We pull together some of our favorite patterns from the Yarnspirations website each week. Use these patterns to inspire you to try new projects or yarn! This week I have a collection of 38 FREE knit and crochet basketweave patterns. Browse them for your next project to put on your hooks or needles.
The Bonny Billow Crochet Cable Pillow pattern uses cables in a unique way to create a wonderfully textured design. You should have a lot of fun working with this pattern, and I’m happy to share it with you today. Although it’s designed for spring, it’s a great project to work any time of the year. GET THE PATTERN TODAY.
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This post was originally my contribution to the Spring Home Decor Blog Hop hosted by E Claire Makery. During this blog hop, you could purchase all patterns in one bundle for less than $1 per pattern or visit the individual blog posts. I loved contributing to a project with so many different designers and designs. And I think my Bonny Billow Crochet Cable Pillow fits in nicely with the other designs. It also stands alone perfectly.
I’m enjoying working with crochet cables right now. This should be no surprise if you noticed I’m part of the upcoming Classic Cable Collection CAL. The Bonny Billow Crochet Cable Pillow I’m sharing perfectly complements the crochet blanket pattern I’m offering as part of that CAL. Whenever I start playing with a new technique, I want to make ALL THE THINGS. And that’s what’s happened with these cables.
Of course, there are different ways to work crochet cables. Often, you use both front and back post stitches. However, this leaves gaps or holes in the work. There’s nothing wrong with that, per se. However, you need a new technique if you want a denser fabric without those holes.
In the Bonny Billow Crochet Cable Pillow pattern (as well as the blanket I’m sharing as part of the aforementioned CAL; sneak peek here), I’ve solved this problem. You’ll work only front post stitches for the cables and use regular crochet stitches for the wrong side rows. As a result, you get great cable detail with no spaces. It is called the hidden crochet cable technique.
This crochet pattern uses Billow Yarn, a bulky-weight cotton yarn perfect for spring home decor crochet patterns.
You’ll also use a 6.5mm/K crochet hook (or hook needed to obtain gauge) … (recommended: WeCrochet Hook or ergonomic TooShay Crochet Hook)
And you might want to use:
Ready to get the crochet cable pillow pattern? It’s over on Ravelry. GET IT NOW.
Or remember that you can buy the whole bundle of 30 crochet patterns here.
There are so many easy, interesting crochet stitches to learn. Just by changing your hook placement or combining basic stitches in fresh ways, you can create such a vast array of different textures and looks. Here are some of my most popular video tutorials for interesting crochet stitches.
Crochet linen stitch is an easy, meditative crochet stitch. In this stitch, you alternate single crochet stitches with ch-1 spaces across the row. On the next row, you do the same, but work a single crochet into the chain spaces. It creates a dense, striking texture. Note that you might also see this called crochet moss stitch.
Crochet lemon peel stitch has a lot of different names, including waffle stitch, scrunch stitch, seed stitch, and single double combination stitch.
It’s similar to the linen or moss stitch. However, instead of alternating chain spaces and single crochet, you alternate single crochet and double crochet. Therefore, you get a similar texture that works up more quickly. This is a very versatile and somewhat textured crochet stitch.
Crochet offers so many different opportunities to change the placement of stitches. In this linen stitch variation, we use long double crochet stitches. They’re worked strategically into the row below where you’d usually work to create a visually interesting, reversible pattern.
The long double crochet chevron stitch takes the same concept from above but applies a chevron technique for a totally different look. You can create chevron crochet stitches in many different ways. This is a unique one for you to try.
Spike crochet stitches use the same concept as above: you work the stitch into the row below the one you usually work into. In this case, you’re using a long single crochet instead of a double crochet stitch. You get a comfy, cozy, dense fabric. Moreover, this stitch pattern lets you do really interesting things with colorwork.
Another way to change up single crochet and some other basic stitches is to work into one loop only. Working in the back loop only row after row gives a terrific ribbing effect. In this video, you learn to single crochet in the back loop only to create a stretchy fabric.
However, you don’t have to work in the back loops to create ribbing. In this technique, you alternate rows of single crochet with slip stitch rows for a knit-look ribbing.
Many would argue that star stitch is one of the most interesting easy crochet stitches. You may also see it listed as spiked cluster stitch, Marguerite stitch, or daisy stitch.
Getting the crochet feather stitch right is about placing your hook in the correct spot each time. Get that down and you’ll master this design that’s perfect for color play and striping.
Can’t get enough of these crochet stitch video tutorials?
Check out my Crochet Stitch Library playlist on YouTube.
UPDATE: The crochet swancho CAL is complete, and the full pattern is now available.
We are all about being cozy. And we know that you are, too. When we posted recently about the super cozy crochet hoodie blanket free pattern, so many of you immediately jumped on making it. That excited us to announce our first-ever Marly Bird CAL with Yarnspirations for a cozy and stylish item. It’s a crochet swancho! Stylish like a sweater and cozy like a poncho, this design offers a versatile neckline option to create exactly the garment you’re looking for. The CAL is now complete, which means the free crochet swancho pattern is now ready for you.
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There’s a lot of information in this post. To let it soak in, please take a minute to read through the entire post at least once. Then, you can skip to any section you need to see (note the links will be at the bottom).
Let’s start at the very beginning. If you aren’t familiar with the term ‘crochet-along’ let me explain. A crochet-along, or CAL, is a group of people coming together to crochet the same project in the same timeframe. The best part about the CALs I run is that I have a special Facebook group full of helpful crocheters working on the same project, and there to offer support. But, if you cannot start when I post the first section, or if you are new to crochet and don’t feel as fast, don’t worry. The content and pattern will always be available and FREE, thanks to Red Heart Yarns.
