POPULAR STITCHES

Everything in crochet is based on the fundamental stitches you have already learned. By combining these stitches in various ways you can produce many interesting effects. Some of the more popular fancy stitches are the shell, the popcorn, the cluster, the star and the afghan stitch.

The most important features of the stitches are illustrated in the drawings. When the stitch is applied in making an article, it may vary in some details, but the drawings should make clear all its important characteristics.

SHELL STITCH (FIG. 28)

Figure 28

The correct order for a shell stitch row is as follows:

Beginning of row: 1. Half shell (the turning ch and 2 d c in 4th st from hook).
Repeat as often as you wish: 2.  Skip 2 sts
3.  1 s c in next st.
4.  Skip 2 sts.
5.  1 shell (5 d c in next st.
End of row: 6.  Skip 2 sts.
7.  1 s c n next st.
To turn, ch 3.

To begin a row of shell stitch on a foundation chain, thread over and insert hook in 4th ch from hook. Complete a d c and make another d c in this stitch. This makes a half shell, the first step in a shell stitch row.

 

POPCORN STITCH (FIG. 29)

 

CLUSTER (FIG. 30)
Figure 29

The beginning of a row is not illustrated since a popcorn stitch rarely begins a row. It is usually preceded by at least 1 d c. The drawing shows a popcorn stitch which has been completed and one which is in the process of being completed.

A popcorn stitch (pc st) is made up of a ch 1 and 5 d c in one stitch. Remove the hook from the last loop of the last d c. Insert the hook in the ch 1 made just preceding the group of d c. Catch the dropped loop with the hook and draw it through the ch on the hook and pull tight.

      Clusters may be made up of any number of d c or tr as the directions specify. The cluster illustrated is a three d c cluster.
     To begin a row on a foundation chain, thread over and insert hook in 4th ch from hook. Begin to make a d c but when you have drawn the thread through 2 loops once, hold the two loops on the hook and begin another d c in the same stitch. Again draw the thread through 2 loops once. There are now three loops on hook. Thread over and draw through the three loops at one time. Ch 1 to fasten.
     Clusters are often separated by at least 1 ch and a corresponding number of stitches are skipped on the row below.
     Each succeeding cluster is made up of three d c in one stitch. Do only the first half of each d c so that the last loop of each d c is held back on the hook. When there are four loops on the hook, thread over and draw through all 4 loops on hook at one time. Ch 1 to fasten.
Figure 30


STAR STITCH  (FIG. 33)
Figure 31 Figure 32 Figure 33

To begin a row on a foundation chain, insert hook in second chain from hook, thread over and draw a loop through. Do the same in the third, fourth and fifth chains, always bringing the thread to the level of the first stitch and keeping all loops on hook. Thread over and draw through all the loops at once. (FIG. 31). Ch 1 to fasten.

To make next star stitch insert hook in following 4 sts and draw a loop through each time (FIG. 32).

1. The fastening chain (A).

2. The last loop of previous star stitch (B).

3. The stitch where the last loop

 of the last star stitch was drawn through (C).

4. The next stitch (D).

Always bring the thread to the level of the first stitch and keep all loops on hook. Thread over and draw through all loops at once. Ch 1 to fasten.


AFGHAN STITCH
Figure 34 Figure 35 Figure 36
To begin a row on a foundation chain insert the hook in the second chain from the hook, yarn over, and draw a loop through. Make a loop in each remaining chain retaining all loops on hook (FIG. 34). When all the loops are made on hook, yarn over and draw through one loop. Then yarn over and draw through 2 loops at a time (FTC. 35) until there remains only one loop on hook which counts as the first stitch of the next row. This is one row completed. Do not turn. To begin the second and

succeeding rows insert your hook first under the second vertical bar (FIG. 36), yarn over and draw a loop through. Make a loop in each vertical bar across but when you come to the last one insert your hook under the last vertical bar and the stitch directly behind it in order to make a firm edge. Complete this row and each succeeding row by drawing the yarn first through one loop and then through two loops at a time (FIG. 37) until 1 loop remains.

On the last row make a slip stitch in each bar to keep the edge from curling.

 Figure 37
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