Crocheting Basics.
|
To know crocheting basics means that you are ready to start a serious project. For example, a sweater. Even if you are an experienced crocheter or knitter, sometimes it is not that easy to follow descriptions to make some projects.
It becomes even more confusing if the instruction is written for a standard clothing size and you have to make some corrections to meet your requirements.
Meanwhile you can make your life much easier if you don't mind to make some simple calculations. Once you understand the logic of these simple calculations, it won't be a problem to design any pattern you need. I will show you how you can do it.
Crocheting Basics. Prepare two things:
1.A pattern of a sweater for your project. Like this one on the picture. It doesn't have to be a full-scaled pattern. A small picture is quite enough.
2. You should make a pattern swatch and calculate gauge. I explained how to do it at the Beginner Crochet page.
We will make calculations for the back of a simple sweater with set-in sleeves. On the picture you can see one-half of the back pattern. Line AG is a middle line. Let us begin.
Crocheting Basics. Calculate the number of rows and stitches.
Line AB. 10 in long. To start a sweater you will need :
2 x (10 in x 6.75 stitch/inch) = 135 stitches
Line BC. 15.5 in long. Crochet 135 stitches in 101 rows (100.75 rows are rounded):
15.5 in x 6.5 rows/inch = 100.75 rows.
Line CD. At point "C" a sweater has 135 stitches. At point "D" it should have 115 (rounded 114.75)stitches:
2 x (10 in - 1.5 in ) x 6.75 stitch/inch = 114.75 stitches.
Hence, from point "C" to point "D" you should decrease 20 stitches (10 stitches for the right sleeve opening and 10 stitches for the left):
135 stitches - 115 stitches = 20 stitches.
From point "C" to point "D" you should crochet 13 rows:
2 in x 6.5 rows/inch = 13 rows.
Rows 1 - 10: decrease 1 stitch at the beginning and 1 stitch at the end of row.
Rows 11 -13: No decreases.
Line DE. 5 in long: 7 in - 2 in = 5 in
From point "D" to point "E" crochet 115 stitches in 32 rows:
5 in x 6.5 rows/inch = 32.5 rows
Line EF. From point "E" to point "F" decrease 37 stitches
(5.5 in x 6.75 stitch/inch = 37.125 stitches) in 13 rows (2 in x 6.5 rows/inch = 13 rows):at the beginning of rows 1,3,5,7,9,11 decrease 5 stitches, 13 row - 7 stitches.
Line FG. 6 rows (1 in x 6.5 rows/inch = 6 rows). There are 41 stitches for the neck opening after the shoulder slopes are finished (115 stitches - 2 x 37 stitches = 41 stitches). Decrease 21 stitches symmetrically about the line "GA".
10 stitches from each side of the neck opening (20 stitches total) have to be decreased in 6 rows. Once you decreased 21 stitches around the middle point "G", each shoulder slope should be crocheted separately.
Crocheting Basics lesson is over. We can choose some patterns for your new project.
Return from the Crocheting Basics Page to Home Page.
