Learn to Crochet - Woven Stitch video tutorial

Woven Stitch in Crochet is such a versatile stitch, and one of my very favorites. A great stitch for the novice crocheter, it only uses chain stitch and single crochet. I've shown many examples of Crocheted Woven Stitch here, and one of them you see every time you visit Hooked On Needles. It's that scrumptious baby blanket in all those delicious colors on my website header! The afghans I made for my two younger children, shown HERE, were also crocheted in Woven Stitch. I made a crocheted scarf for the Special Olympics using the Woven Stitch, crocheting the length of the scarf instead of the width for a very interesting effect. More recently, the Big Black Scarf was made using Woven Stitch.

Way back when I first started offering tutorials here at Hooked On Needles, I did a picture tutorial on the Woven Stitch. But I thought it was high time I offered a video tutorial for those of us who learn better by actually seeing something done. So here it is...


Before you jump into the video, I thought I would show you a project that my daughter is working on right now. This is a scarf she is making using Red Heart Soft yarn and a size I hook. You can see just how tight her stitches are in this picture. Not a space to be found! This will be one cozy scarf!

Now on to the video...



Here is the video sample after a few more rows have been completed...

You can see the difference between my sample and the scarf my daughter is working on. I used a size K hook and I crochet a lot more loosely than she does.

With this Woven Stitch, you can also substitute any other stitch for the single crochet. For example, you could use half double crochet in this pattern in place of each single crochet. This would give you a softer and looser fabric. You could even substitute double or triple crochet for an even lacier look and feel. Try out different height stitches using the Woven Stitch pattern and see what you like best for the project you want to make.

Here's one more tip: When working your beginning chain for the Woven Stitch, you can count multiples of three if you want and then add the extra two, but it really is not necessary unless you need to repeat exactly the same thing later on. What I do is just work my beginning chain until it is as long as I want the width of my piece to be, then I start crocheting. If there is a chain leftover at the end of the first row, I will either un-do it and turn it into a knot, or I will work it into the border that I work around the piece at the end. I find that much easier than doing all that counting and worrying about one or two chain stitches!

Coming up soon will be a video tutorial on the Crocheted Basketweave Stitch and a handy tip for those who suffer with Carpal Tunnel Syndrome. Oh yes, and my 500th post giveaway...can't forget that!

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Slippers made with Bernat Sox yarn

Have you ever crocheted slippers? Up until recently, I never had, but then I found this free pattern from Bernat for their new Sox yarn so I had to try it! You may need to sign up for a free account to access this pattern, but it is well worth the effort because the Bernat website always has lots of wonderful free patterns available for knitting and crocheting with their wide variety of yarns.

How do you like my slippers?


I made the largest size for this first pair because I thought my sister had a bigger foot than my daughter. As it turned out, between the BIG BLACK scarf and all the other goodies I gave her, she didn't need a pair of crocheted slippers anyway!


But as you can see, they fit my daughter just fine!


So fine, in fact, that she left them on her feet for the remainder of the day! I guess she has a new pair of crocheted slippers for herself!

I enjoyed working with this Bernat Sox yarn. I found it to be very soft and quite pleasant in my hands. The hook size required for this pattern is a D, which I did not have in my extensive collection of crochet hooks. That was fine with me though because it forced me into purchasing a new crochet hook to add to the collection! I'm always up for a new tool! While I was at it, I also purchased a size C and a size B, just in case! Now my needle roll for my crochet hooks is completely full, with some of the smaller hooks doubling up in the little pockets. But I think I now own every size crochet hook known to man, so it's ok!

This pair of slippers took about 3/4 of one skein of Bernat Sox yarn. With the remainder of the skein, I am sure I will have enough left to knit or crochet at least one baby hat for the hospital, maybe even two.

My next project is a knitted cardigan sweater made on size 17 needles! I'm going from one extreme to the other with my projects! I have already begun the back and have about 8 inches complete. I'll take a few pictures when there is something interesting to show you.

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Woven Stitch Extra-wide Scarf

For Christmas this year, my sister the Sister (as my husband affectionately calls her) had asked for an extra wide crocheted scarf in black, of course! As you may recall, she's the nun for whom I made the tote bag last Christmas which was the star of my tote bag tutorial.

Well, this year, I was able to make her gift in the comfort of my cozy chair, working on it in the evenings for about 2 weeks. Here's how it came out...


