How to Crochet

Enhance Your Summer Crochet with Jewelry

2013-05-23T11:00:00Z

Winters can be cold here in the Wyoming and Colorado area. Sweaters buttoned to my neck, warm scarves, and wool hats are the staples of my wardrobe. But in a matter of days we seem to have moved from snowdrifts and woolen sweaters to lawn mowers and cotton tops. And with the warmer weather, I am drawn once again to the gorgeous jewelry from Stringing magazine-they are the perfect addition to my crochet tops.

Copper Coreopsis by Anne Perry

The necklace, bracelet, and earring projects in Stringing are perfect for a beginner like me. There are no complicated beading patterns or intricate metalwork techniques. You will find articles on fun techniques such as riveting or using resin to create your own pendants, but many of the stunning pieces can be created with items available at a bead or craft store or online.


	Moth wings Shrug by Mimi Alelis

I think my favorite piece is the Copper Coreopsis by Anne Perry. The striking flower pendent, with its solid and negative petal space, reminds me of the motifs used to design the Moth Wings Shrug by Mimi Alelis. And the mesh rope and metal chain mimics the chain spaces so common in crochet. Here is Stringing's editor, Danielle Fox, to tell us more about the Spring issue of Stringing.

Simply Strung

For the second year in a row, the Summer edition of Jewelry Stringing has been designated as our special mixed-media issue. That's because we know today's jewelry designer doesn't limit herself to basic stringing and wireworking techniques anymore-she's expanding her jewelry-making repertoire to include other techniques, such as riveting, using resin, and colorizing metal. It's these three techniques that we explore in Customize Your Jewelry, an extended feature that offers how-to information, plus 13 inspiring projects to make.

You'll also find loads of inspiration in this issue's project collections. Saddle up to our Modern Cowgirl collection and get ideas for incorporating leather and other natural materials into fun, casual jewelry you'll be able to wear every day this summer. Turn to our Flower Market collection and see how our featured designers used floral motifs and pastel colors to create pretty necklaces that aren't over-the-top flowery. Finally, flip to our Summer in the City collection, where you'll find statement-making jewelry done in look-at-me colors (like neon) and bold, contemporary styles.

Cowboy Necklace by Tiffany Alana Dodgen

I also encourage you to visit our bracelet and earring galleries. In summer, sleeves come off and hair goes up, giving the bracelets and earrings you wear uninterrupted exposure. And speaking of exposure, get positive attention for your jewelry-making business by carefully choosing your packaging- designer and Jewelry Stringing contributor Kristina Hahn Eleniak explains in Sell & Tell.

~ Danielle Fox

This summer, learn to create gorgeous jewelry that enhances your crochet wardrobe. Subscribe to Stringing today and begin making your own necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Best wishes,

P.S. Do you create your own jewelry? What is your favorite technique?

Learn How to Crochet Top-Down Sweaters

2013-05-20T11:00:00Z

They say you are never too old to stop learning. And despite going on 10 years of studying and educating myself about crochet for work and pleasure, I am still amazed at how much I have yet to truly explore. Top-down seamless crochet for example. This was a crochet technique I played with a few years ago, but it didn't quite click.


Doris Chan illustrates how hook size can help you get gauge.

Now I am addicted! Doris Chan's newest DVD, Interweave Crochet Presents: Top-Down Seamless Crochet with Doris Chan, breaks down top-down crochet construction to its basics, making this technique accessible to even beginning crocheters.


	This swatch illustrates Doris' progression from granny square to top-down sweater.

I immediately watched the first 10 minutes twice! If, like me, you have ever struggled understanding the fundamentals of top-down sweater construction, the beginning of this workshop will make them crystal clear. Using graduated granny square swatches and their corner increases, Doris clearly illustrates the construction of top-down sweaters. She then uses multiple yarn colors to visually clarify short row shaping and how to use it to create neck shaping as well as additional bust shaping that can be applied to lace or solid stitch patterns. It all makes sense now!


