Category: how to crochet

Left handed Crochet Novel Stitches

I’m often asked, “I’m a left-hander, can I learn to crochet?” The answer is, “Of course, absolutely”.  A little while ago I posted some basic left-handed stitch illustrations & received such  positive responses, I decided to update & include some more.

The following are a few helpful tips to make left handed crochet a little easier for you…

Firstly, you’ll be holding the hook in your left hand & yarn in the right hand & working your stitches left to right, rather than, right to left.

When learning from a right-handed crocheter, sit opposite (face to face) & follow your teacher’s movements

Following patterns can be daunting for anyone. Moreover, written instructions are mostly for the right-handed. But don’t be put you off, there are always ways around this, as most left-handers know & have dealt with in the right-handed world. 

Patterns with symbol charts (written for right-handers) are meant to be read right to left, so try to remember this & start your row on the opposite side of chart

Patterns with illustrations can be reversed by reading from a mirror, or scanned & flipped horizontally in a graphic program 

When making garments, keep in mind, you are working left to right so if you’re working a pattern for the front right panel of a vest (for example), you’ll actually be working the front left panel.

When you’re crocheting in the round, you will be working clockwise, rather than ante-clockwise.

Also, be on the lookout for left-handed crochet publications; checkout your local libraries & of course the internet where you’ll find loads of video tutorials

Some left-handers have even surprised themselves by finding that they’re able to crochet right-handed…

Find  more left handed stitch overviews here

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This chart shows some of the symbols you’ll see when reading patterns:~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Clusters: are groups of unfinished stitches where the last loop of each unfinished stitch is left on the hook & then drawn together.

Clusters can be worked over number of stitches (also used as a decrease) or in a specific st or sp (also known as Bobbles) & can be made with htr (US:hdc), tr (US:dc) or dtr (US:tr) & other high posted stitches

treble cluster (US:dc cluster), 

(YO, insert hook in stitch or space as indicated by pattern & draw up a loop, YO & draw through 2 loops on hook) as many times as indicated by pattern, YO & draw through all loops on hook.

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Popcorns: are groups of complete stitches worked in the same stitch or space & can also be made using htr, (US:hdc) or dtr (US:tr) & other high posted stitches

5 tr (US:dc) Popcorn:

Work 5 tr (US:dc) in st or sp as indicated by pattern, drop loop from hook, insert hook in first st of group, pick up dropped loop & draw through, 1ch to close. 

Popcorns can be made to the front or back of your work

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Puff stitches: are a group of loops drawn through the same stitch or space. The number of loops required will be indicated by the pattern

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Shell & fans: are groups of complete stitches worked in a stitch or space as indicted by the pattern & can be made using htr (US:hdc), tr (US:dc), dtr (US:tr) & other high posted stitches

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Back & front post stitches:

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I trust this little tutorial is helpful & gives left-handers more confidence to continue with their crochet journey…

 

 

The Chainless Foundation Stitch…

Have you ever wondered if there was an easier way to start a crochet project other than having to make that long foundation chain?

The good news is, yes, Chainless Foundation Stitches. This method can be used anytime you need a solid row of stitches or even when you want to add stitches at the end of a row. It can accommodate, increases, decreases & different height stitches. The only time it isn’t useful is when you’re working lacey patterns that use chains & chain spaces.

So, why bother using the Chainless Foundation Stitch when a foundation chain works perfectly fine?

Firstly, instead of having to count your chains, sometimes finding you’ve mis-counted after completing your first row only to rip it out & start again; with the Chainless Foundation St, you work the chain & stitch at the same time. For example: where a pattern asks for 11 chs to equal the 10 dc (US:sc) needed for your first row, or as for trebles (tr) (US:dc), where the pattern asks for 12 ch to equal 10 sts, you will be making the exact number of sts in one go… This is such a time saver, not to mention, no more frustration when mis-counting.

