|
Category: Crochet Patterns
August 17, 2007
Making a crochet tablecloth is a lot of work. Most hand-made tablecloths are lace work or filet. The reason that people still make tablecloths by hand in the post-manufacturing age is that you just can’t beat the extravagance or luxury of a hand-made crochet tablecloth. The tablecloth is made to order for the table, is always exactly the right color, pattern and style to suit your taste. Really, the work is worth it.
(more…)
August 13, 2007
When the cold weather begins to rear its head, the crochet guru gets a hankering to warm up with a new crochet project. Fortunately, a crocheted shawl pattern may be just what the doctor ordered! Crocheted shawl patterns are easy to find, many are easy to make, and materials to create one-of-a-kind accessories and gifts are plentiful.
(more…)
July 31, 2007
Crocheted scarf patterns used to consist of warm woolens and aran patterns and cables designed solely for winter wearing. Times have changed! Today’s scarves are made of a tremendous variety of materials, and are created as fashion accessories as well as neck warmers. It is not completely unheard of to see a hip, lacy scarf adorning a sophisticated sheath in the summer.
Or perhaps a long, loopy creation to dress up a tank top and jeans. Crocheted scarf patterns are making their way into every season. The good news is that you can grab your own crocheted scarf pattern, and fashion your way to accessorizing your entire wardrobe with a little bit of funky yarn, and a whole lot of imagination!
The Warm Weather Crocheted Scarf Pattern
Who would have ever thought that a crocheted scarf pattern would make itself at home during the hottest months of the year? But with the new fibers and textures available to make up crocheted scarf patterns, that is exactly what is happening! The new textiles available, such as the ribbons and confetti threads available for crochet, can bring new life to an old favorite.
(more…)
July 22, 2007
A shrug can be described as a cropped jacket of sorts, without buttons or other means of fastening. You can wear shrugs year-round – from lightweight shrugs over tank tops in spring to heavier styles that will keep you warm in the colder months. Shrugs have exploded onto the fashion scene in the past couple of years, and continue to be a wardrobe staple for many of the trend conscious. If you have shopped for a shrug recently, you will probably find that the price tag reflects the popularity of the item. (In other words, they are both rather high!)
But why spend a bundle on a shrug when you can easily make one yourself for a fraction of the cost? Crochet shrug patterns are abounding, and the materials to make up your own shrug are equally plentiful. Crocheted shrug patterns have become popular because they do not require that much yarn to complete and many of the patterns are simple enough for even a beginner at crochet to master. So what are you waiting for? A beautiful handmade shrug can be yours with just a little bit of yarn and effort on your part!
(more…)
June 18, 2007
While crocheted purses appear to be the current rage, these accessories are far from new to the fashion scene. In fact, the first crocheted purse pattern was published in Holland in 1824! At this time, the popular styles of crocheted purse patterns were pouches or round, flat bags. In the 1920’s the “finger purse” came into vogue. The finger purse was a small bag that dangled from a crocheted ring that was worn around the finger. These purses were quite popular to wear with gowns on special occasions.
These days, crocheted purse patterns run the gamut – from small drawstring bags to carry the bare essentials, to large totes that are designed to hold everything but the kitchen sink. Evening bags are particularly in demand, since available materials for crocheted purse patterns include luxurious chenille and sparkling metallic. The best thing about a crocheted purse is that it takes very little yarn or thread to complete, and many of the patterns are perfect for a beginner’s project.
(more…)
June 14, 2007
Sometimes when a fashion comes back, it makes a big splash. Never has that been truer than with the crochet poncho pattern. The late 1960s’ hippy look came into its own in the 1970s when it combined funky with crafts-look. If someone wore a macramé belt, there almost had to be a crochet poncho pattern worn over the peasant blouse.
When that macramé faded, and when no one wore shoulder bags made of old jeans, when head bands were no longer worn on the forehead, the crochet poncho disappeared as well. It’s back now, along with everything crochet. You can make a crochet poncho because it’s hot or you can make a crochet poncho because it’s cool but the best reason to make a crochet poncho is because it looks good in every possible style.
(more…)
May 28, 2007
Crocheting can easily be considered as one of the most popular hobbies, and that goes for all across the world. However, often times people find it hard to locate a crochet pattern that they like, and so if you are one of those people, then you will absolutely want to read on so that you can learn about where the best places are that you can go to in order to find a crochet pattern.
Websites
If you are looking for a crochet pattern, then you should know that the Internet is absolutely going to be your best option; after all, there is no other resource available that is going to allow you to find more variety than on the Internet.
(more…)
May 4, 2007
If you’ve never worked a crochet hat pattern, you shouldn’t be afraid to try. If you’ve only done flat work before, there isn’t much that’s different about working in the round. The first thing to do is find the right crochet hat pattern for you. If you need practice, try a child’s size hat to limber up. There are many free crochet hat patterns on the Internet.
Before you commit, read through the pattern and make sure that you understand the instructions. Start with something simple. If it starts to go wrong, try another crochet hat pattern before you give up completely. The masses of free patterns on the Internet are a wonderful treasure trove. Just remember that some of the diamonds are unpolished.
Round and Round We Go
If you’re used to working in rows, the first thing you’ll notice on a crochet hat pattern is that you’re now working in rounds. If your crochet hat pattern has earflaps or other flat work, you’ll see rows again. Before you begin, find out if the rounds are worked without stopping. Usually they are for a crochet hat pattern.
