Stash Buster Blanket

 

I've found a great blanket pattern for when you have too many balls of yarn in your stash, and you need to use it up.  The pattern is called the Stash Buster Squares Blanket, and you can find the pattern at The Crochet Swirl

It's the perfect project for when you're 'on the go', as each square is quite quick to make, and making small individual squares, means you aren't carrying a large heavy project around as the blanket grows.  The only drawback for this project is that it is time consuming joining each square individually.  The pattern suggested a mattress stitch join.  If I was making it again, I would crochet the squares together.

I love the texture of these squares.  The stitch is a modified lemon peel stitch, using half double crochet in place of double crochet.

The majority of the yarn I've used is Stylecraft Special DK leftover yarn from previous projects.  The raspberry colour is carnival 8ply.  I usually don't mix different brands of yarn, but in a stashbuster project it's more than OK, provided with ply doesn't feel too different.  I used a 3.75mm hook for the squares.

Each individual square measures approx 9.5cm.

I made 120 squares in total, and used a random colour placement to create a blanket that is 10 squares by 12 squares.  The completed blanket measures approx 100 x 125 cm with the border.

The squares are joined by hand, using a mattress stitch through the back loop.

I added a simple border of 2 rows of single crochet, followed by 5 rows of moss stitch and finished with a row of crab stitch.  The border was worked using a 4mm hook.

I hope you get the chance to try this pattern, as it's a very relaxing make.

Stash Buster Blanket

20 July 2023

Treble Crochet

 

The treble crochet stitch is the next and last of the basic stitches you need to learn as you are building your skills.  It is the next stitch in height after the double crochet (DC) stitch.  It is sometimes referred to as a triple crochet stitch.  Note that treble and triple are used interchangeably - meaning the same thing.

If you can make a double crochet stitch, moving to a treble stitch is easy, as the only difference is that you yarn over twice before inserting the hook into your next stitch.

Treble Crochet is a tall stitch which works up very fast, and makes a more open fabric. The treble crochet stitch is used when a long stitch is needed - taller than a double crochet stitch.

The abbreviation for the treble crochet (US terms) is TR.  Note that the treble crochet stitch is known as a double treble crochet (dtr) in UK terms.

Here are the steps to create a Treble Crochet Stitch:

Step 1: yarn over twice, insert hook into the next stitch (remember to go through both loops of the 'v')

Step 2: yarn over, and pull a loop (you will have 4 loops on your hook)

Step 3: yarn over, and pull through two loops on the hook (you will now have three loops on your hook)

Step 4: yarn over, and pull through two loops on the hook (you will now have two loops on your hook)

Step 5: yarn over again, and pull through both loops on the hook (you will be left with once loop on the hook)

And your treble crochet stitch is complete!  

To complete the row, you will follow the steps, into each of the stitches in the row.

It is possible to make taller stitches, by increasing the amount of 'yarn overs' you complete in step 1.  However, once stitches start becoming too long, they lose their definition.  Longer stitches are often used as a highlight within the crocheted item.

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Turning Chains and Stitch Heights >>

Treble Crochet

2 July 2023

Double Crochet

 The double crochet is the next stitch to learn as you are building your skills.  It is the next stitch in height after the half double crochet (HDC) stitch.

Double Crochet is one of the most popular crochet stitches because it creates a crochet fabric with a great drape.  The fabric made is fairly solid, but not too dense or stiff.  It is frequently used for shawls, wraps and even sweaters.

The abbreviation for the double crochet (US terms) is DC.  Note that the double crochet is known as a treble crochet (tr) in UK terms.

Here are the steps to create a Double Crochet Stitch:

Step 1: yarn over, insert hook into the next stitch (remember to go through both loops of the 'v')

Step 2: yarn over, and pull a loop (you will have 3 loops on your hook)

Step 3: yarn over, and pull through two loop on the hook (you will now have two loop on your hook)

Step 4: yarn over again, and pull through both loops on the hook (you will be left with one loop on the hook)

And your double crochet stitch is complete!  

To complete the row, follow the steps above across the row.

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Treble Crochet >>

Double Crochet

Half Double Crochet

 The half double crochet is the next stitch to learn as you are building your skills.  It is the next stitch in height after the single crochet (SC) stitch)

Similar to the single crochet stitch, the half double crochet stitch makes a solid crochet fabric without holes, and can be used similarly to single crochet.

The abbreviation for the half double crochet (US terms) is HDC.  Note that the half double crochet is known as a half treble crochet (htr) in UK terms. 

Here are the steps to create a Half Double Crochet stitch:

Step 1: Yarn over (yo) and insert the hook into the next stitch.  Make sure your yo is coming from the back of the hook aver the top to the front

Step 2: Yarn over (yo) and pull the yarn through the stitch.  You will have three loops on the hook

Step 3: yarn over (yo) and pull the yarn through all three loops.  

