Crochet
One of the things I love most about crochet is it’s variety. The corner to corner (c2c) crochet stitch is one of those stitch patterns that embodies that in all its glory!
Discover c2c
Crochet
If you’ve seen my portfolio of crochet patterns then you will know that I love to design crochet garments. Crocheting clothes is my thing.
One of the most fun and fundamental parts of the crochet design process is deciding on a stitch pattern to use. That might simply be using an existing stitch pattern or developing something new.
Over the years I have experimented a lot with different crochet stitches and stitch patterns in garments. I’ve learned a lot about what does and doesn’t work (in my opinion at least!), and in this post I want to share these lessons with you.
Whether you are designing your own crochet garments, freestyling something as a one-off or looking for tips on how to choose a crochet garment pattern, I hope you will find some useful information and guidance here.
Stitches for clothes
Crochet
I’m super excited this summer to be taking part in the Designer’s pick – summer crochet pattern bundle and blog hop event and I wanted to create a space where I can share with you all that will be happening this June.
There is so much crochet goodness, I don’t want you to to miss out on anything!
Get involved
Crochet
I love working top-down crochet sweaters, whether they are round yokes or made in the raglan style. I love that you can try them on as you go and adjust them for a perfect fit. I love that there is no sewing together of crocheted pattern.
During the development of the Any Yarn Will Do Sweater, and more recently, the Any Yarn Will Do Cardigan patterns, I have found a few techniques which I have adopted to improve the finished look of garments constructed with a top down yoke. In this post, I share these with you.
Get my Tips
Crochet
In part 2 of my crochet ribbing directory, I look at how you can crochet ribbed fabric using front and back post stitches. I include written instructions for each technique, photos from above and close up, and any tips or tricks to help you make the most of the stitch pattern.
If crochet ribbing is new to you, I recommend you start with the first part of this series which introduces the concept, including what to think about when crocheting rib stitches. It also shows you how to crochet ribbed fabric using front loops, back loops and slip stitches.
Post stitch ribbing
Crochet
I can’t tell you how many times I have seen someone post a picture of some ribbing and thought “ooooh… I love to know how they did that” only to realise that I already knew!
To stop myself going round into this loop, I decided to create a record of all the different kinds of crochet rib I love and in this post I share the first part.
Rib me up
Crochet
A few weeks ago, I had a question from someone who was working one of my patterns. In the pattern I use a chainless foundation row to start off and had instructed the crocheter to turn at the end of the row.
In my mind, this was natural instruction after completing a row. Only it turns out that you don’t actually turn. You flip!
Keep Reading
Crochet
This week I launched my first ever ebook – How to crochet clothes that fit (and you actually want to wear). I am super excited to be able to bring you crochet resources in a new way.
The eBook feels like a very natural progression but is new territory for me so there is always a certain amount of fear and trepidation which comes with that.
I keep reminding myself that this is a normal part of the learning process. If you feel that way when you start crocheting garments, remember that you are in good company!
Crochet your wardrobe
Crochet
I’ve been writing recently about the different ways you can approach increasing when crocheting in the round.
This got me thinking about how much I used to struggle with working out how many stitches I should crochet between increases (or decreases) to end up with the right stitch count at the end of the round.
So in this post, I want to share a simple tip for working out how to evenly distribute your increases or decreases.
Learn the trick
Crochet
When I first started crocheting garments, I was put off by having to seam pieces together. I’m not great at sewing and am generally pretty clumsy. I always felt that my seams were a bit wobbly and bulky or to tight or too loose.
Then I learned how to use the mattress stitch and all that just went away!
In this post I will show you how to work this simple stitch, so you too can seam crochet squares and pattern pieces together with ease.
Learn Mattress Stitch
Crochet
Let’s face it, 2020 has set the bar pretty low for 2021. But that’s not to say 2020 didn’t bring great moments of joy, achievement, positivity and resilience amongst the detritus.
There was also a lot of crochet!
Top 5 of 2020
Crochet
In last week’s post, I went into a lot of detail about how to crochet a flat circle. I touched on the Pi circle method, which led to me experimenting with it so I could go into a bit more depth about how it works.
It’s a really interesting alternative approach to the traditional ‘even increase’ circle method.
In this post I share an explanation of how it works and how I got on with it.
Learn the Pi Circle method
Crochet
There are many crochet patterns which start by creating flat circles. From hats, to toys, rugs, baskets, and more.
If you like to improvise with crochet projects, then understanding how to create a flat circle by increasing evenly in the round, is a really useful addition to your crochet toolkit.
Once you understand the basic pattern you can use it with any of the basic crochet stitches, and more complex stitch patterns.
Crochet a Flat Circle
Crochet
I learned to crochet from a variety of sources. When I first started it was a leaflet from a kids kit I bought from amazon, and some help from youtube.
As I progressed, I began to buy crochet related books. I love learning online but am also attached to the printed page. So I thought I would share some of the books that have helped me out on my crochet journey.
Read the Best Crochet Books
Crochet
I’ve talked a lot in the past about gauge and how important it is to check you are making tension when crocheting something that needs to fit. In this post, I want to break that down a bit further and look specifically at row gauge, i.e. row height.
How to meet row gauge
Crochet
Today I am going to take a look at the fundamental anatomy of a simple crochet stitch. Breaking it down into its basic parts, so you can really understand what makes your crochet work.
Crochet Stitch Anatomy
Crochet
During 2020 I have seen a huge uptake in people learning to crochet which makes my heart happy!
So in support of all the newbie crocheters, and as a self taught crocheter, I thought I would take some time to share some useful nuggets of information that will help beginner crocheters everywhere.
A kind of “What I wish I knew when I first learned to crochet”.
Get the tips
Christmas Crochet
Now that we are into November, I think Christmas crochet chat is fair game! So today I want to share with you a few of my favourite yarns that I use for my Holiday makes.
Keep Reading
Crochet
Introducing the brand new ‘Breaking Waves’ crochet stitch pattern. It’s a two colour (or more) pattern repeat which can be used for scarves, cowls, pillows or blankets.
In this tutorial, which includes written and video instructions, I will show you how to crochet it to make the Breaking Waves snood. I will also explain how you can adjust the stitch pattern to suit your project.
Learn the crochet pattern
Crochet
If you’re familiar with this blog, then you will know that the designer in me loves to understand how things are put together and how that effects their function. (If you’re about to read your first Dora Does post, you’ll pick up on this pretty fast!)
Whether it’s examining the anatomy of a crochet sock, breaking down garment construction or looking at how a yarn gets it’s weight, I have this inbuilt need to understand how things work!
Today I am using that to go right back to the fundamentals and look at one of our two most important tools. The crochet hook. (The second being yarn btw!)
More on Crochet HOOKs