	Doris uses Interweave Crochet Project Editor Sarah Read to show you how to determine fit.

Doris also shares a trick that I know I will get a lot of use out of. She substitutes double and half double crochet stitches for chain spaces in her lace pattern. For years I have chained two or three at the beginning of a row to substitute for a half or double crochet. But in many lace patterns, such as the pattern for Doris' Kolika Top which is free with the workshop, you end the round with a chain that is joined to the first stitch with a slip stitch. The first stitch of the next round is worked into the space you just created. But because your slip stitch has placed you at the left side of the chain space, it is incredibly awkward to work.


The Kolika Top with shaping worked in different colors.

Next time, instead of working a chain 3 to end the round, try using a double crochet. Your hook will finish in the middle of the "chain" space, ready to start the next round. I can't wait to try this trick with my own Kolika Top.

Experienced and beginning crocheters alike will find valuable information and instruction in this detailed workshop, including how to modify top-down sweater patterns as you go to fit your custom bust, waist, and hip measurements and how to determine the best pattern size to make. Order Interweave Crochet Presents: Top-Down Seamless Crochet with Doris Chan, or download the workshop to begin your top-down adventure immediately.

Best wishes,

P.S. Have you crocheted a top-down sweater? Share your experience in the below.

Crocheting with Parachute Cord

2013-05-10T11:00:00Z

You can crochet with anything! I have seen multiple examples of projects crocheted from plastic bags and t-shirt fabric. Last year Interweave Crochet's editor Marcy Smith undertook a project to crochet with cassette tapes. I will even admit to a single occasion when I attempted to crochet with licorice; it is very difficult as the strands break easily and just taste so good.

A few days ago, my dad sent me a short video about a guy who knits with parachute cord, allowing him to create a strong strap and convert a large length of cord to a utilitarian and manageable length. My first thought was, "I could do better with crochet!" The objective of adapting parachute cord to straps, bracelets, or belts is to keep a large length of cord available for emergencies. Frequently worked with knots, this trend is currently very popular with those preparing for emergencies and avid hikers and backpackers just to name a few. And in a situation when it is important to be able to use your parachute cord quickly, ease of undoing your strap is important, making knitting or crochet a good choice. Although I've thankfully never been in a life-threatening situation, there have been times when I wished I had cordage on hand.

And if the point of knitting the parachute cord is to convert a long length of cord to a much shorter strap, wouldn't crochet be a better choice? After all, people have complained for years that crochet uses more yarn than knitting. Finally this fact is a bonus.

I started with Tunisian simple stitch. This easy Tunisian stitch uses more length than a single crochet stitch and is easier to work with the stiff cordage. I am in love with the look and feel of this strap. It is strong but flexible, and would also make a great belt.

Using a size M (9 mm) hook, five stitches and three rows is about two inches wide and two inches tall and uses five feet of parachute cord. This means that a 100 foot package of parachute cord will create a two inch wide strap or belt that is about three and one third feet, or forty inches, long.

I can't wait show my Tunisian crochet strap to my father. What would you make out of parachute cord or what crazy item have you crocheted with?

Best wishes,

Stashbust and Add Color to Your Home

2013-05-06T11:00:00Z

We all have that stash of leftover partial skeins somewhere in our craft room or stashed in a closet or under the bed. Sometimes it's just a few yards of yarn in a color we just love too much to get rid of and sometimes it is a partial skein that doesn't have quite enough for a hat or scarf. Home decor pieces are fabulous opportunities for a bit of stashbusting and a great way to add crochet and a pop of color to your house. Here are two of my favorite techniques for using up your partial skeins.


Happy Hexagon Throw by Maryse Roudier

Motifs


	Flowering Trivets by Regina Roioux

The most obvious and frequent use of stash yarn is the motif based crochet afghan. There is something incredibly comforting and homey about a multi-colored motif afghan. The Happy Hexagons Throw by Maryse Roudier was crocheted with superwash wool in twenty-six colors. None of the colors used more than a single skein, and you could easily use more than the stated twenty-six colors.