My husband who is 6 feet 2 inches tall was the only one in the house who could hold it up straight without too much of it puddling on the floor! So you have some idea of just how long this scarf is! It is approximately 19 inches wide and took 4 skeins of Bernat Boucle yarn to complete.


As you can see in this picture, the boucle yarn is not a good choice if you want to show off your stitches. The stitches just disappear into each other and seem to form a solid fabric of soft cozy bumpy yarn. For this reason, working with boucle yarn can be very difficult if you are trying to use a pattern in either knit or crochet where you have to actually work into the stitches.

I chose the woven stitch in crochet to make this scarf because, after working the first row of single crochet and chain stitch, you only have to work into the holes created by the chain stitch instead of into the single crochet stitches themselves. I also used a hook one size larger than what the yarn called for, thus making my stitches a bit looser and the scarf somewhat softer.


For such a large piece, this scarf folded up into a nice little bundle of warmth and coziness.

I'll let you know how she likes it!

Happy Stitching!

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Half Double Crochet Border - Video Tutorial

After about a week's worth of patient and determined work by my own private technology guru who is my sweet husband of 27 years (we just celebrated our anniversary last week!), I finally have the following video to share with you. For some still-unknown reason, my video would not process in Blogger with all the separate clips put together into one video, which is the way I have made all my video tutorials available here at Hooked On Needles. The first clip by itself processed successfully and the other three clips together also processed successfully. I was ready to give up on it days ago, but my husband kept at it and finally was able to come up with a workable solution, to present this tutorial in two parts!

So without any further delay, below you will find video instruction on how to add a half double crochet border around a knitted garter stitch piece. This video was requested by reader Mat from the knittinghelp.com forum, specifically asking for details on the beginning and the end of the border. So the video shows the process from beginning to end, sparing no detail. If you need to brush up on your half double crochet stitch before giving this a try, you can find my video for that HERE.

Here's Part One:



And here's Part Two:



This is what I started with...a sample piece of knitted fabric in garter stitch which mean every row is done in knit stitch.


Here is the sample complete with the half double crochet border around it.


And this is a close up of one of the corners. You can see how the side edge is uniform because of going into the same hole at the end of the knit rows for each stitch.



If you would like to see other crocheted borders that I have done on knitted blankets, you can click HERE and take your pick. For a while, I was working on those wonderful little oddball baby blankets practically non-stop, but I've had to take a little break from that work in favor of quite a few recent commissioned projects, and of course preparation for Christmas and some family time.

Happy Stitching!

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Learn to Crochet - Broomstick Lace Video Tutorial

Here's an oldie, but a goody, for you crocheters out there...Broomstick Lace! This method of crochet got its name because back in the day a broomstick would have been used to hold the large loops on the loop row. These days there are so many different sizes of large knitting needles made of so many different materials that it really is not necessary to use something as large as an actual broomstick, unless of course you are making something extremely wide such as an afghan.

To work Broomstick Lace, you will need a large knitting needle such as the size 19 which I use in my video below, whatever yarn you want to use, and a crochet hook in a size to match the yarn you are using. You can use a smaller knitting needle or a bigger one, or a sanded wooden dowel or broomstick, or anything that gives you the size loops you want for your piece and won't snag your yarn.


In this sample piece, I have shown what Broomstick Lace looks like when it is worked with five loops, three loops, through both loops of the previous row stitches, through the back loop of the previous row stitches, and combined with other stitches such as double crochet.

Starting from the bottom of the picture, the first row is worked using half double crochet in groupings of five loops. The next row up was worked by pulling the large loops through both loops of the previous row half double crochet stitches resulting in no horizontal line between the two rows. The third row up was worked by pulling the large loops through only the back loops of the previous row half double crochet stitches resulting in the horizontal line between the two rows. The fourth row from the bottom was worked by stitching through five loops for the first and last sections and three loops for the sections in the middle resulting in the same overall stitch count, but having more sections on the row. After two rows like this, I added in two rows of double crochet, chain 1, then worked one last row of Broomstick Lace.

Broomstick Lace is always worked from the front, so you never turn your work. It is similar to Tunisian Crochet in this way. There are two parts to a row of Broomstick Lace, the loop row where you pick up a loop in each stitch and put it onto your knitting needle or broomstick, and then the crochet row where you work the same number of crochet stitches into a group of loops as the number of loops you pick up. You can work single, half double, double crochet or any type of crochet stitch on the crochet row, depending on the look you want to achieve. You can also pick up any number of loops for each section as long as you work the same number of stitches into each section as the number of loops you pick up.

