As we all know, crochet is a wonderful way to relax, make new friends, and create all kinds of practical items. As I started thinking about this, I thought about traditions. While we live in a world that is rapidly changing and we’re all learning how to embrace new ways of thinking and doing things there are still a few things we can honor along the way…through the art of crocheting.
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Invisible decreases are decreases that look like a normal stitches. If you are used to making traditional decreases, you’ll notice that the decreases are obvious and don’t always blend in with the rest of the work. Regular decreases do their job, but when you want the decreases to be less noticeable try using an invisible decrease! There’s an invisible hdc decrease in the next picture.

What’s that you say? You can’t see it? That’s because it’s invisible! Look again.

There it is, right next to the traditional hdc2tog. This decrease follows the same idea as the invisible sc decrease.
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Crochet enthusiasts everywhere may have a similar challenge when working on creative projects – tired hands and wrists. This is quite common actually, but we’re never instructed as to how to handle this particular issue.

Crochet, like any other daily activity, can create rigidity and discomfort in the hands and wrists. With this in mind, here are a few easy exercises to rejuvenate and relax both the hands and wrists.
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If the double treble just isn’t enough for you or your pattern, triple treble (trtr) stitches give you even more height.

To make a a trtr: yo (yarn over) 4 times, insert hook into next st, yo, pull up a loop, (yo, pull through two loops) 5 times.

Here’s the visual breakdown. You can hover over the pictures with your cursor to see the left hand view.

To start your triple treble, yarn over four times. Your work should look like this:

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What we wouldn’t give for a placemat or pot holder to not unravel on us while using it! Getting a thicker texture on some patterns isn’t always easy, even if the crochet hook size is perfect. We can achieve tighter stitches with a simple tug or two after each one is created, but how do we get a thicker texture from time to time?

Drum roll please…the answer is in the yarn. Yes, we can go out and buy some very thick yarn and thus, we will have thicker texture. But what about those of us who are on a tight budget and need to work with the yarn we already have, which is the average thickness?
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Linked double crochets are closer together than traditional double crochet stitches. The fabric they create is more dense and stiffer.

If you’re left handed, you can hover over the pictures with your cursor to see the left hand view.

Find the lower horizontal bar of the stitch. It’s actually slightly diagonal (more so if the preceding stitch is a traditional dc), but when you’re done, it will be more level and the resulting stitch will resemble two rows of single crochet.

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One of the most fun things to do with crochet is making appliqués. Whether it’s a beautiful little flower or a pair of bells, we just love to look at them and most of all, we love to create them.

However, there are times when we can make a few too many appliqués and we’re not sure what to do with all of them. Especially, if the crochet sweater or the crochet dish towel have reached their appliqué quota.
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Linking half double crochet stitches (and other stitches) eliminates the space between the stitches and creates a denser fabric. The stitch is simple to make and is great for when you need a tighter horizontal gauge.

If you’re left handed, you can hover over the pictures with your cursor to see the left hand view.

Start by finding the vertical thread at the left side (right, if you’re left-handed) of the stitch.

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One of my favorite things to do as a crocheter is to either tweak a pattern I’m working on or create a whole new pattern. It’s very gratifying to see a finished piece that I know I created all on my own.

Have you found yourself feeling the urge to create your own crochet patterns? If so, here are a few things to remember when creating your own patterns.
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The adjustable ring is a great method for starting crocheting in the round, but what about using it in the middle of projects or at the end? This tutorial shows you how to make an adjustable ring that you can use to create keyholes or other features within a project or add a finishing touch to your project.
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