How to Crochet Shell Edging

February 5, 2016 · 15 Comments

How to Crochet Shell Edging is the first in a series of 4 tutorials I am writing about different crochet edgings. If you hang around to the end of the series, there will be a free pdf printable of these edgings plus 2 more!

Edgings can be used to decorate all kinds of things, from baby blankets to headbands to crocheted bags. They can be even be added to things that are not crocheted, like hand towels and tea towels as a pretty trim. Heavier weight yarn will give a chunky effect. For something lighter and lacier, you could use embroidery thread and a tiny hook.

Shell edging, also known as scalloped edging is one of my favourites! It looks lovely and it’s very easy to do.

How to Crochet Shell Edging

Please be aware that being British I have used British crocheting terms!

The edge that you are adding the shells to will need to have a number of stitches divisible by 3.

1. Make 1 chain, then skip the chain and the next 2 stitches.

2. Into the third stitch, crochet 5 trebles.

3. Skip the next 2 stitches. Into the third stitch, make 1 double crochet.

4. Skip the next 2 stitches. Into the third stitch, crochet 5 trebles.

As you can see, the 5 trebles into 1 stitch is what makes the shell pattern.

5. Skip the next 2 stitches, then into the third stitch make 1 double crochet.

Keep going in this way until you get to the end or, if you are crocheting in the round, back to the start.

Instead of a double crochet into the last stitch, slip stitch. If you are crocheting in the round, slip stitch into the first chain of the round.

I used shell edging on this little bowl to pretty it up! The tutorial for the bowl can be found here.

How do you like to use crocheted edgings?

A Crocheted Bowl Pattern

January 26, 2016 · 12 Comments

A Crocheted Bowl Pattern is the 4th in a series of posts I’ve been writing about storage ideas that you can make quickly and easily! If you haven’t seen the previous posts in this series, you might like to check them out.

A Drawstring Bag From a Pillowcase

Nesting Fabric Storage Boxes

Storage Bag With Pockets

This little crocheted bowl is worked in a circle using double and treble crochet. The edge of the bowl is finished with picot edging.

To make a larger bowl, you could either use heavier weight yarn and a larger hook, or when making the base of the bowl, you can continue increasing for more rounds instead of just 8, then continue with the pattern.

How to Make a Crocheted Bowl

Please be aware that being English I have used British crocheting terms! At the end of each round, join the last stitch to the first with a slip stitch.

Make 4 ch, join with ss OR make a magic ring.

1. 6 dc into the ring. Join with ss.

2. 1 ch, then *2 dc into next st* 6 times. 12 stitches.

3. 1 ch, then *1 dc into next st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 18 stitches.

4. 1 ch, then *1 dc into next st, 1 dc into next st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 24 stitches.

5. 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 3 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 30 stitches.

6. 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 4 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 36 stitches.

7. 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 5 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. Join with ss. 42 stitches.

8. 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 6 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 46 stitches.

9. 1 ch, then 1 dc into each stitch.

10. 1 ch, then 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 7 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 54 stitches.

11. 1 ch, then 1 dc into each stitch.

12. 1 ch, then 1 ch, then *1 dc into each of next 8 st, 2 dc into next st* 6 times. 60 stitches.

13. 1 ch, then 1 dc into each stitch.

14. Repeat row 13.

15. 2 ch, then 1 tr into each stitch.

16. 1 ch, then 1 dc into each stitch.

17. Repeat row 15.

18. Repeat row 16.

19. This row makes the shell edging. 2 ch, then 4 tr into 3rd st from hook, *1 dc into 3rd stitch along, 5 tr into next 3rd stitch along* until the edging has been made all the way round.

Cut yarn and weave in ends.

I’m going to be using my little crocheted bowl for all the bits of Lego that find their way into the washing machine!

I used this yarn from Hobbycraft and a 3.5 mm crochet hook from this set from Amazon. These are affiliate links.

Learn How to Crochet Part 3: Trebles (US Double Crochet)

November 24, 2015 · 1 Comment

This is the third in a series of posts for people who want to learn to crochet. If you haven’t already, before jumping in with trebles, you might want to take a look at the two previous posts.

How to Crochet Chains

How to Crochet Double Crochet (US SIngle Crochet)

Before you can learn how to crochet trebles, you will need to know how to crochet chains. If you don’t know how to crochet chains yet, you’ll need to learn to do that first!

How to Crochet Trebles

1. Crochet some chains. 10 – 15 will be enough for practising.

2. Put the yarn over the hook, then insert the hook into the 4th chain from the hook. These 3 chains will count as the first stitch, and you will need to work three chains at the end of every row, as the treble is a tall stitch.

