Crochet Geek - Crochet Tips

Crochet Hook Grip Modification - Flexi Wrap

2011-07-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

This will provide another way to modify your crochet hook using pencil grips and flexi wrap. The flexi wrap can be found in the first aid section of any pharmacy. A variety of pencil grips can be found in the office supply section of many stores.

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Holding Crochet Yarn, Thread and Tension

2010-12-14T04:26:00.000-08:00

The following videos will show how I hold my crochet yarn/thread and talk about tension.

How I hold my Work with Crochet Thread

How I Hold My Crochet Work

How to Get the Right Crochet Tension

Sewing and Hiding Crochet Tails

2010-12-11T07:26:00.000-08:00

The following are video tutorials showing how to sew in crochet tails.

How to Sew and Weave Crochet Yarn Tails

How to Sew and Weave Doily Tails

How to Sew in a Crochet Short Tail

How to sew in tails - Andrew's Keepsake Scarf

Hiding Short Yarn Tails - Crochet Tip 16

How to make the Puff Stitch Decrease

2010-10-03T16:17:00.001-07:00

How to make the Puff Stitch Decrease

Left Hand How to make the Puff Stitch Decrease

Tip for trying a new Crochet Stitch, Pattern or Technique

2010-09-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

We all know that crochet can be frustrating at times when trying a new stitch, pattern or technique. What has worked for me in the past is to stop for a few hours or even a few days. Most likely it will make more sense at a later time.

I am providing two playlists, the right and left hand version, that will provide the beginner crochet stitches.

Right Hand Crochet Stitch Video Playlist

Left Hand Crochet Stitch Video Playlist

How to Crochet an Edging with Pomp-A-Doodle Yarn

2010-09-06T13:33:00.000-07:00

Similar Crochet Techniques - Different Name, Different Purpose -Crochet Decrease vs. Crochet Cluster - Crochet Tip #62

2010-05-29T07:17:00.000-07:00

The crochet decrease may be similar or the same as a cluster of stitches. Keep in mind that you can decrease by skipping stitches as well, but with this tip we are addressing the stitches joined at the top. The purpose of the stitch is what will make them different, while the anatomy and structure of the stitch may be identical. It is something to keep in mind and to help prevent confusion. I am providing two video examples. The first is the Double Crochet Decrease. The second is the crochet cluster. A cluster can consist of a couple stitches to many stitches.

Double Crochet Decrease

Crochet Cluster

Researching Crochet Abbreviations and Definitions - Crochet Tip #61

2010-03-08T06:49:00.000-08:00

What are some crochet terms and definitions that you need help understanding?

You will find pattern authors that have their own terms and abbreviations. You may be new to crochet and not understand any of the language. We are global crocheters, so some terms will be different around the world, depending on the country you are in. When you stumble across something that you do not understand, I always recommend you ask the pattern author first, since they are the best resource. Sometimes it is difficult to reach the author, so you must do alternative research. That will be posting on different message forums exposing your question to a variety of people. There is usually someone who will be able to answer the question.

I am including a link to a chart, with many of the common crochet terms.

Crochet Abbreviations
http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/2008/12/crochet-abbreviation-chart.html

Leaning Crochet Stitches and Squares - Crochet Tip #60

2010-02-16T14:59:00.001-08:00

Have you noticed that the stitches in some squares may lean more than others? In this example, the stitches have a slight lean but it is not real noticeable. This is because the rounds of the square are worked in the same direction. Think about when you crochet a row of stitches when working a blanket. At each end you turn. The stitches will have a different look with crochet rows. To solve the stitch lean, you will turn on each round. This will produce more uniform stitches, that should stand taller and reduce the stitch lean.

How to Make a Puffy Crochet Puff Stitch

2010-02-11T06:52:00.000-08:00

Left Hand Version

SlipKnot and Incorrect Foundation Chain Count - Crochet Tip #59

2010-02-02T05:33:00.001-08:00

When I learned to crochet, I was taught that a slip knot was added to the crochet hook as a crochet technique alone. After that, you made a specific number of chains. I have never counted the slip knot as a stitch. Some people have been taught to count the slip knot. This will be another reason why the foundation chain count may be off when working a project. It will depend on how the crocheter was taught and how the pattern author was taught. This is something to keep in mind as a crocheter and deciphering the many patterns you come across. Each author is going to have a different interpretation in how they guide you to make a project.

This video shows how to attach a slip knot to the crochet hook.

Recycle from Clothing - Crochet Tip #58

2010-01-30T12:53:00.000-08:00

If you have old clothing that is going to be thrown away, check it thoroughly to see what you can recycle.

Save the buttons. They work well for eyes or decorations on your crochet projects.
Pockets and zippers may come in handy as an embellishment.
Some clothing may have unique designs that can be sewn on to a crochet hat or afghan.

This is a great way to stretch your crafting budget. Please share your ideas on what you recycle and use with crafting.

How to Sew and Join the Edges on Crochet Ribbing

2010-01-17T12:26:00.000-08:00

Tight Crochet Grip - Crochet Tip #57

2009-12-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

Quite often, pain while you are crocheting, can be attributed to holding your hook and yarn to tight when you are crocheting. Repetitive motion may also cause pain.

When I was first learning to crochet, I would have pain in my wrist and arm from the repetitive motion with long hours of crochet. If I were crocheting with thread, I would run a groove in my finger. I was holding my yarn/thread and hook to tight but did not know I was at the time. It took quite a while for me to learn that I do not have to hold my work with such a tense grip. I attributed the pain to crochet. I have fine tuned my crochet style to reduce pain. The gel grips help a lot too.

I am sharing my experience because pain can be associated to how you hold your work and several hours of crocheting. If you are having constant pain you are not sure about, you should seek medical attention.

Modifying Hat Sizes - Crochet Tip #56

2009-11-08T04:32:00.000-08:00

There are several sizes of hats that can be made with in a larger hat pattern. Modifying sizes can be a lot of fun. You may even find your own unique design as you are experimenting with different sizes. When making a custom hat, you will need the head size of the child/person you are making it for.

I did a recent example of different sizes in one pattern, with the Pixie Cap. The pattern shows four different stopping points, to continue on with the length of the cap. This can be done with any adult size cap when you are looking for a child/youth size or even a toddler/baby size. There may be an amount of trial and error, with fine tuning the size you want.

Hat Size Chart

Pixie Cap

What type of modifications have you made to hats and caps?

What is the Right Side of a Crochet Piece?

2009-11-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

From time to time you may come across crochet instructions telling you to have the "right side of the work facing you." Right side means, the side facing out after your project is finished.

If you like the look of the back of the stitches, that can be your right side.
When you work the afghan stitch, you will have two distinct looks. Either side of the work can be used as your right side.
The front side for a hat made in rounds, will be the side facing you as your are making the hat. Maybe you like the look of the inside better so that can be your right side.
If you are familiar with doily's, the part facing you as you are making the doily will be your right side.
Think about a store bough T-shirt. The wrong side is the inside with all of the seams holding the shirt together. The right side is the external part that looks nice and neat.

When working in rows you will always alternate sides so both sides could be considered the right side or the front side. When working in rounds, some people like to turn so the stitches are alternating in both directions. If you do not turn with rounds, you may have a distinct front side that will look a little different than the back. Right side is open for interpretation. Front side does not always mean right side.

Turning Chain at the End of a Row - Chain and Turn or Turn and Chain - Crochet Tip #55

2009-09-16T08:00:00.001-07:00

There can be a lot of confusion with written instructions that say "Chain and turn" or "Turn and Chain". It all means the same thing. I like to turn and then chain because that is what I have become accustomed to. The chain represents a stitch or the step up for the first row.

How you turn your work is also preference and up to you. Sometimes I will notice a difference on the edge, if I turn my work counterclockwise. Most of the time it does not make any difference and is not noticeable. If it is something that will be covered up with an edge, it will not matter.

