Review :: Learn Crochet Quickly

There are many different accessories, clothes, embellishments, stitches, tips and even a section about Tunisian crochet.  Each section has many patterns.  Each pattern links to a YouTube video.  These videos are done by many different people.  Most are good at what they are teaching.

As you tap a section to see what lovely morsels are there, you get an ad.  When you tap the pattern or tip or technique, you are whisked away to YouTube and an ad will play for at least 5 seconds before you can start the video.  You can usually stop the video after 5 seconds by pressing the skip ad button.

All in all I wouldn't download this app.  It's a directory rather than a how to.  I'd prefer to save the space on my device for patterns and such and search YouTube for the desired pattern, tip, tutorial, teacher.

Crochet Popcorn, Bobbles, Clusters

What are the differences between Popcorns, bobbles or puffs, and clusters?  Is there a difference?  Yes, there is a difference.  Let's see what they look like. Let’s see how they are worked. There is one thing that you need to be sure of when working with them.  Be watchful where they are placed.  Many a garment has been ruined by misplaced popcorns and bobbles.  These textural details can be used in columns to separate other stitch patterns, to replicate a charted design, in rows to separate other stitch patterns, and most dangerously as an allover detail.



And now the Popcorn…….



This is the largest of the three.  Popcorns are a series of five or seven double crochet, usually.  When you reach the stitch where a popcorn is desired or called for in the pattern or chart, work 5 double crochets in the next stitch.  Remove the hook from the loop, insert it in the top of the first double crochet, reach over and hook the loop you just dropped.  Pull it through.  Now continue to the next stitch.  It’s as simple as that.  If there will be Popcorns on each row, you may need to push alternating rows to the right side.  They tend to not all puff to the same side.  Now wasn’t that easy?  Try a crocheting a row that is *2 dc, Popcorn.  Repeat to the end, ending with 2 dc.  Now repeat this row 10 times.  Do your popcorns line up in columns or are they all over?  Do they all show up on the same side or do they need persuaded?  Most will need to be  persuaded.



And now for the bobble or puff stitch……….



This is the next largest stitch, at least in my opinion.  A bobble or puff stitch is the height of a double crochet.  Similar to the popcorn, it is comprised of four to seven stitches.  Let’s see how it works up.



In the stitch that a bobble or puff stitch is desired or indicated in the pattern/chart, work the following.  * Yarn over the hook, insert the hook in the stitch and draw up a loop to the height of your double crochet.  Repeat from the * 3 to 6 times more.  The pattern will tell you how many times.  Wrap the yarn around the hook one last time and pull through all the loops on the hook.  Now work a double crochet in the next 2 stitches.  Following the practice row above, try this puff stitch for ten rows.  How does this compare to the popcorn above?  How is it different? 



And finally clusters……



Clusters can fall into two categories.  They can be decreases.  They can also be a textural element like the puff stitch and the popcorn.  Let’s see how these are the same and how they differ.  For a decrease, your pattern will specify where to locate them, wrap the yarn around the hook, insert the hook in the indicated stitch and draw up a loop.  Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through two loops.  Stop.  Wrap the yarn around the hook and insert in the next stitch and draw up a loop.  Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through two loops.  There are three loops on the hook now.  Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through three.  See how you have lost a stitch?  Decreases are utilized on sleeves as you work from the shoulder down to the wrist, at the crown of a hat, or anywhere shaping is desired.  Let’s try 5 rows of this type of cluster following the practice row above.



But let’s get back to our textural element of the cluster.  Again your pattern will specify where to locate a cluster stitch.  You can also choose where to put it.  A cluster stitch for texture can have two to four stitches in it.  Now let’s try a cluster in the next stitch.  * Wrap the yarn around the hook, insert the hook in the stitch and draw up a loop.  Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through two of the loops on the hook.  Repeat one to three times in the same stitch.  Now wrap the yarn around the hook one final time and pull through all the loops on the hook.  See how you have one footprint?  One stitch at the top? But the bulk is in the center.  Do you see how this is the same?  You start the double crochet without finishing it.  Do you see how this is different?  You start each double crochet in one stitch in the textural version and in separate stitches for the decrease version.

