Crochet History & Basics – Part II

Hello everyone..!! In today’s post, we are going to dive a little deeper into our Crochet Ocean and get ourselves introduced to different types or techniques of Crochet.

Types of Crochet:

 

Amigurami Crochet

Who doesn’t love cute little toys and that too handcrafted..!! Amigurami originated in Japan as an art of creating stuffed yarn creatures. The word amigurami is a blend of two words, ami meaning crocheted, and nuigurami, meaning stuffed doll. Amigurami toys are crocheted using basic techniques of crochet (such as single crochet, double crochet). You can learn these basic stitches with photo tutorial here.

Overlay Crochet

Overlay Crochet is relatively new to Crochet world and was invented by Melody Macduffee who happens to be jewellery designer as well. If you see her work, you will fall in love with this technique (head over heels in love….!!!).

 

Filet Crochet

In filet, the pattern is usually the chart that is set of blocks (either filled with double crochet or left open with chain stitches). In filet, you basically create a crocheted fabric, a type of grid like lace.

 

Tunisian Crochet

Tunisian crochet is a cross between crocheting and knitting. A special type of hook (elongated often with a stopper at other end) is used in Tunisian crochet. In other crochet types, most of the times, you work one stitch at a time (except for increase/decrease stitches) whereas in Tunisian crochet, you work in multiple stitches at a time.  

C2C Crochet 

Corner to Corner Crochet, or C2C crochet is worked differently than the standard crochet. In C2C, you do work in rounds, and in back and forth manner but instead of up-down manner, the stitches are worked diagonally (from one corner to the other). It is used to make graphgans, blankets etc.

Cable Crochet 

Cable Crochet is also known as Aran Crochet. The technique is similar to overlay crochet. It’s just a matter of counting and placing your post stitches properly to get that rich and elegant twisted quality look of cables.

Post Stitches

Front Post Stitches:

Front post stitches are similar to standard crochet stitches, the only difference is, it is worked around the post of the previous round(s) rather than working into the top of the stitch. Front post stitches, as the name implies, are around the front of the post of the indicated stitch. These are also known as raised stitches because of their structure. Post stitches add rich texture to the fabric, and also give ridging effect to the fabric when done in back and forth manner.

Back Post Stitches:

 

Back post stitches are worked similar to front post, but the stich is created behind the stitch and thus making the texture on the right side of your work.

Increase Stitches:

 

Single Crochet Increase:

 

To make a sc increase, insert your hook in the indicated stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both the loops. Again insert the hook in the same stitch, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through both the loops.

Same as standard single crochet, only difference is, two single crochet stitches are worked in the same stitch. This method is mainly used to expand your work. Traditionally two crochet stitches are worked in the same stich for increase but you may have to do multiple numbers as your project demands.

Double Crochet Increases:

 

Same as single crochet increase, two dc’s are worked in the same stitch.

Decrease Stitches/Cluster Stitches:

 

Decrease stitches and cluster stitches are very similar yet very different from each other. The end result is also different in both the stitches.

Decrease stitches are used to shape your project and always worked over two or more stitches, which reduces number of stitches hence decrease stitch.

Cluster stitches are used to get textures and almost always worked over one stitch only thus creating bobble like or cluster like effect hence cluster stitches.

Single Crochet Decrease (sc dec)/Single Crochet Cluster (2sc cluster or 2sctog):

 

To make a standard single crochet decrease, insert the hook in the indicated stitch, pull up a yarn, insert again in the next stich (in case of 2sc cluster, insert the hook in the same stitch), pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all the loops. 

Half Double Crochet Decrease (hdc dec)/Half Double Crochet Cluster (2hdc cluster or 2hdctog) :

 

To make a hdc decrease, yarn over, inset the hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over again and insert the hook in the next indicated stitch (or in case of 2hdc cluster, insert hook in the same stitch) and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through all five loops..

Double Crochet Decrease (dc dec)/Double Crochet Cluster (2dc cluster or 2dctog) :

 

To make a dc decrease, yarn over, inset the hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops keeping two loops on the hook. Yarn over again and insert the hook in the next indicated stitch (or in case of 2dc cluster, insert hook in the same stitch) and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops keeping three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

In a same way you can create 3dctog, 4dctog and so on…

Treble Crochet Decrease (tr dec)/Treble Crochet Cluster (2tr cluster or 2trtog):

 

To make a tr decrease, yarn over twice, inset the hook in the indicated stitch and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops keeping three loops on the hook, yarn over and pull through two loops, keeping two loops on the hook. Again yarn over twice and insert the hook in the next indicated stitch (or in case of 2tr cluster, insert hook in the same stitch) and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops keeping four loops on the hook, yarn over again and pull through two loops. Yarn over and pull through all three loops.

Today's WoW (Words of Wisdom)

So that's all for today..!!

Love

Jk

 

Life is worth living, it's about being happy anyways...!!!

Happy Crocheting.