If you've never tried Broomstick Lace, this all may seem very confusing, so here is a video demonstrating the basics of Broomstick Lace so you can see how easy it really is.


Broomstick Lace would be a nice stitch to use for a scarf, shawl or wrap. It would also make a thick and cozy lap blanket. Working Broomstick Lace in finer yarns will produce a lighter fabric with a lacier look, and using heavier yarns will produce a fabric that is quite thick and warm. Try experimenting with different yarns, different size loops and using different stitches on the crochet row to see what fun results you can get.

Happy Stitching!

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Ma Ingalls Half-Granny Crocheted Shawl finally complete!

The half-granny crocheted shawl that I started recently is finally finished! I do believe Ma Ingalls from Little House on the Prairie would be pleased.

This was the perfect project to use up the leftover Bernat yarn from the Sweet Liberty afghan because it is such cozy yarn and I just love the colors.

Take a peek...


I had to get pictures this morning before the sun hit the back deck and all the ladybugs started swarming again! It's that time of year here in New England!


These dining room chairs are high backed so the length of this shawl is very generous.


I worked a little picot edge with the blue which consists of a single crochet in each double crochet, a single crochet in the next space, 3 chains, another single crochet in the same space. Continue that pattern all along the lower edges of the shawl. I actually ran out of blue about 10 inches from the end, so I ended the border right there. I was determined not to have even a scrap of this yarn leftover! It is still a lovely and cozy shawl without those last few inches of border.


I don't think there is a nicer color combination than red, white and blue!











A fun and easy stash busting project! Anyone want a nice shawl?

(Editor's note: Click HERE for a video tutorial on stitching this shawl!)

Happy Stitching!

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Crocheted Scallop Border on Lollipop Oddball Blanket

The Lollipop Oddball Blanket is now complete and on its way back to the person who will deliver it to some lucky little baby in a Connecticut hospital.

After knitting the loose basketweave section in red, I crocheted a pretty scallop in yellow to finish it off. Here it is...


The is the exact same scallop pattern I used on the Tutti Frutti Oddball Blanket back in January, except that I worked a slip stitch between each 5 dc scallop instead of a single crochet. I also only worked 2 rounds of single crochet around the blanket before working the scallop border instead of 3. I find that the worsted weight blankets only require 2 rounds before the decorative border because the yarn is so much bigger than the sport weight used in the preemie blankets.


These bright colors will provide good visual stimulation for some new little baby, along with all the love and warmth that was knit and crocheted into this Lollipop blanket.

Happy Stitching!

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Lots going on, but nothing finished!

I knew it had been a day or two since my last post, but I didn't realize it had been since Monday! Where does the time go? We are finally back into the school routine here but it seems I just can't get my act together here at home yet. Maybe a few more days will do it!

Lots of project are in the works, in my sewing room, by my cozy evening chair, and in Elizabeth's favorite spot too. Here's a little peek at what we have in progress...


This rich red color seems to be my latest choice. The knit lace shawl on the left is still in need of many, many hours of dedicated work. The half-granny triangle shawl on the right will be a fill-in kind of project when I don't have anything pressing going on.

The stitching in the middle is part of one of my projects for the Stitcher's Angel Swap. This pattern is by Natalie Lymer of Cinderberry Stitches with her cute little birds and ladybug. I changed up the pattern just a bit by using some chain stitch instead of all back stitch, and also using lazy daisy stitches for the flower petals instead of satin stitch. The rose fabric, which was one of the fat quarters I received from Grace Full Creations, and the solid pink from my stash will be used to finish off this project.


Also on my list of things to finish very soon is this oddball baby blanket called Tiny Dancer. It is a preemie blanket and oh-so-sweet! I knitted this pink section using the farrow rib stitch, and now I am in the process of finishing the border with a soft yellow and a tiny little picot stitch. When it is all finished, I will show the whole thing and share the simple picot pattern with you.


Another project in progress here is a blue and gold scarf that Elizabeth is working on using the Jacob's Ladder pattern. These are her college colors, and football season will soon be upon us, so she is planning to whip up some of these school color scarves and sell them to her fellow football fans, thus spreading school spirit and earning gas money! Smart!

I have also been planning my design for the Halloween Apron swap and that has been fun. It's a little out of my comfort zone, but I'm enjoying the challenge. I'll be sure to show it to you once it has been received by my swap partner Micki.

