Stitches

Easy crochet stitches?

I'm not sure what level of 'expertise' I could give my crocheting skills but I can say I at least have the basic stitches down (sc,hdc,dc...). I've made scarves, beanies, a pair of wristwarmers...and just recently my first baby blanket. Can some of you crochet guru's suggest some new stitches for me to try out, particularly for beginning and intermediate learner's using the basic stitches? Most of the things that I've made (all of them, now that I think about it) were made without a pattern...they turned up fine by chance and virtue of my hoping they would...and the very occasional unraveling. Also, I'd like to expand my horizons as far as making new things. Can you share a site or two you know of with free easy patterns available? I really would like to try making a capelet, and maybe a shawl too. I'd appreciate any kind of help =)

Public Comments

1. try going here http://www.grannys-garret.com/ and clicking on links... seems to be a very useful site.. also go to (sign up for newsletter .. free) http://www.lionbrand.com they send out a newsletter with new stitches either knitting or crocheting and have a ton of free patterns as well...
2. There are all sorts of things you could make. Let me list some of my favorite crochet websites: http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com http://www.coatsandclark.com http://www.lionbrand.com http://crochet.about.com http://www.joann.com (click on the "projects and more" tab at the top of the page and it will take you to the projects section.) Crochet is really just made up of the basic stitches you already know--it's all in how you put them together. Your imagination has no limit. Personally, I love to make afghans and if I don't have anyone in mind that I want to give it to, it goes to the local children's hospital.
3. Try going to this website and you will find all kinds of different stitches and patterns to make. Hope it helps you with expanding your knowledge. http://www.lionbrandyarn.com/ Also go to: http://freepatterns.com/ For more patterns.
4. My favorite site is http://lionbrand.com/ Click on: Pattern Finder Type in: free crochet shawl or capelet many patterns will come up For a variety of stitches try this website: http://crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa052398.htm/ I love to crochet. Recently I learn to crochet around a front post. I'd avoided any pattern that called for this stitch but it's not that difficult--you just have to try try again.:)
5. In 56 years I have tried to come up with everything possible. I can tell what some one else is doing just by looking at it, or at a photo, and then I do not want it, so I try to create something most unusual every time I pick up the crochet hook. You are probable on this path. Happy crocheting.
6. These are my favorite sites for free patterns: http://www.bernat.com/ http://www.lionbrand.com/ http://www.berroco.com/pattern_library.html http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/ http://www.garnstudio.com/lang/en/kategori_oversikt.php http://www.patonsyarns.com/pattern.php?PG=lady http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory.php You might not be satisfied working just easy patterns. Go for the harder ones if you want to expand your horizons. The harder patterns are just stitch variations, a mix of stitches you already know, or projects that take a little more will. That's where you will learn new stitch patterns. One of the funnest projects I ever made was a sampler afghan. I used a combination of the Harmony Guide of crochet stitches and Liesure Arts 63 squares to make an afghan leaflet. So I had 63 squares each with a different pattern I wanted to try and used patterns I liked out of each book. It was beatiful and I learned a lot of stitches plus learned to vary my own things. I do creat many things on my own. I may use a pattern sometimes to start a project but always end up changing something I don't like to make it better. I think you may be like me when it comes to this. Another way to play with crocheting is using different techniques such as afghan stitch and the double ended hook. You never get bored knowing all the things you can do with crochet. If you get tired of regular stitches you can change to another technique to keep things new. Since you know basic stitches, you are no longer a beginner so go for anything that looks fun to you regardless of the difficulty. That's how you move on. Have fun!