How to read a Crochet Pattern plus Granny square and Puff stitch patterns

Growing up I couldn’t understand why my Grandmother didn’t crochet things other than blankets, even though they are the most sought after pieces I have come to understand.  The reason being was that she never learned how to read a pattern!  Well I am going to make sure that you can.

First things first, you need to know your basic stiches, and the shorthand or abbreviations next to them is what you will see in patterns, even as far back as the 1900’s (possibly further).  This is the universal (English[American at least]) Pattern language, study it, know it.  Just for future reference if they do use a stitch not listed here, they generally state so and have an explanation for it.  And because most Crochet patterns are worked row/round by row/round(for the most part) I like to keep a PENCIL handy to mark off each row I do.  Or make tally marks in the margin to account for those instances where the next rows are the same as the current, so I don’t get lost or have to recount a thousand times if I need to set my work down.

Slip knot

Chain=ch

Slip Stitch=slst

Single Crochet=sc

Half Double Crochet=hdc

Double Crochet=dc

Treble (or Triple) Crochet=tc

Picot stitch

Yarn Over =YO

Round(s)=Rnd(s)

Space=sp

Beginning=beg

Skip=sk

The decreases of each=dec

The increases of each (this is just 2+ stitches in the top of One stitch of the previous row)=inc

And of course some sewing can be involved, so that can be good to know as well.

But this is all for another day, today you are going to learn how use the skills you may already know to make something from a pattern.

I am going to show you a simple pattern, and then walk you through the steps:

Granny Square, Something that you MUST know how to make to be a true Crocheter. :P

Rnd 1: Ch 5, Slst in first chain, ch2.  2 dc in ring(ch2 counts as first st),  ch2, *3Dc, ch2* repeat ** 2 times, slst in beg ch2.

Rnd 2: ch2 turn, 2Dc in ch2sp, ch2, 3Dc, ch2 in same ch2sp *3dc, ch2, 3dc, ch2 in next ch2sp* repeat ** around, slst in beg ch2.

Ok let’s stop here.  With the help of the legend above, do you understand what is going on so far?  You should be holding in your hands a square.  And as you probably learned in the second row, you might need to read the whole of the instructions of each row before you continue; I learned this the hard way MANY times. Ripping out my stitches and starting over gets a little frustrating lol.

Ready to continue?

Rnd3: Ch2 turn, 2dc in ch2sp, ch2, *3dc in ch2sp, ch3,* repeat **  2x in each corner ch2sp, then once in each side ch2sp. 

Now the square is a bit bigger.

Rnd4+: Repeat Rnd3 with one **  in each side ch2sp and Two ** in each corner Ch2sp.

The traditional granny square would stop at about 5 rnds or so.  You can make a ton in different colors, piece them together how you like and then sew them all together to make a beautiful throw blanket.  After about 2 or 3 this pattern will most likely be imprinted in your memory bank and you will have it to use at your will.

Here is another even simpler pattern:

Row 1: Ch in a multiple of 3 (12, 15, 18, 21, etc.) then ch 2 more.  2Dc in 3^rd ch from hook, *sk 2ch, 1sc & 2dc in 3^rd ch* repeat ** across, sc in last ch, ch2, turn.

Row 2: 2 dc in first sc, *1sc 2Dc in next sc,* repeat ** across, sc in top of ch2, ch2 turn.

Row 3+: repeat row 2 to desired length, fasten off, weave in ends.

This pattern I ABSOLUTELY LOVE!!  It gives the fabric a nice texture and makes it look fancy and hard, but is super easy and can get really fun to do. If you start with a ch of 24 you can use a whole Red Heart with Love 8oz skein to make a gorgeous warm scarf, and/or sew the ends together (or slst the ends together) and made an awesome Infinity scarf.

Now go forth with your new skills and find a pattern to try.  Most are labeled with their experience level that’s needed.  So start with a couple beginners then easy, then medium and so on.  If you have any questions shoot me an email and I will be happy to help.  Babystewart88@gmail.com  And just because here is a link to my Etsy for the purchase of my Granny Square and Puff Stitch Beanie if you like.

Good Luck In your Crafting Adventures!!

Crochet Secret

I don’t know about you, but when I first started crocheting, and for the longest time, I thought that when you went to make another stitch you only went through the first “post” of the stitch. 

And I wondered why my fabric was zigzaggy:

I could not tell you where or when I found out how to actually do a stitch but I felt like a dummy.  You are supposed to go through both posts in the top of the stitch!  Unless! You want to make a more pronounced curve like in a slipper, or the pattern calls for it. 

And now it looks how it should! J Do you see the difference between the bottom and top halves of the swatch?

Oh, except if you are starting out then it is your choice if you want to go through one or two posts in each stitch of the chain.  It depends on my mood which I decide.

So anyway speaking of Crocheting, the gateway craft to me beginning Knitting, Here are a few pictures of things I have made over the years.

