating HDC and TR vertically.   As you begin your next row, your first SL stitch and chain is your HDC made directly above the TR stitch made in the previous row.  Continue crocheting in this manner,  thus creating your seed stitch pattern.

Picking up CH stitch to create last TR stitch in row

Picking up CH stitch to create last TR stitch in row

Seed stitch pattern, close up

Seed stitch pattern, close up

Another pic of several rows of seed stitch variation pattern

Another pic of several rows of seed stitch variation pattern

 

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HAPPY CREATING!!

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Crocheting Edges – Flour Sack Tea Towel or Pillowcase

Feb23

Have you recently received a “Save the Date” invite for a wedding or special anniversary get-together and would like to make a really wonderful keepsake gift??  Customizing a set of purchased pillowcases or simple tea towels with a beautiful crochet edging makes a lovely treasured present. SONY DSC

It is important that you have a good foundation stitch as your starting point.  If your sewing machine has a buttonhole or blanket stitch built-in, this makes for a great beginning edge.   Just sew this stitch along the edge of your item to create your foundation stitches that you will then crochet through.  In my sample, I used a hand quilting thread by Coats & Clark with regular thread in bobbin to provide a good strong foundation.

Machine blanket stitch 4.0 length x 4.5 width

Machine blanket stitch
4.0 length x 4.5 width

If your machine doesn’t have this type of built-in stitch, creating a buttonhole or blanket stitch by hand is a rather simple embroidery stitch to do for your foundation.  OR you could embroider a chain stitch or stem stitch to use along the edge of your project to crochet through.   Uh-oh, creative juices flowing here!!

Once you have established your foundation stitches, now you can begin making your crochet design.  You will find different edging designs that will call for an odd or even number of crochet stitches to create your pattern.  Therefore, I like to crochet my first row with just single crochet stitches along my foundation so I can make the necessary increases (if needed) to insure I have the correct number of stitches necessary to work with to complete my pattern.

Making SC in blanket stitching row

Making SC in blanket stitching row

Here’s a very nice, simplistic crochet edging pattern to do.  This design requires you to have enough stitches for: multiple of 4 + 1.   Your first row:   Ch 1,  1 Sc in each stitch, turn.  Row 2:   Ch 1, skip first Sc, then 1 Sc in each stitch across to end, turn.  Row 3:  Ch 1, skip first 2 Sc,  5 Dc in next Sc,  skip 1 Sc,  1 Sc in next Sc,  *skip 1 Sc,  5 Dc in next Sc,  skip 1 Sc,  1 Sc in next Sc, repeat from * to end and fasten off.

Crochet with a Size 1 steel hook and Size 3 thread

Crochet with a Size 1 steel hook and Size 3
thread

   TIP:  Always have your work with the right side of the fabric facing you and use a heavy duty sewing machine thread,  DMC floss, or your actual crochet thread for your foundation stitches.   Try to closely match your crochet thread that you will be using for your design.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Simple Crochet Scalloped Edge Scarf

Sep27

Wow, can’t believe how fast winter is approaching so here’s a pretty easy crochet pattern for a cozy scarf.  It’s simple because it is repetitious and a good design that can be worked while watching TV.   Also, you will have a lot of design flexibility with this pattern to fit your specific needs.

My example is made using one skein (50 grams/183 yards) Plymouth Yarn, Dreambaby DK, and a size G (4.00mm) hook.   I am crocheting my scarf for a toddler (2-year-old) so my width is only about 4″  but you can design your scarf to any width as long as your chain stitches are a multiple of 3 (any number of chains that can be evenly divided by 3).

I used the single crochet foundation chain for my beginning base.  For my example, I completed a total of 15 single crochet foundation chains.  Do not turn your work.

15 SC foundation chains

 

 

 

 

 

 

In the 3rd chain from hook, you will work 2 double crochets (DC), 2 chains, and 1 single crochet (SC) in that one chain (2 dc, ch 2, 1 sc).   * Skip the next 2 chains and crochet your pattern again (2 dc, ch 2, 1 sc) in that chain.  Repeat from * until your first row is completed.  Do not turn.

Crochet 2 chain stitches and now you will begin working along the back side of your foundation chains.  In first stitch *(2 dc, ch 2, 1 sc),  skip next 2 chains and repeat from * until you reach the end of the row ending with your (2dc, ch 2, 1 sc).  Turn.

**Chain 2, skip the first SC, and in the ch 2 space work (2 dc, ch 2, 1 sc), *skip the next 2 dc and 1 sc, and in next ch 2 space work your scallop stitch (2 dc, ch 2, 1 sc) again.  Repeat from * until the end of the row.  You will skip the last 2 dc, turn, and repeat from **.  Continue this crochet pattern until you have the finished length that you want for your scarf.

Pattern design

For the toddler pattern, I like to have my length around 40″ so the scarf can be folded in half and slide the two ends through the fold to loosely secure it around the child’s neck and tuck inside their coat.  Remember, the length can be whatever fits your design.

Quick ‘n Cozy Winter Beanie with the Scalloped Scarf

Perfect way to stay snuggly warm for the upcoming winter season.  Makes a wonderful gift set too!!

HAPPY CREATING!!

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Adding a Crocheted Edging

Jun25

Crocheted edgings are another way you can personalize an article of clothing or update a home decor item.  You can just about take any stitch pattern you like and use it as an edging for whatever strikes your fancy.

The most important part of doing an edging is making sure that your stitch placement guides/holes are even.  There are several different types of tools available to make  those holes for you so that they are spaced evenly to give a wonderful finished look.  Check out the edgerydoo which looks like it does an excellent job of making small holes for you to crochet an edging along a blanket, etc.  Also, the blogspot called  At Home in English Valley used a Skip Stitch Rotary Blade to create small holes in a flour sack tea towel for crocheting a nice edge.

Another thing that I like to do as a foundation to crochet an edging on to is the lazy daisy or detached chain embroidery stitch.  This doesn’t require making any holes and you can embroider the stitch along the edge of almost anything.

Making the lazy daisy embroidery stitch

 

How the embroidery stitches look along the edge

NOTE:  I am left-handed so embroidery stitches are started from the opposite end of fabric from a right-handed person.  However, I crochet right-handed so the single crochet stitches are going in the other direction!!  That’s what happens when you are the only left-handed person in your household growing up.  No one could teach me how to crochet left-handed!! 

An important factor to keep in mind whether you are making holes for stitches or using an embroidery stitch for the foundation, is to plan for your stitch multiplier.  A stitch multiple is the number of stitches needed to crochet a complete stitch pattern.  Example:  if your edging pattern calls for a multiple of 3, you need to insure that your foundation row can be divided by 3 evenly.  Plus you will need to have one more hole or embroidery stitch for turning or corners if needed.

After you have your foundation row set up, I like to go around my entire foundation row crocheting a single crochet in all my stitches or holes (at this time, you can insure you have the correct number of SC for your pattern, increase in a stitch if you need to).  By doing this, you have a nice base to work from.  After completing your row of SC, then you are ready to begin the edging design you have chosen.

How it looks after completing a row of single crochet

Once you start crocheting edgings onto your projects, your hook will have a mind of its own!!!

  • TIP: If you are doing the lazy daisy embroidery stitch, use the same color crochet thread for the foundation row so that everything blends together.

HAPPY CREATING!!

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