Surface Crochet, Part Two - Chain Stitch.

This week's post is all about chain stitch. Hopefully you've already read my last post, an introduction to Surface Crochet, so you already know that this is just the start. But perhaps you've never thought of how interesting chain stitch can be all on it's own.

Let's start with how to do it.

 

What are you going to crochet on to? Well if you can get a crochet hook in and out of it you can crochet on to it!

 

It's important that you get a nice even tension to your stitches so that you don't distort the fabric. So if you're working on to a floppy material like net or light canvas start by putting it in a frame. If you have one of those stands to hold the frame in, it will help. It does sometimes feel as if you need another dozen pairs of hands, but it will get easier as you practise!

My books now say that we have to work in an upwards direction. I don't think this is strictly true but it will help you to understand my instructions.

 

Hold the working yarn below the frame and the hook above. 
Put your hook through the net and pull up a loop.

*Put your hook in the next hole, yarn over hook and pull it through both the hole and the loop on the hook. Repeat from* and work in any direction that takes your fancy!!

I am just learning about these techniques, so you could say that I'm just one lesson ahead of my Blog posts!! So to find out what I could do with the simplest of surface crochet, I sat down with a block of squared paper and drew.

  Here are some of my experiments come to life.

Stripes...

 

 Blocks...

Zigzag...

Rings...

and Spirals.

Beads

You can add beads to your work quite simply with chain stitches. The only differences are that you have to plan ahead, loading the beads onto the working yarn, and work upside down.

 I use a 'big eye' beading needle to load the yarn with beads. The big eye makes it easy to use with even thick yarn.

Turn the frame over so that the right side is underneath. Continue to hold the hook on the top and the working yarn loaded with beads on the bottom.

Chain a stitch, hold the bead up against the stitch, chain the next stitch. 

The bead is now securely in place. Continue working bead, stitch, bead, stitch.

You can even work up layers with chain stitches laid over chain stitches.

It starts getting really interesting with the next post when I'll look at Twisted chain stitches. So I hope to see you then!

P.S. I've just realised that my next post will appear on New Years Day, so till then Seasons Greetings to all!