StoneGnome

How do you join yarn for a color change - or if you need to add another yarn ball?



I don't like knots or sewing in ends. If I do amigurumi, I prefer to crochet over the yarn ends whenever possible. In almost every other case I prefer the Russian Join. To my experience, It can be used with most yarns and it blends in very well. I also use the Russian Join, if I suddenly find a knot in the middle of my yarn ball.

Latvian Twist - or Twisted Stitch Edge - is a knitting technique for creating a lovely border. I have seen knitters doing it, but never a crocheter. So I tried it, and you can use it, when you crochet.


It takes advantage of the natural curling of a crocheted work and it will also help you prevent the rolling of the rest of your work.

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.

www.stonegnome.com is getting a new look. The old template had different issues, I wanted to solve. Hopefully the new one will give you a better experience. At least for mobile users, it should be an improvement.

I'll probably be working on fixing bugs the next week or two, but if you find any major issues, let me know anyway! Minor issues might disappear within these two weeks. If not, get in touch.

You can contact me here or on facebook.

A FREE pattern is out. It is a Mini Neck warmer made of the Tunisian Top Stitch Rib.
It fits a variety of sizes and will keep your upper chest warm under your jacket.

Go have a look. You can find the free pattern at LoveCrafts and on Ravelry.

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

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!

I've had my beloved red ribbed hat for a while and I'm really happy about it.

The other day my 3½-year-old ran away with the hat and wouldn't return it. Later he asked if he could have one too - a red one! So the happy mom made one more red hat.

I didn't write the original pattern for small kids, but it can easily be adjusted.

Here is what to do.

YEAH! A new pattern has been released! It is a sideways hat. Made completely from the Top Stitch Rib pattern. I've nursed the top, so it is ribbed almost all the way to the top center.

You can find the pattern at LoveCrafts and Ravelry.

A tester said: "It's is a very lightweight feeling on my head when compared to a hat made in regular crochet stitches. And much stretchier. Just all-around more comfortable."