First you will need something to mark the beginning of the round. A short piece of yarn in a contrasting color is good. You can just work the first stitch of the round around it. When you get back to that stitch, pull out the marker and work around it again. You can use a safety pin or bobby pin just as well. You need to mark the rounds because it’s very difficult to spot the beginning of a round after it’s been worked over. For counting stitches and shaping, it’s a good idea to know where the current round begins.
If you are familiar with reading patterns and know your stitches, you shouldn’t have any more problems. A crochet hat pattern can start at the top of the head and get larger or start at the brim and get smaller. Either way, there’ll be shaping involved. To add more stitches, the crochet hat pattern will just say to increase.
That only means that you put two stitches into one stitch in the previous round. Decrease is the opposite. Make two stitches into one by starting the stitch and instead of doing the last yarn over, leave the last part of the stitch on the hook and start the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through the last of both stitches. On the next round, the decrease will look just like a normal stitch. Beyond that, all you basically have to do is just follow the directions and have fun.
March 30, 2007
One of the first things a beginner to crochet should learn how to make is the ever-versatile crochet granny square. Variations of this pattern appear in just about any type of crocheted items – from sweaters and ponchos to bedspreads and tablecloths. It is an especially popular pattern for afghans and baby blankets.
The best thing about a granny square is that it will teach you three of the crochet stitches that you will use extremely often in your crochet projects. The stitches are the slip stitch, which is used most often to finish rounds of crochet; the chain stitch, which is the foundation row for nearly every crochet project; and the double crochet, which will give you the basic idea for how to do a number of other crochet stitches.
A crochet granny square can be worked to any size and with as many colors as you would like to see in your finished project. You can work from a pattern to create an item, or use your imagination to fashion your own individualized piece.
Crochet Granny Square 101
The basic pattern for a crochet granny square is very simple. Chain six stitches, and slip stitch together to form a ring. Make three chains that will act as your first double crochet on this round. Stitch two more double crochets into the original ring you made, and then make three more chain stitches. Next, stitch three double crochets into the ring and make three more chain stitches.
You will repeat this process two times more, and then finish off your first round with a slip stitch in the top of the chain three at the beginning of the round. Pat yourself on the back! You just completed the first round of your first crochet granny square. This process is repeated for as many rounds as you choose to add to your square. You can make many little squares and sew them together to make an item, or you can make a blanket or throw with one square that simply grows in rounds until it is the desired size.
Attaching Your Crochet Granny Square
If you choose to make a number of smaller squares for an item, you will need to sew them together to create your finished piece. Some crocheters prefer to do this as they complete squares, and some will wait until all the squares are finished to assemble the item all at once.
You can join your squares by sewing them together with a simple whip stitch, or you can actually crochet your outside rounds together by slip stitching through the back of each stitch on the last round. The second option will give you a ridge between squares along the back of your piece, and may be more durable on items like blankets that might go through the wash frequently.
A crocheted granny square is a great way for a beginner to try her hand at a crocheted creation. So grab a ball of yarn and a crochet hook, and start crocheting!
February 24, 2007
When one thinks of crochet, the first thing that often comes to mind is a beautiful handmade afghan. This is still one of the most popular things for a crochet lover to create. The enormous selection of an afghan crochet pattern and the never-ending possibilities for materials guarantees that you will be able to fashion a unique afghan for any room in your home, or any person on your gift list.
From thick, bulky yarns that will make up the coziest of winter wraps, to the fine gauge fibers that go into the airy summer throws; you will never run out of ideas for handmade blankets. The other great thing about the wide variety of an afghan crochet pattern is that you can take on a project like this at any skill and experience level. Just keep in mind that afghans do tend to take some time to complete, simply because of their size alone, so make sure you are prepared to commit yourself to a project that might be somewhat long term.
Different Types of Afghan Crochet Patterns
One of the most popular types of an afghan crochet pattern is that of the timeless granny square pattern. This can consist of many small squares sewn together, or one gigantic square that does not end until your blanket is the desired size. You can create granny square blankets that are all one color, or construct a design of stripes or checkerboards. You can use different types of fibers to vary the texture within your blanket, or keep your yarn consistent throughout.
Your choice in a granny square afghan crochet pattern is virtually limitless; another popular afghan crochet pattern is called the “mile-a-minute” afghan. These patterns are made up into long strips that are then sewn together. These are fun to make, because each panel is a great take-along project to bring with you to kids’ activities and in the car. There are also filet afghan crochet patterns which utilize one basic stitch combined with chain stitches to form shapes and pictures in your blanket.
You could even use this technique to create a customized blanket with your initials worked into it. The ripple afghan crochet pattern has been circulated in various forms for years, and remains a popular choice for many crochet gurus.
The Finishing Touch
Most times an afghan crochet pattern will include instructions for some sort of finishing effect, like a border around the perimeter of the blanket. You can create your own finishing touch as well, by using shell stitches, picots, or a simple single crochet edging. Whatever your choice the final elements will give your project that last spit and polish to make it your very own work of art. An afghan crochet pattern is a great project to have on hand when the weather turns chilly. Start shopping for your favorite afghan crochet pattern now!
|