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Introducing: Vashti’s How to Crochet Book!

Crochet chain stitches in different colors, combined to look like a cabled braid. Full size: https://www.flickr.com/gp/vashtirama/2c5494
A compound braid of simple crochet stitches. View full size.

I invite you to join me as I try an experiment: what is it like to write an in-depth crochet book, post by post, right here on this blog?

I’m excited to show you what I’ve come up with! The working title is Vashti’s How to Crochet Book. I don’t see it as being a typical how-to-crochet guide.

My vision for it is that it goes step by step, more deeply and thoroughly than any other I know of. (I’ve read a hundred or so.) It’s for beginning crocheters and the rest of us. It could even be for aliens. Surely there’s an extraterrestrial who’s trying to learn how to crochet.

What’s the Rush?

Sometimes I feel kind of rushed along when reading about how to crochet basic stitches. I have lots of why questions, including why do I feel rushed? Rushed toward what? taller stitches? Finished projects? Maybe it’s just that no book can be big enough for what is really going on with crochet loops.

New to Crocheting?

May this be the place for beginners to get solid answers to how to crochet at each step. Stuck at the beginner level? Surely there’s a way to explain things that finally clears up confusion. Here’s an example: I’ve noticed that crochet relies on simple terms like loop or chain that actually have multiple meanings. This can confuse some folks when they’re not spelled out. Please let me know in the comments how I can do even better.

If you already own a crochet how-to book, great! Some of them are designed to be sweet portable project companions. Come back here to fill in the gaps, answer your why questions, or just to see if a different point of view enriches your understanding.

Know How to Crochet Already?

This book is for us too. What can be said about the most basic elements of crochet that’s worth saying AND hasn’t already been said? As it turns out, a lot in my humble opinion. I keep discovering important things about crochet when I take nothing for granted. What I find about the chain stitch alone could fill a small book. (As you probably know, crochet books typically devote about a page to it.)

Can’t Know Too Much!

Knowing what’s in the usual how to crochet book won’t make any of us crochet experts. Crochet is too big to fit in a book; it’s even too big for one person to master 100% of it! Another way I think of it is, every crocheter is a beginner at some part of crochet. This is why I see the standard crochet skill levels as more of a spiral than ranked levels.

Why I Want to Blog This

  • A how to crochet book has not yet been blogged and I can’t resist a good experiment.
  • A blog allows me all the room I need. It’s ambitious. To avoid getting overwhelmed, I’m blogging a section at a time. This first section is all about initial fundamentals, which are often taken for granted the most.
  • I want to write crochet books and not disappear from my online crochet communities while I do so. This way the book gets written publicly. I also want it to be interactive. Please leave comments!

Other Book Titles I’ve Considered

Secret Lives of the Great Crochet Stitches (because when I gave the Chain Stitch room to speak, it did…)

How to Crochet Like a Geek (because geeks love to get granular instead of skipping the juicy stuff. I found kindred crochet spirits in CGOA’s crochet geek seminar last year.)

How to Crochet: Vashti’s Missing Manual (So much is missing in the official crochet how-to books.)

Vashti’s Deluxe How to Crochet Guide (This is my ultimate way to celebrate my beloved art and hobby.)

This page was updated November 2018. It’s the first post of an experimental blog post series: Vashti’s How to Crochet Book. Next post: Why I’d Want to Learn How to Crochet.

Bling Bam Bangles

Story Time!

Bling Bam Bangle began as a test of ribbing stitches for a simple crochet bangle. At the time (September 2012), I was preparing to teach a crochet jewelry class at a CGOA conference in Reno, Nevada.

My goal was to start with a comfortable crochet bracelet that doesn’t require a clasp. A stretchy ribbed one would slide on and off the wrist for a soft crochet bangle. 

I originally planned to make two and then compare them: a single crochet rib one, and a slip stitch rib one. Instead, I amused myself by adding a mock clasp. It reminds me of Bamm-Bamm Rubble, the baby boy who hit everything with a stone club in the The Flintstones cartoon.

Two years later (December 2014) I found the Flintstone one and tried a quick holiday version with a sequined strand held together with my Lotus yarn. I couldn’t stop! I made a dozen, and tried seven different kinds of ribbed stitches. 

This pattern offers four stretchy versions, in keeping with the original goal of a simple, stretchy ribbed “bangle.” For details on all other variations, see the Flickr photo set link that is clickable within the pattern. (Also see my newsletter, “Crochet Ribs, Old & New Grooves” on the stretch factor of different ribbed crochet stitches.)

The quirky Bam-Bam clasp is just for bang (impact). It’s crocheted last, and you can leave it off altogether as I often did. Pattern includes customizing notes.

Skill Level

Advanced Beginner. The ribbed cuff part of the bracelet is Beginner level. A Beginner may find crocheting a sequined strand held together with a smooth yarn challenging at first.

This pattern uses minimal pattern abbreviations. UK and Australian equivalents for American measurements, yarn weights, and stitch terms are in brackets { }. After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

  • How to crochet four different kinds of crochet ribbing. 
  • How to crochet a simple ribbed bracelet, and how to count the rows easily.
  • How to customize the width and fit of the bangle.
  • How to crochet a decorative loop-and-post clasp.

Finished Dimensions

Approximately 1.25″ {3.18 cm} wide with a 6″ {15.25 cm} circumference. The selected rib stitches used in this pattern give the bangle enough stretch to slide comfortably onto the wrist. Exact gauge is not important, and many large sequins in some yarns can affect one’s stitching gauge, so the dimensions may vary a bit.