It is something left up for you to decide if you want to chain and turn or turn and chain. The direction you turn your work is also preference.

Counting Stitches for an Accurate Stitch Count - Crochet Tip #54

2009-06-18T05:11:00.000-07:00

I always recommend counting crochet stitches. The reason is for accuracy with each row/round. Counting will save time and is a resource to reduce the possibility of ripping out future rows/rounds. The edges of an afghan are the most common place to drop a stitch. Sometimes it is very difficult to see where the stitch should go. It may even look correct as you turn to start the next row. Several rows later you will notice that your afghan is wider at the bottom and narrower at the top. This is from missed stitches. Counting will help reduce missed stitches.

I know for those of you with small children there are frequent interruptions and you will lose count. My now grown children are the reason I count. When my kids were small, they would be off doing their own thing, not pay any attention to what I was doing until I would start crocheting. Then they would need a drink or start fighting. You can also count your stitches once the row is complete and the children's needs have been met once again.

Wheel Stitches - Crochet Tip #53

2009-06-10T04:19:00.001-07:00

The wheel stitch may be time consuming but it is well worth the work. Keep in mind that crochet pattern stitches can easily be modified to use more or less stitches. If you are working with a wheel stitch that suggests 7 stitches, you can modify it to use 9 stitches instead. The same is true if you want to go from 7, down to 5.

It is not necessary to use the stitch in a demonstration. Maybe you do not want to use a triple crochet so you can use a double crochet instead.

I would recommend doing a pattern swatch to work through your modified version, prior to starting your project. You will want to make sure the modified version is going lay flat and look right. This will give you a small piece to practice through any errors and become familiar with the new modified version prior to starting your project. We all know how disappointing it is to rip because of an error.

NOTE: I have seen the wheel stitch go by several different names which is not unusual for most crochet stitches. The common one is Catherine's Wheel. It also goes by Harlequin Stitch and Jumbo Pinwheel.

Information Label for Crochet Gifts or Merchadise - Crochet Tip #52

2009-06-06T05:06:00.000-07:00

Each of us have probably sold a project that we have made at one time or another or given it away as a gift. My suggestion is to inform the recipient that the project is not coming apart if a tail happens to pop out after a wash cycle. You may want to include a simple set of instructions on how to sew the tails back in between the stitches.

Many years ago a friend of mine brought me a afghan that her grandma had made, because she thought it was falling apart. The only thing that had happened was some of the tails has popped out after washing. I knotted, secured and sewed the tails back between the stitches with her watching. I let her know that the afghan was not falling apart and that tails could come out again after a wash cycle. She was very relieved to know that was all it was. After that, she knew how to take care of it herself.

Choosing and Edging - Crochet Tip #51

2009-05-25T04:47:00.000-07:00

My thoughts for choosing an edging are if you have used a simple pattern stitch for the main portion of your afghan, then it is alright to use a lacy, frilly edging. If the main pattern stitch is busy, frilly and lacy, a simpler edging is recommended.

Head Measurement for Hat - Crochet Tip #50

2009-05-21T09:25:00.000-07:00

The most accurate way to get a custom fit for a hat, is to measure the head, working your modified pattern to a head measurement. If a gauge is available with the pattern, that will also give you an idea on how close your crochet style is to that of the author of the pattern.

The easiest way to change size with a hat pattern is to use a larger or smaller crochet hook. Another way to change size is to eliminate rounds for a smaller hat or do additional rounds with increase stitches for a larger hat.

The following chart is an estimate for various size heads.

Newborn
Head Circumference 13" - 14 "
Hat Circumference = 11.5" - 13"
Hat height = 5.5 to 6"
.................................................................
Baby - 3 to 6 months
Head Circumference: 14" - 17 "
Hat height= 6.5 - 7"
.................................................................
Baby - 6 to 12 months
Head Circumference: 16" - 19 "
Hat height = 7.5"
.................................................................
Toddler -12 months - 3 years
Hat height = 8"
Head Circumference: 18" to 20 "
.................................................................
Child - 3 - 10 years
Hat height =8.5"
Head Circumference: 19" - 20 1/2"
.................................................................
Teens
Hat height 9-10"
Head Circumference: 20 1/2" - 22"
.................................................................
Adult Woman
Head Circumference: 21.5" - 22.5"
.................................................................
Adult Man
Head Circumference: 23" - 24"

Crochet is Repetition - Crochet Tip #49

2009-05-19T13:23:00.001-07:00

Crochet is repeating stitches. It may be the same stitch or a series of various stitches.

Pattern Stitches are sets of stitches being repeated. A set of repeated stitches may include 1 row or several rows to complete the pattern stitch.

An Afghan with simple to intricate designs, is made up of sets of rows, that are repeated for the length of the afghan.

When making a Granny Square there will be 4 sets of repeated stitches on each round, since a granny has 4 sides.

When making a Doily, there will be sets of repeated stitches for each round. Some doilies may have an obvious flat side where others may be round, square or oval shape.

The Purpose of Increase Stitches - Crochet Tip #48

2009-05-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

The purpose of adding increases or fullness evenly throughout your project, is to make your crochet piece get larger or lay flat.

Granny Squares: the extra stitches are added in the corners. This will also form pointed corners
Oval: the increases are added evenly around 2 ends
Circle: the increases are evenly added around the whole piece

An increase stitch is usually two of your main pattern stitches worked in the same stitch on the previous round. Sometimes it can be three stitches. If your project has chains, adding more chains is another way to increase and make your piece expand in size so it will lay flat. An example of an increase would be to work 2 double crochet in the same stitch.

Tips for Making a Crochet Oval

2009-05-10T07:39:00.001-07:00

This is only a symbol illustration and has not been crochet tested to see if it will work as an oval.

NOTE: I will be making an example in the future.

Making an oval is similar to making a hat but can be more challenging. You want to keep both ends as even as possible. The red lines indicate where to place yarn markers. There is a formula to increasing, that is an adjustable formula. This means that your specific crochet tension and style may require you to do less or more increases to get the oval to lay flat.

I recommend using yarn markers at the start and end of the increases.
Keep the amount of increases the same on both ends. This is very important so you will not have a lopsided oval.
If your ends start to curl up, you do not have enough increase stitches for your oval to lay flat. There may be two ways to fix this. You can rip out your round and add more increase stitches. OR you can continue crocheting and hope that your next round of increases will help it lay flat.
If you have a skinny middle forming on your oval and the ends are inflated, you have to many increase stitches. The solution will be to rip out the round and make less increase stitches

As you can see, there are many ways to modify an oval, to make it fit your needs.

How to get the right Crochet Tension

2009-05-10T07:37:00.000-07:00

This is an example I created to demonstrate crochet tension and how it will be different from time to time, even with yourself. Each swatch consists of a chain of 10, 9 single crochet, two rows, a size I/5.5mm crochet hook and 4 ply yarn for all swatches. The middle swatch is my natural crochet tension. The bottom swatch is my loose crochet tension. The top swatch is my tight crochet tension.

Video Tutorial: How to get the right Crochet Tension

This explains why two people can make the same pattern, with the same materials and get two different size results upon completion. Once you are well practiced, each person will settle in to a natural, consistent tension.

From time to time I will want a looser or tighter stitch. To achieve this, I focus and concentrate on the grip of the yarn, opposite my crochet hook. The yarn will run looser or tighter through my hand. What happens when a person is first learning to crochet is they will grab the yarn very loose or very tight creating inconsistent stitches of various sizes. If you are a beginner, it is normal to have different size stitches. Practicing the stitches will help with stitch consistency, creating an even stitch throughout your work..