There are two ways to stashbust with motif afghans. You can work the crochet motif rows in different colors, creating a kaleidoscope of color and design. Another great motif option is to work multiple motifs, each in a single color, and seam or join these solid colored motifs to create designs inspired by quilt patterns or to produce color designs.


Sleepy Kitty Doorstop by Brenda K. B. Anderson

Stripes

Color striping is another great technique for utilizing left over yarn. When you have more of one color than another, try working stripes of differing widths. In fact, stripes worked in varying widths can be more pleasing to the eye. For even more interest, try working chevron stripes. Pillows, blankets, cozies, and even amigurumi doorstops look stunning in stripes.


	Chevron Bedspread by Kathie Eng

So pull out your leftover yarn and do some de-stashing this spring. Pre-order Crochet at Home: 25 Clever Projects for Colorful Living or download the digital eBook and add color and creativity to your home today.

Best wishes,

P.S. What is your favorite stashbusting tip?

8 Thrifty Yarn Tips

2013-04-22T16:00:00Z

Today is Earth Day, a day when almost 200 countries worldwide demonstrate their support for environmental protection. With Earth Day coming a week the U.S. tax deadline, I have been researching ways to save money on yarn, including methods of recycling yarn. I asked members of the Crochet Me Facebook page for their suggestions for saving money and recycling yarn. Here are some of their best suggestions.


	Check out Sarah's blog and find great ideas for organizing your stash.

1. Don't toss the leftover few yards of yarn when you finish a project. These bits work great for embellishments and striped projects. Kas saves all of the left over ends of her skeins, then joins them using a Russian join to create her own variegated yarn.

2. If you are looking for yarn on a budget, several crocheters suggested checking out your local thrift shop. Keep your eye out for miscellaneous bags of yarn. You can't beat the price. This yarn might not still have its original ball bands, so research ways to determine a yarn's fiber content. Sue also finds yarn at estate sales and auctions.

3. Carol suggests using PDF crochet patterns to save on paper and printing. You can read PDF patterns on many phones, laptops, and tablets and many magazines, including Interweave Crochet, are available as digital downloads.

4. Leona makes her own "yarn" by cutting old tee shirts into strips. She uses this yarn to create crocheted rugs.

5. Check out crochet and knit pattern books from your local library.

6. Another great suggestion from several Crochet Me members was to use raveled yarn. Buy finished sweaters from the local thrift store, then ravel them and use the yarn for your own project. You can also ravel works in progress that you are no longer excited about.

7. I love Dawn's comment. She said,"Crochet and knit in public tends to lead to people just giving me yarn." I may have to try this approach, but you will also find that family members or friends may have stashes of yarn that they will not use and would be happy to donate to your next project.

8. A great idea from is to set up a yarn swap with some of your fellow crocheters and knitters. It's a great way to clean out your stash at the same time as finding the perfect yarn for your next project.

Best wishes,

P.S. What ideas would you add to this list?

Download a Free Guide for Shaping

2013-04-04T21:04:00Z

One of the advantages of crocheting your own tops and sweaters is the ability to modify them to flatter your figure. Need a little more room in the bust without affecting the circumference of the waist, or, like me, is there always too much fabric at the hips? Modifying a crochet pattern can seem intimidating, but with a little instruction and a few tips, you can modify any crochet top for a perfect fit. Here is an excerpt from our newest free eBook to get you started.


Top to Bottom: Shaping Part Deux, China Doll, Queen Anne's Lace Blouse, Ripple-Lace V-Neck Top, , and Cubist Asymmetrical Cardigan.

Shaping

In a group of fifty-seven or more randomly selected people, there is a greater than 99 percent chance that two will have the same birthday. But you'll probably never meet another woman with your exact body measurements. So how can you crochet a flattering garment from a pattern that cannot possibly offer shaping to fit everybody?

