I have an excellent new ribbing for you!

I've been playing around with the Top Stich and found a very, very neat way to make an awesome ribbing. I haven't seen it anywhere else. So I dare to call this NEW!

• Is extremely flexible 
• It has a very soft structure
• And the stitch pattern looks great

Nice looking edges are important, if you want to make a decent work. But sometimes they are teasing. One of the better tricks to know, is how to make the first stitch in a row look good.
For instance: There are different advices of how to start a double crochet row. Some do two chains others do three chains. And - SIGH! - sometimes it feels like 2½ chain would be better.

There is actually an even prettier way to start a new row.

Have you ever wanted to put your own photo or image on a pillow or an afghan? You could also make a corner to corner (c2c) blanket or use the same technique for a filét chart or a sweater.


What you need is:

• an image
• a crocheted stitch sample
• a computer
• time

Fluffy yarn, fuzzy yarn, fur yarn or eyelash yarn. All of these long-fibered yarn types aren't always easy to crochet with. But, they look so fluffy and soft and kitten-like...


Here are a couple of tips for you, so you are prepared next time you find a fluffy or furry yarn.

This border is bold and flexible and can be used with all kinds of projects. It is also the 4th and final part of the StoneGnome Infinity Scarf.

I promised to show you the border today, but don't despair if you are still working on the flames stitch patterns.

Front Post and Back Post crochet stitches add a nice relief effect to your work.

Among others you can use them to make basket weave stitch patterns, cable-work and ribbed stitch patterns. The ribbed stitch patterns even comes with a little flexibility.

(If you want a very flexible rib, look for The Top Stitch Rib post here).

This is my first time felting anything in the washing machine. - At least on purpose.

So, I'm clearly not an expert, BUT! - If you are like me, you would think, this was time consuming and difficult.

It was a piece of cake and amusing too!
I am definitely going to try this again soon.

This is how it works...

We love new stitches. And being an experienced crocheter, you might sometimes think, you have seen it all.


Then a new stitch pops up and makes everyone excited.

You have already made the base of your hat. Now you want a ribbed brim.

And when your hat is done, you want the hat to look smooth and soft without those edgy corners from your increases. Or maybe you want a little decoration?

This post gives you:

1. Nice tips for doing a ribbed brim
2. Guidelines for blocking
3. Tips for making ears

I've started to collect plastic bottles. I save those that have been used for vinegar. I found out, they are pretty easy to cut into different shapes - and they can be washed.


So hubby, please bear with me!

Once in a while I talk to an experienced crocheter, who never did a gauge swatch. Because GAUGE sounds like something difficult. It's not.

Do you need to know your gauge? No. You can certainly crochet without knowing your gauge. But if you want to have just the slightest idea of what size your final work will be, you need it.

Very often the never-did-a-gauge-swatch-chat is followed by a funny story about extremely large or small hats.

It doesn't take long to learn to do a gauge swatch and it might save you hours of frogging for the rest of your life!

It doesn't feel long ago since I discovered the Tunisian Top Stich - aka Bump Stitch. This certainly is my favorite Tunisian stitch of today.


I've done minor testing on different ways to use it - like for ribbing - and I think the stitch has great potential. Meaning it can unlock new possibilities for Tunisian crochet patterns.

Did you ever think about how many different crocheted ribbings there exist? I think most of us just do whatever a pattern tells us - or you find a page telling you 'how to crochet a ribbing'. As in one ribbing.

Being conscious about the different kinds of ribbing is an advantage, if you want to be able to change an existing pattern or make your own design.

Earlier I wrote about how to Start a New Row with a Fake Stitch.
Also called no-chain double crochet/treble crochet or chainless double crochet.

I've gotten more questions about this - especially for other stitches than double crochet.

So here is an elaboration on the subject.

Do you sometimes find that some of your clothes could use something extra?

I have this lovely way-too-big sweater. It is great for a rainy day, when you just want to stay indoor doing crochet. Only thing is; the neck is too open. So my chest gets cold.

Recently a clever girl on Facebook told me, I could use Tunisian Top Stitch as a rib. So I wanted to try that on my sweater.

Today I’ll show you how to do the first cable-like stitch pattern.

The introduction is now available on YouTube. :)

See the video or read about the scarf here.

This might be the tiniest advice ever, but wouldn't you like to get rid of the knot you get, when you start a new project?


You probably start with a slip knot and pull it tight. Then you have a little hard knot in the corner of your work. It doesn't add anything good to your work and can be difficult to hide - even if making a border - as it is always trying to run away and stick out.

Wow! The rarely used twisted stitch pattern looks fantastic using more colors! I didn't even realize that until Chanette asked for more colors...


I'll show you, how you add more color to this stitch pattern row by row.