Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

CRO-TATTING, combining crochet with tatting

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If you like delicate crochet, you’ll love cro-tatting. I’ve seen this done ‘up close and personal’ from my friend Vicki Owen. We only get to see each other a couple times a year, but Vicki always shows up with some wonderful new design, employing her cro-tatting talents. She swears by her Japanese hooks, ones which you’ll not find at the usual outlets. She loved cro-tatting enough that she invested in this unique but costly set of hooks.

Traditional tatting is done with shuttles.  Shuttles can still be purchased at many craft stores, but there is a great market in the many forms of antique shuttles, bone, ivory, tortoise shell, etc.  Another form of tatting is with a longish needle with a large eye – large enough to carry size 10 thread to make delicate knots and picots using the needle and a finger.  Cro-tatting is distinct from these other forms in that it combines the flexibility of crochet and the ease of use of a crochet hook.  Cro-tatting hooks are typically longer than traditional crochet hooks, more the length of a tunisian hook, but with a long, tapered shaft.  The cro-tatting hooks sold at Annies Attic have plastic handles.  The expensive Japanese hooks used by Vicki Owen and other ‘serious’ cro-tatters are tapered metal hooks that look very much like plain ole’ crochet hooks, but are shaped a bit differently.

I actually took a needle tatting class at the Missouri Fiber Festival one year.  It was fun and I ‘got’ it.  But, I’m not one who typically creates ‘fru-fru’ items.  I much more the practical type so I didn’t see a great way for me to fit another craft in my repertoire.  However, one can make really dainty embellishments for garments as well as accompaniments to scrapbooking and other paper crafts.  So, if you enjoy scrapbooking, you might want to give this a whirl.

Here are some sites where you can get a good look at some of the lovely cro-tatted projects:

http://www.geocities.com/mountainhome1999/

http://groups.msn.com/Cro-Tatting/membersoriginaldesigns.msnw

www.georgiaseitz.com

Below is a course image from the Godey’s Lady’s Book showing a sample row of cro-tatting.

There are far better pictures on some websites out there.  Check out some of the links I’ve posted above.  You may fall in love with the crochet hybrid the same way Vicki Owen did!

Comments

  2. There is only one cro-tatting book I’m aware of – maybe two. Hobby Lobby used to carry the one. I’d check sites like amazon.com and alibris.com and enter the keyword cro-tatting.

    jd

  3. Hello All!! I found my crotat needles at LACIS.com and a book on the subject. I find all of my great old books at LACIS, shipping is very fast. Hope this helps, Pat San Antonio, texas Let me know is this co., helps,,,,

  4. Pat,
    Thanks for sharing the site where you got your cro-tatting hooks/needles. I have been looking every where and was about to give up finding any. Now I can use the book I have had for several years.

  6. The photo at the top of the yellow snowflake is NOT cro-tat… its totally tatted. Normally in cro-tat, rings would be tatted, and crochet for the chains between the rings. Examine and you will see the chains are not crochet chains.

Have you read?

Beginner-Friendly Crochet Scarves and Cowls

If you’re new to crochet and wondering where to start, scarves and cowls are one of the nicest entry points. They feel useful right away, they don’t come with the stress of tricky sizing, and they let you settle into the rhythm of stitching without needing to think too hard about shaping or assembly. That is a big win when you’re still getting comfortable holding the yarn, counting stitches, and figuring out where your row actually ends.

Let’s be honest, a lot of beginners want a project that looks good before they want a project that teaches them patience.

That’s exactly why scarves and cowls work so well. They’re practical, cozy, and giftable, and they often use the same few stitches over and over again. You get to build confidence while making something you can actually wear, wrap up for a friend, or stash away for cooler weather. It feels like real progress, not just practice.

I also love that this category has a nice mix of super simple wins and slightly more textured designs. If you want a one-skein cowl you can finish over a weekend, there are plenty of those. If you want a chunky scarf with a bit more visual interest, you can find that too. It’s a very forgiving place to begin, and for a lot of crocheters it’s the category that turns “I’m trying crochet” into “I think I’m properly into crochet now.”

If you’re building out your beginner pattern stash, you might also want to bookmark our roundup of Easy Butterfly Crochet Patterns for Beginners and this sweet Free Crochet Pattern – Emotional Support Chicken. For readers who want fast finishes, Free Patterns – Quick Crochet Projects is another handy one to keep open in a tab.

Beginner-Friendly Crochet Scarves and Cowls

Free Pattern – Moss Stitch Crochet Cowl

This is exactly the sort of project I love to recommend to newer crocheters. Moss stitch has that neat, slightly textured look that feels polished, but it’s still repetitive enough that you can relax into it once you get going. If you want a cowl that looks a little elevated without becoming fiddly, this is a lovely place to start.