How to Make Letters on Crochet

2009-04-24T07:12:00.000-07:00

A question I get quite often is how to add letters on crochet. Unless the piece
is large enough, there is just not enough room to add a recognizable letter or number. Typically you may follow a chart and crochet the shape of the letter by changing color in the middles of a row. The integrity to the shape of the letter or number will be lost with smaller projects when following a chart. My solution is to use the embroidery chain stitch. There will be more options to choose from with the embroidery chain stitch. You will be able to use cursive or even mimic your own handwriting. If you have a larger space to work with, you may want to make two rows of chains for a bold or thicker letter that will stand out and be more visible.

Video Tutorial: How to Make Letters on Crochet

How to Manage a Large Afghan during Assembly - Crochet Tip 47

2009-04-05T07:32:00.000-07:00

When working with a large afghan, it may become awkward to hold.

You can purchase quilt clips at your local craft store like Micheal's, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore or order them online. What you do with them is to roll up your afghan and place several clips over the roll of the afghan. It will hold it in place and make it easier to move when you change rows.
You can also use the longer leftover yarn tails to secure around your afghan and hold it in place until you have completed your project.

Finding the Last Stitch - Crochet Tip 46

2009-04-04T05:21:00.000-07:00

When working with single crochet, it can be difficult at times to see where to put the new stitch. The ending or edge stitch are even more difficult to see when changing rows/rounds. I always stress to make sure you have an accurate count of stitches, since this is where you can drop or gain a stitch. When starting the new row/round and the instructions guide me to "Chain 1, single crochet in the same stitch", and I am not able to tell where the same stitch is, I will pull out the last stitch on the previous round. Look at the top of the stitch facing you. Chain 1, turn, look at the top of the stitch on the backside. Look closely at the stitch so you know where to put your hook.

Note: This tip will apply to any stitch.

How to Modify a Granny Square Size - Crochet Tip 45

2009-04-02T08:02:00.000-07:00

I like to mix and match granny squares, creating an assortment of colors and squares. I have found that I can get an average 6" square, 4-6 rounds, with a size G, H or I hook when that is the size I am looking for. Occasionally I will find that my last round may make the square a 7" size, which will be larger than what I want. To fix this, I will do some modification by using smaller stitches on the last few rounds to make the square closer to 6". If I am using double crochet, I will use a half double crochet or single crochet to achieve a 6" square. When you are following a pattern and your square is turning out larger than the size you want, go ahead and modify the stitch by using smaller basic crochet stitches. You can add rounds if you have a square that is just not quite large enough. Look through the pattern to see if there is a design element that you can carry to an extended round, tying it all together.

Invisible Decrease - Double Crochet, Single Crochet, Half Double Crochet

2009-03-25T06:50:00.001-07:00

The invisible decrease is an alternative to the traditional standard decrease. It will be done the same way, for any of the basic crochet stitches that you are doing. The stitch is decreasing 2 stitches down to 1 stitch. The 2 stitches are joined at the bottom of the new stitch, working the remainder of the stitch as an individual stitch. The invisible decrease has less bulk compared to the standard decrease. If your instructions tell you to decrease, you can decide which technique that you would like to do.

EXAMPLE: Double crochet: Wrap the yarn over your hook, insert the hook in the first stitch. Insert the hook in the second stitch. Wrap the yarn over your hook and pull through both stitches. Work the double crochet. Now there is a decrease, joined at the bottom of the stitch, worked as an individual stitch.

Crochet Stitch Stiffness - Crochet Tip 44

2009-03-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

Smaller crochet hooks will produce a tighter, stiffer stitch. This will work well when making a project that you want to hold its shape, like a basket or hat. Use a larger hook to get a softer stitch, without as much stiffness. The yarn choice will also play a role in stitch stiffness.

Hook & Yarn Comfort - Crochet Tip 43

2009-02-28T11:48:00.001-08:00

I always recommend to hold the crochet hook and yarn in a way that is comfortable for you. There are suggested ways to hold the hook but you as long as you are getting like results, do what is most comfortable for you. Many times you will see a suggested "traditional" method in a book. Also keep in mind that there is more than one way to hold the hook and yarn. Some techniques are not taught in a book. If you are able to achieve a similar outcome, then it will be correct. You may have learned or discovered another crochet technique.

What is Worsted Weight Yarn?

2009-02-05T05:46:00.000-08:00

Worsted Weight Yarn is a yarn with a firm, smooth finish. The term worsted originates from Norfolk, England.

Crochet a Swatch - Crochet Tip 42

2009-02-04T12:12:00.000-08:00

Most crochet stitches and pattern stitches are interchangeable with 2-ply 3-ply, 4-ply yarn, crochet cotton, crochet thread and crochet hooks. The best way to know if your yarn or thread will look nice with your pattern stitch, is to crochet at least a 4" swatch. This way you will not put a lot of time in to starting your project only to find out that your yarn may be to small or your hook is to large.

What is a Crochet Space?

2009-02-03T16:26:00.001-08:00

A crochet space is a general term in crochet. Space can mean anything from a chain 1 to chain 50 or no chains between stitches. Space is not inserting your hook in a stitch. It is being inserted in a space, an empty space. From time to time, I will crochet between stitches. That is the space between stitches. Granny squares will have chain spaces to create the corners of the granny square and help them get larger. The chains in the corners are spaces. I created a video showing crochet space examples.

Letters and Numbers - Crochet Tip 41

2009-01-23T09:16:00.000-08:00

There are several ways to get letters and numbers on a crochet piece.

Cross Stitch - Following a diagram to shape your number or letter
Embroidery Stitches - The satin stitch can be used to shape a letter or number and outlined with a running stitch or back stitch.
Crochet Chain - Crochet a length of chain. Sew the chain on to your crochet piece in the shape of the letter. For thicker letters and numbers, use a row of single crochet or the foundation crochet stitches.
Chart - Changing colors as you crochet across your row following a diagram. This technique is limited to the basic single, half or double crochet stitches.

Custom Crochet Apparel - Crochet Tip 40

2009-01-23T06:18:00.000-08:00

When my kids were small, I used to sew a lot of their clothing. With sewing came many patterns so I would make sweaters for my kids shaped to the sewing patterns. You can take a basic sewing pattern, use it as a template and design your own custom crochet apparel by using your fabric pattern as a guide to shaping and size. Keep in mind that fabric patterns allow for 1/4" to 1/2" seam allowance so it will not be necessary to go outside the line. Remember to crochet a 4"x4" or 10cm x 10cm square to gauge your yarn.

Default Crochet Instruction Details - Joining & Turning - Crochet Tip 39

2009-01-08T07:01:00.000-08:00

Lack of crochet instruction details and errors will add to confusion for a new crocheter. Having overlooked instruction details myself, I have a great appreciation for everyone who writes and shares a crochet pattern. This is a tip that becomes second nature to seasoned crocheters, which may be why it is not always included in the instructions. If your pattern lacks telling you to join or chain, keep the following in mind.

By default, you join at the end of a round. Pictures are a good way to see what is supposed to be done if you think that joining is not correct.
By default, you chain ?? amount to get to the next row/round. Traditional crochet instructions tell you to CH 1 for a Single Crochet, CH 2 for a Half Double Crochet and CH 3 for a Double Crochet.

Removing Extra Rows on a Finished Piece - Crochet Tip 38

2009-01-07T07:24:00.000-08:00

I have found in the past, that after I finished a project, to include sewing in and hiding the tail, I did not like the length of the piece. So I removed rows and stitches. There are two ways it can be done.

Carefully cut the strand of yarn, right through the stitches, on the row that you want to take off. I have found that starting in the center of the row works best for this technique. You will want to make sure to leave a length of tail for sewing in your ending stitch,by not starting your cut to close to the edge.
If you want to save the yarn, you can cut at the ending stitch, ending row and unravel it from there.

