Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Embroider Your Crochet

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From time to time, we all need to embroider something on our crochet.  It might be the tiny facial features to complete an amigurumi animal or a kid’s name on a hackysack.  Unless we already possess excellent embroidery skills, embroidery can give us some problems.

Enter Rebecca and her excellent embroidery tutorials.  She is offering wonderful free lessons over a period of weeks so we can practice and master her simple instructions.  Once we’ve followed Rebecca’s tutorials, we’ll find that bit of embroidery will be very easy for us.  Plus, we’ll bookmark her site and be able to reinforce our skills down the line when we need a refresher.

Try this.  Make a simple hotpad and have it ready to work on.  Practice your new embroidery skills on that hotpad and you’ll then have a very attractive sampler to remind yourself of your accomplishments.  Embroidery floss is very inexpensive when used in the small quantities required for most of our purposes.  But, a variety of threads can be used for embroidery.  Rebecca will be your guide!

Comments

  2. Ha-ha chuckle! Sooper Sweeeeeet! I find that after so many years that go by, I get a little rusty on my embroidery and it takes a practice piece for me to get my memory back! With a hook, I can Doodle all over the place with it, but sewing, (embroidery) I have to follow the rules. (Smile)

Have you read?

Whip It Up Crochet Blanket – Free Pattern

This Free Whip It Up Crochet Blanket Pattern from Mary Maxim looks like pure comfort crochet. It is a free download for a crochet afghan, and Mary Maxim describes it as a beautifully textured blanket with a plush, soft texture designed to be worked up quickly.

The yarn choice is what really sets the tone here. This pattern uses Bernat Blanket Extra Thick, with 5 skeins and a U.S. U/50 (25 mm) crochet hook. That puts it firmly in the jumbo-yarn category, which usually means fast progress, chunky stitches, and that lovely instant-gratification feeling where the blanket actually starts looking like a blanket very quickly. Mary Maxim lists the yarn as weight 7 jumbo.

The finished size is also generous at 52 x 60 inches, so this is more than a tiny lap throw. It sounds like a proper snuggle-on-the-sofa blanket, and one that would make a nice gift as well. Mary Maxim specifically suggests it as a throw for home décor or as a thoughtful handmade present.

Skill-wise, this one looks very approachable. The page lists it as Beginner / Easy, and the stitch requirements are simple: chain, double crochet, repeat, single crochet, and slip knot. That makes it a good option for newer crocheters who want a chunky blanket project without too much fuss, or for more experienced crocheters who just want something relaxing and cozy on the hook.

I also think this is the kind of pattern that has strong appeal for anyone who likes fast, useful projects. Jumbo yarn blankets are not subtle, but that is part of their charm. They feel squishy, dramatic, and very giftable. Sometimes you want a delicate heirloom project, and sometimes you want a big soft blanket that feels like crocheting with a cloud. This one definitely leans toward the second category. That last part is my take based on the listed materials, size, and description.