Crochet tips and tricks

Crochet tips and tricks March 3, 2018

Tips&Tricks: How to avoid the chain 3 gap at the beginning of the row

Well, in this post I want you to show you 3 simple methods on how you can avoid the chain 3 gap at the beginning of the row and have straight edges on your crochet projects.

Is so annoying when you do exact what the pattern sais, but your project doesn’t looks right.

I am talking about the gap at the beginning of the row, between the chain 3 and the first stitch.

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When you work in double crochet, almost every pattern sais, to chain 3 before starting a new row. This chain 3, count as a stitch and you have to make the first double crochet in the second stitch.

In this way, you will see a gap between the chain 3 and the first stitch, that doesn’t look good and became bigger if you add an edge to your project or you have to sew pieces together on that side.

Another annoying thing is that you have to make your last double crochet in the 3rd stitch of the turning chain. This 3rd stitch is difficult to find and insert the hook in it and also I think this is time-consuming. Also if you are a beginner, you can easily skip this stitch and to lose stitches on your way.

So here I am with 3 simple methods on how you can avoid that.

Don’t try to chain 3 and make the first double crochet in the first stitch, because you won’t have a gap, but you will have waving edges.

Instead, you can try one of this 3 methods on how to avoid the chain 3 gap and have no gap and straight edges.

Method 1

At the end of the row just chin 1 and turn. Before making the first stitch, pull out the loop on your hook until you get the high of a double crochet. Then yarn over and make you’re first double crochet in the first stitch.

Method 2

After finishing the row, turn your work without chaining. Make 1 single crochet in the first stitch and chain 1. Make the first double crochet in the second stitch. This 1 single crochet and chain 1 stitch count as your first double crochet. The single crochet makes the base of the stitch bigger and more like a double crochet.

Method 3

Instead of chaining 3, chain only 2 and make your first double crochet in the first stitch. The chain 2 doesn’t count as a stitch. This is the method that I use all the time and I am pleased with the result.

You can use this method no matter what stitch you use: chain 1 for HDC, chain 2 for DC, chain 3 for TC and so on.

In the picture bellow I used all 3 method, changing the color just for you to know where I started to use another method.

I think this sample is looking great, with straight edges and no gaps.

So, what do you think? Which method looks better for you?

Bellow you will find a short video on how to make this.

I hope you will find this post useful and if you have other ideas, please share them with me and help me update this post.

Follow my Crochet tips&tricks board on Pinterest to find other tips & tricks that will help you improve your crochet skills.

https://ro.pinterest.com/katerina6795/crochet-tipstricks/

Crochet tips and tricks February 17, 2018

Crochet tips & tricks: How to remake the foundation chain

When you are a crocheter, you want your projects to be perfect.

Happens very often, at the end of one beautiful project still to find some things that aren’t as you wished.

Also happens to realise at the end of the project that is a mistake at the beginning of it and you think that project is ruined and you have to start all over again.

Here is a trick on how to fix this: remake foundation chain.

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Let me tell you some problems that you can fix with this method:

A mistake at the beginning of your project when you are about to finish the item and don’t want to frog and start all over again
At the end of the project, after assembling all the parts, let’s say on a sweater, you realise that the sleeve is too long.
The foundation chain is too tight and your projects are waving.

And maybe there are more, but those are in my mind right now.

Ok, so now let me explain you how you can do this.

First, decide on which row you want to make this procedure and be sure that the stitches are facing you on the wrong side (the stitches are bumping a little when they are on the wrong side).

Then, with a tapestry needle, insert the yarn trough the bottom of the stitches of this row, like you see in the picture bellow.

Go with the needle trough each stitch of this row and pull the yarn trough those stitches.

After this step, all you have to do is to CUT the stitches from the row bellow and pull out all the little pieces of yarn until you have the row with the yarn trough stitches as your first row.

Try to leave a long tail at one edge to wave in at the end.

All the hard work is done now, and you can start now to remake the foundation chain.

How you make that? Easy.

At one end of the yarn that you inserted, make a slip knot and pull the other end until your slip knot is near the first stitch.

Maybe you also be interested in how to make the ripple double crochet.

Insert the hook in the loop, split the first 2 stitches and insert the hook underneath the inserted yarn, yarn over and pull the yarn trough the stitches and trough the loop on your hook.