This purse is completely my design with a little help from my mommy when I was 9 on how to increase the size above a lipstick case.  The lace which creates the flower at the top is one of the first stitches I learned and practiced the most.  It is just simply Dc, *chain 3, Dc in next stitch,* repeat** across/around.  The green and pink is big enough for a phone or wallet as a wrist pouch for at concerts, fairs, etc.  The black and pink one is a backpack large enough for a book of novel size or so.

Here are a couple of intarsia pieces I have done, the skull being my first, the knight helmet my second, pillow my third, and batman hat my fourth. 

I know what you’re thinking, “That is intimidating and there is no freaking way I could possibly do that.” O.O  But in reality it is so easy it’s not even funny.  All you are doing is following a graph with the picture on it and counting how many stitches need the different colors, btw it works best in Sc.  Maybe in a day or two I will take pictures to show how it’s done. Anyway…

Good Luck on Your Adventures in Crafting!

Sweater Dress Follow Up #1

     So how is your dress coming along?  I have finished the back piece of mine and found some leftovers of the yarn I needed to start the front!  I am just on the ribbing beginning so far but is do to a neck injury I endured yesterday morning when waking up or I would have more done.  Since my local store doesn't carry the color I need, my loving Hubby is going to stop at another on his way home from work tomorrow to get me more ^_^.  Hoping I can over come this injury soon because not being able to craft comfortably (or at all) is not fun.  Like, if I injured a hand to the point where I could not use it ever again I would be severely depressed, this is my life! lol

     Anyway, any thoughts on something you would like to see or need help with?  I'm still learning all the neat Knitting stitches there are to make, but I am fairly well versed in Crochet.  Comment on here or shoot me an email and I'll be very happy to help and/or oblige.  ^_^

Happy Crafting!

My brain is jumbled

So, I have the sweater dress that I am working on, but I ran out of yarn and my local store doesn't have anymore in the right color, so that's a bummer...  Now I am waiting on the measurements for an Easter dress I am going to make for a client (crocheted, MAYBE knit the bodice?)  And then 3 other orders I am waiting on payment for so I can send them to the clients... SOOO BORED!  So many ideas and thoughts and my brain feels like a jumbled mess lol.  So now I am trying to think of something to do to keep me busy and I am at a loss.  I have a library book I could read, can't watch t.v. because my 4 year old has reign over it.  Need to get ready to move so I could clean and organize the house a bit but eh, what fun is that?? :P  I got all the laundry done and folded and only have one basket of clothes to put away but again... eh...  I just want to get these projects done!! lol  Sometimes being an "artist" sucks :P  But that's my life right?  Once the kids are all in school I will be able to go to work full time and have that to fill my time which is nice, but as for the present? GAH!!  Ok I think I've decided since I have nothing else to do, to turn on some tunes and get the house work done... blah...

Crochet IS NOT KNIT!!!

Ok,

Just for the record this is going to be a rant, so you've been warned if you read beyond this point.

 
THIS IS CROCHET!!!


THIS IS CROCHET!!!


THIS IS CROCHET!!!!

THIS IS CROCHET!!!!

THIS IS CROCHET!!!!!!!!!

I am soooo flipping tired of seeing things advertised as being Knitted, and they are in fact CROCHETED!!!!  The term Knit DOES NOT cover all things made of string, thread or yarn.


These are Crochet Hooks, you only use one hook and only have One stitch on the hook at a time (except for afghan stitching).


These are knitting needles, notice how they are in pairs.  Just about Every thing you wear, except jeans (which are weaved) is knit.  So if it doesn't look like the material your t-shirt, or socks are made from, IT IS NOT KNIT!!!!

End of rant....

Knitting Secret No One Told Me

Ok so while working on an order, A ribbed beanie (knit), I was getting frustrated that it wasn't looking or reacting how it was supposed to when I tested the stretch of the rib.  And it dawned on me I was doing it wrong the whole time!!  Since I started knitting in time!  So here are some pictures to explain it, something that maybe you didn't know, or are a beginner and need to know before you make the same mistake.  I hope I explain it well enough...

Do you see the loop on the needle?  How the angle makes it look like a perfect n? Or maybe a horseshoe upside down?  Well the back of the loop is the one we want the needle to go into.

 Here it is from the front, see how it was the back on the purl side but now the front on the knit side and my right needle is inserted through it, but to the back of the left needle?  That's what we want for the knit stitch.

 Because when I wrap the yarn around the back needle and pull it through it will make the knit stitch.

 Here I am showing the stitch opened up, (what it should look like)

 Ok now on STRAIGHT needles on the front side/knit side, the stitches on the needle should all slant to the right

 And on the wrong side/purl side the stitches slant to the left

 Now we are knitting the purl side. So the opening we want to put our needle through is the back like in the first picture.

 BUT what I thought before that both knit and purl the needle needed to be put in the front of the stitch and the yarn pulled through the back for knit and through the front for purl...

 But as you can see here, that twists the stitches when you insert the right needle in the front on a purl stitch on straight needles.