One Skein Cowl

One-skein projects always feel approachable, especially when you’re not ready to commit to something huge. This cowl is a great fit for beginners who want something warm, quick, and satisfying. It also has that nice “I made this in a weekend” energy, which is very motivating when you’re just starting out.

Free Crochet Pattern – Lindsay Cowl

This one feels giftable from the moment you see it. It’s simple, adaptable, and easy to picture in different yarn colors, which makes it a fun pattern if you’re starting to think beyond just “can I make this?” and into “who could I make this for?” I always think those are the projects that keep beginners coming back for more.

Crochet a Colorful Braided Scarf Using Broomstick or Cardboard

This is a fun twist on the usual beginner scarf. It has a more decorative finish without feeling out of reach, and it’s a nice choice if you want something that looks a bit different from a standard straight scarf. It’s also a good reminder that beginner crochet doesn’t have to mean boring crochet.

Chunky Crochet Teal Scarf With Fringe

Chunky yarn and fringe are such a good combination when you want quick payoff. This kind of scarf works up faster, feels cozy almost immediately, and gives beginners that very important feeling of visible progress. And honestly, fringe covers a lot of sins if your edges aren’t perfect yet.

Free Cowl Patterns

This Lion Brand collection is worth bookmarking if you want to browse beyond a single pattern. It’s useful for readers who like having options in one place, especially when they’re still figuring out what shape and style they prefer. A roundup like this always benefits from one broad resource page readers can keep exploring.

Free Scarf Patterns

Same idea here, but for scarves. If someone finishes one beginner project and immediately wants another, this kind of resource page is handy. It gives you room to keep the momentum going without having to hunt around from scratch.

Fast and Easy Cowl

The title alone makes this a good fit for beginners. Fast and easy is exactly what many newer crocheters are looking for, especially when they want to build skill without burning out. A project like this helps you focus on consistency and comfort rather than complicated construction.

Simple Cowl Pattern

Bulky yarn plus a simple shape is a very beginner-friendly combination. This is the sort of project that can make a new crocheter feel successful quickly, and that matters more than people realise. A good first finish can turn someone into a lifelong yarn hoarder. Learned that one the hard way.

Cardiff Cowl

This one feels like a nice next-step option. It still sits in the easy category, but it has a slightly more refined look, which makes it perfect for crocheters who’ve finished a basic beginner piece and are ready for something just a touch more styled. A roundup needs a few of those “you’re ready now” patterns.

Free Ridgeway Cowl Pattern

Mary Maxim always gives you a nice practical read on a pattern, and this one feels like a strong wearable addition to the list. It’s the kind of cowl that looks useful, cozy, and realistic for everyday wear, which is exactly what many beginners want to make first.

Free Autumn Spice Cowl Pattern

This is a really good fit for an easy crochet roundup because chunky yarn and simple structure usually mean a faster finish. It has a cozy, seasonal feel to it too, which makes it ideal if your readers are already thinking ahead to cooler weather projects.

Why scarves and cowls are such good beginner crochet projects

Scarves and cowls let you focus on the part of crochet that matters most at the beginning: getting comfortable with the stitches. You’re not worrying about sleeve shaping, precise fit, or joining twenty awkward pieces together while muttering at your yarn. You’re mostly just crocheting, row by row or round by round, and that repetition is what helps the movements start to feel natural.

They also give you a finished item that feels useful.

That really matters.

A dishcloth is practical, yes, but a cozy scarf or cowl feels more exciting to a lot of people. It looks like a real handmade piece. It can become a gift, part of your winter wardrobe, or the thing that makes you think, “Actually, I can do this.”

If you’re choosing your first project, look for patterns that mention beginner, easy, one skein, chunky yarn, or fast finish. Those usually give you the most encouraging experience. The more success you have early on, the easier it is to keep going.

More easy crochet ideas to explore

If you enjoyed these scarf and cowl ideas, here are a few more beginner-friendly places to head next:

Free Patterns – Quick Crochet Projects
9 Quick & Easy Crochet Patterns
Easy Butterfly Crochet Patterns for Beginners
Beginner-Friendly Crochet Cardigan Idea
Buttoned Plaid Cowl Free Crochet Pattern

This is the kind of crochet category that quietly builds confidence stitch by stitch. Start with one simple cowl, then try a scarf with texture, then maybe a chunky wrap or hooded cowl once you feel brave. Before long, your yarn basket will be full and you’ll be calling it a “collection,” which is a very familiar craft-room trick.