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Category: Crochet Basics

  • Crochet Mini Pumpkin Pattern

    Crochet Mini Pumpkin Pattern

    A quick and easy crochet mini pumpkin pattern.

    A few years ago I came across a crochet pumpkin pattern that I made for family and friends. Over the last few years those friends have asked me to make more, but I couldn’t seem to find the pattern. I decided I would just go for it and start crocheting a few small pumpkins, creating my own pattern.

    I had also just came up with a new ribbing stitch I thought would be fun to use for the pumpkin and I absolutely love how they turned out. Here is the new stitch I used to create the ribbing effect, The Corkscrew Stitch.

    You can quickly make this pumpkin and many more to decorate your home or make handmade sweet little pumpkin gifts for fall. The second option is usually my favorite. Fall feels like the perfect time to spoil a friend.

    This pattern is super simple. You basically make a rectangle flat panel. Crochet along one side, seam up the two ends and crochet along the other side. After that you close up one side, stuff and close up the other side. All that’s left is creating the sections of the pumpkin.

    I personally love how cute these pumpkins turned out with dried tree branches as the stem. You could also use cinnamon sticks, a thick piece of twine or crochet a cord.

    DOWNLOAD THE PATTERN HERE!

    crochet-mini-pumpkinDownload

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  • Crochet Basics: A Beginners Guide To Crocheting

    Crochet Basics: A Beginners Guide To Crocheting

    A beginners guide to crocheting. Learn the basic skills needed to start crocheting.

    Whether you have tried crochet in the past or you’re an absolute beginner, this course will help you learn the basic skills of crocheting! 

    Crochet Basics

    Crochet Basics is designed to give you a solid foundation as a crochet beginner. Included are video lessons, descriptions & step by step photo tutorials. Covering everything from supplies, how to attach the yarn to your crochet hook, how to properly hold your yarn & hook, creating stitches, how to read a pattern, and fastening off. 

    By the end of this course you will have created your first crochet project! Establishing yourself as a beginner crocheter, moving onto that Pinterest board full of projects.

    Crochet Basics

    I can’t wait to share these skills with you and watch you flourish on your crochet journey!

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    “Tara is amazing! I have wanted to learn crochet since I was a child and she was sweet enough to take the time and teach me. I started off not knowing anything about crocheting and she set me up with my first hook and yarn and taught me in a manner of minutes! She was so encouraging and made it so simple. She doesn’t over complicate it and throughly explains each step. Now I’m making my own pieces along side her. If that doesn’t impress you, she also taught my 7 year old just the same way and my daughter got it down just as fast. I highly recommend learning from Tara, her videos and step by step process will have you crocheting in no time. I thought it was hard to learn but because of Tara’s experience she knows exactly how to teach in a way that even a child can get it. I give her a 10/10” -Calie

  • The Alternate Corkscrew Stitch

    The Alternate Corkscrew Stitch

    Crochet basics- new stitch techniques, featuring the alternating corkscrew stitch.

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches..

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches when I was working on a pattern that had ribbing. I would tell close crochet friends how one day I would find a stitch that worked through more than one loop and still created a beautiful ribbing effect.

    I think what bothers me the most about this stitch, is how it stretches out the yarn by pulling on the back loop. Tugging on the back loop only creates a lift on that loop and bunching up the rest of the stitch. I needed something with a little more structure but wanted to keep the ribbing texture.

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches..

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches until I came up with a few different ribbing textures I knew I’d use for future projects. This one being my favorite for sweater ribbing, the Alternating Corkscrew Stitch, ACS.

    The Alternating Corkscrew Stitch (ACS)

    • Start by chaining however many stitches you need for your ribbing.
    • Half double crochet (hdc) across to create your first row. Chain and turn. Here is where you will start creating the ribbing effect by creating the alternating corkscrew stitch.
    • Yarn over and insert your hook through the back & third loop.
    • Yarn over and draw through both loops(back & third).
    • With three loops on your hook yarn over and pull through all three, like a half double crochet.
    • In the next stitch, half double crochet. Repeat alternating between the corkscrew stitch and a half double crochet.

    *I like to start the row with an alternating corkscrew stitch and end each row with a half double crochet.

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    P.s: If you’ve tried all of my alternatives to the back loop only stitch, leave a comment below and share your favorite stitch with me!

  • The Corkscrew Stitch

    The Corkscrew Stitch

    Crochet basics new stitch techniques, featuring the corkscrew stitch (CS).

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches..

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches when I was working on a pattern that had ribbing. I would tell close crochet friends how one day I would find a stitch that worked through more than one loop and still created a beautiful ribbing effect.

    I think what bothers me the most about this stitch, is how it stretches out the yarn by pulling on the back loop. Tugging on the back loop only creates a lift on that loop and bunching up the rest of the stitch. I needed something with a little more structure but wanted to keep the ribbing texture.

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches..

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches until I came up with a few different ribbing textures I knew I’d use for future projects. This one being my favorite, the corkscrew stitch. I love the idea of this stitch for all ribbing projects.

    The Corkscrew Stitch

    • Start by chaining however many stitches you need for your ribbing.
    • Half double crochet (hdc) across to create your first row. Chain and turn. Here is where you will start creating the ribbing effect by creating the corkscrew stitch (CS).
    • Yarn over and insert your hook into the back and third loop.
    • Yarn over again and draw up a loop.
    • With three loops on your hook, yarn over and draw through all three, like a half double crochet.
    • Repeat until you reach desired ribbing length.

    *If you have tried all of my back loop only alternatives, comment below with your favorite stitch.

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    What projects are you using the corkscrew stitch for?

  • Half Double Slip Stitch

    Half Double Slip Stitch

    Crochet basics with new stitch techniques, half double slip stitch HDSS.

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches..

    I found myself so frustrated with back loop only stitches when I was working on a pattern that had ribbing. I would tell close crochet friends how one day I would find a stitch that worked through more than one loop and still created a beautiful ribbing effect.

    I think what bothers me the most about this stitch, is how it stretches out the yarn by pulling on the back loop. Tugging on the back loop only creates a lift on that loop and bunching up the rest of the stitch. I needed something with a little more structure but wanted to keep the ribbing texture.

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches..

    I decided to test out a series of different stitches until I came up with a few different ribbing textures I knew I’d use for future projects. This one is probably my favorite when it comes to a cardigan, the Half Double Slip Stitch or HDSS.

    The Half Double Slip Stitch or HDSS.

    • Start by chaining however many stitches you need for your ribbing.
    • Half double crochet (hdc) across to create the first row. Chain and turn. Here is where you will start creating the ribbing effect by creating a half double slip stitch.
    • Insert your hook into the back loop only, yarning over and drawing up the second loop on your hook.
    • Now insert your hook through the whole stitch, front and back loop. **Note: you are working in the same stitch.
    • Yarn over and draw up your third loop on your hook.
    • Slip stitch your third loop through the second loop on your hook.
    • With two loops left on your hook single crochet. Repeat across for desired ribbing.

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    I hope you found this new stitch fun and plan on using it for all your future ribbing projects! P.s: If you’ve tried any my alternative stitches to back loop only, leave a comment below and let me know which one it your favorite!