Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

AN OVERLOOKED CROCHET THREAD

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carpetwarpcolors.jpg

I love cotton warp. Never heard of it? Well, you wouldn’t be the only crocheter whose never seen or heard of carpet warp. It comes in fibers other than cotton, but cotton is my favorite. It’s not easy to find unless you have access to a large store for weavers. As the name states, it’s the fiber used by weavers to thread the warp (longitudinal threads) of their loom. But, it’s fantastically useful for crocheters too – especially if you are one who wants to crochet potholders, rugs, or other stuff that you want to be durable and/or heat resistant.

The weight of cotton warp is similar to sport weight, making it very flexible to use. It can be doubled to create a chunky weight to make a hammock, for instance. While I wouldn’t recommend it for creating a sweater, it might work well for toddler pants or adult mittens that will see hard use.

It has a lot of body and holds stitches well. Also, it comes in a wonderful array of colors, making shopping for it a lot of fun. Carpet fiber is inexpensive enough that you can treat yourself to a few cones of it without making a huge investment. So, if you’re tired of the same old size 10 threads from your local big box store, explore the world of carpet warp. Here’s a link to a site that carries all the colors available (as far as I know) in cotton and carries the other fibers available also.

http://www.camillavalleyfarm.com/knit/rugwarp.htm#cotton

I have no connection to the site above and I’ve never bought anything from them, but I do like the picture of all the cotton warp colors available. I’m fortunate to have a local source for this stuff (the weaving dept).

Comments

  1. Thank you for this source. Do you think this is a good item to make market bags?

  2. Carpet warp is absolutely awesome for market bags. I first learned about it on a trip to New Orleans before Katrina. We were wandering around the French Quarter and I saw a rug shop and peeked inside. she had some ends and I bought several. I wish I would have bought more.

  7. I’m the only one in this world. Can please someone join me in this life? Or maybe death…

  8. Can this Carpet Warp be used for making table cloths? Like using the size 10 or size 5 or 3 threads? That’s what I need a large cone for.
    Tks.

  9. Carpet warp is great for making table cloths and large doilies or runners. It’s durable and easy to work with. It’s really just thicker Mercerized cotton thread.

  10. first time to here, test post only ,thank you
    first time to here, test post only ,thank you

Have you read?

How to Crochet the Suzette Stitch: An Easy Textured Crochet Stitch for Beginners

Learning a crochet stitch is much more satisfying when you have an actual project waiting at the end of it. The Suzette stitch is especially versatile because its dense, softly textured fabric works for everything from practical cotton washcloths to cosy scarves, hats and blankets.

Here are some Suzette stitch crochet patterns worth adding to your project list.

Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket

The free Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket pattern from Premier Yarns uses the stitch to create a softly textured crochet blanket with a subtle tweed-like appearance.

This would make a lovely handmade baby shower gift, particularly when worked in a washable baby yarn. The stitch creates more visual interest than plain single crochet without introducing large holes that may catch tiny fingers.

Easy Suzette Stitch Blanket

The Suzette Stitch Blanket pattern by Stitching Together is another approachable blanket project for crocheters who enjoy a relaxing stitch repeat.

This is the sort of project you can keep beside the sofa and work on a few rows at a time. Just keep an eye on those skipped stitches—television crochet is wonderful until an extra stitch quietly sneaks in three episodes earlier.

Casey Suzette Stitch Scarf

The free Casey Scarf crochet pattern uses the Suzette stitch through most of the design, producing a cosy scarf with a softly scalloped, zigzag-like texture.

It is a good first wearable project for beginners because scarves do not require complicated shaping. You can also adjust the length fairly easily or use a self-striping yarn and let the colour changes do the decorative work for you.

Quick Suzette Crochet Scarf

For another scarf option, try this free Suzette Stitch Scarf pattern from Hooked by Robin.

The designer includes written instructions and a video tutorial, making it helpful for visual learners who prefer watching the stitch placement before beginning. It is designed as a quick project and would make a practical last-minute handmade gift.

Suzette Colour Block Scarf

The free Suzette Colour Block Scarf pattern is a cheerful option for using several coordinating yarn colours.

Colour blocking also makes this a handy stash-busting crochet project. You can use leftover yarn from other makes, although it is worth choosing yarns of the same weight and similar fibre content so the sections behave themselves after washing.

Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie

The free Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie crochet pattern turns the textured stitch into a warm winter hat.

Chunky yarn helps the pattern work up quickly and makes the raised texture especially noticeable. This would be a useful project for craft stalls, charity donations or quick handmade Christmas gifts.

Hazel Textured Crochet Beanie

The free Hazel Beanie crochet pattern combines simple ribbing with the Suzette stitch.

The ribbed brim gives the hat a neat, finished appearance while the Suzette stitch adds texture to the main body. It looks more complicated than a basic crochet beanie but is still built from familiar beginner stitches.

Suzette Stitch Washcloth

For a small practice project, try the free Suzette Stitch Wash Cloth pattern from The Purple Poncho.

A washcloth is one of the best ways to practise a new crochet stitch because it is small, useful and not terribly demanding. Even if the first one is slightly wonky, it will still wash perfectly well.

Use a smooth cotton yarn so the cloth is absorbent and the stitch texture remains clearly visible.

Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth

The free Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth pattern adds another layer of texture to this familiar stitch combination.

Make several in coordinating colours and pair them with handmade soap for an easy spa-style gift. They are also useful little projects for testing unfamiliar cotton yarn before committing to a larger set.

Corner-to-Corner Suzette Stitch Washcloth

The free C2C Suzette Stitch Washcloth pattern gives the stitch a slightly different construction by working it from corner to corner.

This is a good next project after you have mastered ordinary flat rows. It lets you explore increasing and decreasing while still using the familiar Suzette stitch combination.

Suzette Stitch Afghan Square

The Suzette Stitch Afghan Square pattern turns the textured stitch into a smaller crochet block.

Afghan squares are useful for charity blankets, sampler blankets and portable crochet projects. You can make the squares individually, use up leftover yarn and join everything together once you have enough—although “enough” has been known to become a surprisingly flexible number in my craft room.

More Suzette Stitch Crochet Pattern Ideas

Once you are comfortable with the basic stitch, you can also use it to make:

  • Crochet mug cosies
  • Ear warmers and headbands
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Cushion covers
  • Tote bags
  • Baby rompers
  • Crochet cardigans
  • Lap blankets
  • Double-thick potholders

You can browse additional Suzette stitch crochet patterns on Etsy, including sweaters, baby blankets, beanies, mug cosies and accessories from independent crochet designers.

When choosing a pattern, check whether it uses US or UK crochet terminology. Also check whether it uses the traditional Suzette stitch—one single crochet and one double crochet worked into the same stitch—or a designer’s variation of it. That quick check can prevent a great deal of confused unraveling later.