Crochet tips - extended single crochet (esc)

Have you ever tried it? I am sure when you try you get addicted! :-) With extended single crochet you get very unique texture. It looks almost as knitted and is not-see-through. It works faster than normal single crochet and it is so easy to work it.

Ok, so let's start!

Work chain and start with 3rd ch from hook.

Step 1: insert the hook in specified stitch, yarn over and pull it through the stitch

Step 2: yarn over and pull it through the first loop only, now you have two loops on hook

Step 3: yarn over and pull it through both loops. 1 esc made.

Repeat steps 1-3 in each ch.

Wasn't it easy?!
For the moment I have only one pattern where I used this stitch - it is a pattern for A-line dress.
But I am sure it is not the last one! :-) This stitch is wonderful!

Wishing you a great weekend! :-)

A-line Dress Pattern is available:

On Etsy: here

On Craftsy: here

On Ravelry: here

Crochet tips - hdc around previous hdc!

I love this stitch and use it quite often. It is such a simple way to get interesting texture and different look of usual crochet stitches. But I know that quite many of you had a problem to make it. So here we go!

First make one hdc...

...yarn over and insert hook in the space behind the previous hdc...

...yarn over and pull it through...

...yarn over and pull it through all three loops you have on hook.

That's all! Isn't it simple?! Only don't forget to skip one stitch when you start next two hdc.

Here are some my patterns where I used this stitch:

Sophie's Cardigan

Ladies Milky Slippers

Thinking of Autumn Hat

Baby Milky Booties

Crochet tips: front post and back post double crochet

So, finally here is another "crochet tip" post and it is about front and back post double crochet stitches. I am sure that many of you are familiar with them and this is nothing new. But I also know that there are many less experienced crocheters around who are quite scared when they see these stitches. Let me tell you - they are very simple to make and once you learned them you become quite addicted as you can play with them in so many way and create wonderful patterns. 

Let's begin!

Work one row of double crochet, turn. Ch2 (as the post dc stitch is shorter than normal dc work only ch2), skip first dc and work Front post double crochet ( FP dc ) in the following way:

Yarn over, insert hook from front to back around next dc (photo 1)(normally you insert the hook in loops on the top of the stitch, but to work front post dc you must work it AROUND the stitch of previous row), yarn over, pull it through, there will be 3 loops on your hook now (photo 2), yarn over and pull it through 2 loops (photo 3), yarn over and pull it through last two loops, the front post double crochet is complete (photo 4).

Back post double crochet ( BP dc ) is made in the same way as FP dc only now you have to insert the hook from back to front.

Yarn over, insert hook from back to front around next dc (photo 1), yarn over, pull through, there will be 3 loops on your hook (photo 2), yarn over and pull it through 2 loops, yarn over and pull it through last two loops, the back post double crochet is complete (photo 3).

Wasn't it easy? If not, you just need to practice a little bit and you will see how much you will love these stitches at the end.


Just for inspiration here are some of my patterns where I used these stitches! 

1.Candy Pink Cardigan 2.Spider Slippers (adult) 3.Pastel Green Baby Slippers 4.Camellia Baby Booties 5.Cable V-neck sweater 6. Baby Swirl Hat 7. Floppy Sun Hat 8. Baby Boy Hat 9. Spider Slippers for baby

Crochet tips: the best way to join when crocheting in the round

Finally here is the second "crochet tips" post. :-) I am too slow, I know.

So, what is the best way to join when crocheting in rounds?

* It is very important to join always in the same stitch. For example, if you are working rounds of sc (single crochet) the best way is to join always in ch-1. Then the joint line will look like this:

What is very important that in this case it will not "move", as it would do if you would join in first sc.

*If you are working rounds of dc (double crochet), join always in 3rd ch of ch-3 and your joint like will look like this:

* If you are following the pattern always take care where it says to join. It is much more important than you think. It can totally change the result if you are not joining where you should.

There are also some tricky ways how to join the rounds, for example this one!

Next post will be about FP dc (front post double crochet) and BP dc (back post double crochet). And there will be a small surprise! :-)

Crochet tips: work in front or back loop only

I think this is the most common question I receive: what does it mean to work only in back loop (or front loop)? 

On the top of each stitch there are two loops and normally we work in both of them.

If the pattern calls for working only in one loop it means:

the loop which is closer to you when you look at your work is the front loop, and you must insert hook only in it, leaving the back loop (the one which is far from you) unworked. 

You do the same if you have to work only in back loop - you insert hook not through both loops, but only through the back loop, leaving the front loop unworked.

You should never ignore notes about back or front loop, because it can totally change the pattern!

Hope this helps! :-)

The next question I am going to answer is:

What is the best way to join when crocheting in the round to minimize an ugly seam?

Crochet tips!

I am starting a new series of blog posts about crochet tips. Very often I receive many different questions - what does this crochet term mean? or how better to do this or that? I decided it would be much better if I would answer your questions here, and in this way also other people would be able to use this information. So, you are welcome to ask your questions in comments for this post and I will try to answer as many as I can. :-)