In my last post, Focus on Fiber: Silk, I mentioned recycled sari silk as a fiber that is fun to crochet with. This week I’d like to share a unique pattern that looks great with sari silk, but would also work with many different types of fiber. This pattern will use a technique that involves crocheting with a Peruvian loom, which I will demonstrate in this tutorial.

A skein of recycled sari silk

Many of us are interested in multiple crafts. My first craft hobby was jewelry making, which I started at age 9! I loved making earrings for my friends and teachers. Ever since then, I’ve loved beads. There are many ways to make crocheted beads, but today we’ll focus upon making flat beads. Because beads are small, this can be an excellent way to use up yarn scraps, especially those of our most expensive and luxurious yarns!

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There are many ways to join crocheted pieces together. This tutorial will focus upon joining two granny squares together using slip stitches and the outside loops. This particular technique can be used to join any crocheted pieces together, including seams on garments or accessories. The resulting seam is very strong and will make your pieces look like they are sitting side by side. I like this seam for modular pillows, blankets, and bags.

For the purpose of this tutorial, I will be using pieces and joining yarn in contrasting colors. If all of the pieces and joining yarn are of the same color, this seam should be invisible. Yarn and hook size do not matter for this practice tutorial.

If you’d like to follow along step by step, you may first use the granny square crochet pattern to make two 2-round granny squares. Then use your remaining yarn and your hook to follow along. If you need to review the slip stitch, check out the slip stitch tutorial.

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I got the idea for this tutorial because I decided to participate in a “Monster Swap” with my local stitching group. I used a really cute pattern that called for “safety eyes.” To be honest, I’ve never used safety eyes, I didn’t know where to buy them, and frankly, I didn’t have time to buy them either.

This is a picture of all of our amigurumi creations together!

As a follow up to my two previous tutorials, How to Double Crochet Between Stitches, and How to Begin and End Rows while Double Crocheting between Stitches, this week we’ll focus upon how to crochet a flat circle while crocheting between stitches. For the purpose of practicing this skill, we’ll make a circular swatch in this tutorial. Yarn and hook size don’t matter for this practice swatch.
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I was very pleased with the response to my last tutorial, How to Double Crochet Between Stitches. Many people inquired about how to begin and end rows, so this week’s tutorial will focus upon just that. For the purpose of practicing this skill, we’ll make a small swatch in this tutorial. Yarn and hook size don’t matter for this practice swatch.
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One way of crocheting in the round is to chain 2 and then make a certain number of stitches into the 2nd chain from the hook (you can do so with any kind of crochet stitch–sc, hdc, dc, etc.–but for this tutorial, I’ll be using sc. This tutorial is for both right and left handed people. For left handed pictures, roll your mouse over the image and it will change for you. When you have the desired number of stitches and you join to the first single crochet, you’ll notice a little something–a hole! Right there in the middle. The way around this? The magic adjustable ring, a really simple technique that prevents a hole from appearing.

Making a magic adjustable ring only requires a few extra steps and will give your  in-the-round projects a smooth start. For this one in particular, I’ll make a magic adjustable ring with 5 single crochet stitches. read more »