Try 10 rows of this cluster following the practice row above.



Do you have the same number of stitches that you started with?  How many stitches do you have left in the decrease version?

A Year of Stitches Week 13

A revisit to a year in stitches.

In particular I want to see how many ways a black and white chart can be used.  Let's look at this chart as an example.

Clearly this is cross stitch.  So we know we can do cross stitch or duplicate stitch on the knit and crochet.  So we have a surface decoration.

 This would also be great for fair Isle.  We know how to knit fair Isle. We know how to crochet fair Isle.  This technique is working a stitch in the color designated on the chart and switching colors as the chart tells you.

In crochet, there is tapestry crochet. This is similar to fair Isle but instead of holding the unused color behind the stitches, the unused color is stitched over.

In knitting there is knit, which is smooth on the right side, and purl, which is a bump on the right side.  So if we make knit stitches on the white squares of the chart and purl stitches on the black squares, we will have a textured picture of the chart.  Another way to do this is to work garter stitch for the background and stockinette stitch for the pattern stitches.

There is shadow knit and shadow crochet.  One word of caution about this technique, it will lengthen it quite a bit.  For each craft, shadowing will be 4 rows of stitches for each row of chart

Double knitting will give you a 2 sided stockinette fabric.  One side is the negative image of the opposite side. To prevent flare on the cast on end, either hold the two colors simultaneously or with one color cast on and the first row is kfb across.  To prevent flare on the bind off edge, k2tog across in the bind off.  This closes the top and binds off neatly together.  An added benefit is you can use a much smaller needle size for the yarn weight than called for normally.  The only downside is that you have to be able to keep the front and back pairs straight in your mind.   

A Year of Stitches week 11

Let's check out a pattern I like to call flock of parakeets.   It's colorful, quick, easy.  Color choice can run the gamut.  This particular stitch pattern is an excellent choice for variegated yarns, especially many variegated yarns.  It brings to mind a great multitude of colorful birds.

The main color is best to choose second.  Contrast colors can be all the bits and pieces left from other projects, solids, variegated, ombres, tonals, you name it.  Now what color family, if there is a predominant family, do you see.  Choose your main color at This point.  You can go across the color wheel to choose a complementary color.  You can choose an analogous color by going to the neighboring color on the color wheel.  

Are your contrast colors light, medium, or dark?  If they are primarily dark, I'd advise a tint of that main color choice.  If they are mostly light, choose a darker shade.  If the contrasting colors are medium or allover the place, pick whatever main color and hue strikes your fancy.

For the knit version we will again use the basic dishcloth pattern.  

In MC, Cast on 3

R1:  k1, kfbf, k1

R2:  k

R3:  k1, kfb, k to last 2 sts, kfb, k1.

Rep R2 and R3 until you have the needed number of stitches.  For this exercise, 15 will do.  Rep R2.  Break yarn.  Choose a CC and join with a slip knot.

R4:  k1, k2tog, k to last 3 sts, k2tog, k1.

Rep R2.

Rep R4 and R2 down to 3 sts.  This last decrease row will be k1, sl 1, k2tog, psso, k1.  Change CC every second row.

Work at least 4 of these, enough to make a square, so 4 or 9 will work.  Line up the squares with the solid triangles all facing the same direction.  You determine the right side.  Sometimes I like the side with the solid stripes.  Sometimes I like the side with the "zipper" look.

For the crochet version, we will do something completely different from anything before.

In MC, ch 4.

R1:  2dc in first ch. Turn.

R2:  ch 3, 2 dc in first st, dc to the last st, in the top of the ch 3, 3 dc.

Rep R2 until you have 15 sts.  Fasten off.  Join a CC

R3:  Ch 2, 2dcdec over the next 2 sts, dc to last 3 sts, 3 dcdec.  Turn.

Rep R3 down to 1 st.  Change CC every row.  