Materials

Crochet Hook: Size F/US-5/3.75 mm hook or size needed for gauge.
Yarn used for Bling Bam Bangles:

DesigningVashti.com Lotus Snacks (52% Cotton, 48% Rayon; 85 yd/78 m per 1.16oz/33 g skein): one ball is enough for three bracelets. (A ball of the large 256-yd ball of Lotus would yield at least nine bracelets.)

To substitute a yarn, choose a #2 Fine Weight yarn with a recommended crochet hook size range of US E/4 {3.5 mm} to US G/6 {4.0 mm}. These yarns may also be called Sport, Heavy Sock {Light DK, 5-Ply}. Figure on approx. 11 g or 29 yds, or less, per bracelet. This bracelet is also a fun way to play with color changes and a self-striping or space dyed yarn.

One strand of Lotus was held together with one strand of a sequined novelty thread:

  • Premier Yarns Enchant (76% Metallic, 24% Other; 429 yd/392 m per .88 oz/25 g skein): approx. 29 yds per bracelet. Colors used: King’s Crown and Jewelry Box.
  • Yarn Bee Bejeweled Sequin (40% Metallic Polyester, 30% Sequin Polyester, 30% Polyester; 328 yd/300 m per .88 oz/25 g skein): approx. 29 yds per bracelet. Colors used: Mulberry Multi, Gray Multi and Purple Multi.
  • Berroco Mirror FX (100% Polyester; 60 yd/55 m per .35 oz/10 g): approx. 29 yds per bracelet. Color 9001, square gold sequins on white thread.
  • Berroco Lazer (100% Polyester; 70 yd/64 m per .35 oz/10 g): approx. 29 yds per bracelet. Color 6004, silver sequins on black thread.

Yarn needle for weaving in ends.

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Bam-Bam Crochet Bangle

The original experiment, a ribbed slip-on cuff with mock clasp.
This photo is from a mock art gallery-style photoshoot, 2012 (See the whole set in better resolution here). A slip-on cuff experiment with mock bracelet clasp became the prototype for Bling Bam Bangle, my cheerful holiday distraction in Dec. 2014. 

Crochet Bangle from the Archives

It makes me giggle. “Bam-Bam” began as a test of ribbing stitches for a simple crochet bangle in 2012.

I remember reasoning that if a crochet bracelet is stretchy enough, a clasp is optional. You could just slide it on and off your wrist—i.e., a crochet bangle.

A back-loop slip stitch rib (Bss) version was planned after this back-loop single crochet rib (Bsc) one—minus the “Bam-Bam” part.)

The “Bam-Bam” Part

Remember Pebbles and Bamm Bamm? Back in September 2012, I was preparing to teach a crochet jewelry class at a CGOA conference in Reno NV.

I don’t remember where my head was at, but after completing its band, I amused myself by free-forming the fake clasp. It made me think of Bamm Bamm Rubble, the baby boy who hit everything with a stone club in the The Flintstones cartoon.

Then, to test a new light box, I photographed it as if it’s an art gallery piece, which amuses me even more!

This is its project page in Ravelry. I’m writing a holiday pattern for the Bam-Bam Crochet Bangle now. It makes me giggle too much to keep it to myself.

Update! the pattern is called Bling Bam Bangle. I blogged about managing all the bling!

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The Two Free Victorian Crochet Pattern Books I Love!

Of course, ALL free Victorian crochet pattern books are lovable. After I researched crochet stitches for my classes, though, I keep these two close by and bookmarked. Both of these antique crochet books were published in 1891. (Click each image for the free download information and link.)

Last year I searched in literally hundreds of crochet books and booklets. I love researching crochet. Lots of antique, public domain crochet sources are keepers. Perhaps these two stand out in particular because of the specific stitches I was looking for.

  • The Art of Crocheting. By Butterick Publishing Co., Ltd., 1891 (London and New York).
  • Home Work, A Choice Collection of Useful Designs for the Crochet and Knitting Needle… By A. M., Rose Publishing Co. Ltd. (Toronto).

I recorded all occurrences of star stitches, love knots (“knot stitches” to the Victorians), and lacy Tunisian crochet patterns. I was surprised to discover that in many of the publications ranging from the 1840’s to the 2010’s, these stitches often didn’t appear at all. These two 1891 gems were especially fun for creative star stitch patterns.

Researching crochet stitches in free Victorian crochet pattern books offers lots of insight into crochet’s development. It’s fascinating to see how crochet is explained, illustrated, and promoted. Exciting, too! By 1891 the public demand for crochet patterns and stitch how-tos was very strong.

Free Victorian crochet pattern books date from the 1840’s to shortly before World War I. Please support the Antique Pattern Library. It’s one of my favorite sources for some obscure early indie crochet designer booklets too. I hope you will help their cause by donating scans or funds.

The Home Work book was the focus of an ambitious crochet pattern project by the Cyber Chapter of the Crochet Guild of America (CGOA). Members crocheted actual swatches and projects from the book. The exhibit of them at CGOA’s annual Chain Link conference was a highlight of the event!

Also see my Antique Crochet Stunners board in Pinterest.

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I Wore Starwirbel as a Ponytail Lace Veil

I’ve been waiting for photos to surface from this summer’s CGOA’s Chain Link crochet conference (end of July in Manchester NH). Here’s the only one I have from the night I wore a crochet lace funnel cowl as a short veil covering my ponytail! You can barely see it in the first photo. In the second photo is Starwirbel – the flaring star stitch spiral of fine sequined mohair and silk.

It was fun and judging from the comments I received, it worked! I wouldn’t have thought of pinning a lace capelet as a veil-like hairpiece, but I was dressed in mostly black with some paisley and a sparkly silver belt. I wanted to include Starwirbel, but not as a cowl…and…voilà: un voile!