The suggestions [in this article] are meant to help you fine tune the fit of a sweater from a published pattern. The accompanying pattern, China Doll, involves shaping with a seamless, top-down approach, using a shell-stitch pattern, but the techniques are applicable to other garment constructions as well as to all plain stitches and many stitch patterns.

Start with the Best Size

The first and most critical decision you make when embarking on a garment project is which size to make. A sweater hangs from the shoulders; the parts that need to fit well from the start are the neck, the shoulder width, and the depth to the underarm. When you choose the size that fits you best at these points, the garment will not only hang properly from your shoulders but will be easier to adjust for the rest of you.

For most bodies, this means choosing the size that is closest to the measurement above your bust, under the arms, rather than the measurement at the fullest part of your bust-in other words, your bra band size. If you want a close fit, allow for minimal, zero, or negative ease; for a looser-fitting layer, you add the appropriate number of inches for ease. Ease refers to the difference between your actual body measurement and that of the finished garment. . . .

Hopefully, examining the way patterns can be tweaked to flatter your unique figure will open up a world of potential for your crochet garments.

- Doris Chan

I already use many of these great tips for modifying my own crochet garments. Download Customize a Crochet Tunic, Blouse and Pullover: 4 Free Crochet Patterns for Women Plus Shaping Guide today and learn to modify and shape your garments today.

Best wishes,

P.S. Download How to Crochet Sweaters: 5 Free Sweater Patterns from Crochet Me for more free crochet patterns for women, and find more patterns perfect for modification.

Taking a Little Crochet Ribbing

2013-03-21T17:15:00Z

I am always looking for crochet stitches and techniques that lend a touch of elasticity to the finished crochet fabric. Fabric with stretch creates great shaping, especially around the waist, and is imperative for crochet patterns that require stretch to stay in place, like socks and hat bands.


Lauren Sweater with single crochet ribbed collar.

Crochet ribbing is perfect for cuffs and waist bands on sweaters, sock cuffs, stocking caps and more. The new updated Crocheter's Companion offers several options for creating crochet ribbing. Here are two of the most common.

Single Crochet Ribbing

When working vertically and sewn onto jackets and sweaters, single crochet ribbing makes wonderful bands for cuffs, necklines, and hemlines.

Working into the back loop only creates a ridge on the front side of the work.
Working into the front loop only creates a ridge on the back of the work.


	Single Crochet Ribbing

Make a foundation chain the desired length.

Row 1: Work 1 sc in second ch from the hook and in each ch to end. Ch1. Turn (fig1).

Row 2: Work 1 sc in back loop of each st. Ch 1. Turn (fig 2).

Repeat row 2 for desired length.

Post Stitch Ribbing

Also known as vertical ribbing, this is usually worked in the double crochet stitch around the posts of stitches in the row below.

For this sample, chain 16 for foundation chain.

Row 1: Work a dc in the fourth ch from hook and in each chain across. Ch 3. Turn.


Clarity Cardigan with post stitch ribbing waistband.


	Post Stitch Ribbing

Row 2: Sk first dc *work a FPdc around the post of the next dc (fig 1), work a BPdc (fig 2) around the post of the next dc. Repeat from *, ending with dc in turning ch. Ch 2. Turn.

Repeat row 2 for desired length.

-- The Crocheter's Companion

You will also find step-by-step written instructions and illustrations for basic crochet stitches, embellishments, and advanced techniques like Tunisian crochet and broomstick stitches. Order your copy of the revised Crocheter's Companion today!

Best wishes,

P.S. What do you use crochet ribbing for?

Bedeck! Bedazzle! It's Bead Crochet!