 So we need to insert it in the back.

 And now the stitches are all straight and even!!

 But wait what if we were ribbing??  No sweat!  the first two stitches the right needle goes into the back of the stitch AND left needle to bring the yarn through the back for a knit stitch, then the next two stitches the right needle will go in the Front of the stitch but back of the left needle and bring the yarn through the front for a knit stitch

Let me know if this makes sense.  If not Let me know which part confuses you and I'll try to explain it better.

Sweater Dress

     Ok So with the pattern from the previous post I have started to make a Sweater Dress.  I figured it out thus far, though I am only 4 1/2 inches into the first piece of it.  Ok so to convert it into a sweater dress start out how it says BUT figure out how many stitches to cast on according to you HIP size, for example it says for a bust of 38in (my hip size) cast on 86 stitches.  Now it says to work 2x2 ribbing for 3 inches in 8needles (5mm), then switch to 6needles (4mm) and continue till it measures 5 1/2 inches then start decreasing, BUT the decrease is for your waist line, so instead of decreasing, start the stocking net stitch and make as long as you want it to be from your waist line (should be somewhere above your belly button for females [that indent in your side between your hip bone and bottom rib], and hips on males).
   
      THEN do you decreasing according to your bust size.  Say I have 86 stitches on my needle for my hip size and according to the pattern I need to only have 65 for my bust size, so in that decrease row I need to evenly decrease by 21 stitches instead of just 9 as it calls for originally.  Then work the pattern as it says till you finish.  Same with the Front piece.  Cast on according to your hip size, work however long (for me it's 20 inches [I'm 5'6"]) then do the correct amount of decreases in the decrease row for your bust size and finish it according to the pattern.

     Don't quote me exactly on this, though I seriously hope it works out. It will take a while for me to have a finished product according to orders, ableness to get more yarn for it and of course the childrens ^_^  BUT If you finish it, post a picture and shoot me the link in the comments below.

Good Luck In your Adventures!

**Edit**  Ok Scratch switching to the smaller needles.  Continue with the larger needles until you get to 3inches above your hips THEN switch to the smaller needles for 2 1/2 inches THEN decrease, and go back to the larger needles, Using the smaller needles helps with shaping, along with the decrease.

Hello

Hi!

My name is Bailey and I was looking for a way to share things I am interested in, that maybe family or friends might not be so much.  I am an avid Crochet and Knit Junky.  If I could do both all day everyday my life would be happy and complete.  ^_^  Thoughts on how this Blog may go is me showing off items I'm working on, sharing tips and tricks I've learned or figured out myself, and probably sharing patterns I've come up with.  

I am also a mother of 3 wonderful children, 2 older boys and my baby girl.  As well as married to the greatest Hubby a girl could ever dream of.  And between diaper changes, playing Referee, making dinner and all the fun things that go with being a mother and wife, I make orders for people.  I.E. Someone asks if I can make them something, I quote them a price, get an idea of what they want and make it.  Mostly little things like hats and scarves at the moment.  Until I get money for more yarn and then I was thinking of making bigger things and selling them on Ebay or something.  

I have been crocheting since I was about 7 years old or so, watching my Grandmother everyday.  She seemed so calm and happy as she was stitching along.  I remember asking her one day why she did it everyday and she said it was to help with the arthritis in her hands.  But the blankets she made are divine.  I thought, "I want to be able to make stuff like she does, something so beautiful that can be cherished forever that I made with my own 2 hands."  Now at age 25 (26 in May) I have made hundreds of objects, done thousands (maybe millions) of stitches and have something beautiful to show for my life, even if it doesn't add up to much more than this.

I then started to dabble in Knitting in 9th grade with a knitting book I found at a the free book table at the Library one day.  I did it for a bit and reverted back to crocheting thinking it was easier and faster.  But a few years ago I decided to pick up another pair of needles and that is mostly what I do now a days.  Just recently learning why my items didn't look perfect and even, like those in the pictures.  But I am glad I do know now for my knitting has gotten faster thanks to the little revelation.  

I did something that had been on my bucket list for sometime and knitted myself a sweater with the use of a pattern and my only little twist (literally). Though this picture doesn't do it justice, I will add another later.

This started out as me getting mad because with my long hair up none of the hoods on any sweaters I owned would cover my head how I wanted them to, So I started with the hood first and found the pattern for the sweater later.  **Edit: The pattern for this Duster is no longer available I think.  I hope that I saved a copy that I will add if I did.  Sorry for the inconvenience, and Thank You for your patience!** 

And now I am going to start working on a sweater dress, with a pattern I found but again with my own additions and what-not ( http://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knitted-Sweaters/Grace-Kelly-Sweater-from-Bernat/ct/1#iteDJE6G4D6vB0Og.99 )

I had this gorgeous one in high school that was black and grey but I only got to wear a few times and it vanished :(  So off to add another item to my closet, made by my own hands ^_^.  Have a wonderful day.