How do I make hairpin crochet?
Learn this lacy technique…
Set your hairpin loom so that the pins are 10cm apart. The following steps will show you how to work hairpin lace. Please note that the instructions in the pattern on
page 27 require you to offset the line of dc sts, so that there is 2cm to the right of the dc ‘spine’ and 8cm to the left.
Make a slipknot on your hook, leaving a long tail.
Step 1 With the hook in front of the loom, take the yarn around the right prong and to the back-left of the loom.
Step 2 Yrh and pull through the slipknot. Tighten the slipknot. You will have made your first hairpin loop around the right prong. Keep the hook as central as you can, between the two prongs, as you work.
Step 3 Keeping the working loop on the hook, lift hook up and over the right prong, so it’s at the back of the loom. You can let go of the hook, but keep tension on the yarn.
Step 4 Turn the loom over anti-clockwise (lifting the RH side of the loom towards you) so the yarn wraps around what was the left prong (this becomes the right prong) and runs across the back of the loom.
Step 5 Your first hairpin loop will now be around the left prong. Insert the hook into this loop.
Step 6 Yrh and pull up a loop (2 loops on now on the hook).
Step 7 Yrh and pull through the 2 loops on the hook – this will form a dc stitch and secure your second hairpin loop around the right prong. Try to keep the dc stitches in the centre between the two prongs – use the mark on the bar piece to help you.
Step 8 Repeat Steps 3-7 to make more loops. As you work, a delicate zigzagging ladder of dc stitches appears. Once the loom is full of hairpin loops, you’ll need to take some off to make room for more. Before you do this, secure the loops by inserting a length of spare yarn on the inside of each prong, using a tapestry needle or hook.
Step 9 Carefully remove the bottom bar and slide off the loops. If you’re continuing the strip, leave 3 loops in place on each prong to aid continuity, then replace the bottom bar and continue to make more loops.
Step 10 Once your strip is finished, fasten off as usual to secure the final loop. Secure the loops with spare yarn and slide all the loops off. Now you’ll be ready for edging or joining.