Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Another Crochet – Or Crochet Baby Toes

by

cro v stitch babyghan 0114

 

I’ll call this one Baby Toes since the edging I created reminds me of sweet baby’s toes peeking out from under the blanket.  This afghan was inspired by the stitch pattern found on SusanB’s site here.  I thought it would be perfect to use up some ‘orphan’ skeins I had on hand.  Pink is my favorite color and I have numerous pink yarns on hand.  I am often given pink yarn by friends who run across skeins in their stashes or at an estate sale or similar.

This afghan uses three different pinks, two different lavenders, and a white.  The white and the paler lavender, of which I had only a partial skein are both the lighter weight of Simply Soft.  The pinks are all heftier worsted weight acrylic yarns.  I have no labels, so no color names.  Sorry.  I think you can see the three different pinks and the stronger lavender color, but the pale lavender is harder to see.  In this photo, it’s right between a pink and the white.  The color gradations run from subtle to sharper.  Since color is not really my strong point, I just go with what looks good to me.

The afghan took me only three evenings to complete, but one of those was spent doing nothing but weaving in the tails from all those color changes.  Had I used a single color yarn or maybe only two colors, this would be one of the fastest baby afghans ever.  I simply chained a length that coincided with the multiples indicated in the original pattern (multiple of 3 plus 4) to make it about a yard wide.  Then working in pattern, I simply changed colors when it suited me, based mostly on how much of each yarn I had available.

cro blanket detail 0114

Then, I edged it with several rows of single crochet and one row of slip stitch (with that lavender since I had so little of it left).  To create the border, I divided the total number of stitches I had and devised a sort of scallop that I have not seen before.  It is worked over 3 stitches – but could easily be worked over 4.

Since I wanted the afghan to be an approximate square and I was running out of some yarns, I decided to work the ‘frilly’ edging around only two opposing edges after working the single crochets and slip stitches around the whole blanket.

Edging -* chain 3, in next stitch, work an incomplete triple crochet and a double crochet (work triple as usual leaving last stitch on hook then work the double crochet and pull through all stitches on the hook) in next stitch, chain 3 and slip stitch into next stitch*, sl st into next stitch then chain 3 and repeat **.

Note:  This pattern has not been tested.  If you have questions about the v-stitch pattern, you’ll likely find it at the source I used here.  If you find errors or have other questions, please email me.

Comments

  2. I love the way the baby afghan looks. My only trouble is that little baby fingers can get caught in the holes of the blanket, otherwise it’s a beautiful blanket.

    That is just my opinion!

    C

  3. Cathrin,
    I’ve heard your concern voiced by others. Not sure I would leave baby unattended with any blanket or afghan with holes in it – to be on the safest side.
    jd

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.