Wednesday 25 March 2009

Crochet how it all began

My personal love of crochet began when I was a child and staying with my grandmother during one of the long six week school summer holiday vacations.
Although retired both Grandma and Grandad were always busy. Both were avid stamp collectors and gardeners. Grandma formally a seamstress by occupation was a lovely homely woman who could turn her hand to …well anything!

By day the house gleamed and the aromas that came from the kitchen were heavenly. In the evening there was no sitting in front of the television quietly for her, she would always be doing something. Grandma was into virtually all sorts of different types of crafts; knitting, rug making, tapestry, tatting, embroidery and of course crochet.

And being a true grandma she would encourage me to have a go myself. If I showed interest in something that she was doing then she would sit down and teach me how to do it also. And this was how my love of crochet began…

I remember on this one particular summer holiday she was crocheting a shawl. It was fabulous, the colours were simply gorgeous and I really enjoyed watching her crochet. The work grew so quickly and there was something so relaxing and therapeutic in watching her as she worked.

The next evening as we settled in front of the television she handed me a crochet hook and told me to choose a colour of yarn from her workbag. Then to my delight instead of working on her own shawl, she got out another hook and ball of yarn and started to show me step by step how to crochet.

We started with a row of chains and by the end of the evening I was well into making a large Granny Square. She was a wonderful teacher and showed me in what I think is the best way to learn anything…She formed a stitch and I copied her…And this was how I learnt to crochet.

Years on I still love the craft and have learnt many new techniques. These I have passed onto my own children and also to my husband who now shares the passion with me, and now it is something I now share with you. For my birthday that year I received a handmade crocheted shawl from my grandparents similar to the one she had been making. I still have it today along with a few other crocheted articles that she made.

Well that is how my love of crochet began – and I hope that I can pass onto you some of the tips and patterns etc that I enjoy myself. Crochet is such a versatile craft and is so wonderfully quick to do when you have mastered the basics.
I hope you find the articles useful and interesting. Should you need help or advice about your own crochet work or have any suggestions regarding articles etc then please ask…interaction and comments would be greatly appreciated.

So now I am off to get out my yarn and hook and start another project – I will write soon about my ideas and endeavours. I urge you to check out my other articles and do the same and hopefully it won’t be long before you are as hooked on crochet as I am!

Click Here to learn to crochet beautiful Afghans, baby hats, doilies, jackets, and much much more ... Quickly and Easily!!!

Monday 23 March 2009

What is Filet Crochet?

Filet crochet is a series of crocheted mesh stitches crocheted in a certain sequence so that it forms a distinct pattern or picture. It is simple and fun to do, and can grow ultra fast and finished effects can be stunning.

By following a pattern chart you build up a picture or pattern using either the straight line technique or in a round using a mixture of either empty or filled mesh squares. We will only be dealing with the straight line technique in this crochet article.

Mesh stitches are made up using a combination of treble and chain stitches.
These are really all the stitches you will need to know, apart from slip stitch in order to be able to produce your own filet crochet pieces.

Tension is not so important when doing filet crochet. The main concern is that your mesh stitches are square in shape. If your tension is slightly incorrect you may end up with rectangular mesh stitches instead, this does not usually affect the finished product or the pattern. However if you wish to ensure that the mesh stitches are square, crochet up a practice swatch using the same sized hook and yarn as you intend to use for the project you are going to make. Then if the mesh stitches are not square in shape then try a different sized hook.

The important thing is that your mesh stitches are all the same size and shape in order for your desired filet pattern or image to easily show up.

There are not many crochet stitches used in the formation of filet crochet and these are only the basic crochet stitches; chain stitch, slip stitch and treble stitch. To give filet crochet a slightly different look you may see other types of stitches included all made up of the basic crochet stitches.

Filet crochet is usually worked using crochet cotton or thread. However there is nothing to stop you using any type of yarn. Crochet cotton comes in varying thicknesses, it is most usual to use either size 20 or 30. I personally prefer 20.

Using different thicknesses of thread or different types of yarn will vary the size of the square mesh and therefore the size of the finished piece. Always use the correct size crochet hook for your yarn or thread. If in any doubt check the label.

