How to Crochet Entrelac

     Crocheted Entrelac, made with the Tunisian Simple Stitch, is used primarily for making afghans and baby blankets. It is a bit tricky at first to understand, but after you memorize how it works, it becomes second nature.

     To begin, chain two more stitches than the amount of rows you want (example: if you want 10 rows, you'll chain 12).

     I chained eight stitches and the instructions are written as if you did the same.

Row 1:

     Turn the chain upside down and pick up seven stitches from the bottom loop.

     You'll now have eight stitches on your hook.

     Complete a total of six forward and return passes.

     Bind off all of the stitches. You have now made the center square of your Entrelac.

     If you want to change colors now, you can cut your yarn and join  your new color at any of the sides. If you want to keep using your current color, slip stitch down the side of your square.

Row 2:

      Now that your yarn is in the corner, chain 7.

      Pick up six stitches in your chain from the bottom loop, as you did before. You will now have seven loops on your hook.

      Pick up one stitch from the side of your square.

     You will now have eight stitches on your hook.

      Complete a return pass.

     Make a forward pass, but don't pick up the final stitch. You'll have seven loops on your hook.

     Pick up the stitch on the side of the square again and you'll have eight loops on your hook.

     In this manner, complete six rows.

     Bind off all of the stitches.

     Repeat the square making process a total of four times.

     If you want to change colors, you can cut your yarn and join the new color in the top left corner of one of the squares. If you want to keep using the same color, just slip stitch up the right side of the next square and across the top.

Row 3:

     1) Pick up six stitches on the left side of the square.

     Now pick up a stitch on the right side of the next square.

     You will now have eight stitches on your hook.

     Complete a return pass and make all forward passes as before. Bind off when you have made six rows.

     2) Chain seven stitches and pick up six from the bottom loop. Make six rows (making all forward and return passes as before) and bind off.

     Repeat steps 1) and 2) all the way around the swatch. Your work should now look like this.

     If you want to keep making more rows, all you have to do is slip up the right side of the next square (or if you are joining a new yarn, join in the top right corner) and repeat the necessary steps.

     If you need a little bit extra help, I found a really good video by The Crochet Crowd.

How to: Short Rows

     Short rows are often used for shaping the heels of socks and the busts of sweaters. It's very helpful to know how to make it and, once you get the hang of it, is pretty fun! However, short rows are probably one of the most feared aspects of knitting. I'm fairly certain that this is because of the term "wrap and turn" (abbreviated w&t). What does that even mean? Well, I'll show you.

Instructions:

     Cast on any number of stitches, preferably one divisible by two. I did twelve. Work in the desired pattern until you have reached the row you wish to make short rows on (for simplicity's sake, I'm going to stick with Stockinette).

     Knit the amount of stitches called for in your pattern. For me, this is ten stitches.

     Now comes the wrap and turn (w&t). Move your yarn from the back of your work to the front.

     Slip the next stitch off of your left-hand needle and onto your right-hand needle.

     Move your yarn to the back of your work.

     Turn your work so that the wrong side is facing you.

     Slip the stitch from on your left-hand needle to your right-hand needle.

     If you are going to knit the next few stitches, simply move your yarn to the back of your work and LOOSELY knit the next stitch. Knit each stitch after that the way you normally would.

     If you, like me, are going to purl the next few stitches, purl the first stitch LOOSELY (see below) and then purl the next stitches as you normally would.

     If you're making my swatch, purl eight. If not, ignore me. :)     

     Here comes the wrap and turn on the purl side! Move your yarn to the back of the work.

     Slip the next stitch from the left-hand needle to the right-hand needle.

     Move the yarn from the back of the work to the front and slip the stitch back onto the left-hand needle.

     Turn the work.

     Now, I'm going to show you how to pick up the wrapped stitches you have made.

How to Pick Up Stitches: RS

     Knit up to the wrapped stitch.

