Crochet Stitch Tutorials

I haven't posted anything in a while so I thought I would post some explanations of how to do certain things that I found difficult when I first started out crocheting.  I may be dim-witted or something but there were just some things that I did not get until just recently even so here it goes.I haven't posted anything in a while so I thought I would post some explanations of how to do certain things that I found difficult when I first started out crocheting.  I may be dim-witted or something but there were just some things that I did not get until just recently even so here it goes.

Single crochet:  Let's say you have your foundation chain and you are about to start your first single crochet.  The first thing you need to know is if you are crocheting in a row for something like a scarf or a blanket, you will skip the first chain from your hook.  You NEVER count the chain that is wrapped around your hook as the first chain.  You will insert your hook into the second chain from the hook and go from there.  After you insert, yarn over or YO, which simply means to wrap the yarn around the hook then pull it through.  You will now have to loops on your hook.  Once you have the two loops on your hook then you will YO again and pull through both loops and there you have it, you have made your first single crochet or Sc.

Slip stitch (Sl St):  A slip stitch is used to close of a row.  All you do is insert your hook Yo, and pull the yarn through both loops on your hook then snip the yarn and pull the end all the way through.

Half double crochet (Hdc):  Remember the rule with the Sc, where you skip a chain?  Well you will do the same here when working in a row.  Similarly when moving to the second row in any work with any stitch, you will chain one or Ch 1 as your first stitch of the next row.  To start an Hdc, yarn over, insert hook, yarn over and pull through.  Then you will yarn over once more and pull through all three loops.  Now you have successfully created your first Hdc. Congratulations! 

Double crochet (Dc):  When starting out from a foundation row, you will skip two chains.  Yarn over, insert hook, Yo, and pull through.  You will have four loops on your hook.  Yo and pull through two loops.  Yo and pull through the remaining two loops.  This is a double crochet.  

Magic Ring:  This one threw me for a loop... No pun intended.  I could not figure it out from any of the diagrams or descriptions so I found this video that helped a lot! I was amazed at how easy it was.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLuSVyKvoUg

An increase or Inc is very simple.  All an increase is is crocheting in the same stitch that you crocheted on the previous stitch.  So you will be crocheting two stitches in one stitch from the previous row.  In other words, start by inserting your hook and make your first stitch of the increase then when you are finished insert your hook in the same spot as before and make your second stitch.  In a round, you will most commonly see a six Inc pattern that equal up to the total number of stitches for the row and  you will start with six stitches in your magic ring.  I.e.: 2 x 6 = 12.  So you will increase on every stitch around from your original six stitches.  Then the next would be 3 x 6 = 18, so you will Inc on the third stitch in the row.  The goal is a gradual widening of your round.

A decrease of Dec is the exact opposite of an inc.  All you will do is skip one stitch of the previous row.  This gives you a gradual narrowing of your round to close your sphere.  As with the Inc, you will work in multiples of six.

Chain 2 Method: The other way to start to work in a round is the Ch 2 method.  I like this method for beginners because it is easier to work with.  You have less of a chance of having multiple failures when first starting the ring.  What you do is create a slip stitch around your hook.  Then you will Ch 2.  In the second Ch from the hook, you will do six single crochets in that Ch then slip stitch to join the first and last Sc.  

If you are having any trouble with my descriptions, a website that I found helpful for most of these stitches is: www.stitchdiva.com

I hope this is helpful for anyone who is trying to learn how to crochet and I hope you grow to love it as much as I do!

The Friendliest Little Zombie

I am working on a story for this little guy. It is going to be a children's story.  I will post progress on it when I have made it a little further along.

Here is my latest crochet project.  I made it for a friend who wanted to surprise her mom with it.  It is a crochet penguin pillow! As you can see I used the magic ring crochet six method on this.  I do not have a pattern made up yet, as I am not sure I will ever have a use to make another one but if you want to make one, I used bulky weight yarn, a size G hook, and a 10 inch round pillowform. I think my final increase row was 6 increases of 14 stitches and I used single crochet.  I made one in black and one in white so that would go something like this.