To calculate the finished size of an item, crochet up a practice swatch, using the same size crochet hook and yarn/thread as you will use to make the item. Then measure across 5 squares and then down 5 rows. Look at the pattern you are going to crochet and see how many rows it has in total, call this number Z.

Divide Z by 5 then multiply it by your measurement for the rows. This is how long your finished work will be. Now look again at your pattern and see how many squares it has across one row, divide this number by 5 and then multiply it by your measurement for the 5 squares across. This will be how wide your work will be. It is possible to work out any project in this manner.

The majority of filet crochet patterns only use filled and empty squares. A filled in mesh is made up of 3 treble stitches in a row and an empty one is made up of a treble, a single chain then a treble.

Difficulty arises sometimes as you must remember that these meshes share sides – with the exception of end mesh so it is important to remember this when following a pattern. For those wanting more detailed information on following a filet crochet chart please read the separate article entitled ‘Reading Filet Crochet Patterns.’

If you speak to some people regarding filet crochet you may find that they use treble stitches and chain stitches for their squares (mesh) whilst others use double crochet stitches and chains. There is no real difference to either method, use whichever type of stitch you prefer. You may find that your work comes out slightly smaller, in a finer mesh when worked with double crochet stitches or that the meshes produced are more rectangular.

Whichever stitch you decide to use the technique and square (mesh) formations are very similar. Just substitute the double crochet stitch for the trebles used in the pattern above. Then for empty mesh use 2 chain stitches instead of one for the tops and for filled mesh use 4 double crochet in a row.

Wednesday 18 March 2009

Free Video Crochet Pattern

Free step by step video with free written pdf crochet pattern.

I have just discovered this wonderful link to a free crochet video pattern for a snowman... Yes I know Christmas is over however this pattern shows you how to crochet in step by step detail, and right before your eyes you will see the snowman take shape.

This crochet video format is great for beginners to crochet. You can watch the crocheting take place in real time and then crochet along by copying the individual crochet stitches. The video leaves nothing to chance as it covers all the necessary formation of the crocheted snowman.

The free video is 20 minutes long so does take a while to download. With it comes a pdf crochet pattern detailing the written instructions needed to quickly and easily crochet a snowman.

The video covers the basic crochet stitches of chain stitch, slip stitch, double crochet, for which you can see the stitches being formed right in front of you from your own computer.

The site also sell some funky crochet patterns for a summer bag, a beaded crochet bag and a baby cardigan, all with full video instructions and pdf written pattern instructions.
So if you want to crochet something funky today or to try the free snowman crochet pattern go along to:

Click Here!

and take a look for yourself.

Monday 16 March 2009

Crochet Stitches: How to Crochet a Double Crochet with Images

To quickly and easily crochet a double crochet stitch (abbreviated to dc) in crochet patterns, do the following:

1. Insert hook into position
2. Pick up yarn, draw hook back out – 2 loops on hook.
3. Wrap yarn round hook making 3 loops and draw hook through them.
4. One Double Crochet worked.




Wednesday 11 March 2009

Crochet Stitches: How to Crochet a Treble Stitch with Images

To quickly and easily crochet a treble stitch (abbreviated to tr) in crochet patterns, do the following:

1. Wrap yarn round hook and insert hook into position.
2. Pick up yarn and draw back out - 3 loops on hook
3. Wrap yarn round hook - 4 loops on hook.
4. Draw hook through 2nd and 3rd loops leaving you with just 2 loops on your hook.
5. Wrap yarn round hook again and draw through remaining loops.

Monday 9 March 2009

Crochet Stitches: How to Crochet a Slip Stitch with Images:

To quickly and easily join crochet rounds you need to use a slip stitch, which is abbreviated to ss in crochet patterns.

To crochet a slip stitch:

1. Insert hook into stitch.
2. Wrap yarn round hook.
3. Draw hook through both loops.

Friday 6 March 2009

Crochet Stitches: Chain Stitch with Images

How to crochet chain stitches quickly and easily

(Referred to as ch in abbreviation patterns)

Each pattern will begin with a series of chain stitches, you need to refer to your pattern to see how many are needed, for now however just practise making a line of chain stitches. You form a chain stitch as follows:

1. Holding the hook and yarn put the hook down between the gap between your fingers and the yarn.
2. Take the hook under the yarn and up the side, this will catch the yarn onto your hook, - you will have two loops on your hook.
3. Now draw the hook through the previous stitch on the hook whilst holding onto the yarn.
4. One chain stitch has been made.
5. Repeat steps 1 – 4 over and over again to make a row of chains.


