Learn to Crochet - Basket Weave Stitch Video Tutorial

Hooray! Finally a new stitch to add to the Library of Video Tutorials! This one is the Crocheted Basket Weave Stitch which I have used many times for projects that needed to be warm and cozy. This afghan, made with Red Heart worsted weight yarn in Ranch Red, is my most recent project using this stitch, and it turned out to be so thick and warm and cozy, the perfect project to work on during the cold winter months here in New England!

Here are a few pictures of the sample I worked in the video, just to give you an idea of what the stitch looks like.


This is one side...


...and this is the other side. As you can see, there really is no right or wrong side to this pattern which is one of the reasons I like it so much.


And just look at the thickness in the finished fabric. It's almost like getting a double layer of crocheted coziness in one stitch!


Another thing I like about this stitch, for any project but especially for baby blankets, is that it does not produce holes in the fabric. The stitches are worked pretty tightly together just because of the nature of the basket weave pattern and working each double crochet around the post instead of into the top of the stitch.

Take a look at this video and you'll see what I mean...




If you are looking for an easy stitch to make a baby blanket or full size afghan, this is a good one to try because once you have established the pattern in the first few rows, there is nothing really to think about. It's all double crochet!

Give it a try in a solid color, or a pretty variegated, in worsted weight or sport or even baby yarn. Any way you work it up will turn out warm and cozy!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Tunisian Honeycomb Stitch Video Tutorial

Finally another stitch to add to your Tunisian Crochet collection! It's called the Honeycomb Stitch and it is worked using the exact same method as the Seed Stitch in Knitting. Here is what it looks like on a small sample...


You can see in this sample the honeycomb design that is created by alternating knit and purl stitches. The method is the same as seed stitch in knitting, but the result is quite different because of the characteristic vertical bars in Tunisian Crochet.

The Honeycomb stitch produces a thinner fabric than most other Tunisian Crochet Stitches that I have presented here. Another difference I noticed is quite a pleasant one...the bottom edge does not seem to want to curl up nearly as much as the other stitches. But as with all other Tunisian Crochet stitches, this one produces a fabric that has a definite right and wrong side, so you should take that into consideration if it is something you have a hang-up about like I do!

Here's a short video showing how to work the Tunisian Honeycomb Stitch. The written pattern follows.

Tunisian Honeycomb Stitch

NOTE: Beginning chain must be a multiple of 2 chains plus 1. The sample in the video was worked with a beginning chain of 11.

Click on the links below to refresh your Tunisian Knit and Purl skills!

Rows 1 and 2: Basic Tunisian Knit Stitch

Row 3: ch 1, *1 Tunisian Purl under next vertical bar, 1 basic Tunisian Knit under next vertical bar. * Continue from * to * across the row to the end.

Rows 4 and 6: yo, draw through 1 loop, *yo, draw through 2 loops. * Continue from * to * across the row.

Row 5: ch 1, *1 basic Tunisian Knit under next vertical bar, 1 Tunisian Purl under next vertical bar. * Continue from * to * across the row.

Repeat from Row 3.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Picot Border on Tiny Dancer Oddball Baby Blanket

Who doesn't love a quick project every now and then to provide that much needed sense of accomplishment? That's one of the reasons I love working on the oddball baby blankets. A package comes in the mail, I pick out yarn that I think will go well with the project, I knit a few inches of the pattern of my choice, I crochet a pretty border also of my choosing, and I mail it back. No long term commitments, no huge financial or time investment. The perfect fast finish! Of course the real satisfaction comes when we read on the knittinghelp.com charity forum that the blankets have been delivered and appreciated.

Here's the latest one I worked on, and my second finished project for September...


It's called Tiny Dancer, and is made with sweet colors and dainty patterns.


It really is quite tiny too, since it is for a premature baby, only about 21 x 22 inches including the border. It has been worked with sport weight yarns in colors or variegated of each knitter's choosing.


After I knitted the last section in a pretty pink using the farrow rib stitch, I worked 6 rows of garter stitch before binding off. Then using a soft yellow and this method for crocheting around a knitted piece, I worked 3 rounds of single crochet to provide a substantial base for the decorative border. The pattern I chose for the border is just a little picot every 3 stitches, and it is very easy to do.

