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Read our most Frequently Asked Questions!
Read our most Frequently Asked Questions!
With crochet, the possibilities are endless. Throughout 2021, Limitless Crochet Everyday will teach you how to become a better crocheter with new techniques, stitches, and free patterns to go along with them. Crochet is an anxiety reducer for many of us and after a long and stressful 2020 year, I think this is exactly what we need.
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Yes, I’m quoting myself this week. 😆
I’m so excited to say that we’ve entered MONTH 3 of LCE already! It’s time to get into the really fun stuff. This month the theme is “Basic Stitches & Beyond” and today we’re going to talk about the base stitches.
If you missed last weeks topic, it was all about finishing crochet projects. Fastening off, weaving in ends, adding borders to blankets, and a few other topics. I also created a new video tutorial!
We’re talking about more than the basic stitches today. We’ll learn how to make each of the base stitches (slip stitch to double treble), when they’re used, and THEN we’ll talk about different stitch variations and combinations.
You can find all of the products I mention today in my Amazon Shop under “LCE Week 10“
You’re probably used to hearing about “the basic stitches”: single crochet, double crochet, and half double crochet. But these aren’t the only stitches we’re going to talk about today.
The stitches we’re talking about today are called base stitches because once you know them, you can use them in different ways to create variations and stitch combinations – more on that later.
First, please note that I always use US terms in tutorials and in written patterns. Here’s a short conversion chart if you’re in the UK:
US: Single Crochet | UK: Double Crochet
US: Double Crochet | UK: Treble Crochet
US: Half Double | UK: Half Treble
US: Treble Crochet | UK: Double Treble
US: Double Treble | UK: Triple Treble
*UK = Slip Stitch (ss)
A slip stitch is used as a stitch itself, to join crochet rounds, and to form a circle in place of a magic circle.
To slip stitch: Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull through the stitch and through the loop on your hook.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, no chains are needed to start.
*UK = Double Crochet (dc)
A single crochet is one of the most common stitches in crochet. It’s used in hundreds of different projects by itself, different variations, and combinations.
To single crochet: Insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both loops.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, chain 1 to start. This chain does not count as a stitch.
*UK = Half Treble (htr)
A half double crochet is another common stitch in crochet. It’s used in hundreds of different projects by itself and in combination with other stitches.
To half double crochet: Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, chain 2 to start. This chain does not count as a stitch – unless stated otherwise within the pattern
*UK = Treble (tr)
A double crochet is another one of the most common stitches in crochet. It’s used in hundreds of different projects by itself and by using different variations to provide lots of texture.
To double crochet: Yarn over, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops. Yarn over, pull through remaining 2 loops.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, chain 3 to start. This chain does count as a stitch – unless stated otherwise within the pattern
*UK = Double Treble (dtr)
A treble crochet is a taller stitch that is less common than the others. It’s often used to create lacy patterns or cables.
To treble crochet: Yarn over hook twice, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (4 loops on hook), [yarn over, pull through 2 loops]. Repeat [ ] 2 more times.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, chain 4 to start. This chain does count as a stitch – unless stated otherwise within the pattern
*UK = Triple Treble (trtr)
A double treble is another stitch that’s not used as often. The only place I’ve seen a double treble used was in a motif. I’m sure there are other patterns out there, but I haven’t come across many.
To double treble: Yarn over hook three times, insert your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (5 loops on hook), [yarn over, pull through 2 loops]. Repeat [ ] 3 more times.
Turning chain: When starting a new row or round, chain 5 to start. This chain does count as a stitch – unless stated otherwise within the pattern
Stitch Variations & Combinations
All of the stitches I listed above are base stitches because they can be used in combination with each other to create hundreds of different types of patterns.
There are many different variations and stitch combinations you can use. But there is a big difference between the two, so let’s talk about that.
If you’re getting bored working with the basic stitches, but you’re not ready to try stitch combinations, try different variations of your favorite base stitches.
When you try different variations you’re only using that stitch, but you’re placing it in a different spot that you normally would.
In the photo below, you can see that my hook is going under both of the loops at the top of the stitch. This is where we normally insert our hook.
Next week we’re going to go a lot more in depth with different stitch variations (and I’ll talk about some of them in Friday’s video). But if you are anxious to see what I mean, here are some different variations you can try:
And that’s just a few to start!
Stitch combinations are when you use multiple base stitches to create a new stitch pattern.
One simple stitch combination is the Suzette Stitch. It uses single and double crochet stitches to create a raised, textured stitch that is perfect for blankets.
You can find a tutorial for that stitch here along with a free blanket pattern.
In a few weeks we’ll be talking a lot more about stitch combinations and I will be releasing a video with 5 simple stitch combinationsthat work great for blankets so keep an eye out for that video.
But if you’re looking to do a little research right now, you can find many videos and picture tutorials online. Here’s a list from AllFreeCrochet that lists over 150 different combinations.
Another really great place to find both stitch variations AND combinations is inside stitch dictionaries. Here are a few of my own personal favorites:
*You can find all of these books in my Amazon Shop under “LCE Week 10”.
This week I have a video that talks about everything we covered today. I’ll show you briefly how to make each of the base stitches I listed above and then we’ll talk about some different variations and stitch combinations using those base stitches. Get ready to learn a LOT!
In the meantime, check out some of my free patterns on the blog or watch some crochet tutorials on my YouTube channel!
I created the Facebook Group, The Crochet’dy Bunch as a space for those who love crochet and I’ve decided to group it together with the Limitless Crochet Everyday project. This is a place where we connect, share work, get your questions answered, and support each other. I hope you’ll join us!
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