Monday 22 August 2016

Quest for a stitch

Ages ago I saw this image and fell in love with that stitch.

Image from here

Can you see how it looks like a cross? And it creates quite a dense looking structure, too. On closer inspection it looked a bit like a double crochet (US single), but it certainly didn't look like mine...

I followed the links and searched around, but alas, the pattern no longer exists and my search ended.

Then, I started to see this stitch in lots of places- often used in baskets, but again, despite scouring the web, I couldn't find any mention of how this nice little stitch was created.

Image from here

Eventually I found a vintage pattern, where the baskets clearly show the crossed stitch.
So I bought it.
Yayyyyy!! Its secrets would be revealed. 
I would be making that stitch in no time at all....

Pattern from here

Nope.

The pattern, although very clear and thorough, just states to use a plain old double crochet. No more details.
Grrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Another dead end.

It was obviously something to do with the way I crochet- perhaps the people who can make this stitch hold their hook differently, or at an angle. Perhaps it was a yarn-feeding-thing, or a tension-thing.
So I gave up.

Then, whilst searching for something completely unrelated on YouTube, a moment of inspiration struck me. All I needed to do was find a video of someone who crochets in this way. I could learn from watching them do it.

And I did. I found a pattern for a little amigurumi here.

And I watched. And I gasped at how ridiculously easy it was. And how the way I make a double crochet (US single) just needed one, teensy, tiny change...

Here's how:

1. Hook into stitch as usual, pull up a loop.

THIS IS THE DIFFERENT BIT!!
2. Instead of yarn over hook and pulling the yarn through the stitch, twist your hook over the yarn and pull the yarn through .
3. Complete the stitch in the usual way- yarn over
4. And pull through both loops.


And that's it. 
Changing the second step completely alters the stitch, twisting the yarn and forming the cross that I wanted to achieve. 

Here's some comparisons between a 'normal' dc (US sc) on the left and the new cross-dc on the right:




The 'normal' dc creates a slightly larger, looser shape, with bigger gaps between the stitches. The crossed dc is more sturdy, with a far denser construction. It also produces that amazing crossed stitch I've been searching for.

And so my quest is complete!
I shall be using the cross-dc for those projects where I want a little more structure- I'm thinking simple baskets and bags and it might even feature in some of my amigurumi designs in the future.

Enjoy your week,
Sarah x



22 comments:

  1. This is amazing, thanks so much for sharing the info. Can't wait to try this!

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  2. Oh Sarah that's brilliant. I have that same picture on my Pinterest board; it had me puzzled too but then I didn't give it any more thought. Thank you for the tutorial, can't wait to have a go. Have a great week x

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    1. Hi Jane,
      You're very welcome. I'm just so pleased to have finally figured it out!
      Enjoy,
      Sarah x

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  3. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  4. Hey. Ifølge you want a tighter stich, you can try this: use your step 1 and 2, but step 3, use step 2 again (catching the yarn from above and pull through the 2 loops on the needle) it looks the same, but gives a tight stitch. Important: i use a larger needle/hook. ( if i use hooksize 2,5/3 for a normal sc, i use 3/3,5 for this "new" stitch) 😊😊

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    Replies
    1. Hi Legana,
      Thanks for sharing- that's a really useful thing to know!
      Sarah x

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  5. Love it, that's so clever! One of those wish-I'd-thought-of-it-first ideas. Thank you for sharing the fruits of your search. :-)

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    1. Thanks, Phil- it's been one of those things which has kept me awake at night!!! So pleased to finally figure it out!
      Sarah x

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  6. Thank you very much: I, too, have been searching for this pattern having just started crochet again after many years. Hope I can download or save this!
    Best wishes. Andy (Mrs!)

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    1. Hi Andy,
      I'm glad you wanted this pattern, too! It's such a great little stitch, isn't it.
      Enjoy!
      Sarah x

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  7. Oh genius genius genius. Thanks for this Sarah x

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    1. You're welcome!
      Soooooo glad I found out how to do it- it's been driving me mad!!

      Sarah xx

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  8. I was searching for the exact same thing and then I found a link to your blog on Pinterest. Thank you, you made my day!

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  9. Funny to find out I wasn't alone in my frustration to know the stitch used for this look! Thank you for your diligence in finding it, and sharing with those of us who gave up looking. I can't wait to try this!

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  10. Hi.. I'm wondering what kind of join you use or if you spiral with this stitch. Do you have photos of what it looks like?

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    1. Hi Marian,
      I used a continuous spiral of stitches with this
      X

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  11. Do u regular yarn or do u use a special yarn like shirt yarn

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    Replies
    1. I use both! Tshirt yarn is great for bigger projects.
      Sarah x

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I'd love to hear from you, so leave a comment or ask a question and l'll reply to you right here.
Have a fab day.
Sarah Xx