Crochet 101: The Basic Stitches

By Ashly Turner & Sharon Marie

Are you just beginning to learn to crochet? Or maybe it’s been a while and you need a quick refresher? Here’s a list of the basic crochet stitches and how to accomplish them.

The Chain Stitch (ch or chs)
The chain stitch is used to start most crochet projects and is the most basic stitch. Often times a group of chain stitches at the beginning of a project is referred to as a base chain, foundation chain, or starting chain.

Chain stitches are also used at the beginning or end of each row to facilitate in changing rows. This is called a turning chain.

Chains can also be used in combination with other stitches to create different effects, especially in lace.

To create a chain stitch:

Create a Slip Knot and place it on your hook

Yarn Over (YO) Wrap yarn Around hook

Pull Yarn through starting loop on hook

Repeat till you reach the desired length

The Slip Stitch (sl)
The slip stitch is also a very simple stitch that is often used to join rounds of stitches. Slip stitches can also be used in surface crochet to add color and designs to your base project.

To create a slip stitch:

Insert hook into desired stitch

Yarn Over (YO)

Pull through stitch and Loop on hook

The Single Crochet Stitch (sc)
The single crochet stitch is used often in crochet patterns. This is a tight stitch that is short in height.

To create a single crochet stitch:

In your starting chain inset hook into desired stitch

Yarn Over (YO) Wrap Yarn around hook

Pull yarn through stitch (2 loops on hook)

YO

Pull through both loops on hook

Your finished stitch

The Half Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)
The half double crochet stitch is also used often in crochet patterns. This stitch is slightly more loose and slightly taller than the single crochet stitch, but slightly tighter and shorter than the double crochet stitch.

To create a half double crochet stitch:

Yarn Over (YO) Wrap yarn around hook

Insert Hook into desired stitch

YO

Pull Yarn through stitch (3 Loops on hook)

YO

Pull through ALL 3 loops on hook

Your finished stitch

The Double Crochet Stitch (dc)
The double crochet stitch is a tall, textured stitch that has many uses in crochet patterns. The texture of the double crochet pattern combines well with other crochet stitches, making it a valuable stitch with unlimited way to use it.

To create a double crochet stitch:

Yarn Over (YO)

Insert Hook into desired stitch

YO

Pull through stitch (3 loops on hook)

YO

Pull through 2 Loops (2 loops on hook)

YO

Pull yarn through the 2 Loops on hook.

Your finished stitch

The Triple Crochet Stitch (Treble Crochet Stitch) (tr)
The triple or treble crochet stitch is a taller stitch than the double crochet stitch. It also requires a bit more effort to use versus the single, half double or double crochet stitches which are more fluid.

To create a triple crochet stitch:

Yarn Over (YO) Wrap yarn around hook 2 TIMES

Insert Hook into desired stitch

YO

Pull Yarn through stitch (4 Loops on hook)

YO

Pull yarn through 2 loops (3 Loops on hook)

YO

Pull through 2 Loops on hook (2 Loops on hook)

YO

Pull Yarn through the 2 loops on hook

Your finished stitch

Stay tuned for more Crochet 101 lessons!

Pinterest Tried & True: Chicken Wire Ghosts

By Sharon Marie

Photo from Pinterst

I love to decorate my house, for any occasion, but I’m not a huge fan of witches, or the color orange so Halloween was always a challenge. So what does one do when you are at a loss for ideas?? Pinterest of course!!!!

I loved these Chicken Wire Ghost dresses!!!

I set out to my local hardware store with my list of materials in hand. I was able to find everything I needed accept the glow in the dark spray paint. After countless stores I finally found it on Amazon.

Now if you have ever worked with Chicken Wire you know that it is very sharp when cut. Word to the wise… wear leather gloves and long sleeves!!!

I quickly found that this was really a two-person job and enlisted the help of my cousin.

It proved to be more difficult than we had planned, but were able to figure out the easiest way to work with the wire. We used two small bowls to help form the bust of the dress, formed the skirt and cut small pieces of chicken wire into scraggly tattered pieces attaching them with a thin-gauged wire. Hours later (yes we are a bit OCD) we were happy with out ghostly dresses.

We sprayed the creations with the Glow in the dark paint. And set them out in the yard. We impatiently waited for night to fall, only to be very disappointed. The dresses were not visible at all unless you were standing right next to them. We didn’t expect a super bright glow but this was pathetic.

The next morning I brought in the dresses and sprayed them with a plan white paint, let that dry and sprayed it with glow in the dark paint again. Once in the yard I waited for nightfall. Much Better!!!

My ghosts!

They didn’t Glow like a glow stick but they were visible enough to see from the street. They gave a ghostly presence in the yard. You could see them but not vividly, kind of like smoke out of the corner of your eye. PERFECT!!!!

The next morning I decide to give them even more of a spooky essence and hung them from the tree in my front yard. They swayed ever so slightly in the breeze, just the effect I was looking for!!!

My ghosts!

Here’s a list of the materials you’ll need:
Chicken wire
thin gauged wire
wire cutters
white spray paint
glow in the dark spray paint
leather gloves
pliers (for twisting the wire together)
drop clothe for painting

You can find a similar tutorial at Wacky Archives here.

This year, I’m making these two to add to the collection! Stay tuned!!

Image from Pinterest

Image from Besotted Blog

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