Crochet Tips: Cluster Stitches Part 4

In my final post on clusters I'm looking at crossed stitches. The first example is quite simple but the second is a bit more of a challenge! The Crossed Clusters are made one in front of the other, but the Woven Shell Stitch is made with one shell enclosing the other.

Crossed Clusters

 I'm working two trebles between each of my crossed clusters, so I've begun with two trebles. Skip a stitch and Treble-2-together in the next stitch...

Working behind the cluster just made, Treble-2-together in the skipped stitch.

 

 Woven Shell Stitch 

I have begun the row with a treble st (or chain 3), skip the next three stitches and place the first shell in the next stitch.

Three treble in the indicated stitch...

Chain three...

 The next shell will be made in the indicated stitch...

 Yarn over the hook, place the hook as shown, yarn over and pull up a long loop...

Complete the treble and make two more in the same way...

Skip one stitch and Treble crochet in the next stitch...

The next row of stitches are made slightly differently. The row is begun with four treble in the first stitch, Double crochet into the chain 3, and make the first shell stitch in the middle treble of the shell stitch to the left below...

 Chain 3 and make the second shell stitch in the middle treble of the shell stitch to the right, and finish with a double crochet in the next chain 3.

The row is completed with another four treble in the last stitch. For the third row repeat the instructions for the first row but replace the treble between each woven shell with a double crochet.

 That completes my look into cluster stitches, I'm sure I haven't exhausted the subject!

A note about the yarn I've used; I use a Wendy chunky cotton yarn to demonstrate my stitches because it has good definition and is easy to photograph. But on the more complex stitches, I think you'll agree it doesn't look so good, which is why I added some examples made in Pattons 4ply cotton yarn. 

I hope you've found something new and interesting in these posts.

Crochet Tips: Cluster Stitches Part 3

Crochet stitches tend to be vertical so I'm always on the look out for anything horizontal. This group of stitches all end up going sideways!

So lets start with a Horizontal Popcorn. 

In this example I've already made one horizontal popcorn. I've begun the next popcorn with a Double crochet,

now chain three, this is where the stitches on the next row will be anchored,

the popcorn is made into the same stitch as the double crochet, in this example it is made up of five Treble stitches,

like a normal popcorn, remove the hook, bring it to the front and place it through the first Double crochet, catching the loop...

pull the loop through the stitch,

skip 3 stitches in the previous row and anchor the top of the popcorn with a double crochet in the next stitch.

With an upright Popcorn Stitch, when you make the next row, you would crochet into the top of the popcorn. Because the popcorn is lying on it's side you make the stitches into the chain 3. In this example I have made a treble into the double crochet, then two double crochet and a half treble into the 3chain loop, by repeating this it creates a flat row for the next row of stitches.

Here it is in short hand... *Tr in dc, (Hrt, Dcx2) in ch3, repeat from*.

Wrapped Stitch

If you've managed to stay with me through the horizontal popcorn these next two examples will be a breeeze! They are basically variations on the same idea.

The stitch begins with two Treble crochet...

Now I'm going to Treble crochet-2-together around these two stitches:
so yarn over and place hook through from front to back...

yarn over and pull up a loop...

yarn over and pull through first two loops on hook...

yarn over, insert hook from front to back as before, yarn over and pull up a loop...

yarn over and pull through first two loops on hook...

yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.

Skip the next stitch. I've made a treble between each stitch, just because I like the way it looks!

Slanting Cluster

This is also called Bead stitch. It is basically a 3 Half Treble cluster, or puff stitch made around a single treble.

Begin with the Treble crochet...

Yarn over the hook and insert hook from front to back around treble st...

Yarn over and pull up a loop...

Repeat the last two steps twice more...

yarn over and pull through the first six loops...

yarn over and pull through the last two loops to complete the stitch.

Thank you for staying with me to the end! Next week will be my last cluster post unless I find anything else before then!

Crochet Tips: Cluster Stitches Part2

I may have got a bit carried away looking into cluster stitches. I've found so many really interesting stitches to share with you that it will take more than one post.

Lets start with Pineapple Stitch. 

 This stitch is basically a puff stitch with a double crochet (UK) on top. Here's how it's made.

Yarn over the hook, insert into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop...

 Repeat this for each stitch required, here I am using four Half Trebles.

Yarn over and pull through the first eight loops, so that you are left with two loops on the hook.

Yarn over and pull through these two loops.

Raised Pineapple Stitch. 

 This time the pineapple is made of six treble stitches, which are made on top of the fabric.

 

You will need to have made three rows of double crochet. I have started this row making double crochet stitches as well, 

now insert the hook in the next stitch three rows below, yarn over and pull up a loop...

yarn over, insert hook in the same place, yarn over and pull up a loop...

yarn over and pull through the first two loops only...

repeat the last two steps for each stitch required, here I have made six trebles...

yarn over and pull through all the remaining loops.

I hope these posts are helpful. I am dyslexic and being confronted by written instructions that say YO blah blah blah makes my head spin so I always try to break down these type of instructions. 

I have at least two more posts on clusters planned for you, in the next post we go horizontal!