Free Crochet Pattern

How to Make a 2-1-2 Granny Square with Video

July 31, 2021 // by mezza// 1 Comment

How to Make a 2-1-2 Granny Square with Video & written instructions. You can also download a pdf pattern below.

This is a 5 round, traditional granny square, using three colours. Colour A is used for 2 rounds, colour B for 1 round and colour C for 2 rounds, hence 2-1-2! Traditionally, granny squares were made to use up scrap yarn and each round would be a different colour and inevitably resulted in lots of ends to sew in! This pattern still gives the opportunity to use multiple colours but there are a few less ends to weave in, 4 less in fact!

Tools & Materials

three granny squares crocheted in pink, brown and teal. A skein of dark turquoise yarn on a background of granny squares. A project bag featuring a lama with a partially made crochet motif and orange hook.

You can use any yarn weight and corresponding hook size but for these instructions. I am using a 4ply / Fingering weight yarn in three colours – A, B & C with a 3mm / D hook. This makes a motif that is 8cm x 8cm / 3.1” x 3.1”. Bear in mind a thicker yarn and larger hook size will result in a bigger motif.

The yarn I have used is Merino Nylon blend 4ply from www.FruitfulFusion.co.uk

The blues and browns are from a mini skein set called “City of Bridges”. The pink is “Mango”.

How to Make a 2-1-2 Granny Square with Video

2-1-2 Granny Square Pattern – Download

Download a pdf of the pattern here. Includes a chart.

How to Make a 2-1-2 Granny Square – Instructions

Round 1 : With colour A, ch4 & join with a sl st in 1^st ch to form a ring; ch5*(counts as 1dc & ch2sp); working into the ring, (3dc, ch2) 3 times (see fig. 2); 2dc; sl st into 3^rd ch of beg ch5. Do not fasten off (4 x 3dc clusters, 4 x ch2 corners) (see fig. 3)

*Note : If, like me, making a ch5 gives your finishing corner a significantly larger “hole” than the other corners, switch to a ch4 here and then finish with a sl st in 3^rd ch of this ch4 to make the hole match the others. You can use this switch for the start of every round if it suits your gauge better.

three images showing the steps of the first round of a crochet granny square in a variegated brown yarn

Round 2 : Continuing with colour A, sl st into next ch2 sp; ch5(counts as 1dc & ch2sp), in the same sp, 3dc; in next corner space (3dc, ch2, 3dc) 3 times; in first corner sp, 2dc; sl st into 3^rd ch of beg ch5. Fasten off (8 x 3dc clusters, 4 x ch2 corners) (see fig. 4)

Round 3 : Join colour B in any corner sp, except where the prev rnd ended; ch5(counts as 1dc & ch2sp), in the same sp, 3dc; (between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc; in corner sp, 3dc, ch2, 3dc) 3 times; between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc; in first corner sp, 2dc; sl st into 3^rd ch of beg ch5. Fasten off (12 x 3dc clusters, 4 x ch2 corners) (see fig. 5)

rounds 3, 4 & 5 of the granny square in teal and mango pink using an orange Clover amour crochet hook

Round 4 : Join colour C in any corner sp, except where the prev rnd ended; ch5(counts as 1dc & ch2sp), in the same sp, 3dc; [(between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc) 2 times; in corner sp, 3dc, ch2, 3dc] 3 times; (between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc) 2 times; in first corner sp, 2dc; sl st into 3^rd ch of beg ch5. Do not fasten off (16 x 3dc clusters, 4 x ch2 corners) (see fig. 6)

Round 5 : Continuing with colour C, sl st into next ch2 sp; ch5(counts as 1dc & ch2sp), in the same sp, 3dc; [(between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc) 3 times; in corner sp, 3dc, ch2, 3dc] 3 times; (between the next 2 sets of 3dc, make 3dc) 3 times; in first corner sp, 2dc; sl st into 3^rd ch of beg ch5. Fasten off (20 x 3dc clusters, 4 x ch2 corners) (see fig. 7)

Half / Triangle Motif

For instructions for making a half/triangle version of this motif, please visit this page : How to Make a Half / Triangle 2-1-2 Granny Square – Mezzacraft – Sharing the Art of Crochet

Granny Square Sweater Project

I have used these squares to make a granny square jumper/sweater on the bias, using a granny stitch border to join all the motifs together! I have called this the “Fruitful Granny Sweater” because all the yarns were dyed by the talented Ishrat from www.fruitfulfusion.co.uk . This sweater is part of my “Design & Make Your Own Granny Square Sweater” course which I am running at the Riverhouse Barn Arts Centre in Walton-on-Thames is September this year (2021). This course will also be run as a guided online course in November if you would like to take part but are unable to attend in person. Please sign up to my newsletter below to be notified of sign-ups.

Woman with long hair sits on the grass in a green garden wearing a hand made crochet granny square sweater in pink, brown and teal.

Did you crochet it?

