The butterfly stitch is a simple technique that creates a lace-like accent. It’s worked between other stitches, usually double crochet or taller. The butterfly stitch is worked over four rows and uses long chain spaces. In this tutorial, the chain spaces are 8 chains long.

Hovering over the pictures will give you a left-handed view.

Start by beginning your row as usual. You’ll need at least one stitch on each end of the butterfly stitch to anchor it to. Make the required number of chains and finish your first three rows.

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The adjustable ring is a very popular method of starting a project in the round, but some prefer the double ring for its greater durability. This tutorial will teach you how to make a double ring so you can see which one you prefer and have another skill in your crochet arsenal.

You can roll over the pictures to see a left-handed view.

First, wrap the yarn around twice. Your yarn tail should be in the front, and the working yarn should be in the back.

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Readers possess the key to knowledge whenever they open a book, but sometimes it’s just necessary to close it up and put it down for a while. Now you have another key to hold your place and make getting to that knowledge easier. Once you learn the techniques used, this pattern is fun and easy to make for your favorite book lover or a deserving librarian.

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An ascot is the perfect way to transition from winter to spring, especially when it’s made in fun colors. This ascot is a parallelogram crocheted from corner to corner. The shaping may be a little difficult for beginners to understand. Be sure to read the pattern instructions carefully.

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Wet blocking is an easy way to work with natural fibers, but for acrylic, it often isn’t enough. Blocking acrylic with heat is commonly referred to as “killing” acrylic. It’s a handy thing to know how to do, and it’s important to do properly because once it’s done, it can’t go back to its original shape. Blocking is great for getting the edges or shaping you want on a project, and stretching the acrylic while blocking can actually give a finished project more drape.

Killing acrylic with heat works with the fact that acrylic is plastic and it melts and deforms when heat is applied to it. You are manipulating the fibers while they are in a more manageable state. It’s much different from wet blocking or heat blocking wool and other natural fibers, which is more akin to wet setting or heat styling hair.
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Hold your change or just the bare necessities in this wrist bag when you’re out around town. It’s big enough to hold money, a phone, and maybe some makeup. The bag has a simple crossed pattern in the center of both sides. The strap on this bag is wider than usual and has the same crossed pattern as the bag.

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Need a lucky charm? Maybe this four-leaf clover will do it for you. You can use it as an applique or pin it to an outfit, for a fortune boost even if the only lucky thing that happens is not getting pinched. Have fun crocheting this cute, little shamrock!

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Treble crochet stitches are great because they add height to a piece quickly, but their airiness makes them more suited for lace than projects that need a more solid fabric. Linking the stitches lets you add height quickly while producing a solid, warm project. The swatches below have a row of traditional treble crochet stitches on top of a row of linked treble crochet stitches.

If you need to see a left-handed view, hover your cursor over the pictures.

The linked treble crochet stitch is made using the horizontal loops in the treble crochet stitch.

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Starting chains can be pretty annoying when you want a straight edge. They can really take away from the look of a scarf or blanket that doesn’t have any edging around it. Luckily, you can get rid of them with this variation of a double crochet stitch. Now you can get the height and the first stitch all in one.

You can hover over the images to get a left-handed view.

To start, draw up the starting loop to the height of a dc.

Holding the loop still with your finger, yarn over with the loop. You now have three loops on the hook.

Yarn over, pull through two loops. You now have two loops on the hook.

Yarn over, pull through remaining two loops.

Now you can skip the first dc (you already made it) and continue normally unless the chain counts as a dc in your pattern.

If you need any help, feel free to ask questions in the comment section.

This big bow is a great first pattern for new crocheters. It’s versatile and can be used on a barrette, on a hat, to wrap a present, or whatever you want to put a bow on. Before you know it, you can have a pile of these to use now or save to put on another project.

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