A Loony Project

     You know how I said in one of my previous posts that I was working on a crocheted project?

     I just finished it this weekend and it is a Luna Lovegood scarf! Hence the title, A Loony Project (you can stop rolling your eyes now).

     A close-up.

     If you would like to make this scarf, go to Harry Potter - Luna Lovegood Scarf - My Take - PATTERN & CHART ADDED! - CROCHET

How to: Broomstick Lace

     To make broomstick lace, you will need a crochet hook, yarn, and a big knitting needle to make your lace hoops. You could also use a pipe or a broomstick to do this, but I wouldn't recommend it ;).

     When I make broomstick lace, I like to use one of these gigantic needles (which are 25mm and 15mm).

     In this example, I'll be using one of the 15mm needles.

    To begin, chain a number divisible by 3. I did 12.

     Pull the loop on your hook to make it bigger, and place it around your knitting needle.

     Insert your crochet hook into the back loop only of the next chain, yarn over, and pull it through.

     Place the loop onto your knitting needle and continue across the row. Like in Tunisian Crochet, this is called the Forward Pass.

     Now pull three loops off of the knitting needle and chain one. I pulled off three loops because I cast on a number divisible by three; if you cast on a number divisible by five, you would pull off five loops.

     Now sc three stitches into the loops. Repeat this throughout the row. This is called the Return Pass.

     One row of broomstick lace will look like this.

     From now on, you can either continue  making broomstick lace, or you can start a row of another stitch.

     After a few rows, your work will look like this.

How to Vertical Crocodile Stitch

     Before I begin, I'm not entirely sure what you would use this stitch for besides a scarf or a purse strap. However, it is fun to know, so I'm going to post it anyway.

     1) To make the stitch, chain three and dc into the third chain from your hook.

     2) Then, chain one and dc five times around your previous dc. See the pictures below for clarification.

     Here is what it will look like.

     3) Make four more dc around the other side.

     4) Now chain two and sc into the middle.

     5) Chain two again, dc, and begin the process from 2) until your project has reached the desired length.

     When you're ready to finish off, simply dc five times around your previous dc, chain one, and slip stitch into the middle.

     This will make a little baby crocodile scale.

How to Tunisian Crochet (The Simple Stitch)

     To Tunisian Crochet, you will need an afghan hook (see below).

     To begin, chain as many stitches as you would like; I did ten.

     Insert your crochet hook into the stitch next to your hook, yarn over, and pull it through the stitch. This is called Forward Pass.

     Continue picking up stitches across the row.

     Now, yarn over and pull it through the first stitch on your hook.

     For the rest of the row, yarn over and pull it through two stitches. This is called Return Pass.

     Your swatch will now look like this.

     Picking up the vertical stitches, make a Forward Pass. Continue making Forward and Return Passes until you have completed your project, ending with a Return Pass.

How to Bind Off

     Pick up the vertical stitch next to your hook.

     Yarn over and pull it through both of the stitches on your hook.

    Keep doing this until the end of the row, and your swatch will look like this.

How to Slip Stitch

     To make a slip stitch (aka magic loop), chain six.

     Then, insert your crochet hook into the first stitch you chained.

     Yarn over and pull it through both of the loops on your hook.

     You have just made the slip stitch!