2013-03-20T10:04:00Z

In the Winter 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet, you'll find Doris Chan's Lady Mary Skirt, a lovely swirl of beaded lace perfect for all seasons. In her lovely swag trim, Doris uses a clever method of adding beads that will make your crochet life initially more complicated, then ultimately very delightful. Intrigued? Read on. A popular method of crocheting with beads involves stringing all the beads (plus a few "safety" beads in case of breakage) onto the yarn before beginning the beaded portion. This is a fine method for sturdy yarn involving just a few beads. However, when you start playing around with HUNDREDS of beads on a fine silk/wool blend, that way lies madness. If you survive the stringing of the beads, you will then have to contend with potential yarn breakage from the weight of the beads, as well as stitch distortion from, yes again, the weight of the beads. Enter Doris' "hoisting" method. In this method, each bead threaded onto the yarn at the point that it is needed. Easy-peasy. It does involve a bit of hook juggling, but once you get into the swing of things, you will be a happy crocheter. So gather up these things: yarn a hook suitable to crochet the yarn a handful of seed beads (not those itty-bitty ones -- 6 or E are the beading-term sizes) a steel hook small enough to fit through the hole in the middle of the bead
	The swatch here is from the swag trim of the Lady Mary Skirt. If you're working on this, dive right in with the swag. You'll note that I have a bit of swatch already worked, so you can appreciate the nestled beads on the previous rows. But you go ahead and start following these directions from the get-go. Here the stitch-making hook is poised after the first leggy stitch of a right-leaning shell and is ready for a bead to be attached. (If you're just practicing the beading method, crochet a base of about ten stitches and just work double-crochets, attaching the beads at the top between the stitches.)
	Remove the larger hook, leaving the loop free. Now, grab your steel hook. Thread the bead onto the wee slender neck (you may have to try a few hooks before you find the optimal size), then insert it into the loop.
	And here's the intricate part, a two-handed job: Grasp the loop with the hook. Pinch the top of the loop between your left thumb and forefinger and position your right thumb above the bead (for left-handers, reverse this position). Slide the bead down the steel hook.
	And ease it over the yarn loop and hook end.
	And, finally, onto the yarn.
	Voila! The bead is on the yarn! Remove the steel hook and put the loop back on the larger hook.
	Repeat across the right-leaning shell.
	For the left-leaning shell, you position the beads before the leggy stitch, rather than after. This feels a little funny the first time you do it, like the bead isn't really secure. But just carry on as above and all will be good. Here's the bead after the initial chain 4.
	After that initial chain 4, you're putting the beads on after the stitch and it doesn't feel as odd.
	The larger hook is a Kollage square crochet hook. I am a pencil-gripper and I find it quite delightful. Knife-grippers will have to try it and report back. The steel hook is a vintage paper-covered hook from England, given to me by my friend Julia of Aberrant Crochet. Julia knows more about crochet hooks than almost anyone else I know.
And there you have it! Once you've hoisted a few beads, the process becomes easier. I found it helpful to work at a table to keep the beads and hooks from rolling away. Happy beading and crocheting! Marcy

4 Tips for Getting More Use From Your Gauge Swatch

2013-03-14T11:00:00Z

After crocheting for over forty years, Lily Chin has learned a trick or two-how to manage loose ends, create the perfect beginning chain, and speed up your crochet just to name a few. And in her new workshop, she shares over seventy of her best tips and tricks. She'll even teach you a new thing or two about the simple gauge swatch.


	Designer Lily Chin

We all know that we should crochet a swatch before beginning a project, especially a crochet garment. But while that swatch will give you a much better chance of creating a garment that will fit as you intend, I have also run into instances when my gauge swatch and the final garment did quite match. Lily offers four tips for creating better swatch.

Remembering Your Hook Size

Have you ever finished your gauge swatch, then been sidetracked by another project or event in your life? I know I have. Remembering which size I used to create that perfect gauge swatch, if I used a size other than the one specified in the pattern, can be a futile task, and I have to begin again. But Lily has created an ingenious and simple way to remember what hook size she used. She simply works a series of picot stitches, corresponding to the hook size used, along the edge of the gauge swatch. So if you use a size F hook, work five picots along the edge of the work (B, C, D, E, F = 5).