Proceed the same between all the stitches to the end of the row. After finishing you have a new foundation chain

You can use this method to remake foundation chain when you want to make your project shorter or if you want to actually remake the initial foundation chain that is too tight.

If you want to fix some error at the beginning of your project, after cutting the rows that you wanted to get rid of them, you have to remake those rows.

You will proceed the same as for the remake foundation chain method above, only that instead of slip stitch you will make the stitch of your project, in my case double crochet.

Basically you will start to crochet in the opposite direction.

And this is it!! No more ruined projects from now on!!

As you know, bellow you will find the video tutorial.

Enjoy crochet!!!

If you liked this tutorial, save it for later in your pin list.

Crochet tips and tricks January 27, 2018

Crochet tips&tricks: Learn how to make the foundation double crochet.

Last week I made a post about how to make the foundation single crochet. This week is time to move forward and learn another stitch foundation. So, here I am with step by step instructions and video tutorial on how to make the foundation double crochet.

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You will see that is very easy and you will catch the thing right away.

Step 1

Chain 3.

Step 2

Yarn over and insert the hook in the first stitch that you’ve made. Yarn over and pull the yarn trough this stitch. Now you have 3 loops on your hook.

Step 3

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the first stitch. 3 loops on your hook.

Step 4

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the first 2 loops on your hook. 2 loop on the hook.

Step 5

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the last 2 loops on your hook. Well done! You just made your first foundation double crochet.

Let’s see how we will make the next one.

Step 6

Yarn over, turn your work and find the “v” stitch at the bottom of the foundation double crochet that you just made and insert the hook trough it. Yarn over and pull the yarn trough that “v”.

Step 7

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the first loop. 3 loops on your hook.

Step 8

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the first 2 loops on your hook.

Step 9

Yarn over and pull the yarn trough the last 2 loops on your hook.

And this is it: you just made the second foundation double crochet stitch. Repeat the steps until you will reach the desired length.

As you know, you will find bellow a video tutorial on how to make this.

If you liked this post save it for later.

When you are a crocheter, you want your projects to be perfect.

Happens very often, at the end of one beautiful project still to find some things that aren’t as you wished.

Also happens to realise at the end of the project that is a mistake at the beginning of it and you think that project is ruined and you have to start all over again.

Here is a trick on how to fix this: remake foundation chain.

Pentru postarea in limba romana, click aici

Let me tell you some problems that you can fix with this method:

A mistake at the beginning of your project when you are about to finish the item and don’t want to frog and start all over again

At the end of the project, after assembling all the parts, let’s say on a sweater, you realise that the sleeve is too long.

The foundation chain is too tight and your projects are waving.

And maybe there are more, but those are in my mind right now.

Ok, so now let me explain you how you can do this.

First, decide on which row you want to make this procedure and be sure that the stitches are facing you on the wrong side (the stitches are bumping a little when they are on the wrong side).

Then, with a tapestry needle, insert the yarn trough the bottom of the stitches of this row, like you see in the picture bellow.

Go with the needle trough each stitch of this row and pull the yarn trough those stitches.

After this step, all you have to do is to CUT the stitches from the row bellow and pull out all the little pieces of yarn until you have the row with the yarn trough stitches as your first row.

Try to leave a long tail at one edge to wave in at the end.

All the hard work is done now, and you can start now to remake the foundation chain.

How you make that? Easy.

At one end of the yarn that you inserted, make a slip knot and pull the other end until your slip knot is near the first stitch.

Maybe you also be interested in how to make the ripple double crochet.

Insert the hook in the loop, split the first 2 stitches and insert the hook underneath the inserted yarn, yarn over and pull the yarn trough the stitches and trough the loop on your hook.

Proceed the same between all the stitches to the end of the row. After finishing you have a new foundation chain

You can use this method to remake foundation chain when you want to make your project shorter or if you want to actually remake the initial foundation chain that is too tight.

If you want to fix some error at the beginning of your project, after cutting the rows that you wanted to get rid of them, you have to remake those rows.

You will proceed the same as for the remake foundation chain method above, only that instead of slip stitch you will make the stitch of your project, in my case double crochet.

Basically you will start to crochet in the opposite direction.

And this is it!! No more ruined projects from now on!!

As you know, bellow you will find the video tutorial.

Enjoy crochet!!!

If you liked this tutorial, save it for later in your pin list.