So lots happening here in the way of creativity, just nothing complete yet! Stay tuned for lots of fun finishes!

Happy Stitching!

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Babette Crocheted Blanket - Finally Finished!

Babette is finally complete! Elizabeth missed her goal by 3 days, but she worked on it faithfully until it was finished. Take a look at this wonderful accomplishment...


The sun came out just as the last stitch was being worked...


...and here it is...the final stitch of a very ambitious crochet project!


The border starts with the two rounds of red in double crochet, then light green, gold, two rounds of navy, a yellow, an orange, then the final round in teal single crochet to finish it off. No wonder it took so long!


But doesn't it look great? It was so big and heavy that Elizabeth needed her little sister Gracie to help hold it on the railing.


What a fabulous combination of colors!


And great perseverance too! Elizabeth is already looking forward to using this blanket at football games this fall. It's big enough to wrap herself up in it from head to toe and all the way around!

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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Babette Update #3

Babette is coming along very nicely here in the family room. Elizabeth is determined to have this crochet project completed before her first day of college which is September 2. She has the strip she is working on currently and one more strip to make before working the border and then being finished! What an accomplishment this will be for the summer.

Here's a look at her progress to date...



As she is working each section, Elizabeth is taking care not to have the same color touching on any two blocks. It's a good thing she chose so many different colors! She also has figured out which color will be the first round of the border. It will have to be one that she has not used on the outer round of any border block!

Whew! That's just too much thinking for me!

There will be quite a bit of leftover yarn from this project, of which I plan to use bits for an afghan I am planning. Something much more simple and old fashioned than this Babette though! As soon as I have a little bit more progress made on mine, I will share it. Right now, there's not too much to see!

And don't forget my 400th Post Summer Giveaway underway right now. There is still time to sign up!

Happy Stitching!

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400th Post Summer Giveaway

This giveaway is now closed. Thanks to all who entered. Click HERE to see who the lucky winner is!

In a little more than a week's time, the 400th post here at Hooked On Needles will be published. I never would have thought, just about a year and 2 months ago, that I'd hit that mark so soon. Yet here we are, and I think we should celebrate!

According to the calendar, we are in the middle of summer here. But according to the weather, once again we are back to the cool rainy climate we in New England associate with early spring or fall. Don't get me wrong though! I'll take this weather over the hot and humid stuff any day of the week! I'm much more productive when it's cooler.

But I digress. I'm having a 400th Post Summer Giveaway starting right now. The winner will be announced in my 400th post which should be in a little more than a week, so you have time to share this with your friends too!

Would you like to see what your prize will be?


When you've decided that the day is much too nice to spend indoors, just grab your Crocheted Mini-Duffel, toss in your sunscreen, chap stick, Crystal Light packets, your summer journal and notecards. Add a bottle of water and your sunglasses, then leave a little sticky note saying you're at the beach, and off you go! If you take a few pictures while you are there, you can put them in your little photo album later to share with everyone who was too busy to enjoy the day with you!


In case you haven't guessed, this Crocheted Mini Duffel is what I was making recently when I offered the video tutorials on how to work the Forked Cluster Stitch and how to incorporate colorful bits of yarn into your work. It's a generous size for holding a towel, book, sunglasses, and bottle of water, plus car keys and cell phone for when you just want to go sit at the beach and relax for the afternoon. It would also be great for toting your current project with you to the doctor's office or any of those other places you find yourself waiting, and waiting, and waiting, and waiting!

The mini duffel has a crocheted draw string (video tutorial coming soon!) which is held closed by the hand painted wooden bead that I purchased on vacation at Bella Beads in New Hampshire. In fact, finishing this bag was my vacation handwork project that I brought along in case we had a day or two of rain or cold. Good thing I did bring something along too since most of the week was quite a bit chillier than usual for this time of year and I only went in the lake two times all week! Brrrrrr, it was refreshing!


The bag is lined with one of the fabrics I purchased at Keepsake Quilting during that same shopping trip.

So if you would like a chance to win the Crocheted Mini Duffel and other assorted goodies shown in the picture above, just leave a comment on this post telling me which of the links at the top of my sidebar you like the most or have found the most helpful. You can also suggest any other links that might be appropriate there as well.

Feel free to share this giveaway with your own readers and friends, on your website, facebook page or twitter. International entries are welcome. Please make sure I can reply to your comment or include your email in your comment so I can contact you if you are the lucky winner.

Good luck to each of you!

Happy Stitching!

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