Bitmap Cowl by Lily Chin, Interweave Crochet Accessories 2012

Gauge Swatch Size

When you are crocheting your gauge swatch, always make it bigger than the given gauge. So if the gauge for your project is 20 double crochet stitches and 12 rows equals 4 inches, work a gauge swatch that is at least 6 inches by 6 inches. This larger swatch allows you to measure your four inches across an area of interior stitches and does not include the edge stitches or turning chains that can be messy and alter your measurements.

Work Your Gauge Swatch Over a Couple of Evenings

We all know that our crochet gauge can change with our moods. After a stressful day at work, our gauge might be a little tight, but after a hot cup of tea that gauge can tend to run a bit loose. This might be the reason why you swatch to the exact pattern specifications but your finished garment turns out too large or too small.

Try spreading your swatching over a couple of evenings. This will more accurately replicate your true crochet a gauge.


	Thistledown Tunic by Lily Chin, Interweave Crochet Fall 2012

Measuring a Hung Swatch

Laying your swatch flat on a table and measuring gauge works great for afghans and home décor items that will lie flat when finished, but crochet garments spend most of their time being worn vertical. Gravity can alter the gauge measurements in a way that is not predictable when the swatch is measured flat. So try measuring your swatch vertically. Simply hang your swatch from a wall or corkboard using tape or pins. You can also clip clothespins to the bottom of the swatch to emulate the weight of more fabric.

A gauge swatch is also a great way to practice an intricate stitch pattern and determine if you will enjoy crocheting it for an entire project. And don't toss the swatch. One of my favorite tips from Lily is to save the swatch and wash it with your garment. The swatch then becomes a great resource for matching yarn in case you ever need to make repears.

I will never look at crocheting a gauge swatch the same way again. Download or order The Crocheter's Toolbox: Lily Chin's Techniques and Tricks for Savvy Crocheters today and add a few more tools to your crochet toolbox.

Best wishes,

P.S. Do you crochet gauge swatches?

Learn Tips for Playing with Color

2013-03-07T12:00:00Z

I adore color! There are very few colors that I don't love, but when it comes to combining multiple colors in a single project, I will admit to some intimidation. So I couldn't wait to watch Kathy Merrick's Colorful Crochet workshop. Tips for how to create a pleasing combination of colors, which colors can stand out too much (be careful with your use of bright white and yellow), and tricks for how to visualize how a color combination will look in the finished project-the tips and tricks I learned in this video left me excited to jump into my first colorwork crochet project.


Babbette Blanket by Kathy Merrick

Here is Kathy Merrick to tell you a little bit about the process of combining colors.

Learn to Play with Color

I know that there are crocheters who don't yelp with joy at the sight of a yarn store wall or a webpage loaded with yarn in a plethora of colors. The idea of trusting yourself enough to choose colors with which to create an entire sweater, blanket, or shawl can be scary.

The best way to ease yourself into working with color is to start with a small-scale project. You will learn about what appeals to you and what looks attractive as you work on it. You might begin by copying a pleasing color scheme from a beautiful postcard, a magazine photo, a piece of printed fabric (look at the selvedges for a color key), or a book illustration.


	Meadow Shawl by Kathy Merrick

When you've decided on your color inspiration, look for materials that are sold in small individual quantities. Your local craft store stocks hundreds of colors of embroidery floss and crewel yarn, which come in eight or ten yards in each skein. The best thing about this method is that you can add many colors, shades, and tones without having to invest in whole skeins of yarn in colors that may not work out.

Finally, try choosing some colors you don't really like and then add or subtract until you get something that looks beautiful. Vibrant combinations of pinks and oranges maybe overwhelming, but add a little gray and a little dull green and it looks smoother. The quiet stone colors of a northern beach may look dull and insipid, but shots of periwinkle and chartreuse make them sparkle.


Swirls Pillows from Crochet in Color

The most important point to remember here is simply this: experiment with color and have fun doing it! The projects in the following pages will ease you gently into using color and then carry you along as you become more and more confident in your colorwork abilities. And for those of you who are ready for a challenge right away---never fear, there are plenty of projects employing more advanced techniques and fearless color combinations.

