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Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #6

April 9, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 1 Comment

It’s time for another edition of Dear ELK Studio. You asked the questions and our team of contributors have your answers. Be sure to leave your question at the bottom of the page in the area provided. If you’ve asked a question and don’t see it today, hang on because there is always next week. Enjoy today’s article!

Dear ELK Studio,
Is acrylic yarn safe to use for potholders/oven mitts?

Dear Cooker,
It is best to use natural fibers (i.e. cotton) for potholders/oven mitts. Acrylic yarn is basically a type of manufactured plastic – it has a melting point and it is not recommended for use in crocheted potholders/oven mitts. For more information about acrylic yarn you can read this post.

Dear ELK Studio,
I see so many crochet diagram patterns now. I’ve been crocheting a long time and I have found the stitch symbols, but I really need a tutorial (or 20) that will let me learn how to follow, increase or decrease for clothing, etc. Do you have any ideas for links or do you have a tutorial?

Dear Garment Maker,
Recently “Crochet Me” magazine had an on-line class that can teach you how to learn to read crochet. You can possibly find more information from this wonderful website.

Dear ELK Studio,
I have recently started crocheting and I want my stitches tighter. The spaces in a granny square where I am supposed to DC 3 are so large. It makes the piece look very sloppy. I suspect it is tension (I am an overhand crocheter) – what do you think?

Dear Loose Crocheter,
Tension is probably one of the most important lessons to master in crocheting and can sometimes be the most frustrating. Keep at it and don’t give up. Over time you will begin to see improvement. Here’s a blog post from The Yarn Box that can explain the importance of tension.

Dear ELK Studio,
When I crochet a circle it tends to curl. How can I make it lay flat? I don’t block so I think it is the way I crochet.

Dear Curler,
You will need to ensure you have the proper stitch count to eliminate the curl. As you increase each round, there is a standard number of increases per round. For example, if you start with 12 stitches on round 1, round 2 will be 24, round 3 is 36, etc. I also tend to think that maybe tension can play a role if you crochet “tight”.

Dear ELK Studio,
I am having trouble with the magic circle. Can you help me?

Dear Trouble,
Moogly has a great tutorial video for the right-handed person and here’s one if you are a lefty.

Do you have a question for Dear ELK Studio Crochet Column? If so, ask in the contact form provided below. We would love to help you!

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Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #4

March 19, 2014 by Kathy Lashley Leave a Comment

Dear ELK Studio,
I want to learn how to master the foundation double crochet stitch. Do you have a tutorial?

Dear Foundation,
It’s a good idea to view several videos to see if there are any differences in how the stitch is done, and you may prefer one method over another. For example, you’ll see a couple of different ways to do a slip knot in the tutorials. The first video is by Moogly and is very clear, short and concise. Next up is Simple Crochet where the author goes very slowly, so you can see exactly what she’s doing. Lastly, Maggie Crochet has lots of detailed information on her video.

Dear ELK Studio,
I’m having trouble on decreasing shells. Do you have any tips?

Dear Troubled Shells,
There are a few different techniques you can use to decrease shell stitches. Here are some options to try:
* use a smaller size hook for the decrease row(s)
* work fewer stitches into the shells themselves (makes the shells smaller)
* if you are working a row of shells, followed by a row of single crochet/chain stitches, decrease stitches in this row to eliminate the number of shells for the next row

You can also view a video tutorial from The Art of Crochet by Teresa (Crochet Geek) for an example of how to decrease shell stitches. It may also help to know exactly what type of shell you are trying to decrease as we gave a generalized answer.

Dear ELK Studio,
Is it possible to crochet two items on one circular crochet hook, like socks or sleeve, as can be done with knitting? If yes, how?

Dear Circular,
The short answer to your question is – No. It is not possible to crochet two items simultaneously on one circular crochet hook – from start to finish. Unlike knitting, crochet stitches do not remain on the hook for an entire project (even with Tunisian) – at some point all the stitches are removed from the hook to complete the stitches.

I spent quite a bit of time researching your question as I was intrigued by the possibility – I often dread making the matching sock (or mitten)! I could not find anything online to help confirm the information, so I asked Kim Guzman, a Tunisian Crochet Expert. You can visit her site to learn more about circular crochet hooks and Tunisian Crochet.