I hope you like my 2-1-2 Granny Square Pattern – if you give it a try, please let me know!

Connect with me!

You can often find me on Instagram. Please do follow and tag me @mezzamay if you make one of my patterns, use one of my tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

Why not sign up to my newsletter to receive news about my latest patterns, tutorials and courses!

Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links in my posts usually for Amazon & Lovecrafts. If you click on a link and buy something I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Support me!

If you have enjoyed my free content or have found my tips and techniques useful, please consider making a small donation by buying me a coffee via Ko-fi.

Twinkling Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif

July 3, 2021 // by mezza// 1 Comment

I used this Twinkling Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif for the neck shaping on my Twinkling Granny Square Sweater. In this post I’ll show you how to make this half motif and you’ll find a downloadable, written pattern with chart as well as an instructional video.

Thank you for visiting my website! If you have found any of my content useful, please consider making a small donation via Ko-fi. I hope you can appreciate that it takes many hours of hard work to share my extensive crochet knowledge via my free content. ♥ THANK YOU ♥

Update – September 2024

The Twinkling Granny Square Sweater is now part of my online, guided course: “Design & Make Your Own Granny Square Sweater”. If you’re interested, please join the waitlist for the next round by signing up below:

Tools & Materials

You can use any yarn weight and corresponding hook size to make this motif but for these instructions, I am using a Light DK / Sport weight yarn in three colours – A, B & C. This will make a triangle motif with the two short sides 6cm/2.36″ long and the long side 9cm/3.54″. Size will vary depending on yarn thickness, hook size and your unique gauge.

For the hook, I am using a 4mm / G hook. I like to recommend Clover Amour, Tulip or Lykke wooden hooks.

Yarns used in these instructions:

Yellow : Naturally Dyed Pure British Wensleydale light DK from The Outside Dyers in Sunset Gold

Green: Falkland Poldale DK Weight Yarn from WitchCraftyLady in Lime

Orange: Naturally Dyed Pure British Wensleydale light DK from the Outside Dyers in Melon

Alternative yarn suggestions:

Rowan Felted Tweed DK (more of a sport weight really!)

King Cole Finesse Cotton Silk DK

Cascade 220 Superwash Sport

Schachenmayr Merino Extrafine 120 DK

Three images showing the Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif used in the neck shaping of a crochet sweater

Twinkling Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif – Download

The PDF pattern is now available on my FREE Crochet Motif Pattern Directory, please sign up here: Mezzacraft Crochet Motif Directory.

The pattern includes a chart and written instructions.

Twinkling Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif – Video

Granny Square Sweater

As mentioned, this motif is used for the neck shaping in my sweater. More details can be found here : Twinkling Granny Square Sweater.

woman standing on a heath wearing a handmade crochet sweater made with granny squares

Border and Joining Ideas

Would you like border and joining ideas for this crochet motif? Take a look at this post for downloadable instructions for the hdc border join shown below.

variation on traditional crochet granny square in green, yellow and orange with dark grey border

Did you crochet it?

I hope you like my Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern – if you give it a try, please let me know!

Connect with me!

You can often find me on Instagram. Please do follow and tag me @mezzacraftcrochetcourses if you make one of my patterns, use one of my tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

Why not sign up to my newsletter to receive news about my latest patterns, tutorials and giveaways! First name or full name

Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links in my posts usually for Amazon & Lovecrafts. If you click on a link and buy something I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Support me!

If you have enjoyed my free content or have found my tips and techniques useful, please consider making a small donation by buying me a coffee via Ko-fi.

Twinkling Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly

June 30, 2021 // by mezza// 4 Comments

Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly “how-to”. Please note, this is more of a “recipe” than a full pattern. The instructions are guidelines and are for one size only. I developed this design as part of my “Make Your Own Granny Square Sweater” course which I have taught multiple times at my local arts centre, the Riverhouse Barn since September 2021. The course goes into more details about custom fitting, how to modify motifs, neck shaping etc.

The course is now available as an online course! Please join the waitlist here to be notified of the next round!

The Twinkling Granny Square Motif

The main component of the sweater is the Twinkling Granny Square motif. The pattern for the full motif is here and includes video instructions : Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern with Video (mezzacraft.com)

The pattern for the half motif is here : Twinkling Granny Square – Half or Triangle Motif – Crochet Pattern (mezzacraft.com)

The instructions for the border join can be found here : Hdc Border Join for Twinkling Granny Square (mezzacraft.com)

Download a pdf version of this post by clicking on the link : “Twinkling Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly”

Materials

I have used a DK weight yarn in four colours. Natural yarns such as cotton or wool work best.

For the motifs, 4 colours – A, B, C & D – 100g or 250m/273 yards in each colour. A total of 1000m/1096 yards.
For the border join, 1 colour – E – 200g/500m/546yards.