6 sc into a magic ring.
Inc. around to make 12.
Sc, Inc. around to make 18.
Sc 2 times, Inc. around to make 24.
Sc 3 times, Inc. around to make 30.
Sc 4 times, Inc. around to make 36.
Sc 5 times, Inc. around to make 42.
Sc 6 times, Inc. around to make 48.
Etc. until it is big enough around just increasing the amount of single crochets by one on each round and you will increase six times in each round.

When you are finished increasing, just sc all the way around for three rows. 

For the feet, I made another magic ring (for each foot) and then sc 6 then ch 1, flip, and inc in each stitch to make 12, then ch 1, sc, inc. around the half circle to make 18.

For the beak:  Chain 9.  In the second ch from hook, sc then sc across, ch 1.  Turn and sc across in each stitch.  *Then you want to flip without chaining one and sc in the second stitch from the hook.  Ch 1, sc in each stitch.  Continue from * and keep going until there is only one sc in the row.

The eyes are just a magic ring, crochet six.

The wings, are the same procedure as the beak just longer.  I just measured out a chain for how long I wanted the wings and then went from there. 

That is basically the pattern.  If you have questions, please let me know.

Crocodile Headband

--> This is my Crocodile Headband.  I saw a picture of one and I thought, ‘I can make that!’ I had to find a few tutorials because none of them were specifically for the shape that I was after and I am new to the crocodile stitch.  EEK! I decided to go with a two tone color scheme. The example I saw was three-toned.  VERY CUTE! They had a different headband piece than I have. The example had an open headband… I like mine better… I am a bit prejudiced, I suppose. I finished mine in an evening and it probably would have gone faster if I wasn’t figuring out what I was doing as I was doing it.  It was all worth it though!  Here is how you do it.

A closeup of the lovely headband or earmuff... whatever.

1. Ch 6 and joint at the beginning of the round.

2. Ch 3, 4 DC through the ring, Ch 1, 5 DC.  This makes your first crocodile scale.

3. Ch 3 (counts as first DC), DC in next stitch, Ch 2 *Skip two stitches then 2 DC, Ch 2.  Repeat from * to make six posts. 

4. Ch 3 (Counts as first DC) DC 4 behind first post, Ch 1 then put 5 DC behind the other post, Ch 1.  *Skip middle two posts and put 5 DC behind the second to last post, Ch 1, 5 DC behind last post to make two scales.

5.  Ch 3, DC in next spot, *Ch 2, skip two stitches, 2 DC and repeat from * to the end.

7. Repeat Step 4 to make 3 scales.

6. In order to decrease the amount of Crocodile scales, Sl. St. over two spaces until you are just above the inside edge of the first scale on the previous row then repeat step 4.  Continue repeating these steps until you have Three sets of two and three sets of three. 

If you are having trouble with the crocodile stitch, there is an excellent tutorial on youtube. Check it out!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUNtrp_Vj4o

8. The next step is just to ensure that you have an even number of stitches for your puff stitch.  There needs to be a multiple of two. So just sc across the top row.  There should be 18 across the top.

9. For the puff stitch all you do is ch 3, YO, insert hook into first stitch that is not part of the ch, YO, pull through, YO, insert hook, YO and pull through again.  Once more! YO, insert hook, YO, and pull through one last time.  Then you YO once more and pull it through all the loops on your hook.  There should be 7 loops on your hook.  Continue this step through the row making sure to skip a stitch in between the puff stitches.  To finish off the row, make a DC in the last stitch.

10.  Repeat this for each row.  I did four rows of the same amount and then I decreased one puff stitch and that gave it a gradual thinning. I ended up with 44 rows of the puff stitch. 

To finish it off, sew on a button and weave in the ends.  I made my button.  I bought metal button pieces and covered them in fabric.  You can pick them up at any craft store.  Now that you are done, go try it on and admire how cute you look in your new crocodile headband!

