Katniss Cowl, Huntress Cowl, Hunger Games-inspired Cowl: texture and simplicity

There were many people inspired to replicate the grey cowl worn by Katniss in the Hunger Games films.  It's sometimes listed as 'huntress cowl' if you're searching for versions of it.

Friendly Red Fox has a version that isn't quite the original, but is a very wearable cowl - worn as one loop or two - with lovely surface texture using front and back post techniques.

http://www.thefriendlyredfox.com/2014/09/free-crochet-katniss-cowl-pattern.html

She shows how you can wear it three ways:

Image from link given above

Ravelry link: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/katniss-cowl-3

At my knitting group meeting, there is an annual destash market day, where you can pick up some lovely yarn.  I acquired some Italian merino Aran/10ply yarn in orange, and it made up beautifully into my version of this pattern.  The one change I did was to start with a chainless foundation, so the edge would lie flat.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

How to start crocheting without chain stitch: foundation crochet

Starting with a chain stitch is taught to pretty much every beginner crocheter, and is a hurdle to overcome because it's fiddly and annoying. And as many people chain more tightly than they do other crochet stitches, the beginning of your work can end up with a curling, tighter edge.

(If you HAVE to start with a chain, eg. for v-stitch, then use a larger hook size for the start - eg. if I'm using a 4mm hook, I'll go up to a 5mm hook for the chain and maybe first row).

BUT.... (let me change your life for the better!)

You don't have to start with a chain.  You can use a chainless foundation start (various other names for this: foundation chain, foundation treble etc etc).  What you are doing is creating the base (chain) and the first row (single/double/treble as you prefer) in one go.  In forming each stitch, you make the chain base for the next stitch, then make the stitch you're on.  Chain/stitch/chain/stitch.

Here's a You Tube video - it's in US terms, so it says double crochet where UK term is treble crochet, but it illustrates how it's done.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5t691HnQpBM

And here's a step by step photo tutorial, from a UK blogger so it's in UK terms.

Crochet Corner: Foundation Treble Crochet (ftc)

				Crochet Corner: Foundation Treble Crochet (ftc) How to make a foundation treble crochet stitch (ftr), US: foundation double crochet stitch (fdc)
				View on www.cherryheartcroch...	Preview by Yahoo

It's a really good technique for getting an easier start and less curling. It also gives you a nicer bottom edge than working through the chain can do.

You can do it with double/treble stitches (UK terms) or single/double stitches (US terms).  Or longer stitches (double treble, triple treble etc) if that's what your work requires.

Here's my other tip: staying aware of keeping your stitches level so the bottom edge of your work stays straight.  Keep your stitches at right angles, even if it feels that first loop is loopier than you expect.

It may take you a couple of tries to 'see' what you're doing, but when you do (and you will), it's an excellent technique to have in your bag of tricks.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

Note: links are in UK crochet terminology.

Interlocking Crochet

So I saw these pictures and thought, hmmm, interesting - how do you do that?

Maybe you make the background mesh first, a treble/chain/treble/chain etc, (the pink here) and then do the other coloured rows?

Tried that.  Nope.

Didn't know what it was called - not filet, as I couldn't find an example with two yarns, not overlay...

So I asked on a couple of Facebook crochet groups, and bingo!  A lovely person pointed me at this YouTube video:

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9dm_bD-e78

The YouTube instructor, Tanis Galik, calls it Interlocking Crochet, and has a website with the same name demonstrating a bunch of interesting ways to create interlocking patterns.

http://interlockingcrochet.com/ic-technique/ is the link to where she explains the technique in words and photos.

As you can see in the video, it's different front and back: rows on one, columns on the other.  An opportunity to play with colour.  The video uses two colours, but I also like the stripes of the first picture I found. That picture is a close cousin of the interlocking technique demonstrated above, but not quite the same...

It's also cousin of front and back post crochet and the textures those stitches can create.

There would be a certain weight to the final product due to the density and doubling: a larger blanket in 8 ply wool wouldn't be light for its size.  Maybe better in 4 ply for a larger blanket, or if it's for a baby.

Something new to try.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

A simple, simple crochet cowl

How much simpler does it get than this?

