Crochet Tips: Magic Ring

Here's a photo tutorial about Magic Rings, sometimes referred to as Slip Rings or Sliding Loops or adjustable rings.
When working in the round, it's always hard to get the correct number of chain stitches so that the circle isn't too loose. Sometimes the first round is begone by making two chain stitches and then continuing by working in the first chain made. Instead of beginning with chain stitches you can use this technique. 

Make a loop as shown and hold in the left hand.

 Insert the hook into the ring, catch the working yarn and pull up a loop.

Make a chain stitch, (for double crochet, or 3 chain for treble crochet) the chain stitches usually count as the first stitch.

Now make the required no of stitches in the ring.

 To tighten the ring, take hold of the tail and pull gently.

 To join the ring slip stitch to the first chain stitch or needle join to the first double crochet. We will talk about Needle joining in the next post.

There is another technique sometimes referred to as a Sliding Loop or Double Ring, where the tail is wrapped twice around the finger before the first chain stitch is made. I have not mastered this technique, every time I try I end up very frustrated and I can't see why it is an improvement on the first method! If you know different please shout up!

To be honest the thing I hate about blogging is the one way conversation. So if you are popping by please shout up and say Hello!

Bye for now! Rach

Crochet Tips: Placement of stitches.

Anatomy of a stitch
Even now I have to stop and think sometimes about where to put my stitches. Sometimes I have to draw a little stick man version of a stitch to work out whether the loop comes before or after the post (or stem) of the stitch. 

The problem is that if you mainly stitch in rounds and don't turn your work you will have got use to the loop being in front of the post, and if you usually work in rows the loop will be after the post. 

Front

Back

So in the next pair of images we are looking at the normal placement of stitches, as if working in the round.

Now lets look at where else we can put our stitches.

Back Loop
Instead of putting the hook under both loops, as above, we can put it under just one. Either the back or front loop. It doesn't matter which side of the work faces you, the loop furthest away is always the back loop...

Front Loop
...and the closest loop is always the front loop.

You'll have noticed the in the image (at the top of the post) labelled Back there is also a third loop that I've coloured mauve. This is also used occasionally and never seems to have a proper name, it is sometimes called the 'hump' or the 'bump'. 

Dropped Stitches 
Because of the organic way that crochet has developed over time there is a lack of a universal language. So sometimes dropped stitches are called spike stitches! But there is actually a difference. They may also be referred to as being 'inserted between stitches'. A dropped stitch is placed low in the previous row or round while a spike stitch is placed into a preceding round. ( I hope that makes sense!) I hope you can see how this stitch is placed lower than usual.

Spike Stitches
When working a spike stitch, insert the hook where the pattern tells you; yarn over the hook and pull the loop through the work; pull up to the level of a normal stitch. Then finish the stitch as normal. The stitches shown below are all double crochet, (UK); single crochet, (USA).

Post Stitches
Post stitches are also referred to as raised stitches and cable stitches. What you call things probably depends on who first introduced you to them. Crochet is the only language in which I am bi-lingual!

Post stitches are worked exactly as you would for a normal stitch, except that (assuming you are right handed) the hook is always inserted from right to left around the post, instead of under the loops; yarn over the hook and pull the hook back out to the right; finish the stitch normally.

     Front Post Stitches

Insert the hook

Draw a loop through behind the post.

Finish the stitch as normal.

      Back Post Stitches

Back post stitches are worked in exactly the same way, except that the hook is inserted around the post of the stitch from the back of the work. They can be a little fiddly and just require a little more patience!

Till Soon! Rachxx