Making Sense of Written Instructions - Crochet Tip 37

2009-01-07T07:23:00.000-08:00

Have you ever looked at a written pattern that you really liked with intentions of making the project? You read through the pattern or start to read the first few rounds/rows? By the time you were done, you were so overwhelmed by the instructions, you talked yourself out of making the project? I know this from my own experiences reading instructions as a new crocheter.

Crochet instructions are no different that starting a new job. Sure, there may be a lot you need to learn and do, but you are not required to do it all at once.

This is a little secret that has helped me over the years. The whole pattern can be broken down in to segments.

Segment 1 - Foundation: Work your foundation.

Segment 2 - First round/row: What stitch or stitches are necessary to accomplish the first round/row? If it is a new stitch for you, it may be necessary to practice the stitch prior to starting the project.

Segment 3 - Are there different sets of stitches being done? Each round/row may have sets of stitches and repeats can be worked at as an individual segment.

Segment 4- Moving on to the consecutive round/row and breaking it down in to segments.

There is no need to feel overwhelmed when reading a set of instructions. Since we can only do one stitch at a time, it is not necessary to understand the instructions as a whole at the beginning of the project. Once you complete the project, it will all make sense.

Crochet Tension - Crochet Tip 36

2008-12-28T05:15:00.000-08:00

The video tutorial shows how I hold my thread/yarn in my hand. You don't have to hold it exactly like me or like a book says, to accomplish different tensions. You should hold the yarn/thread any way that is most comfortable for you. There are two ways to adjust tension.

Let the thread pass through your hand looser or tighter.
Use a larger or smaller crochet hook. This will adjust the outcome of your stitch size.

A good way to learn tension techniques is to practice, focusing on the hand you hold your thread. Let the thread pass looser through your hand making a few stitches. Then hold the thread tighter making a few stitches. You will see a big difference. Practice doing this a few times to get the feel for tension. Your tension never has to be the same and you can change it at any time.

Crochet Abbreviation Chart

2008-12-28T05:08:00.000-08:00

This is some of the more common abbreviations that you come across in crochet patterns.

A: alt = alternate approx = approximately	M: MC = main color M = meters MM = millimeters
B: BEG = begin(ning) BET = between BL/bk lp = back loop BLO = back loop only BO = bobble BP = back post BPDC = back post double crochet BPSC = back post single crochet BPTR = back post triple crochet	O: OZ = ounce
C: CA = color A CB = color B CC = contrasting color CH = chain CH- = refers to chain previously made/worked CH_SP = chain space CL =cluster CM = centimeter CONT = continue	P: PAT = pattern PC = popcorn P = picot PM = place marker PREV = previous
D: DC = double crochet DC2TOG = double crochet 2 stitches together DEC = decrease DTR/DTRC = double triple/treble crochet	R: REM = remain REP = repeat REV SC/reverse sc = reverse single crochet RND = round RS = right side
E: EA = each	S: SC = single crochet sc2tog = single crochet 2 stitches together SK = skip SL ST = slip stitch SP = space ST = stitch
F: FLO = front loop only FP = front post FPDC = front post double crochet FPSC = front post single crochet(s) FPTR/FPTRC = front post triple/treble crochet FL - front loop FLO = front loop only	T: TBL=through back loop TCH = turning chain TOG = together TC/TRC = triple crochet
G: G = gram GRP = groups GS = Galaxy Stitch	W: WS = wrong side
H: HDC = half double crochet HK = hook	X: X-st = cross-stitch
I: INC = increase	Y: YD = yard YO = yarn over YOH = yarn over hook
L: LP's = loop LP ST = loop stitch

Crochet Eyelash Yarn - Crochet Tip 35

2008-12-19T11:50:00.000-08:00

Crochet novelty or eyelash yarn can be very hard to work with and hard to see the stitches once they are completed. It is much easier to crochet if you add another similar color strand of yarn along side it, working both at the same time.

Video Tutorial: How to Crochet with Novelty Eyelash Yarn

How to Join the Foundation Crochet Stitches - Crochet Tip 34

2008-12-11T17:01:00.001-08:00

How to connect the Foundation Crochet Stitches in to a circle and join them.

Slip stitch your ending Foundation Stitch to the top of the beginning Foundation Stitch. This technique will be the same a joining a round.
Wrap the yarn over your crochet hook and pull through both loops.
Get your tapestry needle and join the bottom of the beginning stitch and the ending stitch, using the tail to connect the two ends together.
You have completed your connection.

How to Straighten the Edge of a Crochet Shell - Crochet Tip 33

2008-12-05T15:09:00.001-08:00

In the image above, The right side of the shell hat has been filled in with staggered stitches.

1. Slip Stitch = SL ST
2. Single Crochet = SC
3. Half-Double Crochet = HDC
4. Double Crochet = DC
5. Half-Double Crochet = HDC
6. Single Crochet = SC
7. Slip Stitch = SL ST

Video Tutorial: How to Straighten the Edge of a Crochet Shell Stitch
The video tutorial shows where to put the stitches.

The key to straighten a scallop or uneven crochet edge is to stagger stitches. This technique will work with any type of uneven edge. You may need to experiment with various stitches if you are straightening something other than the shell, until you get the right edge for your pattern stitch.

Use the Blanket Stitch to Attach Edgings - Crochet Tip 32

2008-11-29T03:48:00.000-08:00

It is not as difficult as you may think. All you need to do is hand sew a blanket stitch around your cloth piece. You will have thread loops at the edge of your cloth, that you will use to attach your crochet. The video tutorial shows how to make the blanket stitch. It is done the same way on cloth. You will be using a smaller thread and needle but the process is the same. I am planning a future tutorial on adding an actual edging to cloth.

Story about myself: I do have to share a story about myself, on what I did before I knew the proper method of attaching crochet edgings to cloth. I actually pierced the fabric with my crochet hook to do a single crochet foundation around the cloth. My hand was sore for days after I did that. I finally finished the rest of the edging a few days later. I bent my steel crochet hook a little bit. I was not to fond of crocheting around cloth until I learned the proper method.

Blanket Stitch

Making Acrylic Yarn Soft - Crochet Tip 31

2008-11-27T10:02:00.000-08:00

I have found that fabric softener in the wash cycle will soften up acrylic worsted yarn, so it does not feel so stiff . While Red Heart and a few others are a little stiffer to work with than other brands like Caron, which is nice and soft from the skein. Both are great yarns and each have their purpose. Make sure you check your yarn label for washing instructions. There are some yarns that recommend hand washing.

Defining Ply of Yarn with Crocheting

2008-11-25T08:38:00.000-08:00

Yarn ply is a spinning technique which takes a single strand of yarn to create various size and colors of yarn. In the picture example, I have taken the individual strands of yarn apart so you can see what ply mean.

4-ply is 4 strands of yarn. Crochet hooks sizes I recommend for 4-ply are G,H, I, J, K. 4-ply is used with warm hats, mittens and heavy sweaters.

3-ply is 3 strands of yarn. Crochet hook sizes I recommend for 3-ply are D, E, F. 3-ply is what I use for baby booties, sweaters, hats and afghans. 3-ply is also a nice weight for adult size sweaters or a lighter weight afghan.

2-ply is 2 strands of yarn. Crochet hook sizes I recommend for 2-ply are B, C, D. The 2-ply is a very light or sportweight type of yarn. 2-ply is the type of yarn used in most commercial type of knit sweaters. 2-ply would be a good weight for crochet or knit socks. It would not be to light or to heavy.

These hook and yarn recommendations are just what I have found to work the best. If you can get a size B hook to work with 8-ply yarn, then that is just another combination of materials that work together. Don't ever let a recommendation stop you from trying something different.

There are many different types of yarn to work with. The companies are coming up with new and different types of yarn the time.