— Kathy Merrick, from Crochet In Color


	Urchins and Limpets Blanket from Crochet in Color

Learn how to play with color and create your own stunning colorwork crochet pieces. Order or download Kathy Merrick's workshop Colorful Crochet with Kathy Merrick and check out Kathy's fabulous patterns, great for playing with your own color selections.

Best wishes,

P.S. Do you crochet with multiple colors?

How to Crochet Bruges Lace

2013-03-04T12:00:00Z

The stitches in Lily Chin's Swan Lake shawl (Interweave Crochet Spring 2013) move just like a stage of dancers, swaying to and fro, then linking arms and turning. It works up just like a dance as well, once you get the hang of it. Here's a quick primer on how to crochet Bruges lace.


The foundation of the lace ribbon forms the first end-loop and row of ribbon.


The ribbon is worked by making a long chain loop at the beginning of every row, with a double crochet worked into each double crochet on the ribbon.


To work a full curve, or arch join, you'll work half of the chain stitches for an end loop, then insert your hook thorough the next 5 end-loops on the same side of the ribbon. Slip stitch around all five loops.


Then complete your current row end loop by working the rest of the chains required, turn to work back in your active ribbon row, and double crochet across all stitches.


To make a single join along the length of a ribbon, you'll work half of your end-loop chains, insert your hook through the opposite end-loop on the facing strip of ribbon, slip stitch through the end-loop, then complete your loop chains and turn to work your double crochet stitches.


Then you can continue making a length of ribbon, arching and joining where the pattern requires to shape your lovely Bruges project. We hope you enjoy this shawl and this lovely crochet technique! Be sure to share your pictures in our gallery. Best, Sarah

Working Into Ribbon Yarn: How Does She Do That?

2013-03-01T12:00:00Z

In the Spring 2013 Issue of Interweave Crochet, we use a lot of yarns with constructions that you may not have used before: chainette, ribbon, ladder. One such yarn is this wonderfully chunky ribbon yarn called Opus from Universal Yarns. Lily Chin uses this yarn to great effect in the Cancan Collar:

Here’s a closer look at the unique construction of this yarn and how Lily worked with it.

As you can see, the yarn has a little ladder-like space at the bottom.

Begin by working a base round of single crochet. Next, you will work what Lily calls a “joining single crochet”, where you work through both the single crochet of the regular yarn and one of the ladder-spaces of the ribbon yarn.

First, insert your hook through the single crochet of the main yarn, then into the ladder-space of the ribbon yarn. Yarn over and pull up a loop through both the ribbon yarn and the single crochet. Yarn over and draw through two loops to complete the joining single crochet. Repeat all the way around.

What you’ll end up with should look like this; a perfect little round of ladder spaces that act to gather the yarn into the “cha-cha” shape.

Want to work with more unique yarns? Pick up the Spring issue of Interweave Crochet today!

Happy Stitching,

-Sharon

Learn Crochet Designers' Little Secret

2013-02-25T07:10:00Z

Gorgeous garments designed from intricate crochet motifs, textured sweaters covered in crochet cables, and innovative finishing techniques—Robyn Chachula has designed her best book yet with Blueprint Crochet Sweaters. Each of the sixteen innovative patterns includes multiple stitch diagrams, helping visual crocheters like myself to understand the variety of stitches and shaping methods used. Robyn also includes some of her best tips for mastering your crochet design, including tricks for symbol shaping, modifying motifs, felting and lining, and more. Here is Robyn to tell you a little bit more about her newest book.


Clover Car Coat

Crochet Designers Little Secret

Like many crocheters, you might be intimidated by the idea of making sweaters, let alone designing your own. I wrote Blueprint Crochet Sweaters to take the mystery out of stitching sweaters and give you the confidence to create your own beautiful sweaters. The book breaks sweater construction down into four types: classic construction created by crocheting panels and seaming them, top-down (or in the round) construction, granny motif, and unique construction methods. The designs in each chapter are variations on each type of construction, and sidebars illuminate various aspects of construction.