Another good reason is, you can work a project from top down or bottom up, both giving you a neat, strong, yet flexible edge, whereas, the simple foundation chain can sometimes be tight & less flexible or stretchy, which can be a problem around necklines or sleeve cuffs.

Want to give it a go? Great… I’ve created 2 short Pictorial Tutorials for working the Chainless Foundation Stitches.

I trust these tutorials are helpful, easy to understand & add another crochet trick to your repertoire. 

Chainless foundation double crochet (dc) (US: single crochet (sc) PDF download

Chainless foundation treble (tr) (US: double crochet (dc) PDF Download

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Chainless foundation double crochet (dc), US: single crochet (US:sc)

1. Start with a slip knot on hook

for Subsequent sts, repeat from * for desired number of sts

Row 2 & subsequent rows, depending on which st used:

~ dc (US:sc): 1 ch, turn, work your dc (US:sc) in the first st & in each st across

~  htr (US:hdc): 2 ch (count as htr (US:hdc)), turn, work htr (US:hdc) in next st & in each st across

~ tr (US:dc): 3 ch (count as tr), turn, work tr (US:dc) in next st & in each st across

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Chainless foundation treble (tr), US: double crochet (US:dc)

1. start with a slip knot on hook

for Subsequent sts, repeat from * for desired number of sts

Row 2 & subsequent rows, depending on which st used:

for dc (US:sc): 1 ch, turn, work your dc (US:sc) in the first st & in each st across

for htr (US:hdc): 2 ch (count as htr (US:hdc)), turn, work htr (US:hdc) in next st & in each st across

for tr (US:dc): 3 ch (count as tr), turn, work tr (US:dc) in next st & in each st across

Left Handed Crochet Stitch Overview

Over the years, I’ve had quite a few left handed ladies come to class. And even more who contact me about left handed crochet. I decided I needed to put together some crochet stitch basics to help you guys get going. I trust these simple, left handed crochet instructions do the job…

I’ve included: stitch symbols, both UK & US terminology & step by step stitch drawings illustrating how to make the stitch

I’m hoping to get more done but, as they take a bit of time, it may take a while…  meanwhile, enjoy!

you’ll find the left handed crochet stitch overview here

working Crochet in the Round

I’ve been getting quite a few queries lately about Working Crochet in the Round. Rather than continually answering each individual question, I decided to put together this basic instruction sheet for Working Crochet in the Round. Understanding the basic formulas for keeping your work flat & avoiding your crochet work from going astray is important so, I trust the instruction sheet is helpful.

The 2 most common questions: 

1)Why is my work cupping? – this usually means there are not enough increases 

2) Why is my work wavy? – this usually means there are too many increases

Working in the round is a little different from working on rows. To keep your work flat you must evenly increase every round & this varies when working circles or squares. I’ve given both written instructions & charts to help you better understand.

A Beginners’ Crochet Notebook…

A Beginners’ Crochet Notebook… click here for the tutorial

I receive many, many emails from folk needing help with their crochet; not only from frustrated beginners, but also from those who have been crocheting for a while asking, what for some are, fairly basic questions… But there is no such thing as a silly, stupid or ‘I should know this’ type of query, even after many years of crocheting there are always new things to learn.

 

And so, I’ve put together this Beginners’ Crochet Notebook to help those of you who want to start crocheting but don’t know where to begin. And, even though I’ve written this notebook mainly with the novice in mind, that doesn’t mean the more experience crocheter won’t find a few helpful tips as well.

~What hooks to use with which yarn. 

~Which yarns are: animal, plant or synthetic. 

~How to read patterns. 

~What those scary, abbreviations & symbols mean…&  lots more.

 

I’ve done my best to gathered together answers to the most frequent questions I receive, but of course, it’s impossible to have an answer for everything. There is so much more information I could have included in this Notebook; so much more the reader might find useful; but it’s such a fine line between cramming in too much & overwhelming you.

Nevertheless, I trust this tutorial is a comprehensive journey through the crochet basics for the beginner & others, & that it encourages you to venture forth with a little more confidence & understanding of this wonderful craft.

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