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Textures, colors, techniques such as Tunisian or broomstick
lace, stitch patterns, inventive constructions, and embellishments are a few of
the methods we employ to make our crochet work interesting and eye catching. And
while I crochet primarily for my own satisfactions, it's always nice, after all
of those hours of work, when a kind stranger stops to admire the beauty of my
crocheted bag, scarf, or top.
I love the simplistic elegance of an embellished project.
And two of my favorite embellishments are artfully placed motifs like flowers
and leaves and embroidery worked on the surface of the crochet.a
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Motifs
Flowers are one of the most popular motifs for
embellishment. The petals of a basic flower motif are constructed using
different stitch heights such as a single crochet, then a half double crochet,
then two or three double crochets, and then work the stitches in reverse order.
With just these four or five stitches you have created a petal. Many simple
flowers use only a few yards of yarn, making them a great project for those
leftover little bits you just can't bear to throw away. And you can easily place flower motifs on a hat,
sweater, bag, scarf, or even a use them to add a touch of crochet to a
purchased, non-crochet item. Or attach your motif to a safety pin, brooch pin,
or clip and use it on a variety of
items.
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Embroidery
Another fun and easy embellishment technique is surface embroidery. And one
of my favorite stitches is crochet chain embroidery. This stitch mimics the
look of crocheted chain stitches but can be worked on the surface of crocheted,
knitted, or cloth fabric to create geometric shapes, flower stems, or any other
shape you can design. Robyn Chachula's Elinor Cardigan from Interweave Crochet Winter 2008 uses two
rows of this  stitch to outline the cuffs and front opening. To work crochet
chain embroidery hold the yarn under the background of the fabric you are
working into, insert the hook through the center of the background, pull
up a loop, *insert the hook into the background a short distance
away, pull the second loop up through the first loop on hook; repeat from
* for the desired length. You can work in straight lines or curve the row of
stitches into any shape you desire.
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So, visit the Crochet Me Shop to browse through the variety of patterns that employ embellishment to at a touch of elegance, a spot of color, or a sense of fun, and download your favorites.
Best wishes,
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