	Summer Sky Vest

Before we get into the projects, I'll let you in on the mammoth secret crochet designers harbor about how we create our best projects. We cheat! One key to my designs lies in my mistakes. I'm not talking about just dripping a stitch here and there, but about a neckline that suddenly falls off your shoulders or buttonholes not even close to being equally spaced. When I make mistakes, they are sumo-sized, and because I re-crochet only as a last resort, I have amassed quite an assortment of fixes.


Neckline detail of Structured Cardigan

This is not to say that the basics aren't valid; they are. Yes, you need to match gauge, and yes, you need to use the same fiber content as shown on the pattern, and yes, you need to know your body shape. These basics are essential.

— Robyn

I am going to start the Clover Car Coat, one of Robyn's examples of unique construction, this evening, and her tips for tidying edges are invaluable. Pre-order Blueprint Crochet Sweaters: Techniques for Custom Construction today and discover the tools you need to crochet a variety of sweater styles while creating stunning additions to your wardrobe.

Best wishes,

P.S. What is your favorite crochet sweater type?

Learn Crochet Tips and Tricks with Lily Chin

2013-02-18T16:23:00Z

Lily Chin has been crocheting for about 25 years, and along the way she has learned unique tips and tricks that make crocheting easier. It doesn't matter how many years you have been crocheting, there is always a new tip out there.


Lily Chin Crocheting

I learned long ago that working your first row of stitches into the bottom ridge loop creates an identical appearance for both the top and bottom edges of the piece. But working into the bottom ridge loop can be tricky. The chain is hard to hold steady and the space to insist the hook is tight. But in her newest video,The Crocheter's Toolbox: Lily Chin's Techniques and Tricks for Savvy Crocheters, Lily shares a trick for easily working into that back ridge loop. And all you need is a knitting needle.


	My first time working a foundation chain around a knitting needle.

Work the foundation chain around the shaft of the knitting needle. The loop that wraps around the knitting needle is the bottom ridge loop.

To work the first row of stitches into that bottom ridge loop, simply insert your hook into the loop on the knitting needle and work your desired stitch as normal. After the stitch has been worked, remove the loop from the needle. The knitting needle opens up the loops, making the easier to work into.

As simple as that working into the back ridge loop becomes a piece of cake. Brilliant!


Crochet hook inserted into the back ridge loop.

And the tricks don't end there. Learn how to remove extra chains or create additional chains—perfect for those instances when you inadvertently work the wrong number of foundation chains. Use your swatch to figure out how many yards of yarn any given pattern requires. And discover a new way to use a lamp to find your stitches when you are working with fun fur yarn.

Download or pre-order The Crocheter's Toolbox: Lily Chin's Techniques and Tricks for Savvy Crocheters today, discover these tips and more, and make your crochet experience more enjoyable.

Best wishes,

P.S. What your favorite crochet trick?

How to Use Bugle Beads in Your Crochet: Interweave Crochet Spring 2013.

2013-02-11T21:10:00Z

The Gloriana Bracelet, by Karen Hooton (Interweave Crochet Spring 2013) is built off of a central spine of bugle beads. The beads are joined using a double needle ladder stitch, which is most easily worked using two bead threader needles, but it can be done without any special tools, if your craft stash hasn't yet expanded to include bead supplies.


Simply cut a long length of bead thread, and thread your first bead onto it, sliding it to the center of the thread. Then, line up your next bead. Pass one end of the thread through it in one direction, and the other end through the same bead in the other direction.


Pull the ends to draw the bead down to the ladder.


Repeat this until your bead ladder is the desired length, making any variety of pattern you desire! To close the circle, pass the ends of thread through the first bead again. Keep your tension fairly loose, so your ladder won't curl and so you can reach the thread space between the beads. The small loops of thread peeking out between each bead are where you will insert your hook to make your stitches for the lace edge. Enjoy all of the fun bead crochet patterns in the Spring 2013 issue of Interweave Crochet! You may find your craft repertoire expanding this spring, after all! Best, Sarah