hdc...What's that?! Abbreviations!

For those of you out there just learning to crochet (yay for you!) I thought I'd make this compilation of common abbreviations. It's one of those essential things that you just have to memorize and it helps to have it all in one place.

Basic Stitches:
ch :  chain stitch; pretty much most common stitch, almost every pattern will have this somewhere
sc : single crochet
hdb : half double crochet
db : double crochet
htr : half treble crochet
tr : treble crochet
ss or Sl st : slip stitch; easy way to connect two stitches, but used for other things like making button holes, etc.

Each of these have variations, but basically, those are all the stitches.

Terms:
yo : yarn over (pull the yarn over the hook)
tch or t-ch : turning chain; usually chain stitches that are used to keep the sides of the peice even in height with the rows. (more ch for larger stitches)
inc : increase (the number of stitches usually by stitching 2 or more onto one stitch)
dec : decrease (the number of stitches usually by stitching two or more together into one stitch)
(*)2tog : x-stitch crochet two together; example: db2tog; this is a way to decrease the number of stitches
RS : right side; this is when you should be crocheting with the side that is "out" facing you. For example, the top side of a flower is RS or the outside of a sweater/hat is RS.
WS: wrong side; this is when you should be crocheting with the side that is "in" facing you. For example, the bottom of flower is WS or the inside of a sweater/hat is WS.
FL : front loop; rather than crocheting a stitch around both the loops, just crochet around the front one (closest to you)
BL : back loop; just crochet around the back loop (farthest from you)

I think that's most of them. If there's one I didn't include that you have a question about, comment and I'll add it and explain! I'm also contemplating making videos to show how to do the stitches; it's so much easier to show than to explain.

Maybe I should change the blog name...

With the creation of this blog, it inevitably spurred on my crocheting/knitting time. Plus with exams creeping up on me, the urge to procrastinate is overwhelming. So, not surprisingly, that pink blanket/coverlet has gotten quite a bit larger. But instead of my fingers aching with all the extra needle work, it was my arm in serious need of rest. My shoulder down to my elbow ached (it reminded me of growing pains I would have in my knees). So maybe this should be "Knittin' and Crochetin' My Arm Off". Hehe

I hope you're having a fun day! Keep on working that needle! :-)

Pelargonium flower

This is the pattern for the flower on my favorite hat. It's from Lesley's Stanfield book "100 Flowers to Knit & Crochet" It's really simple and quick to make.

So choose whatever color you want and start by making 6 chain stitches (ch).
Skip 5ch
Do 3 double treble stitches (dtr) in the next ch
5ch
the slip stich (ss) in the first ch of the 6ch.
And repeat 5 times (for five petals) until you join the petal into a ring by ss the into the very first stitch of the first 6ch.

Here are simplified directions:
[6ch, skip 5ch, 3dtr in next chain, 5ch, ss in first of 6ch] 5x, join into ring

I like to close the ring a little tight and leave the yarn ends long to tie or weave into whatever I'm using them for.
If you have any questions, post it in a comment!

My Favorite Hat!

Granted, I only have two hats, but seeing as how I made this one, it holds a special place in my heart. It was crocheted with wine colored 'Red Heart Super Saver' yarn (hey, I'm a broke college student, whaddya expect :D). It turned out so well and I would love to do more like it. It looks lumpy in the picture but rounds out when I wear it. I got this pattern from a library book, so I'll have to spend some time digging to find the pattern again, but it will be worth the effort.

The flower on the side is a pattern from a book of my own and was easy and quick to make. I just attached and voila!

If you ever make a hat like this, make sure to continue fitting it to your head. Sometimes the pattern isn't quite right and you can use the 3-7 stitches between sizes to make it fitted to you!

A Baby Blanket

This is my only other work in progress at the moment and it's my first go at knitting. It started as a practice piece, but I sort of fell in love with it! I can't wait to finish i

t but it's slow going. The blanket is in a checker-board pattern. Unfortunately I used the inexpensive 'Red Heart' yarn (a reasonable choice considering the odds I would screw it up), so it

's scratchy and not soft at all. I'm hoping that maybe a run through the wash will soften it up, but I'm not sure if it will ever fulfill its purpose as a baby blanket. :(

I'd guess is almost half-way done. I have a specific length I'm going for.

P.S. Does anyone know how to keep the edges from curling? I'm not sure if I'm doing

something wrong or if I just need to trim it. Let me know your thoughts!

Designs

This is another entry to set up a "page" just for designs! I'll post my favorite ones as well as the one's I've used here for easy access. Just click the "Designs" tab underneath the title of the blog!

Completed Projects

This entry is just to set up a "page" to display completed projects! I hope you enjoy!

Where It All Started

One day a very dear friend of mine let me work on a blanket she was making; I think it's the first time I can remember hearing the word 'crochet'. Well, needless to say, she got me hooked (excuse the pun) and this is the workings of my very own blanket/coverlet.

When it is finished, it should have about the same measurements as a queen coverlet. As you can see, it's a pink blanket with black trim crocheted with a version of the half double crochet stitch; yarn over; insert hook into next stitch to be worked, yarn over; pull through two loops; yarn over; pull through last two loops.

It has been a work in progress but hopefully I will have all the kinks worked out soon. I started the blanket only hooking one of the top strands of yarn, leaving a dotted-line every other line of stitching. I've also recently discovered that switching the color before pulling through the last two loops separates the colors better and makes a more defining straight line between pink and black.

So far I have about 25 lines, I think...I'm too lazy to actually count right now, as I'm about to go to bed! Maybe one day it will finally be finished...

What am I blogging about?!

This is a very important question indeed! But I'll tell you: Knitting and Crocheting! I start projects all the time and would love to post my progress, as well as share my favorite designs! There might be some tips or suggestions that I pick up on the way, too. In the end I just want to share with you what I love: working the needles!