Crochet Basic Stitches

This is two crochet playlists that provide the basic steps needed to learn crochet.  The first playlist is for the right hand.  The second playlist is for the left hand.  Each will provide an amount of slow motion, along with an option to reverse the video player when you want to see a specific step more than once.

I recommend practicing with the basic stitches when you are new to crochet. This will also help those of you who have stepped away for a while and refresh your memory.  Practicing the basics will make it easier when trying more advanced techniques.  We all have a different learning speed. Some will catch on faster than others, which is normal.  The key is to keep practicing, until you experience those ah-ha, moments.  The times when you shout, "Oh, it makes sense now"!

There is no right or wrong, as long as it stays together and you like it. If it falls apart, that just means you missed a step or two. This happens to everyone.  There are many different ways to achieve the same outcome when creating your masterpiece.

When I complete a project, I like to set my work aside for a couple weeks and then look at it again.  You will notice a different perspective from when you are in the middle of the project, to some time passing and you forgot about some the challenges along the way.  So if you forget, others will never even notice.

Practice is key and try not to be critical of yourself.  Imperfection creates the illusion of perfection.

+Crochet Geek




Left Hand Crochet

How do you turn crochet into Art - What are your thoughts?

What is Art?  Art is an interpretation of something, adding your own unique twist.

It is a fact that fiber stitches and patterns have been around for generations. There are thousands of libraries of stitches from around the world, found on the Internet.  When you look at paint, the paint strokes and brushes have been around for generations as well.  Nothing unique about paint or brushes.  Look at the words in dictionary,  they are all the same.  What is unique about words?

One of my favorite activities is spending time with nature, at the beach.  I was out on the Tybee Island pier one day and these two young men were doing something in the sand with a rake. At first glance, I thought they may be maintenance people. The closer I got, I realized they were drawing something in the sand. Is it possible that sand is art?  Does anyone remember the bottles of sand?  Some have detailed images, where others were simply different layers of colored sand.  Here is a video example of sand art.

Without a doubt, there is nothing unique about sand or the rake in their natural state.  It was the final outcome that turned their sand and words into art, using a rake.  They took initiative to form words, by moving around grains of sand.  The two young men who did this sand art, added the unique element and made it different from the rest of the sand.

This is my expression of crochet art, using a common set of stitches to make a hat and what I consider ugly yarn using a felting technique. It is not my intentions to offend anyone who likes the yarn in the state it was sold.  If I saw someone in public with this yarn, I am not going to run to the other side of the street because they are wearing it.  This is what makes us unique.  We like different things and different ways to use it, adding that unique element, to make something stand out from everything else, creating a "one of a kind".

Crochet Star Sirius

Crochet Star Sirius

Written by Teresa Richardson
+Crochet Geek 
Video Tutorial:  Crochet Star Sirius

Video Tutorial:  Crochet Star Sirius Left Hand

Skill Level - Beginner Advanced

Abbreviations
DC - Double Crochet
HDC - Half Double Crochet
CH - Chain
SL ST - Slip Stitch

Materials
Size I/5.5 mm crochet hook - will work with different size hooks
4 ply yarn
Tapestry Needle

Joined Single Crochet - Insert your hook through the stitch, wrap the yarn over, pull through, there will be 2 loops on the hook, insert your hook in the next stitch, wrap the yarn over pull through,  wrap the yarn over pull through all 3 loops.

Chain 3, join

Round 1: 3 HDC, Chain 2, 5 times around, Join with a half double crochet to end at the center.

Round 2: CH 1, 3 HDC in the same space, CH 1, 3 HDC in the same space, work a joined SC over the 1st and 3rd stitch on the previous round. Continue around, join with a slip stitch to the first stitch.

Round 3: SL ST to the 2nd HDC, CH 1, HDC in the same and next stitch, In the CH 1 space, work 3 HDC, CH 2, 3 HDC, work 2 HDC in ea of the next 2 stitches. Work a joined SC in the last and first stitch, continue around, join with the first stitch.

Round 4:  SL ST to the 2nd HDC, CH 1, DC in the same and in each of the next 3 stitches, In the CH 1 space, work 3 DC, CH 2, 3 DC, work 2 DC in ea of the next 2 stitches. Work a joined SC in the last and first stitch, continue around, join with the first stitch.

Crochet Flower Primus

Crochet Flower Primus

Written by Teresa Richardson
+Crochet Geek 
Video Tutorial:  

Video Tutorial: 

Skill Level - Easy

Abbreviations
DC - Double Crochet
SC - Single Crochet
CH - Chain
SL ST - Slip Stitch

Materials
Size H/5 mm crochet hook
4 ply yarn - 9-14 WPI 
Scrap yarn will work
Tapestry Needle

Chain 5, join
Round 1: Work 12 Double Crochet through the chain. This is working around the chain.  Join with the beginning stitch.

Round 2: Work a single crochet around the post of the previous double crochet. *Chain 3, skip a stitch, Work a single crochet around the post of the next stitch.  Continue around from *.  There will be a total of 6 chain 3 loops.

Round 3: *Work 7 DC through the chain,  SC in the next stitch(single crochet on previous round), continue around from *, join with the beginning stitch.  (6 petals with 7 double crochet in each petal)

Round 4: *Work 2 SC in the first stitch, work 2 DC in each of the next 5 stitches, 1 SC in the next stitch , slip stitch between continue around from *, join with the beginning stitch. (6 petals with SC at beginning and end of the petal, 10 double crochet between)

Equality in Crochet Designing - Guerrilla Granny Bullying

I have been told numerous times that I didn't make or create what I made and someone else did. Even though they are hiding behind an alias so I have no idea who they are.  I did create what I made as my interpretation of crochet.  I thought about it and decided, let say that statement is true.

If everyone looked at all this designing as our ancestors, who are all dead by now, created the designs; then we are free to do what we want to do. It has already been done. Every living crocheter is copying what our deceased ancestors have already done.  It seems like we would be on equal ground.

No one owns any of the crochet designs, shapes, ideas, techniques, sets of stitches, crochet stitches or library of stitches.  Designing is an interpretation.   You only own your interpretation and body of work. Anything more would be like saying you own air.

It is not moral or ethical for anyone to suppress creativity and deploy Guerrilla Granny Bullying to push an agenda that benefits them.  We are always told what we can't do and may take it at face value. So its time to come out of the invisible prison. I encourage all of you to do research and draw your own conclusions.  Rules by a few are created to prevent a segment of the population from moving forward and changing for the better.   I am very proud of those who challenge the status quo regarding intellectual property and crochet.