Wear the colour you like or choose a colour whose meaning is how you want your day to go.
Pastel, primary, jewel or darks?
Pastels (lemon, lavender, mint green, baby pink and baby blue) are calming, soothing and non-confrontational. Pastels look good on babies and the elderly.
Primaries (red, yellow and blue) all stimulate the brain but in different ways.
Jewel colours (purple, teal, amber and ruby) are grown up and indicate confidence, up beat and positive vibes.
Dark colours suggest control and power. They can imply seriousness and subdued danger.
Red
Red is the colour of challenge, courage and sex. It says “Look at me” and that danger is near.
Red is stimulating and that is why it is the colour favoured in restaurants and good for your dining room because it stimulates conversation.
Orange
Orange is rude. It is a colour that suggests caution and be careful. If you wear orange you are sending the message that you are unpredictable and others should watch out. But that you are fun loving and unique.
Yellow
Yellow is the colour of sunshine and creativity it is a difficult colour to wear near your face as it reflects a yellow glow that is not always flattering.
Yellow’s message is one of inspiration and lateral thinking. Wearing yellow aids creative solutions to problems. It is a good color to wear when you want some fresh ideas to pop into your head.
Green
Green is the colour for peace and tranquility. It should be worn to calm and rejuvenate your psyche.
Mint green is calming but chartreuse suggests some spiky ideas running through your head.
Blue
Blue in its purest sense is what used to be called French blue and it is like a sapphire blue.
This is a strong color and the wearer is confident and fair. The darker the blue the stronger the person.
Pale blue is for young children or men’s formal shirts which are covered by grey or charcoal suits.
Indigo
Indigo is a colour for getting things done it works well for men and women. It is confident and casual at the same time. Think dark denim jeans which are both smart and casual.
Violet
Violet is the colour of originality. If you wear violet you are stating that you are your own man or woman and will do your own thing in life. Violet in home furnishing can be wild flowers and heathery creamy violets work well.
White
White looks good on just about anyone. A sharp white blouse is a wardrobe staple. White next to your face in blouses or shirts is flattering to all complexions.
Black
Black is a serious city color. Most people can wear black and be taken seriously. Black pants are a woman’s wardrobe staple.
Brown
Brown is a color to wear when you are feeling down and want to hide from life. It is a colour for doing nothing in. It indicates you may be forlorn or pining for days gone by. It can be a sign of depression and if you wear brown it will make you feel browned off and life weary.
Grey
Grey is a colour that wants to blend into the background. It is a non confrontational colour and suggests the wearer is passive and will conform to the will of others. It is a colour that wants peace and quiet.
Typically the pattern will call for a chain of say, 40 or 100 chains, and the first row is built on the base chain.
In the chain-less cast-on method there is no chain.
I have also heard of this being called the chain less starting (crochet stitch) method CShdc, CSdc etc. which I may incorporate soon if that is the general term.
The chain-less cast on technique is used without a base chain so it provides some give in the item as a base chain can pull if not loose enough. Any tightness is only noticeable when you have worked up more of the item.
The first row is actually the base row and indicated as Row 1: on all patterns.
Row 1: 3 ch,
yarn over, insert hook in first ch (but both loops),
pull through (3 loops on hook),
yarn over, insert hook into bottom stitch two “V” and pull through (3 loops on hook),
make 1 dc as normal inserting hook into both loops of previous loop pulled through.
Each new double crochet is started in the one loop pulled through from the two on the base.
Continue for as many double crochets as required.
Where to use the chain-less cast-on
This is great for waistbands on skirts and shorts. It also goes well for bag handles and straps for summer tops.
I don’t use it all the time but it does result in a really nice edge that has give and does not pull. In a way it is forgiving and I like that.
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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Make your garment the same size as the pattern intended
Gauge swatches are usually made 4” or 10cm square. They are used to check your tension.
The pattern will tell you which hook and yarn to use, but in the real world we often reach for some wool that we have to hand and this may work up either too big or too small than the pattern intended.
What you do is make a gauge swatch or a tension square.
Too small or too big?
If the swatch is too small then you should use a larger hook.
If the swatch is too big then you should use a smaller hook.
The idea is to use the hook that results in the same measurements as the original pattern.
When to do a gauge swatch
Size and tension matters more in garments that have to fit like clothes rather than blankets or throws which are still ok if they are a little bigger or smaller.
When you start a new pattern always do a test swatch to make sure you will have the correct size at the end.
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.
Many crochet projects use pattern and color to add to the beauty of the item
Crochet excels at being flexible and there are so many patterns and color ways to choose from it can become overwhelming at times.
Knowing when to use either pattern or color is important to the aesthetic integrity of your item.
It is not usual to mix pattern and color changes together in the same garment.
When to use pattern stitches
Use a pattern stitch with a yarn that is a plain solid color.
Use a pattern stitch for a garment that is one color all over.
Do not use pattern with a variegated yarn and do not use pattern with multiple colors as you can’t see the beauty of the pattern in amongst the color changes.
An example of pattern over color is this intricate white square.
When to use color combinations
Color is best used on plain stitch items where the stitches are all the same and the color changes and combinations add to the beauty of the item.
An example of color over pattern stitches is the granny square.
By spending some time choosing your color and patterns wisely you can vastly improve your handcrafted crocheted items.
Pastel, primary, jewel or darks?
