By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
Welcome to Stitch of the Week! This week’s tutorial is the paired single crochet stitch.
Also known as the interlocking single crochet stitch, this is a quick and easy stitch to do. It is worked by single crocheting two-together across the row. To keep the stitch count, each stitch will be worked twice, as well as starting each row with a single crochet in the first stitch.
By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
Today’s tutorial is all about the Farmhouse Dishcloth, using the paired single crochet method.
By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
With the 4th of July coming up on us quick, I wanted one more good crochet pattern to add to the list.
This garland works up quick and is easy to do. Plus it requires very little yarn to make!
For this crochet pattern, we used Red Heart Super Saver yarn in white, cherry red, and royal blue. About half of a skein of each color (maybe a little more of the white).
GRAB YOUR HOOK AND LET’S GET GOING!
8 DC rows and 18 DCs = 6”x 6” Square
Chain 3 at the beginning does count as a dc.
Be sure to check the special stitches section for video tutorials.
I recommend blocking each of your pieces so that they are the correct shapes and therefore aren’t curling on you.
You can make as many or as few of each part of the bunting as you wish, to customize the length. Pattern is written for a fairly long bunting.
Ch—Chain
St(s)—Stitch(es)
Dc—Double crochet
XS—Cross Stitch
Sp(s)—Space(s)
Rep—Repeat
to–Repeat the instructions written between the two *
Tc—Turning chain
HDC—Half-double crochet
YO—yarn over
FO—fasten off
Cross Stitch—Skip next stitch, work a DC in next, work another DC in the skipped stitch going behind the DC just made. Video here.
(make 2) Starting with Red:
Row 1: Ch4, 7dc in 4th ch from hook. (8 dc)
Row 2: Ch3, turn, dc in same as turning ch, 2dc in each st being sure to put 2dc in turning chain.
For Row 3: Ch3, turn, dc in same as tc, dc in next st, *2dc in next st, dc in next st*, rep from *to*to end, placing 1dc in tc from previous row.
Row 4: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 2 sts, *2dc, dc in next 2 sts*, rep *to*, ending with 1dc in tc from previous row. Change to white.
Row 5: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 3 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 3 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
Row 6: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 4 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 4 sts rep to ending with 1dc in tc.
YOU’RE DOING GREAT!
Row 7: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 5 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 5 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
Row 8: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 6 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 6 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc. Change to Blue.
For Row 9: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 7 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 7 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
Row 10: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 8 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 8 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
Next, Row 11: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 9 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 9 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
And Row 12: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in next 10 sts, 2dc in next st, dc in next 10 sts rep to, ending with 1dc in tc.
FO, weave in ends.
Make 1 of each red, white, and blue.
Row 1: Ch4, dc in 4th ch from hook.
Row 2: Ch3, turn, dc in same, 2dc in tc.
For Row 3: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st over next 2 sts (see special sts), 2dc in tc.
Row 4: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 5: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Next, Row 6: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 7: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
KEEP GOING…
Row 8: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in ea st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
For Row 9: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 10: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 11: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
For Row 12: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 13: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
Row 14: Ch3, turn, dc in same, dc in across to last st, 2dc in tc.
And Row 15: Ch3, turn, dc in same, X st across to last st, 2dc in tc.
BORDER:
Ch1, turn your work so that you are working down the side, next, evenly sc around entire triangle, then ss to first sc. FO, weave in ends.
With white, make 2
Rnd 1: MR, ch3, 2dc, ch2, [3dc, ch2] until you have 5 3dc, ch2 sections, ss to top of ch3.
**FROM HERE, YOU’RE MAKING THE POINTS OF THE STAR IN STEPS, THEREFORE, EACH POINT IS THEN JOINED TO THE PREVIOUS ROUND AS FOLLOWS:
Step 1: Ch6, sc in 2nd ch from hook, hdc in next ch, dc in next ch, tr in next 2 chs, ss to next ch2 sp.
Steps 2-5: repeat step 1. SS to final ch2 sp and ch 21. FO, weave in ends
Here we will create a long chain, thus connecting the swags, pennants, and stars to the chain, finally, being sure to leave a long enough chain on both ends for fastening to where you plan to hang your finished piece.
ALMOST THERE….
YOU’RE ALL DONE! NOW HANG IT UP FOR ALL TO SEE!
We hope that you enjoy this crochet pattern as much as we do! 4th of July will now be extra festive at your house!
