Crochet Shell Border

Often, there is an ending on a piece of work (scarf, hat, etc) that your doing that needs more flair to its edges. Therefore your piece of work would do with a border. One of my favorite borders to use, is the Shell border because of the rounded look it gives to a piece.

Crochet Shell Border

(The image above is a shell border on a crochet hat made out of white cotton yarn with a J size hook)

This border is very simple, in each crochet space single or double crochet (depending the size of the item you are crocheting) three to five times (once again, depending on the size of the item you are crocheting). Proceed to the next crochet space and continue until the row is complete.

Voila! A perfect way to finish the tops of socks, the ends of scarves, and the cuffs on mittens!

Loving Crochet Headband

Recently Ive fallen in love with headbands. Ive always found the little stray hairs that fall into my face particularly annoying but this cute and stylish solution is simple and easy!

Loving Crochet Headband

Required Materials:

Yarn

A crochet Hook

A sewing needle

Thread

A button

(For this headband I used Loops and Threads Super Fine Sock Yarn in "Redwoods: Color #5" and a "G" (4.25mm) hook)

Directions:

1. Ch 4

2. Sc 4, continue until approx. 11 1/2 inches long depending on head size 

(Note: This is the measurement for my head size, which is rather slightly smaller than average, therefore if you have a larger head size you should increase the length by 1/2 to 1 inches)

3. Using your sewing needle and thread sew the button of your choice to one side of the headband

(Note: I found buttons with four holes in their center versus 2 holes in the center to be more stable)

4. On the other side of the headband tie on a piece of your yarn into a circle in an appropriate size that can fit over your button

5. Viola! Your new headband is complete!

The Back-Loop Stitch

THE BACK-LOOP STITCH

As the winter season approaches its time to crochet those sweaters and socks! Therefore you should know how to "back-loop stitch". The back-loop stitch is tightly woven together but, because the new stitch hinges off the previous stitch, it very stretchable. Therefore this stitch is great for cuffs on sweaters, the tops of socks, or headbands.

Above is an image of how to would normally do a single crochet. The image below is how you would do a back-loop stitch. The main difference between these two types of stitching is that instead of using both loops from the previous crochet, you are only using the back-loop (You can also do front-loop stitching by only using the front loops)

If you are still having difficulty with which loop is the back loop, below is another image with the back-loop being held.

Now that you know which loop is being used you can being your crochet masterpiece! The back-loop stitch is completed as a normal single crochet would be. Good luck!

Crochet Legwarmers

To start, Happy Valentines Day! Anyway, I received this wonder baby alpaca yarn for Christmas and I've been dying to use it. Therefore because its quite chilly where here in Washington State I decided to make, the once again fashionable, legwarmers to keep from the cold! Its difficult choosing a pattern and none that I found really caught my eye. Therefore this very simple pattern is written by myself. Enjoy!

Items need:
Crochet Hook: Size J
Yarn: Knit Picks brand 100% baby alpaca yarn in "Fog Heather"*
*In this pattern I used two rounds (each round in 110 yards)

Crochet Legwarmers

Beginning Cuff-
Rnd One - Ch 7
Rnd Two - Back loop sc seven, sl st (Repeat Rnd Two for 25-30 rows depending on ankle/calf size)
Rnd Three - sl st closed

Calf -
To begin calf, turn cuff so one of the holes is facing towards you
Rnd One - In each blue space sc, over each red space ch 2, sl st to start Rnd Two

Rnd Two - 2 sc in each ch 2 space from previous Rnd, sc in each sc of previous Rnd, sl st to start next Rnd

Rnd Three - Ch 3, skip 2, sc in next three* (Repeat until entire Rnd is complete)

Rnd Four - 4 sc in each ch 3 space, ch 3* (Repeat until entire Rnd is complete)

Rnds Five - Thirty Five (Depending on calf length, you can shorten or continue Rnds)

Rnd Thirty Five - Where you would normal ch 3, ch 2 and where you would normally sc 4, sc 2 

Rnd Thirty Six - Repeat Rnd Thirty Five

Cuff Ending - 

Turn work, as to crochet alongside the calf piece

Rnd One - Ch 7 from your calf piece

Rnd Two - Back loop sc 7, this should bring you back to the main piece of work. Sl in ch 2 space* (Repeat this until you've made it around the circumphrence of the calf piece. 

Rnd Approx. 25-30 - Sl st work closed

Congratulations! You now have warm, comfortable legwarmers!