Entrelac crochet is a method of working on the side of previously crocheted pieces. The rows go in different directions and not just straight up. It creates an interesting piece and is strong. This method is usually done with color as the defining result.
Fair Isle crochet
Fair isle crochet is similar to Fair Isle knitting. Each row is worked with two colors and they change throughout the row to make designs in color. Each row has two different colors and the colors change every few rows.
For example:
Row 1: Red and blue
Row 2: Red and green
Row 3: Green and blue
But because each row only has two colors that sets the thickness of the finished item. The Fair Isles are in Scotland and women shepherdesses would tend their flocks of sheep with crochet hooks and balls of wool in their pockets. They would walk the highlands on foot working their crochet as they went.
Filet crochet
Filet crochet is a French type of crochet created in squares. The finished piece looks like a grid with open and closed spaces. The combination of open and closed results in flat pictures of roses or swans or whatever.
Filet designs were originally used to make lace curtains to cover cottage windows. These days filet crochet is used for table cloths, place mats and can be hung as art.
Filet crochet can be done in the round and resultss in beautifully intricate designs.
Tapestry crochet
Tapestry crochet is used to make thick baskets and rugs. It is a sturdy technique and the items are very firm.
You use several colored threads at once, working with one color and carrying the rest along the top of the row being worked. This makes each row very thick.
Color is changed on a stitch by stitch basis. Bowls are a good example of tapestry crochet.
Tunisian crochet
Tunisian crochet is also referred to as afghan crochet. For Tunisian crochet you use a special hook (called a Tunisian crochet hook), which typically has a crochet hook at one end and is as long as a knitting needle and has a knitting needle stop end at the other. So really it is like a knitting needle but with a hook and not a point.
Below are my two favourite Tunisian crochet hooks, (in my size 5mm as usual), and these have hooks at both ends opening up the possibilities for advanced Tunisan crochet work.
Tunisian crochet hooks come in all the same sizes as regular crochet hooks. With Tunisian crochet you carry many stitches at once on forward rows and hook them off on the backward rows.
Tunisian crochet makes a very thick fabric and is normally used for blankets, cushions, bags and soft furnishings.
Tunisian crochet is like a combination of crochet and knitting all in one. It is an advanced technique. Tunisian crochet can be combined with entrecôte crochet.
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Reading a written crochet pattern assumes many things.
Such as:
That you can read English
That you use either UK or USA stitch names
That the pattern is written correctly
That the pattern instructions are clear
Let’s look at each one by itself.
It assumes that – you speak English
I speak English as probably you do to as you are reading this. But I also like to use patterns from other countries.
I think the Japanese crochet diagrams are the best. They are clear and precise and I don’t have to read Japanese to use the patterns.
Likewise, if I design a crochet garment and I only write the pattern in English words, then other world wide crocheters can’t read my work.
I want my designs to be used by all crocheters and that is why I write the pattern in English and draw the crochet stitch diagram to go with it.
Almost every pattern on my site and my books are both written and have a diagram.
It assumes that – you know the difference between a UK or USA stitch
The difference between UK and USA crochet stitches and why the diagram is clear.
The UK double crochet and treble crochet are the same as the USA single crochet and double crochet.
The actual stitch is the same but the name of the stitch is different.
Double Crochet (USA) is the same as Treble Crochet (UK)
Yarn over hook (two loops on hook)
Insert hook into stitch below.
Yarn over hook, and pull through stitch below (three loops on hook)
Yarn over hook, pull through two loops (two loops remain on hook).
And then, yarn over hook, pull through two loops (two loops remain on hook).
Yarn over hook, pull through last two loops (one loop remains on hook).
It assumes that – the pattern is written correctly
In a written crochet pattern there are lines of code for the pattern rows. Such as:
RSF R1, yoh (rep5.) 3tr, 2ch 1FPst (rep. from * to * 8 times) turn.
Now in the above sentence (if it is a sentence), any error in the typing (a typo) will create an error in the pattern. And the crafter will not be able to complete the garment because she can’t read the pattern.
In a long pattern with motives, sections and finished borders there could be over 100 lines of pattern instruction. One line will create a problem and often there are two or three errors in a pattern.
This makes the whole job a frustration and the crocheter may give up and (this is the worse part), tell others that your patterns are always incorrect and they should avoid them.
This is not good if you are in the business of selling patterns.
It assumes that – the instructions are clear
There comes a time in written crochet patterns when they will benefit from more explanation. This is achieved by expanding on the instructions and writing instructions in plain English.
We can all do with clarity at times. And crochet patters are no exception.
If a pattern is too hard to understand because of how it is written then it will not work. That pattern is no good.
Crochet diagrams symbols
Diagram symbols
In diagram a there is one symbol for every stitch.
Chain
Slip stitch
Double crochet
Treble crochet
Each symbol is drawn separately.
Diagram rows
Each row is numbered.
Every row has an arrow indicating which way the row is worked. Either left to right, right to left or in the round.
Typically each Rosie drawn in a different color so you ca clearly see which row you are on. Here I use black and blue to separate the rows.
Benefits of crochet pattern diagrams
A picture is worth a thousand words. And this is true of crochet diagrams.
Uses left brain of visual imagery.
Designer can be non-native English speaker.
The diagram can be read by everyone on earth.
Clarity uses less space. One page for each project.
If you are a pattern designer and most of us are, and I certainly am, you need to name each pattern
I find the main trend is to name things after girls names like Jessica’s hat and Megan’s hat. But in the end there are so many Jessica’s hats that it gets confusing.
Let me share with you some ideas on naming your crochet items so they add value to your goods and they start to sell themselves.
Naming the names
I’ve always been a stickler for names and naming things correctly as I believe that the names you have and use impart some of the meaning to the items or person.
It is often the case that Mr. Woods is a gardener and Mrs. Draper is in fact a draper. These are last names and the root for most last names is from the trades the people performed way back.
Choosing a good name for your patterns may take a bit of thought, but it is worth it. There is no hard and fast rule on how to do this, however, you will know when you have the best name for your patterns.
Maybe you are into gemstones, so you name you patterns the Emerald Earwarmer or the Beryl Bag.
Or perhaps you like dogs, so you name your items the Labrador Lacy Legwarmer and the Pretty Poodle Purse. It doesn’t matter what you choose really, but that the names mean something to you, and they are not another Jessica’s hat.
Old English Creations Pattern names
Because I have the crochet name of Old English Creations I decided to name my patterns after the counties in England and other villages, towns and cities I have visited.
Most of our patterns come with a little snippet from Merry Old England and elsewhere and are named after places we have lived.
County
An English county is like a U.S. State or a Canadian or South African province.
There is no rhyme or reason but I thought it was a good way to move from your Jessica hat and the next persons Jessica’s hat.
But let me tell you a secret.
The first pattern is named Lancashire for a reason that Lancashire is my home county. I was born there and it will always have a special jam place in my heart.
But.
Because I make shawls and wraps there is an old folk song about Lancashire shawls.
Here goes…
The Lassie from Lancashire
She’s a lassie from Lancashire
Just a lassie from Lancashire.
She’s a lassie from Lancashire
Oh, so, dear.
Though she dresses in clogs and shawls,
She’s the prettiest of them all.
None could be rarer, or fairer, than Sarah,
The lassie from Lancashire.
As I start this blog and get things going I may live to regret this decision (to name things as above), but that will be a thought for another day and for now I like the plan and will keep to it.
Tunisian crochet hooks come in all the same sizes as regular crochet hooks. With Tunisian crochet you carry many stitches at once on forward rows and hook them off on the backward rows.