Crocheted Picot Border

* sl st in each of next 3 st, ch 3, sl st in same st as last sl st *

Repeat from * to * around. When you reach the beginning again, end with a sl st. Cut yarn, draw tail through loop and pull tight. Weave in ends.

If you are interested in working on an oddball baby blanket, just go to the Knittinghelp.com Charity forum and pick the thread that matches your location. Join in the conversation and let them know that you are interested in working on a blanket. They'll be glad to have you! Make sure you tell them that Mary Grace sent you!

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Half Granny Shawl Video Tutorial

There has been some discussion recently on the crochet thread of the Knittinghelp.com forum regarding the crocheted shawl worn by Caroline Ingalls in The Little House on the Prairie shows. Some links were provided to patterns resembling that shawl. Two of the patterns looked good, but the other links were broken. The information given about the shawl was that it was crocheted, and most likely a half granny square type of design.

Many years ago, I had made quite a large number of shawls using just such a design, one for my grandmother in cream and lavender, and one for each of the nuns in the convent where my oldest sister is. That was a lot of black crocheting! So I felt confident that I could replicate this half granny shawl design to share with you here at Hooked On Needles.


After a few false starts, this is what I came up with...

This is just a sample that I crocheted while working out the pattern. Of course to make this into a shawl, you would have to continue crocheting until the triangle is as big as you want your shawl to be.


Here's a close-up of the beginning point of the sample where the original chain-4 was made. You can see where the 3-dc groups, also called shells, turn to the left and to the right. This point where they change direction is the tip of the triangle where two shells are worked with ch-2 in between. On a full granny square, this would be one of the 4 corners.


And here's the other end of the center, which is the point. Once you have made your triangle as big as you want it, this would be the outer edge where you could add a decorative border, such as a scallop or fringe, or you could just leave it plain.

Here is a short video showing how I made this half-granny triangle. I have included the written instructions below as well.

Half Granny Triangle Shawl

Yarn of your choice
crochet hook of the appropriate size for yarn chosen

NOTE:
shell = 3 double crochet
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
sp = space

ch 4 and join with sl st to first chain to form ring.

ch 4 (used as 1 dc and 1 ch here and throughout), shell in ring, ch 2, shell in ring, ch 1, 1 dc in ring. ch 4, turn.

shell in ch 1 sp, ch 1, (shell, ch 2, shell) in ch 2 sp (this is the center point), ch 1, (shell, ch 1, 1 dc) in ch 1 sp. ch 4, turn.

* (shell, ch 1) in each ch 1 sp to center point, (shell, ch 2, shell) in ch 2 sp of center point, (ch 1, shell) in each ch 1 sp to end. ch 1. In last ch 1 sp, work shell, ch 1, 1 dc. ch 4, turn. *

Repeat from * to * until shawl is the size you want it.

Work one row of single crochet evenly spaced across the top of the shawl. Add a decorative edge on the other two sides of the triangle with fringe, crocheted scallop, reverse single crochet or any other edge that you like.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet Jacob's Ladder - Video Tutorial

There are so many wonderful sources for creative inspiration around these days, whether it be magazines, shops, what the person in front of you in the grocery store check-out line is wearing, websites, the paper band on a skein of yarn, you name it! I love poking through KnittingHelp.com to see what other people are doing, or what people are having trouble doing. Just recently, someone was having a problem with a crocheted afghan pattern, so I offered to help.

Here's what I came up with...


Oh no, it's not an afghan!


But I suppose if you are a very long, skinny snake, it could be an afghan!


Nope, I'd have to say, it's definitely not an afghan.


But don't you just love the colors?

I took a look at the link to the afghan pattern that was provided and discovered that it is the pattern called Jacob's Ladder. You can click HERE for the full pattern.

For the small sample I was going to use to make the following video, I decided to just whip up a little section of the pattern with only one ladder in it. I liked working on it so much that I dug up more leftover yarn and kept on crocheting! When I was finished, I had a fabulous and colorful scarf that should be very warm and cozy, not to mention quite eye-catching! It's approximately 6 1/2 by 80 inches and machine wash and dry.