Wednesday 4 March 2009

Crochet Stitches: Slip Knot

How to crochet a Slip Knot

No matter what you are making you will always begin a project in the same manner and this is with a slip knot onto the hook. To do this:

1. Loop yarn round as shown.
2. Insert the hook into the loop and catch the yarn with your hook.
3. Pull the yarn through to make the slip knot.
4. Tighten stitch on the hook.



Click Here to learn to crochet beautiful Afghans, baby hats, doilies, jackets, and much much more ... Quickly and Easily!!!

Monday 2 March 2009

Crochet Granny Squares – written instructions

This pattern will explain to you without abbreviations how to crochet a granny square. The only assumption it makes is that you know how to crochet chain stitches, all other crochet stitches are described. Before you begin you will need a 3 mm crochet hook or something relevant to the yarn you are using and some double knitting yarn.

Foundation Row: Using hook and yarn crochet 6 chain stitches in a row.

  • Now we are going to join the chains into a ring, to do this we use a slip stitch. Insert the tip of the hook into the front of the first chain you made, (at beginning of row) pick up the yarn and draw the hook back out, then draw the loop through the first stitch on the hook. This will join the work. (Work should look like picture.)
  • 1st Round: Work 3 chain stitches, [these stitches count as your first treble stitch and these will be worked into when joining this round. When crocheting we commence rows with chain stitches as it makes it easier and neater to begin rows.]
  • Now work 2 treble stitches placing your hook into the centre of the ring.

    To form a treble stitch, wrap the yarn round the hook, then insert your hook into the middle of the ring, pick up the yarn and draw back out of the ring, leaving you with three loops on your hook, wrap the yarn round your hook again making a fourth loop. Now draw the hook through the second and third loops leaving you with two loops. Wrap the yarn round the hook again and draw the hook through these two loops.

  • Now work the following stitches (3 chain, followed by 3 treble stitches into the ring). Repeat the stitches in brackets twice more.
  • Lastly work 3 chain stitches. Then join your work together with a slip stitch into the third chain of the chains formed at the beginning of the row. (Work should look like picture.)

2nd Round: Work 4 chain stitches. [this counts as one treble and one chain
stitch] now working into the next 3 chain space of the previous round, (as picture), work the following; (3 trebles, 3 chain, 3 trebles, 1 chain). Repeat this a further 3 times into the corner spaces.

  • Now work into the last 3 chain space; 3 trebles, 3 chains, then lastly 2 trebles.
  • Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row. (Work should look like picture.)

3rd Round: Begin with 4 chain stitches, [these count as one treble and one
chain stitch] then work 2 trebles into the middle 1 chain space of the previous round.

  • Now work (1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 trebles into the 3 chain corner space.
  • Follow this with 1 chain stitch, then by 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space.)
  • Repeat the last two stages – corners and straight side - twice more. So that you are just coming round to work on the fourth corner.
  • Complete the last corner with 1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 trebles.
  • Now work 1 chain and 2 trebles into the last 1 chain space.
  • Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row.

4th Round: Work 4 chain stitches, then 3 treble stitches into the 1 chain space
before the next corner, then work 1 chain space.

  • Now work the following (3 trebles, 3 chain, and 3 treble stitches into the 3 chain corner space, then work 1 chain and then 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space.
  • Work 1 chain and 3 trebles into the next 1 chain space).
  • Repeat the corner and sides from the two steps above, twice more.
  • Complete the last corner with 1 chain, 3 trebles, 3 chain and 3 treble stitches.

  • Complete the side by working 1 chain, then 3 trebles into the first 1 chain space and lastly work 1 chain and 2 trebles into the last 1 chain space.
  • Join the round with a slip stitch into the third chain from the beginning of the row.
  • Break yarn and pull it straight through the last stitch to fasten off.

This completes the instructions for a granny square. However you can continue to add rounds in this manner and make the granny square as large or as tiny as you wish. Join in extra colours at the beginning of rounds and experiment and have fun.

Happy crocheting!


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