3. Put the yarn over the hook again and pull it through. You will now have 3 loops on the hook.

4. Put the yarn over the hook once again and pull it through the two nearest loops on the hook. You will have 2 loops left on the hook.

5. Put the yarn over the hook once more and pull it through the two remaining loops. You have just made a treble!

6. Put the yarn over the hook and insert the hook into the next chain. Repeat from Step 3.

Keep going in this way until you reach the end of the row.

Then work 3 chains. These are your turning chains and will count as the first stitch.

Turn your work over. Put the yarn over the hook, miss out the chains and the first proper stitch, and insert the hook underneath the v of the next stitch. Put the yarn over the hook again and pull it through.

Then continue as you did with the previous row. Put the yarn over the hook again and pull it through the 2 nearest loops. Yarn over the hook once more and pull it through the last 2 remaining loops.

Tips To Help You Remember:

Putting the yarn over the hook is the first step in working the stitch. So remember to do this before you stick the crochet hook anywhere.

The first loop is the one that is already on the hook. The 2nd and 3rd are made by putting the yarn round the hook, firstly before putting the hook through the stitch, then again when you have pulled the yarn back through.

The loops are worked off the hook in 2 lots of 2.

Next time I’ll be showing you how to work half trebles!

Learn How to Crochet Part 2: Double Crochet (US Single Crochet)

November 16, 2015 · 1 Comment

This is the second in a series of posts for people who are new to crocheting.

If you you are a total beginner, you might like to have a look at this post here about crocheting chain stitch. You need to know how to do that first!

If you know how to crochet chains and you want to learn how to do a double crochet, then you are in the right place!

This however is where it gets slightly confusing. Double crochet to British people is what Americans call single crochet. I am English so I will be using English terms. So if you are American and you’re reading this, I mean single crochet.Ok?

How To Do Double Crochet

1. Make some chains. For practising, 10 – 15 chains should be enough.

2. Insert the hook into the 3rd chain from the hook. The chains that you have missed out will count as the first stitch.3. Put the yarn round the hook and pull it through. You should have 2 loops on the hook.

4. Wrap the yarn round the hook again. You will now have 3 loops on the hook.

5. Pull the last loop (ie the one closest to the hook) through the other 2 loops.

You have just done 1 double crochet!

6. Put the hook into the next chain and repeat steps 3 – 5. Keep going until you run out of chains.

7. To start the next row of double crochets, make 1 chain. This is the turning chain that allows you to turn your work around and start again at this end. It will also count as the first stitch.

8. Insert the hook into the 2nd stitch from the hook. It needs to be underneath both bits of the v.

So you are missing out the chain that you just made and the last double crochet of the previous row. All your rows will need to start in this way.

9. Put the yarn over the hook and pull it through, then yarn over the hook again and pull it through both the loops. So you are just repeating steps 3 – 5 but inserting the hook through the v of the stitches of the previous row instead of chains.

That’s the stitch completed!

For the next stitch, put the hook through the next v and work the stitch in the same way as the previous ones.

This is 2 rows of double crochet…

And 3 rows.

Learn How to Crochet Part 1: Chain Stitch

October 29, 2015 · 3 Comments

Over the next few weeks I’ll be publishing a series of posts aimed at absolute crochet beginners. I post crochet projects quite often but it occurred to me that there might be people who would like to know how to crochet a treble before being told crochet a treble round a stitch post.

I also thought it would be fun to try out some video tutorials! So you can watch the video first or go straight to the written instructions.

How to Crochet Chain Stitch

Chain stitch is the foundation of all the crochet, ever. Before you start to do any other kind of stitches, you have to make some chains first to do the stitches into. Chains allow you to turn the thing you are working on round at the end of a row and it is also the chains between the stitches that give some crochet designs a lacy kind of look.

1. Tie a slip knot.

2. Pull the loop on the hook. There needs to be enough room to get the hook in and out of the loop. If you can’t do this easily it’s probably too tight. You don’t want it too loose either though, or you’ll end up with holes where you don’t want them!

3. Wrap the yarn round the hook, from back to front. You now have 2 loops on the hook.

4. Pull the 2nd loop (the one you made by wrapping the yarn over the hook) through the 1 st loop (that you made by tying a slip knot). You now have 1 loop on the hook again.

Congratulations, you have just made a chain!

5. Now wrap the yarn round the hook again, and pull this loop through the first one.

Keep going like this until you have as many chains as you need!

Stick around for part 2 where I will be showing how to crochet double crochet (or single crochet if you are American 🙂 ).