Keep in mind that different yarns will affect the outcome and size of your project. One example I can think of is Caron 4-ply and Red Heart 4-ply. Both are great yarns to work with. Red Heart is stiffer and works up larger than Caron which is softer and more flexible. I have made a granny square out of each from the same pattern, hook and there is a difference in size. The Red Heart square turned out larger. You can use 3-ply yarn with a pattern that calls for 4-ply yarn. All you will need to do is gauge and adjust your project for the smaller size yarn.

Chain Foundation - Crochet Tip 30

2008-11-25T08:35:00.000-08:00

I have had this happen where you start out with your chain foundation with an afghan or scarf and it is narrow at the bottom and wider at the top. What you can do it start off with a very loose chain. If that does not work enough, you can use a larger crochet hook. What we are trying to accomplish is both ends being the same or very close in size. Sometimes the chain will be crocheted tighter than the rest of the project which makes the starting end narrow and the finishing end wider.

I have also found that the foundation crochet stitches also known as chainless crochet, are a great way to make sure both ends are the same. With the foundation stitches, you are creating the chain and stitch at the same time. I will use this method instead of the chain.

Chainless Single Crochet Foundation

Chainless Half Double Crochet Foundation

Chainless Double Crochet Foundation

Pattern Stitches - Identify the Ending Stitch - Crochet Tip 29

2008-11-18T05:19:00.001-08:00

There are some beautiful, tighter crochet pattern stitches. Some are easier than others to lose track of your count, add more stitches or miss a stitch. I have a recent example that just happened to me a couple of days ago. I am making a seed stitch scarf tutorial. It only has 10 seeds stitches. I noticed that my scarf was getting wider at the top. I thought that I accidentally started using a larger hook. What happened was that I added an extra stitch at the edge. * Counting stitches is very important as a way to prevent extra stitches. It can happen to everyone and will happen. :) I had to rip about 10 rows to get back to where I added the extra stitch. The pattern stitches that are more common to extra stitches being added are the Single Crochet,Seed Stitch, Star Stitch, Trinity Stitch, Cluster Stitch and Snowflake to name a few. They may be made with a single crochet, half double crochet or a type of cluster. Since the stitch is tighter together, it is common to put two stitches in the same stitch. *I have found that the edges are where additional stitches usually show up although they can appear anywhere in the row. In addition to counting, you can *frame up your edge with a visible stitch like a single crochet or half double crochet. You will have your pattern stitch between your basic crochet stitch. Sometimes the basic stitches are easier to identify. * A yarn marker is another way to identify hard to see stitches. Yarn markers will add visibility to the end stitch. Once you complete the first stitch of your row, add a yarn marker so you know where the last stitch is located. Unfortunately we all wind up with additional stitches on occasion. These steps are measures that you can put in place to help reduce errors.

Shaping with Plastic Canvas - Crochet Tip 28

2008-11-13T05:10:00.001-08:00

Have you ever wanted a little extra shape with the brim of your hat or around the base of your cap? Use plastic canvas to create your own unique brim. This can be used for any crochet piece that may need some extra reinforcement. You will be able to custom shape the plastic canvas to fit your head. You can also make your own crochet buttons using plastic canvas. There are numerous ways to incorporate plastic canvas into crochet.

Joining a Round - Hook Placement - Crochet Tip 27

2008-11-11T04:12:00.001-08:00

If you look closely at a chain, there are three loop strands that make up the chain. There are 2 loops at the top and 1 loop at the bottom. There are also 2 loops at the top of each stitch. Place your hook below the 2 strands of the joining stitch or chain, then pull your yarn through to join. Your round will have a more secure join by using this method. It will reduce the visibility of seams when making hats and caps.

Improvise and Adjust - Crochet Tip 26

2008-11-07T05:48:00.000-08:00

The square on the left is to full with to many stitches and/or chains. As this square gets larger, the corners will point out more and the edges will ruffle more.
The square on the right does not have enough stitches and/or chains. As this square gets larger, it will curl to the center more and possibly start to form sides.

You have heard me say this before, that each person has a unique crochet tension. That alone will alter the outcome of a pattern. Sometimes you can never get it right, without make some adjustments that will fit your crochet style. I will be using the granny square as an example but the technique will apply to any round that may have the same type of problem. There are many variations of the granny square and the granny pattern. Sometimes, the granny square may not lay flat in the corner and it is curling up or towards the center of the square. That is an indication that the square needs more chains or stitches in the corner. It is alright to alter the pattern and add more chains or stitches so it will lay flat. You may only need to do this for one or two rounds, and then you can go back to the basic pattern. I have used a larger crochet hook which may solve the problem. That way it would not be necessary to alter the pattern.

On the other end of this, you may find your edges wavy and your corners are pointing out higher than the sides. This is an indication that the square is to full. If it has gotten to this point you may want to consider ripping out a couple of rounds and adjusting from a point where you can control your shape better. If you have a chain 3 in the corner, you might try a chain 2. If your corner is chain 2, then you would chain 1. This will keep your corner from pointing out to much. If you have a chain 2 between the 3 double crochet, you will want to try a chain 1. This will control the wave in the sides making it less full with a straighter edge.

Tight Starting Chain Loops - Crochet Tip 25

2008-11-06T14:42:00.000-08:00

There is a little secret to the tight starting chain loops when creating a round for lots of stitches. You might see a chain 4, and join. Then the instructions will tell you to fit 30 double crochet in that little hole. You start off as the instructions tell you, then wind up with 15 stitches and you are already around to the beginning of the circle and wondering how to fit the other 15 stitches through the little loop. This is what works for me when I am faced with this problem. When the stitches start getting to close, you grasp the chain in one hand and the stitches in the other hand and give them a big tug back so they pull away from the first stitch. You are pulling the stitches to the right and forcing them away from the beginning so you have more room to add the rest of your stitches. I hope that makes sense.

Different Brand Crochet Hook, Different Size - Crochet Tip 24

2008-11-06T14:05:00.000-08:00

Looks can be deceiving when you purchase a lettered crochet hook. The following images will show three different brand crochet hooks, all lettered with the same size letter K. You will visually see a big difference. When you crochet a project with the same letter and the results are different, it could be that the author of the pattern used a different brand crochet hook. Keep in mind that individual tension will play a role in addition to hooks.

The top blue hook is a Boye. The center pink hook is a Susan Bates. I don't have a name brand for the green hook but the back says made in Germany.

When we look closely at the profile of the crochet hooks, this is where we see a huge difference. My favorite brand is the Boye crochet hook. I like it because of the rounded hook. The Susan Bates hook has a flatter hook. The narrow gap between the hook and handle of the Susan Bates will make your project smaller. When we look at the hook Made in Germany, it is much larger than the Boye hook and has a large gap between the hook and handle. This larger gap will make your project and stitches much larger. From this image, the Susan Bates hook looks as though it would be a size or two smaller.

Below are three more examples with a J crochet hook this time. Green is a Boye hook, pink is Susan Bates and the blue is made in Mexico.

Here is the profile of the crochet hooks. This time the Boye crochet hook is slightly larger than the hook made in Mexico and quite a bit larger than the Susan Bates hook.

In my collection of hooks, I was lucky to find two different sizes, with three hooks each, to demonstrate the vast difference in what appears to be the same size crochet hook based on the alphabetic letter. With a different company brand or country sizing, the hook size changes dramatically and will give you varying results with your end project.

The Meaning of Numbers and Letters on Crochet Hooks - Crochet Tip 23

2008-11-06T14:03:00.000-08:00

When I learned to crochet there were two standard types of crochet hooks. Steel and aluminum. I know that there is a variety of shapes and sized hooks sold in the stores today. You just need to find something that works for you. The images below are example of the sizes for steel and aluminum hooks. Numbers are used with steel hooks. Alphabet letters are used with aluminum hooks.

Steel Crochet Hooks - The hook gets smaller as the number gets larger.

