I was very pleased with the response to my last tutorial, How to Double Crochet Between Stitches. Many people inquired about how to begin and end rows, so this week’s tutorial will focus upon just that. For the purpose of practicing this skill, we’ll make a small swatch in this tutorial. Yarn and hook size don’t matter for this practice swatch.
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Crocheting between stitches is an alternative to crocheting through both loops, back loop, or front loop. The resulting stitch is effectively a little shorter than a normal double crochet, and the stitch pattern becomes more open.

To double crochet between stitches, the crochet hook will be inserted in the space between the stitches, as indicated in the picture below.

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If you follow our posts, you’ll remember a recent blog about a new item I came across called the “Sharp Crochet Hook”. I received my hook about a week after I ordered it and I couldn’t wait to try it out. Though I have close to a million ideas for usage in my head for this, I’m going to share two with you here.

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As promised, here is the continuation for Crochet Technique: Hairpin Lace – Part 1. In this post, I will show you, through pictures, how to achieve this fascinating lace. I’ve learned a lot this last week trying to accomplish the little sample to the right. It turns out, this is one of those crafts that takes a special kind of patience – but the only way you can get this lace. Is it worth it? Let’s find out….

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I recently came across one of the most gorgeous scarves I’ve ever seen and knew I had to make it. To my surprise, when I read the instructions, it begins with hairpin lace –something I know nothing about, but am now determined to learn. This craft began in Victorian times and is so called because women actually used their hairpins to create this beautiful lace. As seen in the photo, hairpin lace is a length of loops connected by crochet. You can use this for a multitude of items.

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As you progress in your crocheting skills, you learn to like your items more and more. The people around you tell you how talented you are and you even start to impress yourself! Then the day comes when you feel you’re good enough to sell your products. Good for you! But where do you start? What are the best avenues? How do you know what to charge? Where do you sell? As a 20+-year veteran in retail, I’d like to list some basics on how to get started in this exciting venture.
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It all started with a snowflake. I decided to make some the other day and I found a couple of patterns in one of my favorite books, “Super Stitches Crochet” by Jennifer Campbell and Ann-Marie Bakewell. I then found some white metallic cotton thread in my never-ending stash to use for this project. After completing some snowflakes, I needed an item to use them on. I was thinking of sewing several together and making a string-type scarf, but since the cotton thread I used is metallic, I knew I could never tolerate it on my neck (too itchy). What to do, what to do?

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For me, beauty is expressed through color. As a child, I would research where paint colors came from and found it to be plants, nature, rocks, etc. – the very things I am surrounded with today. My favorite color combination is turquoise and rust (I don’t know why – they just resonate with me). When I see this combination on ANYTHING, my head turns to see what the item is. It’s not surprising as these colors are complimentary on the color wheel (exactly opposite each other).

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This tutorial shows you how to start a project with a bead at the very beginning, on your slip knot. The technique shown leaves you with a bead that will be in either the front loop or back loop of the stitch, depending on how you position it when you continue your chain.
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Fair Isle knitting became popular in 1921 when the Prince of Wales wore Fair Isle tank tops in public (Fair Isle is a tiny island in the north of Scotland). The Fair Isle technique refers to color work where stitches are knit alternately in various colors. We’ve all seen Fair Isle style on ski sweaters, scarves, mittens, etc. with their intricate patterns and vibrant colors. There are an infinite number of patterns that can be incorporated into a handmade piece, and with today’s selection of colors in yarn, making a striking, unique piece is likely, but not simple.

Sample of Fair Isle Knitting

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