Crochet Instruction Guide 1

This will hopefully be the first in a sequence of instruction guides for some basic, and some not so basic, crochet stitches.

Firstly the apologies .... I'm not that proficient with my videoing yet, so sorry for disappearing out of frame occasionally, hopefully that doesn't detract too much.  Also, I'm still working up to narration - so I have subtitled :)

I use US terms for stitches, since I think they make more sense - even though I am from the UK!!

I start off with single crochet (known as double crochet in the UK), then half-double & double stitches.  I also show front post and back post crochet stitches - in this video they are double stitches.  Then to finish I have shown a popcorn stitch.

I hope this video is useful, feel free to comment on this video or request further stitch instruction.

Crocodile stitch

I ran out of yarn again, so I thought I'd make myself useful and show you how I am making the shawl and update progress.

I've captured a few stills from my video below to explain what I am doing - I'm not confident enough to speak on my videos yet ... I'm working up to that, you can just enjoy the birdsong and not have to listen to me droning on.

A crocodile stitch is created over two rows, a row of triangles (created by  DC, CH, DC in a single chain space) and then the second row creates the crocodile scales by working into these triangles.  The image below shows the triangles row.  To get to the overlapping scales look you skip one triangle and work into the next.

The stitches are worked around the posts of the DC stitches of the triangle.  Each half of the scale is 6 DC stitches.

Once the 6 DC are worked, then you need to work 6 more DC round the second DC of the triangle. 

I find that if I fold the rest of the work under so that I am just holding the stitch I am working around it is easier.

When you have done the second 6 DC you have created your crocodile stitch scale - ta da!

And here it is as a video, you get a great view of my chubby hands .... enjoy (I don't think Stephen Spielberg has anything to worry about)

This is how far I have got with my shawl so far ... I think another 10 or so rows should do it once I have spun up enough yarn.

How to do Trinity Stitch

I was reviewing my instructions for crochet trinity stitch and thought it would be so much better if I could show it ... and then remembered that my (very) old compact camera has a video mode, so it has no audio but at least I can show what I am doing.

This is my first attempt at making a crochet video ... so sorry the quality isn't exactly brilliant.  Hopefully its good enough for you to see what is happening.

A trinity stitch is (oddly enough) made over 3 stitches.  It can be made over any number of odd stitches (+1 for your turning chain).   Start your work with the base chain as follows.

Using US Notation.

SC into the second CH from hook

Then working into this same chain, insert your hook and draw up a loop, keep the loop on your hook and work into the next 2 chains in the same manner, inserting your hook & drawing up a loop - you will have 4 loops on your hook when you finish.  You have worked into 1 previously worked chain and 2 new ones.  Then yarn over and draw through all 4 loops. 

Chain 1.

Then repeat this across your work until the last chain.  When you have worked your last trinity, do not chain this time, but work another SC into the last chain of the trinity.

The little video that follows shows how you continue to work.

The movie should be viewed in conjunction with these written instructions.   

On your second and subsequent rows you start with a turning chain. 

Then working into the last SC from the previous row work 1 SC 

Working into the SC just worked, insert hook and draw up a loop, insert your hook into the next stitch and draw up a loop, and again for the third stitch.  You now have 4 loops on your hook, yarn over and pull through all 4 loops.  (You worked into 1 previously worked stitch and 2 unworked stitches.)

CH1

Continue across the work in this manner, creating 1 trinity stitch followed by a CH until you get to the last trinity.

With the last trinity you will see that you have 2 unworked stitches to reach the end of your row plus the already worked last stitch of the previous trinity.  So working as before.

Insert the hook into the last worked stitch and draw up a loop, insert the hook into the next 2 stitches drawing up loops.  4 loops on your hook, yarn over and draw through all 4 loops.

This time do not make another chain, but work 1 SC into the last stitch of the last trinity.