You will need to work at least 4 of these also.  Line up the squares with the solid triangles all facing the same way.  The crochet version won't have a right or wrong side.  They look pretty much the same.

A Year of Stitches week 10

Week 9 we looked at the log cabin stitch pattern for both knit and crochet.   It was very easy using the most basic stitch in knit and crochet.

Week 10 let's expand on the crossover between quilting and crocheting.  Our stitch pattern is shoo fly.  Shoo fly is a 9 patch quilt pattern featuring 4 solid squares in the background color, 1 solid square in contrast color and 4 half square triangle squares in mc and cc.  For crochet,  let's utilize the basic solid granny square.

Ch 5 and join in a ring with a sl st.

R1: ch3, 2dc in ring,  * ch2, 3dc in ring. Repeat from * 2 more times, end ch 2 and join with a sl st in top of ch 3.

R2: ch3, * dc in each dc, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch 2 sp.  Repeat from * to the end. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.

R3 and R4: rep R 2. Fasten off after R4. 

Make 3 more in mc and 1 in cc.

The half square triangle square directions are next.

Ch 5 and join in a ring with a sl st.

R1: with mc, ch3, 2dc in ring,  * ch2, 3dc in ring. Repeat from * once more,  then join cc and repeat 2 more times, end ch 2 and join with a sl st in top of ch 3.

R2: with mc, ch3, * dc in each dc, (3 dc, ch 2, 3 dc) in ch 2 sp.  Repeat from * once more in mc, join cc and repeat to the end. Join with sl st in top of ch 3.

R3 and R4: rep R 2. Fasten off after R4. 

For the knit version,  we will utilize a variant of the dishcloth pattern.

Cast on 3 sts with mc.

R1: k1, kfbf, k1
R2: k
R3:  k1, kfb, k to last 2sts,  ending ķfb, k1

Rep R2 and R3 until there are 15sts.  Rep R2 then go to R4.

R4:  k1, k2tog,  k to last 3sts,  ending k2tog,  k1

Rep R2 and R4 down to 3sts.  Bind off.

For the half square triangle square,  k the pattern to the last R2 at 15 sts.  Join cc and repeat R4 and R2 down to 3sts.  Bind off.

Placement of the squares to form the pattern.

R1  half square triangle square with cc pointing to center, solid mc square,  half square triangle square with cc pointing to center.

R2. Solid mc square,  cc solid square,  mc solid square

R3. half square triangle square with cc pointing to center, solid mc square,  half square triangle square with cc pointing to center.

Seam carefully using a mattress stitch.  Block 1 to 2 then 2 to 3 for each row. Now seam rows together.

A year in stitches Week 9

Week 9 

Something easy yet not so much.  Log cabin stitch pattern  It works well for both knit and crochet.  This can utilize all those leftover bits and bobs of yarn and partial balls.  All that is really necessary is that they be of similar weight and you use a hook or pair of needles that is compatible with that weight of yarn.  I'll use worsted weight and H hook or 8US needles

Here's the how to for knit stitch week 9

Cast on 10 sts.

In color A, Knit in garter stitch 10 ridges (20 rows).

In color B, knit 10 more ridges (20 rows).  Bind off loosely.  Rotate the work so the bound off edge is on your right.

In color C,  Pick up and knit along the edge 20 sts.  Knit 10 ridges (20 rows).  Bind off loosely.  Rotate the work so this bound off edge is on your right.

In color D,  pick up and knit along the edge 20 sts.  Knit 10 ridges (20 rows).  Bind off loosely.  Rotate the work so this bound off edge is on your right.

In color E, pick up and knit along the edge 30 sts.  Knit 10 ridges (20 rows).  Bind off loosely.  Rotate the work so this bound off edge is on your right.

In color F, pick up and knit along the edge 30 sts.  Knit 10 ridges (20 rows).  Bind off loosely.  Rotate the work so this bound off edge is on your right.

Continue in this manner until the desired size is reached. 