OK, back to business! This pattern could be done using one color of yarn throughout or multiple colors. It lends itself nicely to the using up of scrap yarn - a real stash-buster! It would be nice in yarn weights from baby all the way up to chunky, using the appropriate sized crochet hook for the yarn chosen. Of course the beginning chain length would need to be adjusted depending on the size yarn used and the desired finished size.

The Jacob's Ladder pattern is a very simple combination of double crochet and chain stitch, with an easy single crochet edge at the end. Once the pattern is established in the base row of the piece, it is the type of project that you really don't have to give much thought to as you are working on it. If you are using up leftover yarn, you could just crochet until one color runs out and then add in the next color. This project was a nice break for me in between working on the knitted lace shawl that requires total concentration and no interruptions!

Here is a not-so-little video on how to work the Jacob's Ladder crochet pattern. I guess I was feeling a bit loquacious when I made it!

In the video, I use safety pins at the end as the pattern recommends to keep the ladder from unraveling. In hindsight, however, I would recommend using locking stitch markers such as those you can see on the knitted lace shawl post, or just a scrap of yarn tied in a bow at the top of each ladder. Safety pins can get caught in your yarn and can sometimes be hard to remove as you are crocheting along.




I hope you find this video helpful!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Pin Cushion Pattern - English version

This pattern I'm going to share with you today came to me in a rather round about way, but I have received permission from everyone involved to share it with you here. I mentioned just recently that Terri over at Purple and Paisley found this Crocheted Pin Cushion on a website from Denmark, and the pattern is available free on Ravelry. It was written entirely in Danish, by Liselotte who shows some beautiful pictures of her finished pin cushions on her website.

Terri, being the clever and creative person that she is, used the pictures to figure out how to make the pin cushion and wrote down the pattern. She has graciously given her permission to post the pattern here for you to use. Before you do, though, do yourself a favor and take a peek at Liselotte's pin cushions and at Terri's too. They will be a great source of inspiration for you!

Liselotte's Crocheted Pin Cushion in English, via Terri and me!

Start with magic loop of 6 (video of Magic Loop Method coming shortly!)

NOTE: Do not join rounds. Put a marker or piece of scrap yarn in the first stitch of each round to help keep track.

2 sc in each sc - 12 stitches
*1 sc in next sc, 2 sc in next sc* Repeat from * to * around - 18 stitches
*1 sc in next 2 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 24 stitches
*1 sc in next 3 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 30 stitches
*1 sc in next 4 sc, 2 sc in next sc Repeat from * to * around - 36 stitches

Continue increasing in this manner until you have 72 stitches, or until the piece is the size you want it.

Make another one in the same manner and the same size.

Join the 2 pieces together at the outside edges, using single crochet with wrong sides together. Before closing up the last 10 stitches or so, stuff pretty firmly with polyester fiberfill, then continue crocheting the opening closed.

Using a doubled piece of yarn, wrap the yarn from the center, around the outside, making pie-shaped wedges spaced evenly around the outside. Pull each one tightly to make the petals puffy. Tie off yarn securely and embellish as you like.

I used re-purposed buttons on the top and bottom of mine. Terri crocheted a little flower for her center. Here are her directions for that:

Start with magic loop of 5 (or how ever many petals you want)
Join with sl st to first sc of the 5 sc in your magic loop.
In that same st, sc, 3 dc, sc and sl st - 1 petal made.
Sl st into next st, sc, 3 dc, sc and sl st - 2 petals made.

Continue around until all petals have been made.
Finish with a sl st in the first petal.
Attach to center of pin cushion.

Enjoy!

Happy Stitching!

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A Crocheted Bag for my Favorite Little Bag Lady

Ever since I crocheted that pink bag with beads for Jane, my very favorite little bag lady (4 yr old daughter Gracie) has been after me to make her a bag too. And since I am between Serious Projects at the moment and just looking for quick summer-like things to work on, now was a great time to fulfill my promise to make Gracie her own bag.

So I let her look through my pattern book to pick her pattern and then off we went to Michael's where she picked out a very bright, very cheerful, but not nearly as PINK as I expected, Sugar 'n Cream cotton called Playtime.


