Filet Crochet Pattern
If you are searching for a fun new challenge to add to your crochet repertoire, filet crochet patterns might be just the thing you are looking for. Filet crochet patterns are generally worked with smaller needles and thread to create lace made up of pictures, shapes and even words in some patterns. This type of stitching is found most frequently in placemats, curtains and table runners.
Wall hangings are another popular way to display your filet crochet patterns. As opposed to other types of mats and doilies that are either worked in rounds or with motifs sewn together, filet crochet patterns are usually worked in rows from side to side. Often there are only two stitches used in a piece of filet crochet; a double crochet and a chain stitch. It is how the stitches are combined that forms the unique and beautiful patterns.
Reading a Filet Crochet Pattern
If you decide to try your hand at a filet crochet pattern, you might be surprised at what you encounter when you take your first peek at the pattern. Instead of written directions, you will probably see a grid of sorts. This grid will contain squares, called meshes, which will be either filled or open. Each mesh is the equivalent of three crochet stitches.
The filled mesh stands for three double crochet. The open mesh symbolizes one double crochet followed by two chain stitches. Got it? That is about as hard as a filet crochet pattern gets!
Actually, the most difficult part of reading a filet crochet pattern is not in understanding which stitch goes where, but in keeping track of the number of meshes that you have worked, so that you don’t lose your place in the pattern. Once you begin to see your picture take place, you will have an easier time of keeping your pattern stitches straight.
The other thing to keep in mind as you are shopping for your filet crochet pattern is that there can be slight variations on the diagram. For example, instead of using double crochet, your pattern might call for triple crochet. There might also be some differences in how many chain stitches your pattern calls for. By simply reading over your filet crochet pattern carefully before beginning your project, you will be able to make any necessary adjustments to how you will work your piece.
Filet crochet can be a fun and beautiful way to broaden your crochet horizons. With a little practice in reading the charts, you will become a pro at filet crochet patterns in no time at all!
November 7, 2008
Knit and Crochet With Beads
If you enjoy the needlework crafts such as knitting and crocheting one way you can expand your variety of items is by adding beads to your finished pieces. One of the first items that comes to mind when you think of knit and crochet with beads are the beautiful beaded socks that are usually made for young girls. These beaded trims are usually crocheted around the sock cuffs with thread, and the beads are crocheted directly onto the trim.
This makes the embellished socks safe for even the youngest feet, since the beads are securely fastened to the trim. Another item that is popular to knit and crochet with beads is a handmade purse or bag. You can knit or crochet the beads directly into the bag, or add the beads to a trim at the bottom of the bag for some dangle action. Other knit and crochet with beads include pillows, sweaters, ponchos and scarves. With the huge selection of beads available, you may find many more creations that you want to add this flourish to!
How to Knit and Crochet With Beads
While a beaded knit or crochet piece might look intricate and complicated, even a beginner can use this technique in her creations. The key is to calculate the number of beads you will be using in your finished piece, and threading the beads onto your yarn before beginning your work. When you arrive at a stitch where you want to add a bead, simply slide the bead up to where your last stitch ends, and then continue working around it.
To keep a knit and crochet with beads project in place without a need for knotting or sewing is a very important matter. What could be easier? The hardest part is often counting the number of beads required, since you cannot easily add beads once your piece has begun to be worked. If your pattern calls for beads, it will give you a count of items to thread on.
If you are adding beads to a pattern that does not include this option, you will need to read through your pattern and do a few math problems to figure out the number of beads to use. A good rule of thumb is to add a few extra beads to the number you think you will need. If you have extras at the end of the project, you can simply slide them off of the yarn and save them for another use. If you come up short, it will not be so easy to add beads after the fact!
You can give a beautiful finish to your knit and crochet with beads as an embellishment. Knit and crochet with beads is a simple way to dress up your work, and is only limited by your imagination. Happy beading!
November 3, 2008
Wire Crochet
If you look it up you will find the definition saying, “wire crocheting is that type of crocheting where you put together on a wire, very delicately, things that are used as trinkets to beautify young ladies”. In other words, the wire crochet is a slight deviation from the actual hobby of thread crocheting.
Some Tips for the Beginners of Wire Crochet
If you have never wire crocheted before, you should first watch carefully and understand how it is done. You will need to be a total expert in normal crocheting, before you can start on a wire crochet.
For wire crochet – beginner’s level - you will need a crochet size 1, and yarn that is 28 in size. The yarn here should be of the softest possible metal, i.e. brass, aluminum, etc.
You will need a lot of practice before you gather the required experience to really make an impact with the wire crochet; but everyone has to start somewhere so don’t let inexperience hold you back!
This point will come to you with experience, but is it very important, with the wire crochet there is no yarn elasticity to count upon and hence each and every loop has to be exactly where it has to be or the model would get skewed. This indeed takes some practice, and sometimes even the veterans make mistakes here.
You should be extra careful when crocheting on wire because you cannot reverse it. You cannot open it once it is crocheted and so if it not done properly it will suffer from the wrong application.
Work your way down to smaller sizes of crochet; the tinier the crochet is, the better the overall impact it will have.
Once you are comfortable with the wire crochet, you can immediately start on your projects. You can surf the Internet, and you will find plenty of patterns offered free, sometimes in return to your email address and a small registration.
However, in case you don’t like registering or giving your email in return for the free crochet patterns, it’s fine. Keep searching or go to your local fabric store where plenty of patterns can be purchased.
Use the above tips wisely and they will benefit you. You will find wire crochet an extremely rewarding hobby, which looks pretty tough, but can be learned with some patience and commitment.
April 17, 2008
Modular Crochet
One of the hot “new” trends in crochet is modular crochet. If you’ve never heard of it, it just means making your projects in pieces instead of in one or two pieces. In other words, if you’ve ever done a granny square shawl or any kind of motif crochet, you’ve done modular crochet. Don’t underestimate it, though, new styles of fashion and new techniques are being used in modular crochet these days.
Advantages
Although modular crochet means the extra work of joining pieces, it has quite a few advantages. As anyone who has ever crocheted a big afghan out of motifs knows, it is convenient to work on small parts of a big project if you like to carry your work with you. You can carry a skein of yarn, a hook and the small motif you’re working on instead of half a large afghan when you want to work on the go.
And if your project is white or pastel, it keeps the beginning of the project from looking as if it’s been dragged all over the planet. For young mothers who like to work on a project in the park with the kids, this is an important point. Working with modular crochet also opens up some lovely possibilities in the pattern itself. Instead of being made of many motifs in different patterns and colors, a skirt, for instance can be made of solid color motifs with patterned ones here and there.
Or maybe a sweater can be made to look like it is a solid color yarn with lacy insets of finer yard or crochet thread. The modular crochet technique can combine old-fashioned looks with modern ideas.
If you keep up with the joining as you go, even big projects won’t get too tedious. It’s a great chore to do while watching TV. The most usual way to join pieces of modular crochet is with a whipstitch. Just use the same yarn in a large eye needle and sew through the back loops only. It might be easier to place the right sides together. You might choose to use a crochet hook and chain stitch through the same back loops.
If you want to add a bit of something to your modular crochet project, you can single stitch some or all of the pieces together in matching or contrasting yarn for a raised ridge. However you do it, try the very old, new technique of modular crochet.