Dear ELK Studio,
I have a friend that wants me to crochet a bathing suit for her. Can you tell me what kind of yarn to use & how much it would take? She wants to wear it in the water.

Dear Swim Suit,
After many articles and research before attempting to make a swimsuit, it seemed the consensus is to use mercerized cotton for your choice of yarn. I would suggest a #3 type thread, such as, Sinfonia yarn while using a F Hook so the stitching will be tight. The amount of material will depend on the size needed for your friend but the Sinfonia comes in 218 yards so probably more than one but less than two. Of course lining the suit and using elastic is another option also. In my opinion, a crochet bathing suit is more for sun bathing and not doing laps in the pool. From personal experience, I made a bathing suit top using Sinfonia and was very pleased with the results. It did not have any sagging as you may expect (but I did try it out in the privacy of my home first).

Dear ELK Studio,
I found this pattern that I want to make, but it does not say the amount of yarn needed. Is there a way I can figure this out before I start it?

Dear Yardage,
There are a couple of ways I go about figuring yardage out for a project when needed. If I am making a project that doesn’t have the details of yarn needed, I find a similar pattern online that does, and I estimate based on that! Another great way to calculate yardage is by using this great tutorial from dummies.com. It has great information for Knitting and Crocheting yarn calculations!

Do you have a question for Dear ELK Studio Crochet Column? If so, ask in the contact form provided below. We would love to help you!

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Have a great day and be blessed!

Kathy

Dear ELK Studio – A Crochet Column #3

March 11, 2014 by Kathy Lashley 1 Comment

Dear ELK Studio,
There are so many crochet hooks out there. How do I choose?

Dear Hookless,
I love my hooks and you are certainly right by saying there are so many out there! Recently there was an article written by Beatrice Ryan Designs for The Yarn Box addressing crochet hooks and everything you should know! Hope this helps.

Dear ELK Studio,
I hate the way my project looks when I finish them off. Is there a way to make the seam look smoother besides just making a knot?

Dear Knot Happy with Seams,
There are so many ways to finish your projects smoothly, so I think knots are rarely the answer. Here is the technique I recommend via You-Tube and another tutorial by Cre8tion Crochet.

Dear ELK Studio,
I am going to attempt a wedding ring crochet cover for our king size bed. I have six colors, besides white… Light and dark blues, purples and greens. And I found a beautiful variegated yarn for the connecting octagons. I am really struggling with a sequence or pattern for the colors. Is there a resource that could help me? Thanks so much!

Dear Multiple colors,
When it comes to choosing color patterns I think Whitney Otto, How to Make an American Quilt, said it best, “There are no rules you can follow. You have to go by instinct and you have to be brave.” But if you aren’t feeling brave, here is a post from Fresh Stitches and Granny Square Colors.

Dear ELK Studio,
I cannot get a beanie cap to turn out the way it should. I follow directions but it seems the hat gets smaller instead of larger after completing a few rounds. What am I doing wrong?

Dear Shrinking Beanie,
Hats that start from the crown generally work flat until the end of the increase rows, then as you build the sides they start to form into the traditional beanie shape. If you are having trouble with it starting to change shape while still in the increase phase, it may be that you are tightening your tension as you work and the hat starts to pull in. Also check that the pattern has the proper amount of increases, as an example if the first round in the hat has 10 stitches, generally you should have an increase of 10 stitches in each increase round.

Dear ELK Studio,
Why does my crochet hat always “stretch” after washing and drying?

Dear Stretcher,
You may try hand washing your handmade items or wash them in a lingerie bag on delicate cycle and lay the item flat to dry. This insures the item is not stretched out of shape by the harsh action of the washing machine or shrunk by the extreme heat of the dryer. If it seems ALL of your projects are looser than ideal still… You may need to tighten up your tension.
Do you have a question for Dear ELK Studio Crochet Column? If so, ask in the contact form provided below. We would love to help you!
[contact-form][contact-field label=’Name’ type=’name’/][contact-field label=’Email’ type=’email’/][contact-field label=’Comment’ type=’textarea’ required=’1’/][/contact-form]

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