Do you see what you are doing each time you add a stripe?  You are adding 10 sts to the width

For added interest, you can plan out your colors.  Keep all the darks on opposite sides and lights in between.  Keep all the darks on 2 touching sides and the lights on the opposite sides.  Like the quilt block this is named for, there are almost an infinite number of ways to put them together if you choose to make the blocks only so big.  Or you can make an entire afghan for an adult.  Just be aware the stripes will start to seem much thinner on the edges.  They aren’t.  It’s only an optical illusion.

 Here's the how to for crochet week 9.

In color A, Ch 11.  Sc in 2^nd ch from the hook and each ch to the end. Ch 1, turn and sc in each across.  Repeat this row 8 times more. 10 total rows.  Fasten off.

In color B, join the color to the square and ch 1.  Sc in each st across.  Work 9 more rows.  Fasten off.  Rotate the work so this edge is on the right.

In color C, join to the work on the right top corner.  Sc in the end of each row across.  (20 sts).  Work 9 more rows.  Fasten off.  Rotate the work so this edge is on the right.

In color D, join to the work on the right top corner.  Sc in the end of each row and each stitch as you go across.  (20 sts)  Work 9 more rows.  Fasten off.  Rotate the work so this edge is on the right.

In color E, join to the work on the top right corner.  Sc in the end of each row and each st as you go across. (30 sts)  Work 9 more rows.  Fasten off.  Rotate the work so this edge is on the right.

In color F, join to the work on the top right corner.  Sc in the end of each row and each st as you go across.  (30 sts)  Work 9 more rows.  Fasten off.  Rotate the work so this edge is on the right.

Continue in this manner until the desired size is reached. 

Do you see what you are doing each time you add 2 stripes?  You are adding 10 sts to the width. 

For added interest, you can plan out your colors.  Keep all the darks on opposite sides and lights in between.  Keep all the darks on 2 touching sides and the lights on the opposite sides.  Like the quilt block this is named for, there are almost an infinite number of ways to put them together if you choose to make the blocks only so big.  Or you can make an entire afghan for an adult.  Just be aware the stripes will start to seem much thinner on the edges.  They aren’t.  It’s only an optical illusion.

Swatch! Swatch! Swatch! What can I do with them all??

Last month we discussed what to do with just a few swatches.  This month let's talk more about this.
Four is a great number of swatches and can be so very versatile.  What ideas can you come up with?  Here are things I came up with or have seen online over the years.

1. Book mark:  Like last month use thread.  Seam 3 as before.  Crochet with a tiny hook around the edges, starting in the center of one of the short sides.  When you meet back up with the edging, chain for 6 - 9 inches and go around the last square.  Now you have a dangle.  Keep the dangle for a fancy swatch!
2. Dishcloth:  Using cotton, create 4 swatches or granny squares.  Coordinate the patterns or colors.  Seam them in the shape of a square and edge or not as desired.  
3. Pillow cover:  Do you have a square sofa cushion that is worn on one side?  Create a dishcloth using yarns that work with your décor and in a size that will fit your pillow.
4. Hot water bottle cover:  Use your favorite yarns.  Make 4 squares that are about 8 inches.  Seam into a square, then fold in half.  Seam one short end and the long side.  Add a tie woven through the other short end.  Slide the hot water bottle in, fill and cinch closed.
5. Eyeglass case:  Use non scratchy yarns.  Seam together to create a two layer thick tube.  Seam one short side.  Add a clasp to the other end if desired.
6. Doll blanket:  Depending on the size of the doll, seam the swatches together in a square shape.  The swatches should be a little more than the width of the doll.  This way the doll can stay warm.
7. Hot mat:  Need a larger mat to protect the table?  Platters for the holiday turkey, goose or ham require a larger hot mat/trivet than is generally available.  For this you will need to use cotton or wool yarn and several layers of felt.  Make your swatches 6 - 10 inches square.  Seam 2 together for each side.  Layer together with the felt in the center.  Seam or crochet around the outer edge.  Don't use acrylic yarn as it can melt depending on how hot your platter, pan, or baking dish is.