     Slip the stitch from your left-hand needle onto your right-hand needle.

     Pick up the wrap with your left-hand needle, and place it onto your right-hand needle.

     Slip both the wrap and the stitch back onto your left-hand needle and knit them together.

     Knit to the end of the row.

How to Pick Up Stitches: WS

     Purl up to the wrapped stitch.

     This next part is best explained by picture on the right side of the work. Do you see that wrap around the stitch?

     You are going to pick that up with your right-hand needle.

     And then you can slip the stitch onto your right-hand needle.

     Slip both the wrap and the stitch back onto the left-hand needle.

     Purl the wrap and the stitch together, and purl to the end of the row.

     Your swatch should now look slightly curved. If you keep doing more short rows, the curve will become more pronounced.

     If you would like some help with this technique, here is a video on how to wrap and turn and here is one on how to pick up wraps.

New Year Socks!

     A couple of days before Christmas, I finished all of my 22 projects! Needless to say, I was (and still am) super pleased with myself! I decided that I definitely needed a break from all knitting and crocheting for a while, just to recuperate.

     I'm  pretty sure that the fates were against this resolution, because on Christmas morning, I got some FABULOUS interchangeable knitting needles!

     "I am TAKING A BREAK!" I told myself, about a billion times that day. However sorely I was tempted, I stayed strong and only opened the container a couple of times to look at them. But by the next day, any resolve I had broke.

     "Nope, I can't do this anymore!" I said. So I knitted a small short row swatch. Then, looking at the swatch gave me a brilliant idea. I'm going to make some socks!

     So I did make some socks, using my Christmas needles, and I finished them on the 31st!

    I made them with worsted weight acrylic yarn, and I have to say that they are very comfortable and warm!

     If you would like to make this pattern, you can buy the book The Joy of Sox from Amazon.

Brier Twist Convertible Gloves

    Woohoo! We have reached my last Christmas present! I almost didn't complete all 22 projects in time; I finished both of these gloves by the 23rd. I made them, and definitely think that they are GORGEOUS! What a lucky person who gets them (I'm slightly envious of Mom! *laugh*)!

     Once they were complete, though, it looked like they were missing something... They seemed a little bit too white--- they needed a splash of color. My sister, Sarah, suggested adding a red trim to the bottom (my mom loves red). I did that and... I LOVE it! It makes them look absolutely perfect!

     If you would like to make this pattern, you can get it for FREE at: Brier Twist by Nicola Blechschmidt

All the Trimmings Snowflake Ornament

     As a Christmas gift to my pen pal, I made a snowflake ornament! I am SUPER pleased with the way that it turned out! It is so dainty and detailed! 

     Ever since I made this, I have been thinking about trying out doilies... It's something to think about, anyway...

     I will point out that I changed this pattern a little bit on the last round by chaining 30 stitches and joining it with a slip stitch to make the hanger.
     If you would like to make this snowflake, you can get the pattern for FREE at All the Trimmings Crochet Snowflake by Lizzy Stitches

Luuk Hat

     This is the FINAL hat I am making for Christmas! All I have left to make are some convertible gloves for my mom and I will be completely done with all of the projects I have before Christmas! In fact, by the time this post is published, I will probably be done with them.

 If not, I will have to knit faster!

     This is my brother Gabriel, for whom the hat is intended. I think he likes it! :)

     If you would like to make this hat, go to Luuk by Annis Jones for the free pattern.

Plains Hat

     This pattern was the first Tunisian crocheted pattern I have ever made! It has an interesting texture and I like the band around the brim of the hat.

     My version of the hat was rather slouchy, whereas the one shown in Interweave Crochet Magazine, Fall 2014 was not particularly.

     The construction was fairly unusual for a hat; it was worked sideways and then sewn together. Despite being a bit strange and unfamiliar, I had the greatest of times making it!

     If you would like to make this pattern, you can buy the magazine here from Interweave Crochet.