Pliny the Elder had written, “Experience is the most efficient teacher of all things.” I personally discovered that statement true enough—specially when it came to my crocheting. As a newbie I didn’t know much about the “proper” way of doing things. I made a LOT of mistakes that resulted in catastrophically funny FO’s (finished objects). Here are five things I learned, the HARD way:
read more »

Tired of the same back and forth? Creating the Box Stitch diagonally is a really neat way of completing a corner to corner crochet project. You can use this stitch to create anything from blankets, dishcloths, placemats, scarves, clothing … the possibilities are only limited by your imagination!

This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you.

Row 1: Ch 6, dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in next 2 ch

When I really started getting heavily addicted into crochet, I started to to feel all sorts of aches in different parts of my body after lengthy crochet sessions. When you feel pain, obviously that’s bad–your body is trying to tell you that you’re doing something wrong. When you’re doing something you love (CROCHET!) though, you might become oblivious to it. We crocheters need to be more aware of our crochet habits, in order to avoid temporary aches (that might lead to a more permanent state).
read more »

If you are tired of cutting yarn for fringe and love to make chains, this fringe is for you! Use it for a spring scarf or an afghan or even crocheted jewelry. The only thing you need to know is how to chain. Basically, this fringe is just loops of chains attached to the base of your work continuously.

read more »

Brooches make for very flexible accessories. They are both functional and eye-catching. Unlike appliqués which are permanently attached to an item, brooches are easily transferable. It can instantly jazz up a plain outfit, while holding two pieces of clothing together at the same time.

Crocheted items like flowers and other appliqués can easily be turned into cute brooches. Pin backs of varying sizes and colors are made just for this very purpose. But don’t dismay–any ordinary safety pin can also be used!
read more »

Now that you know how to add beads to your work and do a single crochet, I will teach you how to add beads to a double crochet stitch. For a quick refresher about how to add beads, click here. In this tutorial, I used larger beads made of wood. I found them at my local craft store. The technique is basically the same as in single crochet except that you will pull the bead to the front of your work and secure it there. Some ideas for you are to make a pocketbook with beads, or maybe a beaded plant hanger.

Â

The materials you need are crochet thread or yarn, beads and a needle. I am using larger beads here so I use a tapestry needle to string them onto my yarn.
read more »

There are many ways to identify what kind of fiber or fibers is in yarn. Obviously, the label tells us the exact composition of the yarn (100% acrylic, 50% cotton 50% acrylic, etc.). But what do we do if the label is gone forever?

We can turn to texture. If the yarn is coarse, it should be acrylic; if it’s a little hairy, it should be wool; if it’s shiny and slippery it must be silk or rayon. Then again, modern technology has made acrylic yarn soft and shiny; there are even acrylic yarns that look like mohair yarn.

Enter: the Burn Test. When yarn is (quite literally) tested in fire, its fiber composition is seen more clearly.
read more »

If you have ever wondered how to add beads to your crochet work, whether it is for jewelry or just to dress up a scarf, check out this tutorial. I will show you how to add beads with a single crochet stitch. Use this technique to create one of a kind jewelry with crochet thread. You can add beads to a lacy scarf for a feminine touch or even in fringe. Next week I will teach you how to do the double crochet stitch with beads.

The materials you need are crochet thread or yarn, beads and a needle. One of the challenges is getting the correct size needle to make sure that you can thread your crochet thread and then be able to get it through the bead itself. I use the regular needles that are a bit larger so that the thread will make it through the eye. If you are using regular worsted weight yarn, you will need a tapestry needle and then make sure that your beads have a larger hole. Another trick is to use regular thread to string your beads and then work this thread along with your yarn. The possibilities are as endless as the amount of different kinds of beads there are. Visit your local craft store and you will be amazed at the variety!
read more »

A Guest Post by Merry.

Twirls are a simple crochet construction. They can be quick to make and can be used in a variety of different ways.

• As a decoration: in white, twirls can represent icicles which can be used for seasonal decorating. Made with green yarn, twirls easily stand in for foliage and fronds.
• As a scarf: worked with mohair or a similar textured yarn, just 3 – 4 rounds result in a fantastically light weight scarf, adding lots of flair to any winter outfit.
• As a bag strap: when made with double knit/worsted yarn, twirls are a stylish way to add straps to a bag.

But first let me take you through twirl-making, so that you can get crocheting wonderful twirls in all lengths and widths to use in any of the ways suggested above. So, if you’re in the mood to try out some twirls, grab yourself a hook and some yarn and twirl through the following steps:
read more »

This easy stitch is perfect for an afghan or blanket. It is just sets of 3 stitches, one single crochet and two doubles. Once you get into the hang of it, you can do it in your sleep! Use it for a baby blanket in a pretty pink or blue or for a regular afghan with bright colors! You can change colors after a few rows for a multicolored effect.

The photo above is a baby blanket I am working on for charity. I am using a J-hook for this with worsted yarn. Decide how wide you want your blanket to be and chain the proper number in multiples of 3. I chained 108 for this blanket and it is about 31 inches wide. For more blanket patterns using similar stitches, click here. Oh, and by the way, feel free to try this stitch on a scarf if you want! Experiment!
read more »