Aluminum Crochet Hooks - The hook gets larger and the letter get larger.

Yarn Calculator

2008-11-05T13:49:00.001-08:00

This is a link to a yarn calculator.

Yarn Calculator

Tunisian Crochet - Taming the Curl - Crochet Tip 22

2008-11-02T16:25:00.000-08:00

Anyone that has crocheted with Tunisian crochet or the Afghan Stitch has experienced the curl. You can block your piece with light starch or with weight to reduce the curl. It is no different than the process for pressing flowers. You will what to make sure your piece is slightly wet with water. You can add a light amount of starch to your water. Cover your piece with a towel to absorb the moisture. Add some weight to the top of your piece. A plastic storage container or the lid will work great and you won't have to worry about it getting a little wet since it is plastic. Add some books inside your plastic container or on top of the lid and you have a moisture resistant weight for Tunisian projects.

Most skeins of worsted weight acrylic yarn do not recommend ironing the yarn.

Lopsided Rounds - Crochet Tip 21

2008-11-02T16:24:00.002-08:00

For some reason, a granny square may lean at times, when working in the same direction. If you have a lopsided granny square or round this is what I recommend. Work your granny square by turning each round. Alternating directions, it will straighten up. Another thing to keep in mind, when you are in the middle of a project, you may notice imperfections that most people will not notice. Don't be hard on yourself.

Foundation Chain - Crochet Tip 20

2008-11-02T16:24:00.001-08:00

When creating an afghan, you may find it is hard to get the chain the same size as the stitches in your afghan. What may be happening is a curved afghan. You may find yourself ripping and restarting several times to get it just right. The chain may distort your afghan pulling it to much or making the chain foundation to loose. Once you complete your chain foundation, you may find that you crochet looser or tighter than the actual chain. When this happens, you use a larger hook if the chain is to tight or a smaller hook if your chain is to loose.

Twisted Thread or Yarn - Crochet Tip 19

2008-11-02T16:23:00.000-08:00

Sometimes we can wind up with a thread or yarn that has a mind of its own. The more your crochet, the more twisted up it becomes. What I have found that works with unruly fibers is to straighten it when you first start your project. I will just run it between my fingers to get rid of any extra twist that may be lurking. When you are in the middle of your project you can let it unwind every now and then. After you crochet a while it will probably start twisting again. You will either need to let your work unwind or your ball of yarn unwind, maybe both. You can use a safety pin or paper clip to secure your work or your ball of yarn so they don't unravel while they are unwinding. When I lived in Germany I bought this really pretty deep burgundy thread. The more I would crochet the more knotted my thread would get. It got so bad at one point that I had to cut my thread to untangle the mess. Hopefully this will help save some frustration, should your fibers start to twist.

Hiding Crochet Yarn Tails - Crochet Tip 18

2008-11-02T16:22:00.002-08:00

This is another way to secure yarn tails.

Weave your tail through the threads as you typically hide your tail.
Take your tapestry needle and separate the yarn fibers in to two separate groups of strands. This can be done with any ply yarn.
Take one group of strands, thread the tapestry needle and weave it through another stitch.
Now you will tie your strands together in a very secure knot. Knot it several times so the tails will not come out in the wash.
This is more of a time consuming process but well worth it if you have concern for your tails coming out in the wash.

Visible Seams with Rounds - Crochet Tip 17

2008-11-02T16:22:00.001-08:00

When creating a project in rounds, a seam may become visible at some point when working with a granny square, hat, or afghan. It does depend on the pattern stitches you are using. Some pattern stitches may not show a seam at all. Seams happen because of the chain and how the stitches are joined. I have found a method that tones down the visible seam. I am not going to say it will completely go away but it will help make it less visible.

Typically we are taught to do a chain 3 as the first stitch for a double crochet. The chain is what creates the visible seam, in addition to how it is joined to the beginning stitch. The circle to the right on both images, are created with the chain 3 which counts as the first double crochet. I have found that I like to do a chain 1, which will not count as a stitch, and then do a full double crochet. I will use this same technique with the half-double crochet to. I have found that the chain leaves larger gaps and holes that contribute to a visible seam. By doing the chain 1 and a full stitch, this technique will fill in the gaps that a chain will leave. When you complete your round, you skip over the chain 1 and join your round together in the top of the first stitch. In my examples, this will be the double crochet.

With the image on the right, the boxes highlight the starting stitches. If you click on the image close up, you will see the chain facing you. As you progress in your project the seam becomes more visible with each round. With the chain 1, double crochet, you have a full stitch with a short chain that is less noticeable.

Click on Image for Close View

How we join also plays a big role with a visible seam. The image below is showing how to join to get a less visible seam. This can even be done with the chain, if that is the technique you are most comfortable with. It will twist the chain to the side, instead of being to the front, as shown with the circle, on the above right. You put the hook under both loops at the top of the chain or stitch, wrap the yarn over the hook, pull it through all loops.

No matter what method you choose, there may still be a slight visible seam with the basic single crochet, half-double crochet and double crochet when you are working with joined rounds.

Hiding Short Yarn Tails - Crochet Tip 16

2008-11-02T16:20:00.002-08:00

Video Tutorial: Hiding Short Yarn Tails - Crochet Tip 16

This is a tip that I created for myself after a few errors on tail length . I did not leave myself enough thread to sew in the tail on a few occasions. This is what I did.

Weave the needle between the stitch threads.
Thread the eye of the needle. This will allow for the short tail to pass through the eye of the needle.
Pull the threaded needle through the stitch threads of the project.

The image show the needle being threaded, after weaving the needle between the stitches.

Yarn Markers- Recycle Your Tails - Crochet Tip 15

2008-11-02T16:20:00.001-08:00

You have all heard me talk about using yarn markers when working in a continual round. This is so you have an idea where the first stitch is located, in creating a balanced cap or amigurumi project. It may be difficult to see the first single crochet when working in a standard round, so you may need to mark the stitch so you don't crochet right over it. You may need a yarn marker for reference in telling what stitches to crochet in and what stitches should be left alone. I have found yarn markers useful in shaping necklines and armholes of sweaters.

At any time we may need a yarn marker. Don't waste your money purchasing a yarn marker from the store. You make plenty of your own yarn markers every time you crochet. Your tails are perfect yarn markers, both yarn and thread.

In this slipper example below, I have used a yarn marker at the top of the slipper so I would know what part of it was the top. That section was created prior to the heel. The marker to the left was used to mark stitches that were to remain open with no crochet stitches across that section. From that point on I was working in rows so the yarn marker was telling me where to crochet and where to stop.

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Crochet Hooks - New vs Old- Recycling - Crochet Tip 14

2008-11-02T16:18:00.000-08:00

I started out with the blue Boye "I" hook you will see in a lot of tutorials. It is marked $.55 cents. That was the hook I used for yarn projects. My other hook was a steel size "7" for thread. Those were the only two hooks I had for a long time. I think I was supposed to give my steel size "7" hook back to my former mother-in-law after she bought it for me. OOoooppppssss........... I must give credit where credit is due, she did help me learn a lot of crochet stitches.

I have found that I prefer Boye hooks because of the rounded hook on the end. Susan Bates has a flatter hook that kept hanging up in my yarn. I have seen some interesting hooks lately from light up hooks to clay grips. I am thinking about experimenting with the clay grip.

$7.60 $11.05

It does not have to cost a lot to get started to crochet. This image is a good example of that. Both sets are recent purchases that I have made from E-bay. The first purchase was the lot of 54 hooks on the right. My winning bid was $11.05 for hooks. The next winning bid was 35 hooks on the left for $7.60. You may pay a couple dollars for 1 new hook up to $6.50 for 5 or 6 new hooks. Crochet hooks last a long time so if you can get a good deal like the two I got, you will save yourself a lot of money. Once you get your hooks, you can gently wash them with hot soapy water, dry them off thoroughly and they will be as good as new. If E-bay is not your cup of tea, you can try yard sales or estate sales. Keep in mind that old saying, "One person's junk is another person's treasure."