And two days later, here it is hanging off one of the dining room chairs to give you a little idea of how big it is. I even made the strap shorter than the pattern called for! I really didn't want the bag dragging on the ground when it was draped over her shoulder!


This bag, unlike the pink one I made for Jane, is flat. You can see here at the bottom of this picture where the beginning chain was slip stitched together after all the crocheting was complete. The bag is actually crocheted in the round with the bottom open, and then the bottom seam is closed at the end.


The pattern stitch is a very simple one...just two double crochet, skip a stitch, and continue around. After every 5 rows of this double crochet pattern, there was a row of single crochet which is what gives the bag the appearance of having horizontal sections. The pictures in my pattern booklet show this same bag crocheted in a red, white and blue color scheme having the large sections in either blue or white, and each single crochet row in red. It is really quite striking. It is also nice worked in one solid color.


I ran out of the Playtime yarn right at the end when all I had left to do was close the bottom of the bag and crochet the trim around the top of the bag and the handles. For projects like this, and others as well, you really cannot go by the ounces of yarn called for. Yardage should be used to determine how many balls of yarn will be needed. I learned that lesson on this project. So back to Michael's we went and picked out this Hot Pink for the trim and I think it actually works better than if I had used the Playtime variegated.


I like the look of the double crochet pairs and the one row of single crochet thrown in there. This pattern would make a nice blanket, wrap or scarf as well.


This is the booklet of bag patterns in which I found both this bag and Jane's pink bag. On the cover, notice the yellow bag. That is the one I made for Gracie. The big black one with the gold beads around it is the same pattern as the one I made for Jane. The booklet is from American School of Needlework and it is number 1251. I don't believe it is in print anymore but I did find it available used through Amazon.

Trendsetting Totes: 8 Crochet Designs in Cotton Yarn (1251) (American School of Needlework #1251)

There are 8 designs altogether in this booklet, but the inside pages and back cover show each one in many different color schemes. I have made almost all of the patterns in this booklet at one time or another and they are all well written patterns and fun little projects to make.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Single Crochet Shells in Tiramisu Baby Blanket

Merry, of crocheted ABC Blanket fame, recently shared with me a pattern she had found for the Tiramisu Baby Blanket because she was having a bit of trouble with keeping the edges straight.

Here is a picture of the sample I crocheted using 3 colors. This shows off the single crochet shells very nicely, and in the video below, it also makes seeing the individual rows much easier.



Hopefully this video will help Merry and others in crocheting this very pretty blanket. See what you think...



I think this stitch would also make a very cozy and colorful scarf, stitched either long ways or across the short way. I can also imagine that this stitch crocheted using bulky weight yarn and a very large hook would work up quickly into a full size afghan.

Either solid or multi-color, the stitch used in the Tiramisu Baby Blanket is easy to do and very versatile. It reminds me a little bit of the Ripple Stitch and the Woven Stitch, both of which I have used for full size afghans, baby blankets, and crocheted scarves.

Happy Stitching!

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Merry's Crocheted ABC Blanket

I've been so blessed to have met such nice people from all parts of this country and around the world since I began publishing Hooked On Needles just over a year ago. Merry, my self-professed Biggest Fan, is one of those people. She's pretty new at crocheting and has made some wonderful things. Her thoughtful questions on patterns and how to do certain stitches on the Knittinghelp.com forum have been the inspiration for a few of my video tutorials. But for the most part, she picks up her yarn and hook and just goes for it. What an inspiration!

Merry just recently sent me a picture of a newly finished project for her granddaughter who will be 4 years old in a few months, and she gave me permission to publish the picture here for you all to see.


Don't you think that is the perfect afghan for a 4 year old? Now she can learn her ABCs in her sleep!

If you would like the pattern for this blanket, you can find it HERE. The puff stitch that is used in this pattern to make the grid lines and the letters is similar to the bobble stitch I used on the Cherry Berry Oddball Blanket, but not exactly the same. I will work up a little sample of the stitch from the ABC pattern and post a video soon so you can see just how it is done.