My Very First Big Crochet Project

I have always done small crochet projects. Dolls, baby shoes, hats, flowers, etc. For a while now, I have wanted to make something big but was afraid I would get sick of it and abandon the project. The way I have abandoned many other large projects. 

Recently my hubby and I moved to Los Angeles.  I am without a car all day and my studly husband works far away so I have a lot of time at home since I work from home. I needed a project so, I have decided to make a blanket!!! I am very excited about this blanket... three exclamation points worth, apparently.

It is a ripple pattern. I am doing thick stripes of leafy green and dark royal blue.  They are looking a bit like the chevron stripes that are so popular these days and it's turning out very nicely. I will post pics when it gets closer to being done. It is not one of my patterns but here is the link to the pattern that I am using: http://www.handcraftingwithlove.net/yarn/pat-ripple.html

Adventire time, common grab your friends. Let's go to a very distant land with Jake the Dog and Finn the Human, the fun will never end. It's Adventire Time.

Adventure Time with Jake and Finn

Finn:

Using flesh colored yarn, Ch 7.

Row 1:  SC six, starting in the 2^nd Ch from hook, Sc 3 then turn 180° and continue to work a second SC into each Ch so that you are working all the way around the Ch to make 12. 

I have included some pics to help you understand because when I first came across a pattern like this, I was dumbfounded.  I had no idea what they were talking about so I tried to make it in as clear English as possible in case anyone else out there has a brain dead moment like me.

This is a picture of how it will look when you are finished crocheting 6 across the chain.

This is what it will look like when you insert the hook to keep going around the chain.

Then you just keep crocheting across as normal.

Row 2:  Inc around to make 24.

Row 3:  *Sc 2, Inc; repeat from * to make 30.

Row 4:  *Sc 4, Inc; repeat from * to make 36.

Rows 5-8:  Sc in each stitch around then Sl St. 

-Attach the eyes and embroider mouth to liking. 

Rows 6-9: Sc in each stitch around.  Joint light blue.

Rows 10-22:  Sc in each stitch around and add a Sl St in the end.

For shorts (using dark blue):  Chain 36 then joint last Ch to the 1^st Ch to make a ring.

Row 1-4: Sc in each stitch around.

Row 5: Sc in back loops on each stitch around.

Row 6:  *Sc 3, Dec; Repeat from * to make 30.

Row 7:  *Sc 2, Inc; Repeat from * to make 24.

Row 8:  *Sc 1, inc; Repeat from * and continue until the hole is closed.

-Stuff head/torso and the bottom then sew together. 

For the arms, I started with a Ch 2, Sc 6 I the second Ch from hook method.  You can do a magic ring here if you prefer… My feeble mind could never get the hang of getting a magic ring to lay flat so I cheat.

Row 1:  Sc 6 in 2^nd Ch from hook.

Row 2:  Sc 1, Inc; repeat to make 9 stitches.

Row 3: Sc in each stitch around.

Row 4:  Sc, Ch 2 and Sc 8. (Do not Sc in the 2 Ch stitches that you made.  Leave those loose so that they form the thumb. At this point I snicker a lot because the thumb is just so cute!)

Rows 5-10: Sc in each stitch around Joint light blue yarn.

Rows 11-15: Sc in each stitch around.

-Sew the arms onto the body. Aren’t they so incredibly awesome? These are the first crochet hands that I really liked and I made the pattern for them up so I am just so amused whenever I seem them completed.  It doesn’t take a lot to entertain me.

For the feet, in black, use the Ch 2 method or the magic ring and make Sc rows of 9 the same way you would for the arms.  I did six rows but do whatever looks best for the yarn and gage you are using. 

For the socks: Ch 9 and joint the round then do 2 rows of 9. 

Legs:  Ch 9 with flesh color and joint at the round then Sc in each stitch around for 9 rows then switch to the dark blue for 5 rows. 

