Tips and techniques
The stitches and tricks used in my patterns, explained step by step with a video included. Handy to keep open on your phone while you crochet.
How do you crochet a magic ring?
The invisible start for anything you crochet in the round. You crochet the first round around a loose loop, then pull it tight afterward, so there's no hole left in the middle.
Hold your index finger and middle finger slightly apart.
Wrap the yarn around both fingers, letting the starting tail hang under your middle finger and letting the strands cross at the front.
Bring your crochet hook under the right-hand strand and pick up the left-hand strand.
Yarn over and pull through.
Right Lifted Increase
An increase that leans to the right and almost disappears into the knitting. You use the stitch from the previous row to knit an extra stitch out of it, without leaving a hole.
Lift the right leg of the next stitch onto your right needle.
Place this on the left needle.
Knit the newly created stitch.
Knit the stitch from which you just created a stitch, also in knit stitch.
The first stitch of a row
There are various ways to start a round of double crochet stitches. Choose the method that works best for you.
3 chain stitches form the first double crochet. You work the next double crochet into the second stitch.
Chain 3 to turn. Work the next double crochet into the first stitch. The turning chains do not count as a stitch, so you do not work into them on the return row.
Standing double crochet 1: make a larger loop and rotate your hook 360 degrees counter-clockwise. Yarn over and pull the yarn behind your loop; you now have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
Standing double crochet 2: make a larger loop. Insert the hook into the first stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop to the same height as the first loop. Rotate the hook 360 degrees clockwise, yarn over, and pull through both loops.
Standing double crochet 3: make a larger loop. Insert the hook into the first stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. Yarn over and pull through the first loop on your hook, bringing it to the same height as the second loop. Rotate the hook 360 degrees clockwise, yarn over, and pull through both loops.
Standing double crochet 4: work a single crochet. Do not move to the next stitch; instead, insert the hook into the front loop of the single crochet you just made. Yarn over and pull through; you now have 2 loops on your hook. Yarn over and pull through both loops.
True double crochet: start with a new strand of yarn. Make a slip knot and work a standard double crochet: yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through the first two loops, yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops. This method works best when starting with a new color; if you use it for every row, you will end up with a lot of yarn ends to weave in.