Nice job, Merry, and thank you so much for allowing me to share this fabulous picture of you and your blanket with my readers!

Happy Stitching!

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Make your Patterns Easy to Read

I don't crochet too many afghans from kits, but on a rare occasion I'll find one that really strikes me and I buy it. When it makes it's way up to the top of my project list, I take it out and check out the pattern. Sometimes it's written in an easy to read format and I can just sit down with my hook and yarn and get busy. Mostly though, it's something like this...


...written on the back of the package label on a heavy duty piece of card stock that is big enough to wrap around the whole package, front and back, and in three languages. Not exactly something I can sit on my lap or prop on the table next to my chair! This picture doesn't even show the whole thing, that's how big it is!


So I take it to my computer and scan the English language sections, cut and paste them into a Publisher file in the correct order, all on one manageable page. Then I print it out. I like having it on one regular size piece of paper, but the size of the type suffers greatly by shrinking it. And I'm over 40. In fact, I'm closer to 50 now than I am to 40. If you're not there yet, let me tell you what that means in this case. I can't read the print without straining, and at my age, straining is not something I enjoy doing. Especially when I just want to sit down and relax with my crocheting!

So I came up with what I think is the perfect solution...


I went back into my Publisher file and broke the pattern up into smaller chunks, then expanded them to be the width of a regular size piece of paper in landscape orientation. I placed two sections on each page and then printed them out. It took 4 pages to print the whole pattern. I cut the pages in half, with one section on each half. Then I stapled the whole package together in the correct order.


This is the perfect size to sit on my lap while I'm crocheting, turning the pages as I progress through the pattern. The type size is so large that I can read it easily with or without my reading glasses, and it is much easier to keep my place in the pattern because I don't have to strain my eyes to see where I am. Now crocheting this pattern is much more enjoyable for me and the project is moving along nicely. I'll show you a little preview of it soon.

If you don't have a scanner or software that can enlarge something for you, you can always take your pattern to a copy center and have it printed as large as you want it, then cut it up and make it into a little flip book like I did. Even if it is copyrighted, I am pretty sure that you can still make copies like this for your own personal use.

When I am finished with this project, I will store the original picture from the packaging along with my small print pattern page and my large print booklet in a page protector in my crochet pattern binder, just in case I want to make the same pattern again with my own yarn.

Do you have any little tricks that you have found to make your stitching time easier on the eyes, or just more enjoyable for you? Please leave a comment and share them with everyone!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted and Beaded Rosary Case

I had such fun crocheting beads into the pink bag I made for Jane recently that I thought I would try doing the same thing on a much smaller scale on a gift for my sister. She's the one I made this tote bag for last Christmas.

Using #10 cotton thread in white, blue seed beads, and my trusty steel crochet hook, I made this little white Rosary case.


This is the whole piece after almost all of the crocheting was complete. It measures about 2 1/2 inches wide by about 6 inches long. It is crocheted entirely in single crochet with 25 stitches per row and 59 rows plus the scallop row at the end.


Here's the scalloped edge with the little loop closure in the middle.


This is the cross of blue beads which will be on the back of the case when it is all finished and closed up.


This is the upside down M which will be on the front of the case when it is finished and closed. After finishing all the stitching, I realized that the M would have looked better if I had added one more bead to the top of the vertical lines on either side. But I was not about to rip it all out at that point!



Looking through my fabric for something that would be appropriate for a lining, I found some bleached muslin and cut two pieces just wider than the crocheted piece but not quite as long.


I stitched them together, leaving an opening for turning. Then I turned the lining and pressed it.


I pinned it to the wrong side of the crocheted piece...


...and hand stitched it in place around the edges using white quilting thread.


Then I folded the bottom edge up to just below the scalloped edge...



...and crocheted the edges together on each side.


Here it is standing upright and open, showing that it is just a simple pouch with the scalloped edge just a little higher than the plain edge, and both sides stitched together with single crochet.


I found a little white heart button and sewed that on just above the M for the loop to go around to close the case.


And there it is! I'll let you know if she likes it!

(Editor's note: She loved it! And HERE is a tutorial on crocheting beads into your work.)

Happy Stitching!

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