You never know what else you might find in your hooks. One of the wooden hooks has Boye stamped on the end of it. I have never seen a wooden hook for sale ever. The two steel hooks look really old. It would be interesting to know who made the two steel hooks and approximately how old both sets of hooks are.

For anyone with extra hooks, don't throw them away. You can sell them on E-bay, donate them to a local women's shelter, girl scout troop, community center or as a last resort, send them to me. I know I can find a good home for them.

Dye Lot - Crochet Tip 13

2008-11-02T16:17:00.001-08:00

Purchase enough yarn to finish your project. Even though you purchase the same color again, in a separate purchase, the possibility is great that you will by getting a color that does not match. This holds true for white along with colors. I have purchased the same brand color and thought I thought was getting the same color. As I progressed along in my work, there was a big difference in coloration. It is better to have to much thread/yarn, than not enough. Besides, us crocheters love lots of extra thread and yarn. We can always find a use for it. :)

Recycle Edgings - Crochet Tip 12

2008-11-02T16:16:00.001-08:00

I know I have not talked much about edgings so this is something to keep in mind when creating edgings for garments, hankies, towels or pillow cases. I would make edgings for my daughters dresses when she was a little girl. If you are using thread to make an edging, a lot of time and work will go into it. Make your edging separate from the fabric. Hand sew the edging on so it can easily be removed later. That way if your child wears out their clothing, you can use the edging again. This will hold true for the edging of table linens or pillow cases. The fabric will wear out long before the crochet lace. Even if there is a little wear in crochet lace, it can be repaired.

This is my daughter in a dress I made for her back in 1985. I used to sew a lot back then too. It is accented with a crochet edging. Since the edgings were sewn on separately, they could be removed and recycled to use on another dress or used in another project. Hopefully some other little girl got some good kid use out of it since I know my girly little daughter did not wear out the dress.

Crochet Count - Exact or Not Exact - Crochet Tip 11

2008-11-02T16:15:00.001-08:00

Sometimes it is necessary to be exact in crochet count. Other times being off a stitch or two will not matter. I can remember being caught up in numbers so much that I spent hour after hour, ripping my work out trying to get the exact number. As we have discussed previously it could be an error in the written pattern so that is always something to keep in the back of your mind.

You will want an exact count when you are making the following projects.

Afghan -You want the width and length to be as even as possible with your afghan. A ripple afghan relies heavily on exact count or you may wind up with steep peeks, mixed in with waves and bumps.
Sweater- You especially want your sweater to fit after you have spent days shaping and crocheting your garment.
Doily - Most doily's are very intricate and detailed. It is easy to get off track with a doily so attention and count is very iportant here.

I have been off with count on everything that I mentioned. Sometimes I have had to rip out lots of rows. Other times I was able to recover by adding in an extra stitch. Some projects require paying very close attention to the count and detail.

There are times that it may not be necessary to have an exact count.

When you are making a hat all in the same color and in a continual round. I have found myself off on occasion to be off by 2 or 3 stitches. You can add an extra stitch or just continue on if the cap is fitting correctly. It is not going to make a big difference in the outcome and will not be noticed.
If you are making an amigurumi shape and happen to be off a few stitch numbers.
Working in rounds. You can easliy add in an extra stitch if you feel it is necessary.

I can remember making oval eyes for a stuffed toy. My shapes were off by 2 stitches. I would make another shape, driving myself nuts, trying to get them exact. I won't do that anymore because it won't even be noticed. When ever you can, save yourself some frustration. Exact count may not be so important.

Crochet Multiple- Defining the Meaning

2008-11-02T16:13:00.000-08:00

I had an older post trying to explain multiples. I have tried to freshen this one up a bit. There is also a video tutorial to go along with a written description. I am hoping that between the two, it will make sense.

Video Tutorials: Crochet Multiple- Defining the Meaning

You have probably seen the term multiple used in your project instructions and wondered what it meant. There are a series of numbers given to figure how long your chain will be. There are hundreds of crochet pattern stitch variations. It will take so many chains to complete each pattern stitch. Some pattern stitches might require only 2 chains to complete each stitch, where others might need 20 chains. The starstitch only requires 2 chains to complete a stitch, where a ripple pattern stitch may need 15 or 20 chains depending on the ripple pattern you choose. The +plus amounts are used once with the first pattern stitch. For example: You will need to chain 4 to complete 1 double crochet. The multiple for a double crochet will be 1+3. Lets say you want 20 double crochet in your project. You will need to chain 19 + 3. It will take a chain of 22 to complete 20 double crochet. Remember, the beginning chain 3 counts as a double crochet. Each multiple gives you the unique information to create a project as large or as small as you want to make your project.

Crochet Round and Spiral - Crochet Tip 10

2008-11-02T16:12:00.000-08:00

Click on Image for larger view. You will be able to see a different between the two.

There are two techniques that can be done when creating a crochet circle.

Each time you do a round, you do a slip stitch, then the chain 1 to get up to the next round. If you are doing a spiral you will not be be joining.

Here are two simple ways to remember the difference between round and spiral.
1: Round = Slip Stitch to join at the beginning of each round.

2: Spiral = No Slip Stitch

When doing a spiral a marker is recommended to mark the beginning row of a spiral. I just use a scrap piece of yarn. You don't have to purchase anything fancy. Another thing that happens is that the marker will shift to the right as the beginning stitch will shift to the left.

When you are creating a doily or motif, most likely you will be working in rounds. For hats, caps, amigurumi shapes, rugs, or afghans that are continual with the same stitch, I prefer a spiral. It leaves no seam and that is what I like about the spiral. When you have a choice, the choice is up to you which technique you will be

Decrease - To Join or Skip - Crochet Tip 9

2008-11-02T16:11:00.000-08:00

There are two ways to decrease on the edge of a crochet piece. You can decrease by eliminating a stitch or you can do an actual decrease by joining two stitches together. The reason for how I decrease is to make sure there are no holes. The edges are where holes usually develop in turning and decreasing. If I need to decrease at the beginning of a row, I will do my chain, then do the decrease over the next two stitches. This will fill in and not leave a hole at the edge of my piece. On occasion, such as a ripple stitch, a hole might not be a big deal. Decreasing by eliminating a stitch will be perfectly fine. There are two variations when it comes to decreasing a crochet stitch.

Crochet Chain Loops- Where Do I Put My Hook? - Crochet Tip 8

2008-11-02T16:10:00.000-08:00

When making a beginning circle loop, many of us have probably asked ourselves, Where do we put our Hook, in & through the chains or around the chains? Both ways are correct. Method 1 is when you crochet through each individual chain. This will give you an even distribution and will limit stitch movement. Method 2 is over and around the chain loop, which will give you an uneven distribution. You will be able to evenly distribute your stitches when you are finished with your first round. I prefer method 2 in how the stitches look over the chain loop. Method 2 is what I use most of the time.

The image below shows two circles, each with a chain 8 and 16 Double Crochet. The circle to the left shows how the chain will look with a 2 double in each chain. The circle to the right shows how the project will look by crocheting over and around the chain.
Click on the image for a larger view.

When doing a motif or granny square ,we may come across a chain at some point in the motif. The decision is still up to you on crocheting through the chains or around the chains. Both are correct. The final look of your project is up to you.

Frustrating Moments of Crochet - Crochet Tip 7

2008-11-02T16:09:00.001-08:00

Everyone has experienced difficult patterns at times. You might find yourself reading over the written instructions more than you are crocheting. You may find yourself ripping out the same row 20 times because it is not turning out as described by the instructions. In my early crochet years, I discovered that professional publications are not immune to mistakes. My suggestion is to put your work down for a day or two. Go back to it with success in your mind. This is where you will find your biggest ahhhh-haaaaa moments in crochet. The stitch that you may have been struggling with will make sense or you will find that error in the written publication. There is something about clearing your brain, that make continuing on with a difficult pattern, a lot easier to complete.