Sew the shoes, socks and legs together then sew the legs to the body.

For the backpack, start with light green and Ch 7.

Row 1:  Sc 1 in each stitch around (same way as head) starting from 2^nd Ch from hook to make 12.

Row 2:  Inc around to make 24.

Row 3:  *Sc 2, Inc; repeat from * to make 30.

Row 4:  *Sc 4, Inc; repeat from * to make 36.

Rows 5-9:  Sc in each stitch around then Sl St.

In darker green, repeat the same steps you just did for the light green.  Stuff and sew together. Then Ch 18 and attach to one side of the backpack twice.  Sew on button then slide onto Finn’s arms.

For the hat use white yarn and Ch 7.

Row 1: Starting in 2^nd Ch from hook, Sc in each stitch to make six, then continue around to the other side and make 6 more Sc in each stitch to make 12.

Row 2:  Inc around to make 24.

Row 3:  *Sc 2, Inc; repeat from * to make 36.

Rows 4 & 5:  Sc in each stitch.

Row 6:  Sc 3, Ch 13 and attach 9 stitches away from where your Ch started with a Sc and continue Sc around until you reach the Ch, which should be 30 stitches including the first 3 Sc before you made your Ch.  Then to finish this round, Sc 1 into the Ch.

Row: 7-10: Flip 180° and Sc in each stitch around and 1 Sc into the Ch.

Rows 10-12:  Sc in each stitch around; 36 stitches.

Ears:  Ch 2.

Row 1: Sc 6 in 2^nd Ch from hook.

Rows 2-3: Sc in each stitch around; 6 stitches.

Sew the ears onto the hat and then sew the hat onto the Finn head and wala, you have your very own Finn!

Jake: 

Using a mustard yellow yarn.

Row 1:  SC six, starting in the 2^nd Ch from hook, Sc 3 then turn 180° and continue to work a second SC into each Ch so that you are working all the way around the Ch to make 12.

Row 2:  Inc around to make 24.

Row 3: Sc 2, Inc; repeat to make 30.

Row 4:  Sc 4, Inc; repeat to make 36.

Rows 5-15:  Sc in each stitch around; 36 stitches.

Row 16: Sc 2, Dec; repeat to make 30.

-Start stuffing.

Row 17:  Sc 1, Dec; repeat.

Row 18: Dec around until closed.   

-For the arms Ch 7.

Row 1:  Sc 6 in 2^nd Ch from hook.

Row 2:  Sc 1, Inc; repeat to make 9 stitches.

Row 3: Sc in each stitch around.

Row 4:  Sc, Ch 2 and Sc 8. (Do not Sc in the 2 Ch stitches that you made.  Leave those loose so that they form the thumb.)

Rows 5-12: Sc in each stitch around.  Make two. 

Sew onto the body.

-For the legs Ch 9 and joint to form the first round.

Row 2-13: Sc in each stitch around; Ch 1 and flip.

Rows 14-15:  Sc 3; Ch 1 and flip and Sl St on the last stitch.  Make two.

Sew onto body.

-For the ears, Ch 5.  Sc 4, turn 180°, continue through on the other side and Sc 4.  Sl St.  Sew onto the body.

-For the snout, Ch 2.

Row 1: Sc 4 into the 2^nd Ch from hook.

Rows 2-9:  Sc into each stitch around and then Sl St on the last round.  Sew onto face then embroider mouth.

-For the tail I made a Ch of 5 and joined them to make the first round then on each row, Dec 2 until it is closed. 

For the eyes, I just used black and white felt and used fabric glue to adhere them.  I think they turned out well!

I have more pics of the backpack and some closeups of the face but for some reason my USB port is not reading my camera. I will figure it out and post the pics later.

The Princess and the Overlord

It has been a while since I have posted a short story so here is one.  I wrote it for a friend in a jiffy so it may not be great but I assure you it is entertaining!








