MASTERCLASS
Essential crochet skills which will be useful for every knitter
KNITTING AND crochet are two distinct crafts, but there are a few crochet techniques which can prove invaluable to knitters. Occasionally, patterns in The Knitter incorporate small crochet details, such as edgings, trims or cast-offs. To a complete beginner, these techniques might seem daunting, but most are very simple. Here we will go through the basic stitches which you might need for a crochet provisional cast-on or cast-off, or to create a simple crochet edging, button loop, or a reinforced edge for your steeked projects.
Note that although our step-by-step photos show these stitches being worked into crochet fabric, the same concepts apply when working with knitted fabric. We also use UK crochet terms throughout.
THE BASICS
Working a chain (ch)
This simple crochet step forms the basis of crochet stitches and will make the foundation row. To start, make a slip knot and secure it onto your crochet hook.
1 Hold the hook and yarn end in your right hand, and the working yarn in your left hand. Move the hook under and over the yarn to wrap it around anti-clockwise. 2 Pulling the hook towards the knot, and catching the yarn in the hook, pull it through the loop. This forms the first chain stitch. Repeat steps 1 and 2 to form a chain. 3 This is what your row of chains will look like. Hold the chain with your right hand near the hook, to keep the tension. Keep going until you have the number of chains stated in your pattern.
4 Each chain or loop counts as one stitch. Do not count your slip knot or the loop on the hook. For accuracy, ensure the chain is not twisted and that the front is facing you - this looks similar to knit stitches on the RS, while the back resembles purl bumps.
Working slipped stitches (ss)
5 You can make a slip stitch in any chain or stitch, to join this stitch to the working loop on the hook. To make a slipped stitch simply insert the hook into the stitch instructed, from front to back. 6 Catch the ball end of the yarn with the hook, so the yarn wraps anti-clockwise around it (yarn round hook or yrh). 7 Gently pull the hook and the yarn wrapped around it back towards the two loops on the crochet hook. Draw the yarn through both the loops on the hook. 8 This will finish the stitch, and you’ll see how the slip stitch has joined the working loop to the chain or stitch you inserted the hook into. You can also use slip stitch to form a neat edging. Double crochet (dc)
9 To make a double crochet stitch, insert the hook into the next stitch if working into knitted fabric, or under the top two loops of the next stitch in the previous row, if working into crocheted fabric. Wind the yarn around the hook. Pull the yarn through the stitch, giving you two loops on your hook. Yrh again, then pull the yarn through both loops. One dc complete.
THE CROCHET CAST OFF
Patterns in The Knitter sometimes call for the crochet cast-off method. This produces a firm cast-off, suitable for shoulder seams, the back of the neck and areas where you don’t want your work to sag. It is also useful if you run out of yarn, as it doesn’t require any extra!
Beginning at the opposite end to the working yarn, slip the first 2 stitches from your left-hand knitting needle onto the crochet hook. *Pull the stitch nearest the hook through the second stitch, leaving the first stitch on the hook. Slip the next stitch onto the hook and rep from * until all stitches are cast off, pulling the working yarn through the last stitch.
Next month: we explore the crochet provisional cast-on method, crochet reinforcement for steeks, crochet seams, and how crochet can be used to create nupps, simple buttons and button loops.