Crochet World

Spring is upon us in all its glory and so is color. After a drab and dreary winter it is about time. I wanted to bring all the colors of spring into your home, as well as give you the opportunity to maybe try out some styles of crochet that you haven’t tried in the past. Several patterns in this issue are dedicated to how to use crochet to create an image on your piece. Colorwork images can be worked in several techniques in crochet: corner-tocorner, tapestry, stranded colorwork, filet and intarsia crochet. We bring in a little bit of each with fabulous projects for all around the house. We have projects that embrace the concepts associated with spring, like flowers and Easter, as well as the colors of spring. One of…

I don’t think a week goes by that someone doesn’t say to me, “I love to crochet, but I can’t read the patterns.” I usually politely ask them, when they are playing on the internet, if they know what the abbreviations LOL (“laughing out loud”) and BRB (“be right back”) mean. They always do. Just like using abbreviations on the internet, abbreviations are used in patterns to make the written pattern shorter. And in truth, although we may not realize it, we want those abbreviations used. Be honest, would you want to open Crochet World magazine and discover there were only four patterns inside? By using abbreviations, patterns can be shortened enough that numerous fantastic designs can be included in every issue. Compare the two pattern rows below. Row 1: Chain 4, single…

BEGINNER FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 18 inches wide × 60 inches long MATERIALS • Premier Butterfly light (DK) weight acrylic yarn (7 oz/546 yds/200g per cake): 2 cakes #1198-01 meadow • Size G/6/4mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle GAUGE 15 sts = 4 inches Take time to check gauge. PATTERN NOTES Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Chain-2 at beginning of row counts as first half double crochet unless otherwise stated. Chain-3 at beginning of row counts as first double crochet unless otherwise stated. WRAP Row 1 (RS): Ch 229, working in back bar of ch (see illustration), dc in 4th ch from hook (sk 3 chs counts as first dc), dc in each rem ch across, turn. (227 dc) Row 2: Ch 2 (see Pattern Notes), dc in sp before next dc, sk next 3 dc, [3…

EASY FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 5½ inches wide × 6 inches long MATERIALS • Medium (worsted) weight acrylic yarn: 20 yds pink, light green or aqua (MC) 12 yds purple, dark qreen or lilac (CC1) 10 yds white, yellow or cream (CC2) • Size E/4/3.5mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle • 6mm safety eyes: 2* for each toy • Stitch marker • Black thread • Polyester fiberfill *For use by children under 3 years of age, embroider eyes with black thread. GAUGE 11 sc = 2½ inhes; 12 sc rows = 2½ inches PATTERN NOTES Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Join with slip stitch as indicated unless otherwise stated. Head and Flippers are worked in continuous rounds; do not join unless otherwise stated. Place marker in first stitch and move up as each round is…

CONFIDENT BEGINNER FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 7 inches wide × 23 inches long MATERIALS • Premier Dottie light (DK) weight acrylic yarn (7 oz/ 656 yds/200g per skein): 1 skein of #2008-12 prairie • Size D/3/3.25mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle • Safety pins (optional) GAUGE 10 pattern sts = 3½ inches; 10 rows = 2 inches Take time to check gauge. PATTERN NOTES You may find the yarn under movement causes strain in your hands and wrist since it is a less natural movement. If so, be sure to take breaks when working the project. You can switch and simply work yarn over single crochet and half double crochet stitches, but you may require a bit more yarn and lose a bit of the unique texture. Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Yarn under…

EASY FINISHED MEASUREMENTS 11 inches deep, excluding tulips ×55 inches wide MATERIALS • Omega Sol super fine (fingering) weight acrylic yarn (2 oz/164 yds/50g per ball): 6 balls #1086 emerald (MC) 1 ball #1001 white (CC) • Size D/3/3.25mm crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge • Tapestry needle GAUGE 16 dc = 2 inches; 6 rows = 2 inches PATTERN NOTES Weave in loose ends as work progresses. Chain-3 at beginning of row counts as first double crochet Join with a slip stitch unless otherwise instructed. This wrap is a simple chevron worked lengthwise. The fringe that is added to the bottom edge of the wrap is embellished with hanging tulips. WRAP With MC, ch 440. Row 1: Dc in 6th ch from hook (sk chs count as sk ch, dc, ch 1), [ch 1, sk next ch, dc in next…