Skills

The Best Hook for Waistcoat Stitches

Yarn-Hook Combos

• Scheepjes Catona (Ravelry) 125m/50gr (138 yds/1.76oz)
• hook size 4mm for the main parts plus a hook size 3mm for the final round (US G6 and D3, UK 8 and 11).

The Red Striped Bauble

Special stitches

Abbreviations

Instructions

1. * With red. 1 ws and 1 ws-c in the next sc,
   ch-c 1 with the white (change color immediately). *
   Repeat all the way. [18]
   
   
2. * With red. 1 ws in the ws,
   1 ws-c in the next stitch.
   With white; 1 slst-blo in the chain,
   1 slst-blo-c in the ws *.
   Start the next repeats in the CURRENT ws. Repeat all the way [24]
   (Keep changing color so all ws are done with red yarn and all slst are done in white.)
   
   
3. * 1 ws in the current stitch,
   1 ws-c in the next stitch,
   1 slst-blo in each slst,
   1 slst-blo-c in the ws * [30]
   
   
4. Repeat round 3. [36]
   
   
5. Repeat round 3. [42]

Start filling the bauble. Depending on your tension, yarn, and more, the white part might arch inward. Use this if you like - or fill the bauble firmly in the end, if you want a very round ball.

2nd Half of the Red Ball

6. Begin this round in the ‘current ws’ and make the repeats from the ‘next ws’.
   * 1 ws in the ws,
   1 ws-c in the next ws,
   1 slst-blo in the next 4 slst,
   1 slst-blo-c in the last slst * [42]
   
   
7. Repeat the previous round.
   
   
8. * 1 ws in the ws,
   1 ws-c in the next ws,
   1 slst-blo-dec,
   1 slst-blo in the next 2 slst,
   1 slst-blo-c in the last slst * [36]
   
   
9. * 1 ws in the ws,
   1 ws-c in the next ws,
   1 slst-blo-dec,
   1 slst-blo in the next slst,
   1 slst-blo-c in the last slst * [30]
   
   
10. * 1 ws in the ws,
    1 ws-c in the next ws,
    1 slst-blo-dec,
    1 slst-blo-c * [24]
    
    
11. * 1 ws in the ws,
    1 ws-c in the next ws,
    1 slst-blo-dec-c in the slst. * [18]
    
    
12. * 1 ws in each ws * (Skip all slst). [12]

Final Round
Change to a hook 1 size smaller.

Make 1 ws in the first stitch and unfinished-ws the rest of the way. Every time you have 4 loops (max) on the hook, move 3 loops to a stitch marker /stitch holder (or just a piece of string). The loop you made last, keep that on the hook.

Cut a long yarn end. Pull the yarn end through all the loops on the hook and then all the loops on the stitch markers. Use a needle or a hook.

Fill the bauble - firmly for a round ball.

Tighten the yarn end and use a needle to secure it by going around in the last loops once more.

Insert the needle into the ball and let it come out from the middle of the 'star'.

Shape the Christmas bauble by hand if needed.

Have a Merry Crochet Christmas!

...Psst!

If you liked this, then try other projects using waistcoat stitches and slip stitches. You can find them under the theme Split Crochet.

The stitches are not used much with traditional patterns but are really fun to work with.

• World Heart Day
• Snowflake #1
• Snowflake #2
• A Little Christmas Heart
• Sibling Stars
• Double Heart

Christmas Crochet Ideas

The Tunisian Pumpkin pattern has been through a little update.

The pattern is updated with wings, a leaf, and two pumpkin variations. It adds a lot of possibilities for happy or scary or stylish Halloween decorations.

Get the pattern here

Read more and purchase the pattern on Ravelry, LoveCrochet, or the StoneGnome Store.

Skills Needed

The pattern is a mix of regular and Tunisian crochet. If you don't know Tunisian crochet, don't worry. You will only need to learn a couple of basic Tunisian crochet stitches to make this, and it can be made with a regular crochet hook (with no handle).

All the minor details are basic regular crochet - with a little exception. To be able to make the wings mirrored, a few unusual stitches are added. They are not very difficult to do.

I've borrowed the technique from Tunisian crochet where they are called 'reverse stitches'. However, it is not the kind of reverse stitches we normally relate to, when we do regular crochet.

See a video and a little note about the reverse stitches here.

Happy Halloween!

Most of us cannot crochet with both hands. Though sometimes it would be useful to be able to.

When I made wings for a pumpkin (yes, for a pumpkin, a Halloween pumpkin), I wanted the reverse side of the second wing to look like the front side. Including the small ridges. 

It would have been great if I could have worked the second wing with my left hand. Then it would truly be  'mirrored' versions of the same item.

There is an alternative. In Tunisian crochet, there is something called 'reverse stitches'. Reverse stitches in the world of regular crochet are usually related to stitches like the 'crab stitch', where you crochet in the opposite direction (right-handed work from left to right). 

However, with Tunisian crochet, the reverse stitches are not made in a different direction but on the reverse side of the work. Inserting the hook behind the work.

This is really all there is to it and it can be done with regular crochet too. 

Video

If you prefer a video to see how it can be done, then I made one for you here.

Written Pattern

Pattern Chart

The innovative new crochet pattern has just been released. Tricky Triangles is a mandala presenting a new way to crochet in the round.

The mandala will be soft and drapey and excellent for making a pillow or you can make it a decorative table topper. There are a lot of other possibilities for hexagons if you google it.

The Mandala

I'm not sure if the level of it is beyond basics or advanced. It might more be a matter of preferences and whether you can find a hook that works for you.

It's colorwork and it requires you to make somewhat uniform stitches. The main stitches are slip stitches and waistcoat stitches. If you are not sure whether these stitches suit you or not, try the FREE introduction pattern Tessa's Triangles first.

Tricky Triangles comes with a 30% introductory discount. The discount is only available on Payhip or Ravelry and runs out in 2 weeks (Nov. 18th Copenhagen time). Use the coupon code TRICK to get the discount.

The mandala pattern is available in English (US terms) and Danish. 

Get the pattern at Ravelry, at LoveCrafts, or right here via my new Payhip Store.

Yarn, Hook sizes, and Final Sizes

In theory, you can use any three yarn balls and a relatively large hook. Preferably a hook with a relatively small head. For the best result, the yarn should be uniform and soft, with a smooth look.

The yarn I have used is very soft and likable, so I can certainly recommend it.

Peppermint and Licorice
Hook size 5mm (H-8). It gets around 30cm (11.8") wide.
Scheepjes Organicon/Bamboo Soft.
Organicon - 220 Broken Almond
Bamboo Soft – 263 Smokey Diamond (dark)
Bamboo Soft – 264 Antique Silver (grey)

(Big) Red.
Hook size 8mm (L-11). The red is approximately 37cm (14.5") wide.
Scheepjes Merino Soft.
645 Van Eyck (orange)
621 Picasso (red)
623 Rothko (dark red)

Yarn Packages

Littlebugz.dk made yarn packages for both versions. It might be of most relevance if you live in Denmark, Sweden, and Norway - or close. She is good at adding discounts on yarn packages for my patterns.

Have a look at the yarn packages at Littlebugz.

Thank You

Thank you to all that have helped me out. Janelle did a great job before it was even a pattern. She helped me with terms and the structure of the written pattern. Then Anita Reinehr came in early to do a superb tech edit. Unusual yes, but with a new thing, it felt important to do a tech edit before having the pattern tested. 

Finally, a lot of people did testing. Some just partly, some only on the early Tessa's Triangles. Thank you to all of you too; Pamela Tan, Robyn Kaltea, Ruth Lister, Jess Wells, and more.