 Once upon a time there was a beautiful princess named Ashlee Harper.  She lived in a magical land called Utah.  Ashlee loved living in her grand palace in Utah where everyone was golden of hair, rosy of cheeks, and silicone of breasts. 

Everyone was happy in the land until one day an evil retail store named RC Willey came along.  From the outside RC Willey seemed like an okay place; they offered electronics, appliances, furniture, and more.  From the inside, though, the people who worked there knew the truth about the dreaded RC Willey.  They would advertise for a sale and jack up their prices for two weeks before then lower the prices down to just below what they were asking before and their customer’s would say, “Oh my, what a reasonably priced love seat.  I must buy that for my home even though I don’t really need it.” 

RC Willey would say, “Don’t you have the money to buy that love seat? No, well here is a line of credit that will give you 18 months interest free.” 

The customers would say, “How generous of you.  I would love to pay my love seat off in 18 months.”

RC Willey would say, “Oh darn, you have to have $2000 or more to use the 18 months no interest.  I guess you have to pay interest on the love seat making it 21% higher in price than it was originally.”

The customers would say, “Oh well then, I guess I have no choice in the matter,” and then RC Willey would suck them into a never-ending cycle of bill paying. 

RC Willey was not only mean to the customers but to the people who worked there too.  It would hire desperate people to work long hours with no windows or joy and pay them very little.  Every day the people who worked there would come home and feel angry but not really know why.

Ashlee heard of this injustice and decided to apply to work there and destroy it from the inside.  She worked there for months gaining intell and coming up with a plan.  She decided the best thing to do would be to shut the power down for if there were no power to the store it couldn’t run.  She found out who the power supplier was and she paid them a great deal of leprechaun gold in order to shut the power off just at the perfect moment.  Her plan was to shut the power down exactly three minutes after the store opened on Black Friday.  This was the busiest day of the year and it would surely destroy the store. 

RC Willey spent thousands of dollars advertising for the big day.  It said, “Come one, come all to RC Willey on the Black Friday event and we will give you prices that you’ve never seen.  Also lunch is on us!”  RC Willey prepared its slaves… er employees… for the big day.  All of them were very nervous.  People would run into the store and be vicious about getting that last blue ray player that their 8 -year-old needs and then they would stand in a three-hour line and complain at whoever was helping them about the length of the line.  The employees… yes… employees, not slaves, were very nervous about this day.

Ashlee wanted to tell them that it would be okay and that they would never have to deal with the woes of this evil empire again but she could not for fear of RC Willey learning of her plan.

The big day came.  Ashlee came to work like normal.  She had butterflies in her stomach as she drove up and saw the line wrapping around the building 17 times!  She forced her way through the crowd and into the door.  She got herself all set up at her station and nervously waited with her cohorts.  They talked in hushed tones and tried not to throw up.  Then they heard it, “Attention RC Willey Associates, the store is now open,” and then a terrible shrieking sound as the intercom went off line.  They heard the hoards of people running through the store, pushing, slapping, tripping, and guillotining as they went.  They ran to the electronics department with their early bird coupons and ran around the furniture section like chickens with their heads cut off.  Soon they started to line up.  The cashiers shouted, “If you have to use your RC Willey Credit Card you need to stand in the credit line,” then it happened.  The whole store went pitch black.  All of the computer screens, TV’s, mp3 players, portable DVD players, and karaoke machines shut off simultaneously.  There was a gentle hum of the electronics shutting down then panic spread.  Every associate grabbed a flashlight and then the madness set in.

Customers started screaming and managers came out of their holes and tried to calm them down.  They said, “Here is a free hotdog.  Please come back at a later time and our power should be on,” but the power never came back on.  All the employees sat there asking when they could go home but RC Willey would not let them go.  They had stay until the store closes at 9 o’clock.  Ashlee did not see this coming.  She had to revert to plan B.  She closed her eyes, said a little prayer, and then blew the place up with the bomb strapped to her chest.  The place was obliterated and everyone died.

The End.