You will now have one loop remaining on the hook, and your Half Double Crochet is complete!

To complete the row, you will follow the above steps into each of the remaining stitches.  Good luck!

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Double Crochet >>

Half Double Crochet

Single Crochet

 Single Crochet is the shortest and most basic of the crochet stitches after the slip stitch.  It is one of the very first stitches you need to learn and master, as it is widely used in most patterns and projects.  It is taller than the slip stitch, but shorter than the half double crochet.

The crochet fabric created by single crochet stitches is solid, with no gaps and holes, so it is suited to baby blankets, beanies, warm clothing, pillows and it is a great stitch to use as an edging.

Single Crochet is abbreviated in patterns as SC (US terms).  Note that the single crochet is known as a double crochet (DC) in UK terms.

Here are the step by step instructions to create a Single Crochet:

Step 1: insert hook into the next stitch.  Make sure your hook goes under the two loops (v) at the top of the stitch

Step 2: yarn over (YO) by wrapping the yarn from back to front over the hook

Step 3: point the hook downwards and pull yarn through the stitch (you will have 2 loops on the hook)

Step 4: yarn over (YO) again, and pull through 2 loops on the hook

You will end up with one loop left on the hook, and you have completed your single crochet

You can continue along to create a row of single crochet, by following the steps above.

Once you've mastered the single crochet, there are endless possibilities to use it.  You can work in rows, rounds or spirals, use it as an edging, or create difference effects by combining it with other stitches.  

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Half Double Crochet >>

Single Crochet

Slip Stitch

 A slip stitch is used when you want to crochet across to another stitch without adding to the height of the work.  Is it commonly used to join work when crocheting motifs, crocheting in the round, for seaming, for moving along rows and straightening edges.  

The abbreviation for a slip stitch is SL or SL ST

Step 1: insert the hook into the next stitch (or chain or any indicated stitch as per the pattern).  Make sure you are going under both loops at the top of the stitch)    

Step 2: Yarn over the hook (by bringing the yarn from the back to the front) 

Step 3: Pull the yarn through the stitch (there will be two loops on the hook) and then pull the loop you've just made through the loop on the hook.  There will be one loop left on the hook.

The slip stitch is complete.  You should now have just one loop left of the hook.    

As always, you need to practice to build your skills.  Once you are competent, you should be able to pull the yarn over and through the stitch in one continuous motion.

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Single Crochet >>

Slip Stitch

Creating a Slip Knot and Chain Stitch

 Before you can start crocheting, you need to get the yarn onto the hook.  The most common method is to create  a crochet slip knot.  The slip knot is an adjustable loop or starting knot for pretty much any crochet project you make.  Making a slip knot is easy and you will use it to begin the majority of your crochet makes.  

There are a number of ways of creating a slip knot, but I find the easiest method is to use your fingers.

Creating a Slip Knot

1. start with the tail end of the yarn and pull around 15cm from the ball
2. make a loop  - note that the yarn attached to the ball should be at the front 
3. put your fingers through this loop, grab the yarn and pull back through the loop to create another loop
4. while holding this loop, pull the two strands of yarn to tighten the knot, therefore creating the slip knot. 
5. finally you put the loop over your crochet hook and pull the yarn attached to the ball so that the loop tightens (but not too tight) around the shaft of the hook.  Note: that the yarn is worked from the shaft of the hook, not the hook itself.

You will notice that if you pull the yarn attached to the ball, the loop will get tighter, while if you pull the tail end, the loop will get looser.

If you make a mistake, or your slip knot isn't right, you can easily undo the slip knot by pulling both yarn ends, and start again.

The starting slip knot is never counted as a stitch.

Once you have a slip knot on your hook, you are ready to start chaining.

Creating a Chain Stitch

Almost every crochet project begins with a chain.  After making a slip knot, the next step is to create a series of chain stitches,  The chain stitches form the foundation on which you build your project.  They are therefore one of the essential stitches that every crocheter needs to be able to do.

The abbreviation for chain stitch is CH

Step 1: Hold the yarn in your non-working hand, and the hook in your working (dominant) hand

Step 2: Bring the hook under and yarn over to catch the yarn.  This is referred to as yarn over (yo)

Step 3: Turn the hook so it faces downwards.  Holding the base of the slip knot, with your thumb and index finger, pull the yarn through the loop on the hook to form the first chain

Step 4: continue making additional chain stitches (following the above steps) as required, or as indicated in your pattern.

Note: The loop around the hook is never counted as a stitch.  Your chains should be uniform in size.  

TIP: It is easier to pull the yarn through the loop if the hook is turned slightly downward.  Hold the hook stable in your fingers, while moving at the wrist.

Practice makes perfect!

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Slip Stitch >>

Creating a Slip Knot and Chain Stitch