On Ravelry: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/netties-super-simple-cowl

which takes you to this link with the full pattern and links to tutorials/videos:
http://jessieathome.com/netties-super-simple-cowl/

photo from the pattern on Ravelry

Chain and slip stitches, with a yarn with long-colour variations making it look very cool with very little effort.

This would be a good one for beginners: mastering chain stitch (and control of hook/yarn) and making something something modern/interesting/useful. The example uses Aran/10 ply yarn and a 6mm hook, so it's not too fiddly either.

Could be good with an quirky yarn that doesn't need a lot of busy pattern but does better with a bit of air, like the sari silk yarns, too.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

V-stitch crochet: getting started

I've probably jumped the gun by posting about the V-stitch beanies at Christmas...but if you haven't yet come across V-stitch crochet, you really should. (Sometimes you're lucky enough to be doing V-stitch in a peaceful garden like this one...).

Why is V-stitch cool?  It's simple.  Just treble (UK; dc in US terms) and if you wish chain.  But secondly, it has some stretch.  Crochet can be rigid due to the way in which stitches are formed, and this isn't necessarily a bad thing.  But one of the charms of V-stitch is that it drapes and stretches due to the angle of the stitches.

Here's one tutorial from My Merry Messy Life (US terms):
http://mymerrymessylife.com/2012/06/crochet-v-stitch-tutorial-free-crochet-tutorial.html
This tutorial has detailed step by step photos.  Her version has treble/chain/treble in each space (UK terms.  In US terms, dc/chain/dc).  This adds stretch due to the chain, and makes a slightly more open style of crochet.

Here's another tutorial from Red Heart yarns (US terms):
http://blog.redheart.com/how-to-crochet-classic-dc-v-stitch-plus-3-variations/
One of the version here eliminates the chain so in each space there's treble/treble (UK terms.  In US terms, dc/dc).  This is faster to work and makes a slightly less open crochet 'fabric'.  I'm making a version of this, and have chosen to go up one hook size to 5mm with the 8 ply wool, so it still has drape and stretch. (This is the blanket in the photo above).

Having worked on a couple of V-stitch blankets, the one thing I have decided I prefer is to have a single straight stitch (treble in UK terms, dc in US terms) at each end so the sides are straight.  It's a stitch at the end of a row, 3 chains at the start of a row.  If you start and end with a V-stitch you'll have zigzag sides.  If you're happy with that, dandy: if you want straight sides, begin and end with a single stitch.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

Star Wars crochet: BB-8 Droid crochet hat

If you crochet even a little bit you'll know there's a bunch of Star Wars related crochet, amigurumi and other models, scarves, hats, mittens... out there.

The Death Star looks works really well in crochet:
http://www.popsdemilk.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/Death-Star-Pattern.pdf

Image source: http://popsdemilk.com/ which has lots of good crochet ideas.

And if you want to be up to date, here's a YouTube video of how to make your own BB-8 Droid hat:
https://youtu.be/yVZaA9NZiDo

The latter was posted, a bit diffidently, on a Facebook crochet group by a bloke who ended up being rather overwhelmed by the approbation he'd received; he seemed a tad nervous that his creation was left-field to other projects being posted.

For more, any search on "Star Wars Crochet" on Ravelry or Pinterest would be bound to hit paydirt.

I asked one of my nevvies if he'd like a BB droid hat crocheted by his dear aunt.  He hasn't responded, which could well be a response anyway....
UPDATE: but another one was very very very keen....

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.

V-stitch Beanies

The knitters' and crocheters' guild I attend decided to supply the local NICU with Christmassy beanies this year.  I went hunting for a crochet pattern and lucked onto this excellent one:

http://pinssneedles.com/free-crochet-pattern-quick-and-simple-chevron-hats-preemie-through-child-sizing/ (US terminology: instructions for various sizes)

V-stitch has the advantage of having some stretch (some crochet can be more rigid than knitting) and the cheery chevron adds to the effect (I carried the colours up so only had four ends to work in).

Here are two I made:

Two more were made for newly-grannied friends.  The baby size only took a couple of hours to make.  I made some in soft merino wool and some in cotton blend yarn, all 8 ply, 4mm hook.

Our group gave over seventy beanies - how lovely to think of those little ones with warm Christmassy heads.

Note: links are in US crochet terminology.