Crochet Symbol Chart

2008-11-02T16:06:00.000-08:00

This is the crochet symbol chart for the basic crochet stitches.

Changing the Color of your Crochet Project

2008-11-02T16:01:00.001-08:00

Changing colors is nothing more than, cutting your yarn, securing it, then attaching a new color. There is no special way to go about doing it. It is no different than if you ran out of yarn in the middle of your project and had to attach a new skein. It comes down to your personal preference when attaching a new strand of yarn. Below are several videos that touch on changing colors.

Tunisial Crochet Color Change

This is a video tutorial for the changing color of a row with tunisian crochet.

Video Tutorial: Tunisian Crochet Color Change

This is a video tutorial for changing color in the middle of a granny square and in the middle of a row.

Video Tutorial: Changing Color in the Middle of a Project

Circle to Square

This is another good example of changing color with rows.

Video Tutorial: Crochet Circle to Square

Reggae Rasta Slouch

There are several color changes in this tutorial.

Video Tutorial: Reggae Rasta Slouch Popcorn Cap - Part One

Reggae Rasta Slouch Popcorn Cap - Part Two

Changing the Color of your Crochet Project

2008-11-02T16:01:00.000-08:00

Changing the Color of your Crochet Project

Tunisial Crochet Color Change

This is a video tutorial for the changing color of a row with tunisian crochet.

Video Tutorial: Tunisian Crochet Color Change

This is a video tutorial for changing color in the middle of a granny square and in the middle of a row.

Video Tutorial: Changing Color in the Middle of a Project

Circle to Square

This is another good example of changing color with rows.

Video Tutorial: Crochet Circle to Square

Reggae Rasta Slouch

There are several color changes in this tutorial.

Video Tutorial: Reggae Rasta Slouch Popcorn Cap - Part One

Reggae Rasta Slouch Popcorn Cap - Part Two

Crochet Gauge

2008-11-02T10:30:00.001-08:00

Friday, August 8, 2008

Crochet Gauge

The designer of a pattern, will create a unique gauge by default, to their specification just by the yarn and hook they choose. Gauge is also done by individual tension. Tension is just how tight or loose you hold your yarn/thread while you are crocheting. We can even add in an amount of guesstimating to figuring gauge. Even if you use the exact same supplies recommended by the pattern, the gauge could be off due to the unique tension of each individual. The designer has done the hard part by creating and shaping the pattern. All you need to do is figure your gauge and then work it in to the pattern.

Another thing to keep in mind when creating a project is to purchase enough yarn/thread for your project. It is better to have to much yarn/thread than not enough.

I know gauge can seem a big confusing. Gauge is a measurement between a beginning point and ending point. The best way to determine your unique gauge is to crochet a swatch of the pattern stitches that you will be using in the pattern. If you are making your project out of the shell stitch, then create your swatch out of the shell stitch. This is checking to see how many stitches you are going to have between a beginning and ending measurement, for the yarn and hook you are using. You can crochet a 4x4" or 6x6" swatch to get a fair estimate of the stitch size. It does not need to be fancy or very big.

An example will be if you have a sweater pattern that you want to crochet. It calls for 4-Ply yarn with an "H" crochet hook. You have some really pretty 3-ply yarn that you want to use with an "F" hook. It will take more stitches across with 3-ply yarn and "F" hook, since 3-ply yarn and "F" hook are smaller. You need to determine how many stitches you will need between the measurements that the pattern recommends. You can always adjust ending rows at any time. If you don't get your width correct in the beginning, you will be ripping or very dissapointed because your sweater does not fit correctly.

The images below show a swatch that I crocheted. The bottom section of the swatch is done with a G crochet hook, 18 double crochet and is approximately 5" wide. The top section is crocheted with an N crochet hook, 18 double crochet and is approximately 7-1/4" wide. Just by that example alone you can see the width change in size by using a different crochet hook. The gauge changed quite a bit, when I changed the hook size.

What we want to do is determine how many stitches we will need if we are making something 10" wide with each hook. In the image on the left, we can see that there are 4 stitches in an inch with the G hook. There are 3 stitches per inch with the N hook. 10 x 4=40 stitches(G hook); 10 x 3 = 30 stitches (N hook). You may feel you need a few more or a few less stitches in your 10" example. That is where guesstimating will play a role. There are 6 crochet hook sizes between the example hooks that I used. You may find that with some hooks you will have a 3-1/2 stitches per inch. You may even have 3-3/4 stitches per inch. You will need to adjust accordingly since you are not able to crochet half of a stitch or 3/4 of a stitch.

You measure the same for your rows which are a little more forgiving to adjustment. In the image to the right you will see that there are 2 rows per inch for the G hook which will give us 20 rows in 10". The N hook has about 1-1/2 rows per inch. Once again will be some guesstimating since we are unable to make half of a row. It would be a fair estimate that there will be 15 rows in 10" for the N hook.

To put it simply, I am figuring how stitches are in an inch. How many rows are in an inch. How may stitches will be in 10" of width? How may rows will be in 10" of length. Gauge is something that only you can determine yourself.

Uneven Edges - Chain 3 VS Chain 2 - Crochet Tip 6

2008-11-02T10:29:00.000-08:00

Uneven Edges - Chain 3 VS Chain 2 - Crochet Tip 6

It is normal to have an uneven edge with the chain 3 on the edge of a small square or an afghan. It may look lumpy, bumpy and crooked. Chain 3's may even add fullness so the sides of your afghan so they are longer than the center section of your piece. You may also find a larger gap next to the chain 3 in a crochet circle so it is not just edges that are affected by the additional fullness that the chain 3 may add.

This image shows two swatches, both crocheted with an "I" crochet hook, 8 double crochet each. The left swatch is done with the chain 3. The right swatch is done with the chain 2. Even though the measurements are close, you can see the difference in how the gaps will close up by using a chain 2 instead of a chain 3. A chain 2 will improve the final outcome of wavy edges.

There are a couple of things you can do to make edges more even or to close the gap of a circle. You can crochet a tighter chain 3 if you feel it is necessary to use a chain 3. You can also replace the chain 3 with a chain 2. The chain 2 in place of the chain 3 is a great way to reduce full edges. I have found that a chain 2 will work better and pull the edge snug, tight and even. To replace the chain 3 all you do is count your chain 2 as your first double crochet. When you get back to your other side, you do your last crochet in your previous chain 2. The objective is to eliminate the gaps and holes that the extra chain will cause.

This will also work for the half double crochet if you find that you have wavy edges or gaps in your rounds and edges. Instead of starting off with a chain 2, do a chain 1. The chain 1 will not count as your first stitch. It will just be the step to your first half double crochet allowing more control of potential wavy edges.

Any pattern is just a guide to creating a crochet piece. In the end, you are the one creating the finished project. You don't have to follow the exact instructions every time.

Crochet Tip 5: Adding Hair or Fur to Crochet

2008-11-02T10:26:00.000-08:00

Crochet Tip 3: How to Extend Plastic or Fabric Projects

2008-11-02T10:23:00.000-08:00

Crochet Tip 2: For Extra Chains on Foundation

2008-11-02T10:20:00.000-08:00

Crochet Tip 1: Yarn Bobbins

2008-11-02T10:18:00.001-08:00

This is the template for making your own yarn bobbin.

Welcome To Crochet Tips

2008-11-02T10:14:00.001-08:00

I am always working make things easier to find. I am taking the tips that I write and putting them here in one place. Feel free to write, comment and ask questions if you need help.