By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
My latest design is a crochet can and glass bottle cozy that can be made up in any color combination or just solids! Enjoy this pattern just in time for the 4th of July celebrations here in America! I plan on making several of these for friends and family to use when they come over.
By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
Don’t you just love a project that only requires scrap yarn to do? I don’t know about you, but i have a ton of scrap yarn! I raided my stash to find some tiny little balls of scrap yarn just for this project.
I am so excited to welcome our newest Think Crafts Contributor Sara! Sara is our new Crochet Contributor, and I can’t wait for you to see all the Crochet and Flea Market/Bazaar ideas that she is going to share with us all. Find out more about Sara’s crochet journey below, and check out her blog, Sunflower Cottage Crochet today!
My first time picking up the crochet hook was with my mother. I was probably around 8 years old. She didn’t know a lot of techniques but she knew how to get started. I remember learning how to make a chain, do single crochet stitches, and half-double crochet stitches.
Eventually, I wanted to learn more. Our neighbor at the time in California was originally from Holland. She was like a second mother to me and taught me all kinds of crafts–sewing, crocheting–all kinds. I asked for her help on crocheting and she taught me several more techniques.
I began to grow up and out of crochet as at the time, it was viewed more as an adult thing–an older adult thing. I wouldn’t pick up the crochet hook again until after I was married.
I started out as I did with my mother–chains and single crochets and the occasional half-double crochet. It seemed I was never going to finish any large projects that way! YouTube became my best friend. I watched Mikey from The Crochet Crowd every day. All his tutorials on each stitch made me want to learn more! Soon, I was watching tutorials on how to make granny squares, then baby blankets, then afghans.
My talent grew to where I no longer needed the videos and could easily read the patterns myself. I started making Christmas gifts which became sort of a tradition for me–each year I make everyone something (or several somethings!) for Christmas.
I look back at my stitch-work from when I first started watching Mikey’s videos and noticed just how much my stitching has improved with all that practice!
Crocheting has completely changed a certain aspect of my life–the anxious one. My anxiety is so severe that I do not work outside the home. In fact, I do not have a job at all, besides being a stay-at-home mom. My daughter is 2 years old and a total joy to be with.
Crocheting helps me unwind that anxiety tension. I struggle with going out of the house alone (even with my daughter) but if I can take my crochet with me (and believe me, I take it everywhere!), I feel like I have my “security blanket”.
Putting myself out there like this–having a blog, having a store that sells my crochet creations and patterns–it’s super scary! I recently attended a vendor/craft event locally for the first time. I was very nervous about how I would do. What would people think about my items? What will they think about me? Am I selling too high? Am I underselling myself? What should I wear?? Seems normal to ask those questions, right? It is, but when you have anxiety, you tend to worry more about those things than most people do. Seeing my items out on display was also sort of putting myself out on display. I was going to be inspected, judged, nit-picked. I spent months researching how to set up my booth and table so it looked organized and chic yet clean. I had “thank you ” bags and a Square reader. I was all set. What do you think happened?
My mother and mother-in-law helping me at the vendor event!
Only one thing sold. I didn’t make back the fee. I spent an entire day behind those tables and only just over 100 people showed up to this event. The one thing I sold was to a friend and fellow vendor. I felt defeated and that my talent wasn’t good enough. I didn’t have what it takes to “make it” in the crochet world.
I came home with all my product and boxed it up. How was I going to get myself to be a name in the crochet business? Blogging is too scary. Etsy and shipping is also super scary. Facebook doesn’t reach enough people that wish to buy.
I chanced upon Elite Blogging Academy and learned the basics of blogging (for free!) and decided–I’m going to put myself out there! I added a shop button to my Facebook page and started posting pictures and prices. Next big step: Etsy. This scares me so much because I don’t understand the shipping process. I’ve watched countless videos on YouTube but it still scares the heck out of me. My husband is incredibly supportive and has promised to help me with it but even so, my anxiety takes over and blows it out of proportion.
I hope you join me on my journey as I battle through anxiety to build my crochet business. I love crochet so much, it certainly doesn’t feel like a job!
Time to pick up some yarn!
By Crochet Contributor Sara. Follow Sara on her blog, Sunflower Crochet Cottage.
I have the perfect pattern and gift idea for Mother’s Day! It’s the Farmhouse Spa Set pattern designed by yours truly. This pattern even comes with the instructions to make the basket to hold it all.
I scoured my brain for an idea for what to give my mother and my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day. I’ve given plants and pre-set up baskets of just…stuff, but this year, I wanted something more personal.