As the name explains, the swancho is a cross between a sweater and a poncho. A poncho is a loose, cozy garment, usually square or rectangular, that you pop right over your head for warmth. A sweater, of course, has sleeves and a more detailed neckline. But combine these features, and you get a beautiful garment that is also super cozy to wear. The crochet swancho is worked top-down, which is an easy design approach.
As you can see, this is not a mystery crochet-along. You know what you’re making, and you can make choices along the way – your preferred yarn color and the neckline you want.
As for the neckline, you can choose from the extra cozy cowl neck version (that I love and made on my sample) or a crewneck version, a classic sweater style many people love.
It’s designed as an experienced crocheter’s pattern. However, because it’s a CAL, you’ll get many details along the way. Moreover, you’ll have the support of the people crocheting along with you in the community. So, don’t be afraid to give it a try. In addition to basic crochet stitches, you’ll have the opportunity to work with foundation stitches, stacked stitches, post stitches, and clusters. It’s going to be fun!
The pattern is written and includes full schematic and stitch diagrams. Of course, video tutorials will be available for each section I taught and hosted on the Marly Bird YouTube Channel.
Here are the details. Get the full pattern here.
Note about size: When picking out your size, make sure you check the finished bust. The sweater is designed to be oversized. Keep in mind if you are between 2 sizes, you can certainly make it one size smaller to have a tighter fit.
Red Heart Roll With It Melange, (100% Acrylic; 5.29 oz/150 g; 389 yds/356 m; medium size (CYCA 4), colorway used in sample: Theatre (3, 4, 4, 5) balls
As for the color, you can choose from nine different colorways when you use the recommended Roll With It Melange yarn. This is a 100% worsted weight acrylic yarn that you can machine wash and dry, making your crochet swancho easy to care for. The colorways are what make this yarn truly unique. The colors swirl and work up so beautifully as you craft. Working on the CAL, you’ll delight in seeing those colors unfold. The result is an elegant, stylish design. Make something relatively simple, and let the yarn do the colorwork for you!
K/10.5 (6.5mm)
Stitch markers, tapestry needle
Note: See stitch diagram for assistance with the gauge swatch.
Foundation Row (WS): 19 Foundation sc (see special stitches), turn.
Row 1 (RS): Stacked dc in first sc, *ch 2, skip 2 sc, 3 dc-cl in next sc, ch 2, skip 2 sc, dc in next sc; repeat from * to end, turn. (6 ch-2 sps)
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 1, *sc in next ch-2 sp, ch 3; repeat from * across to last ch-2 sp, sc in last ch-2 sp, ch 1, sc in last st, turn.
Row 3: (Stacked dc, dc) in first sc, 3 dc in each ch-3 sp across (makes a dc group), 2 dc in last sc, turn.
Row 4: Ch 1, sc in first dc, ch 1, skip 1 dc, *sc between sts before next dc group, ch 3, skip 3 dc; repeat from * across to last 2 dc, sc between sts after last dc group, ch 1, sc in last st, turn.
Row 5: Stacked dc in first sc, *ch 2, 3 dc-cl in next ch-3 sp, ch 2, dc in next ch-3 sp; repeat from * across to last ch-3 sp, ch 2, 3 dc-cl in last ch-3 sp, ch 2, dc in last sc, turn.
Repeat Rows 2-5 to desired length for swatch.
Sharing is caring in everything that we do in this industry. The more you share this event (and others) online, the more people will visit my site, and the more you will help support me. That is how we designers get noticed because it helps us make revenue for these free events through the ads on our blogs.
Adding your project to Ravelry, showing WIP images in all your crochet-related Facebook groups, and posting about your progress on Instagram are all ways you can help us promote this fun event.
➸ Here is a quick link to the project page on Ravelry for your convenience.
If you are part of Ravelry, please take a minute and add your project there as well.
Before starting the CAL, please head to Facebook and join our dedicated crochet-along Facebook group. In this group, you will be joined by many other people participating in the CAL.
We shared progress photos, talked about tips and tricks, and helped each other through the tricky parts of the pattern in the group. I answered your questions with my team of admins and other crochet lovers.
Each week, we had a new post for questions. You’ll see all the answers there. If you have photos to share, just post them on the page as you take them.
The Facebook group is also where you could enter to win prizes.
The Crochet Swancho pattern is now available here.
➡️ Don’t forget to join the Marly’s Minions Facebook group so you can share your progress. Half the fun of crochet-alongs is the community aspect of sharing the work as we go! ⬅️
We pull together some of our favorite knit and crochet patterns from the Yarnspirations website each week. Use these patterns to inspire you to try new projects or yarn! This week we have a collection of 42 FREE knit and crochet bobble patterns. Browse them for your next bobble project to put your crochet hooks or knitting needles to work.
[Read more…]Squares and rectangles don’t have to be the norm in knit and crochet projects. You can actually create some really out-of-the-box shapes! This week, we decided to offer you something a little more unusual! As you know, each week, we gather some of our favorite patterns from the Yarnspirations website. This week, I have a collection of 22 FREE unusual knit and crochet patterns. Browse them for your next project to get your crochet hooks or knitting needles into action.
Knit and crochet projects are rarely rectangles, squares, or blocks anymore. Of course, circles are pretty common too. But you’d be amazed at the shapes you can actually make with knitting needles and crochet hooks. That’s why we think you’d love to try one or more of these 22 FREE unusual knit and crochet patterns for your next make.
Let us know what you think!
Yes, it’s easy to work unusual shapes into squares or rectangles for blankets and throws. But we wanted to show you other fun projects where unusual shapes in knit and crochet create even more unusual shapes. Check out these patterns for more out-of-the-box ideas.
