Crochet stitch guide

    HOLDING A CROCHET HOOK

    There are two ways to hold the hook.



    A. Hold the hook between your index finger and thumb the way you hold pencil. This method, which uses your wrist, is most often used when working with thread of light-weight yarns.

    B. Hold the hook between your index finger and thumb the way you hold a knife to spread butter or cut meat. This method, which uses your shoulder muscles, is most often used when working with yarn.

    Note: Whether you are crocheting with thread or yarn, use the method which is the most comfortable for you. There are no hard and fast rules about which method is correct.

    STARTING YOUR CROCHET PROJECT

    TIPS:

                         - Select a crochet design of your choice. Read the instructions carefully to make sure it is in your skill level and that you have the crochet thread and hook called for in the instructions. If you do not want to use the yarn or thread called for, you may substitute a yarn or thread that is the same weight and will produce the same tension/gauge.

      - To begin, create a sample square/swatch to make sure your tension/gauge is correct.

      - Chain your foundation row a little looser than the gauge so the bottom of your project will not pucker or pull inward.

      Carefully follow the written instructions or chart for creating the design.

      - Sooner or later you are going to run out of yarn or thread. It's best to join the new thread at the end of a row for a neater appearance. When you're about to run out of thread, work your last stitch until there are 2 loops left on your hook. Leaving a tail, draw the end of the new yarn through the 2 loops on your hook. Then continue working with the new ball of yarn. With a large-eyed needle, weave in the ends of both balls of yarn to secure. This method is also used when joining a new colour of yarn.

      - With the abbreviations terms at hand, let’s look at a typical pattern. A pattern may be worked in rows (that is, back and forth to form a flat piece such as an afghan) or in rounds (worked around to form a tube with no seams, such as a hat).

      - Whatever way the pattern is to be worked, the very first thing you must do is make a slip knot on your hook. Usually the pattern does not tell you to do this but it is always assumed that every project is started with a slip knot. See below for how to create a slip knot in 3 easy steps.


    SLIP KNOT

    Step 1

    To begin, slide the hook into the knot, pull the two ends of thread to tighten the knot and form a loop.



    Step 2 Holding the Thread
    Hold the hook (which has been placed through the slip knot) in your right hand. Hold the bottom of the knot with your left thumb and index finger.

    Hold the thread in your left hand so that it runs over the index finger, under the middle finger, over the ring finger and under the little/pinkie finger. Use the thread between the thumb and index finger to make the crochet stitches.

    Step 3 Yarn Over

    Refers to catching the thread in the groove of the hook by bringing the thread over the top of the hook from back to front.

    Note: All the illustrations shown are for a right-handed crocheter.


    DMC CROCHET STITCH GUIDE


     
    CHAIN STITCH (CH)

    Yarn over, draw thread through loop on hook. Continue to yarn over and draw thread through loop until desired number of chains.



    SLIP STITCH (SS)

    For joining - insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over and draw thread through stitch and loop on hook. For moving - yarn over—insert hook in indicated stitch, yarn over, draw through stitch and loop.


    DOUBLE CROCHET (DC)
     

     
    Insert hook in stitch; yarn over and draw thread through, yarn over and draw thread through both loops on hook.
    Double Crochet 2 Together (dc2tog)

    Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch, yarn over hook and draw through remaining 3 loops.  (1dc now decreased).

    Double Crochet 3 together dc3tog

    Insert hook into next stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch, insert hook into next stitch, yarn over hook and draw through stitch, yarn over hook and draw through remaining 4 loops. (2dc now decreased)

     
    HALF TREBLE (HTR)
     

     
    Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and draw thread through, yarn over and draw thread through all 3 loops on hook.

     
    TREBLE CROCHET 


    Yarn over, insert hook in stitch, yarn over and draw thread through, yarn over and draw thread through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook.


    DOUBLE TREBLE CROCHET (DTR)
     

     
    Yarn over twice, insert hook in 4th stitch from hook, yarn over, draw thread through, (yarn over and draw thread through 2 loops on hook) 3 times.

     
    TRIPLE TREBLE CROCHET (TTR)
     


    Yarn over 3 times, insert hook in 6th ch from hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops; continue yarn over and pull through 2 loops until 2 loops left on hook, yarn over and pull through 2 loops, 1 loop left on hook.

     
    PICOT (P)
     


    3ch, insert hook in 3rd st from hook and pull loop through.

     
    POPCORN OF 5 TREBLES (PC5TR)
     

     Make five treble stitches in indicated stitch on the previous row. Leave last loop of each stitch on hook; after 5th double yarn over and pull through all loops on hook.

    Increase by One Stitch in Double Crochet
     

     
    Insert hook in indicated stitch and pull up a loop, insert hook in next and pull up a loop. Yarn over draw through both loops.

    Decrease by one stitch in Double Crochet
    Insert hook in indicated stitch, and pull up a loop, insert hook in next stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all 3 loops on hook.