Archive | Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs

How to Measure Gauge; What is it? Why should I care?

Tool for measuring gauge on knit and crochet

Tool to Measure Gauge on crochet and knit items

Learn to Measure Gauge

In this post you will learn how to measure gauge. Have you ever wondered what gauge was and why you should care? I get a lot of people that say they never make a gauge swatch and that they really don’t understand gauge. If you have been fortunate enough to create garments that fit without making a gauge swatch let me say that one day your luck may run out. What probably happened is that you were working very close to the gauge indicated on the pattern. Lucky you!

Gauge refers to the number of stitches and rows a knitter or crocheter makes per inch using a certain yarn and needles or hook. Since not everyone crochet or knits with the same tension (this affects gauge), it is a very good idea to make a gauge swatch before beginning a new project. There are items that you can crochet or knit in which gauge isn’t critical. However if you are working on certain items like garments it is important to be able to match the gauge that is specified in the pattern instructions. This will ensure that your item/garment is the same size as the size the designer intended when designing the item and that the amount of yarn required (as specified in pattern) is sufficient to complete your project.

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Learn to Sew Fabric Lining to Crochet and Knit Blankets

By Yolanda on August 26, 2015 in Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs, Sewing Projects 2

Learn To Sew Fabric Lining to your Crochet and Knit Blankets

In this post I you will learn to Sew a fabric lining to your crochet blankets. Today I uploaded a video tutorial on my youtube channel that many people have requested.

This question is often received on my posts and videos. How do you sew a lining to a crochet or knitted blanket without ruining it? Well, in today’s video I show you how I do it.

There is no need to be afraid of your sewing machine. Using a few little tricks you can learn to sew a fabric lining to your crochet blankets easily and quickly. This can also be done with hand sewing.

I recommend blocking your blanket first to get a true size. It important since you will need to know what size to cut your fabric lining.

How to sew lining to crochet / kinit items — Sewing lining to crochet

In the video I demonstrated on a 12 inch granny square (for filming purposes). The concept is the same with all sizes.

First, you will need to work at least 2 rows of single crochet all the way around your piece. (for knitted pieces I work 2 knitted stitched on each edge, right and left of each row.

I also work the first two rows and last two row in the knitted stitch. This gives me a new edge to sew). There are several ways you can sew a lining to crochet and knit blankets.

I demonstrate how to do this using a sewing machine. However, it is still possible to do the same thing by sewing the lining on by hand. Not having a sewing machine doesn’t mean you can’t sew linings to your projects. You can also use this same technique to sew linings to bags or other items.

Here is the link for the video. It explains the whole process. I hope you enjoy it and that your find it helpful.

If you enjoyed this post you might also enjoy learning how to crochet a granny square which I used in this project. Please remember to share this post with your friends. Sharing is caring. Enjoy

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Crochet Baby Cardigan – Part of Baby Layette Set

By Yolanda on August 3, 2015 in Baby Crochet Projects, Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs 4

Crochet Baby Cardigan

Whew! The Crochet Baby Cardigan / sweater portion of my Crochet Along (CAL) is finally complete. Today the last video for this item was uploaded. This sweater is so cute and a little different than what you usually see. I decided to use a LeisureArts baby layette pattern for this crochet along. Each week I will be uploaded short video portions of the items. This allows everyone time to complete that portion of the instructions before moving onto the next rows/rounds. I can’t even imagine trying to film, edit and uploading the entire set in one video… Hmmm, it would be like 12 hours long.. no bueno, and not allowed by YouTube.

The pattern can be purchased from LeisureArts.com (Click here to purchase pattern) and will allow you to follow along with me. It is also a great way to learn to read patterns or at least demystify them a little if you aren’t already a pattern reader. Remember, reading patterns is just like any other skill. It is something you need to learn and not an ability you automatically know. It’s like riding a bike. You weren’t born knowing how to ride a bike, but thru lots of practice (and falling) you eventually learned. Now you can enjoy a bike ride whenever you want. ( Or circumstances allow). It’s the same with reading written patterns as well as diagrams.

I am creating a course to teach you basic crochet stitches (some advanced), how to read patterns, diagrams, etc. I am excited that soon it will be ready and available to everyone. On the topic of the crochet course, what type of things would you want to see in it? Please write it on the comments… i.e., new stitches, reading charts, working in rows/rounds, reading diagrams, etc.

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Crochet motif Tutorial – Sea Foam / Ocean Waves

By Yolanda on June 19, 2015 in Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs 4

Crochet Sea Foam Pattern

Crochet Motif of a Sea Foam Stitch/Ocean Waves

I decided to share this Crochet Motif of the Sea Foam Stitch (also known as Ocean Waves) today. I’m always on the look out for new motif’s I can use for various projects. Since it’s summer now and the weather has warmed up I wanted to a summertime baby blanket. I will be using cotton yarn. Although it’s still summer there are times you still need a blanket to cover up a sleeping baby. I didn’t want to make something too heavy. I went thru all my previous projects to look for something that would fit the bill. I really liked this one. Some books call it Sea foam and some call it ocean waves.

Here is a sample (2 pattern repeat) of the sea foam motif. I made one of these blankets a few years ago. You can use any size hook and type of yarn. Just make sure the hook is appropriate for the yarn weight. Since this will be a baby blanket I used a weight 3 cotton yarn and a G hook. You can use whatever hook and yarn you prefer. I used 2 colors and changed color on row 6 of pattern. You can use as many colors as you like or stay with one solid color. Using multiple colors is a good way to use up your yarn stash.

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Easy to Crochet Football Can Cozy

By Yolanda on June 10, 2015 in Crochet Projects, Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs, Home Decor 0

Football Can Cozy

Crochet this fast and easy Football Can Cozy. It makes a fun gift. You can also choose to your team colors.

Here is an Easy to Crochet Father’s Day gift. A can cozy. It works great for soda and beer cans as well as for beer bottles. I used it using brown and white as a traditional football colors but you could also use your team colors. I have also made these and embroidered the words Dad or Initials instead of adding the laces.

This can cozy uses only basic crochet stitches and works up super fast. It’s also a great way to use up your yarn scraps. I have also included the link to a free Video Tutorial for visual learners. You will find the link on the last page of this post.

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Archive | Crochet Stitches and Crochet Motifs

Learn to Measure Gauge

Learn To Sew Fabric Lining to your Crochet and Knit Blankets

Crochet Baby Cardigan

Crochet Motif of a Sea Foam Stitch/Ocean Waves