Specific yarns used

Cream : DK (8 Ply/Light Worsted) Rare Breed Wensleydale and Bluefaced Leicester in colourway Sunrising Hill

Yellow : Naturally Dyed Pure British Wensleydale light DK from The Outside Dyers in Sunset Gold

Green: Falkland Poldale DK Weight Yarn from WitchCraftyLady in Lime

Orange: Naturally Dyed Pure British Wensleydale light DK from the Outside Dyers in Melon

Grey : The Yarn Collective Bloomsbury DK in Soot

woman standing on the downs in Lightwater wearing a handmade grannt square sweater crocheted in wool... lots of granny squares in a pile in red, yellow and green.

Tools for Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly

4mm / G hook for squares & joining border.
3mm / D hook for neck border.

Finished Dimensions

See also the schematic below

around the chest – 126cm / 49.60inches
shoulder to hem – 45cm / 17.71inches from
sleeve circumference – 33cm / 13inches
sleeve length – 26cm / 10.23cm

Fit

On me, this sweater is cropped, quite loose on the body, with bracelet length sleeves which have only a small amount of ease at the top of the arm but flare out slightly closer to the wrist.

I am 172cm / 5ft 8Inches tall with a 92cm / 36” bust.

layout and schematic for cropped granny square sweater - woman with long hair wears handmade jumper

Gauge for Squares

Each square is 7x7cm / 2.75x 2.75 inches.

Each square with a border is 8.5×8.4cm / 3.35×3.35 inches.

Important note! Please wash and block your motifs and allow them to dry completely before measuring.

Number of Squares

92 x full motifs & 4 x half motifs (for neck opening)

Colour Sequences

Although the granny square is a 3 colour motif, I have used 4 colours which gave me 24 possible combinations.

I used this table to make a tally of the motifs I’d made, to make sure I was getting an even mix of colours and not accidentally over using one colour and inadvertently running out of yarn. You can add your tally in the “Qty. Made” column. You can download a version of this post here.

Motif no.	Rnd 1	Rnd 2	Rnd 3	Qty. to make	Qty. Made
#1	A	B	C	4
#2	A	B	D	4
#3	A	C	B	4
#4	A	C	D	4
#5	A	D	C	4
#6	A	D	B	4
#7	B	A	C	4
#8	B	A	D	4
#9	B	C	A	4
#10	B	C	D	4
#11	B	D	A	4
#12	B	D	C	4
#13	C	A	B	4
#14	C	A	D	4
#15	C	B	A	4
#16	C	B	D	4
#17	C	D	A	4
#18	C	D	B	4
#19	D	A	B	4
#20	D	A	C	4
#21	D	B	A	3
#22	D	B	C	3
#23	D	C	A	3
#24	D	C	B	3

Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly

Once you’ve made the required quantity of motifs, sew in all the ends! You will probably regret it if you leave it until after the motifs have been joined because you’ll want to wear it right away! Lay them out as per the schematic, mixing up the motifs and trying to make sure squares with the same border colours are not touching.

If you are not able to leave the motifs in position while you join, take a photo of the layout as a reference to the sequence of motifs for when you are joining.

3 image collage. First image : grey crochet granny square sweater. Second image : border being crocheted onto a square. Third image: large pile of granny sqaures in yellow orange and green being joined by a grey border

Joining Options

JAG : Use the “Join As You Go” (JAG) method – crochet the border for each motif, attaching with slip stitches and drop loop joins as necessary. Fasten off at the end of each border round. Instructions for that can be found here: Hdc Border Join for Twinkling Granny Square (mezzacraft.com)

Pros : no sewing and easier to manage the layout. Matches the gauge of the rest of your sweater. Cons: lots of stopping and starting and ends to sew in.

Japanese continuous crochet method: the motifs are joined in one continuous crocheted border. With careful planning you could join the panels for this sweater in only 2 or 3 “goes” with only a few ends to sew in. This is how I joined the motifs for this sweater.

Pros : quicker, more rhythmic, no sewing and far fewer ends to sew in. Matches the gauge of the rest of your sweater. Cons: takes a lot of concentration, forward planning and being continually aware of where you are in regards to the layout and what you need to do next.

Sewing : Crochet the border on each motif and join together all the motifs by sewing. A whip stitch or mattress stitch would be best.
Pros: Easier to figure out the layout. Best for beginners or less confident crocheters. Cons : it’s difficult to match the tension of your crochet with sewing. It can reduce the drape of the fabric and impact the overall look of the sweater. Lots of ends to weave in and not a good choice if you hate sewing!

Seaming

Once I’d joined the motifs in the layout shape, I then added another row of hdc border to the under arms and side seams to make the sleeves wide enough to fit (see thicker green lines on the schematic).

I seamed using the continuous method but you could also sew these seams together.

Hem & Cuffs

The hem & cuffs each got another row of hdc border & a row of single crochet in the same colour. Finished with a row of single crochet, through the back loops only, with a contrasting colour using the smaller hook.

Neck Edge

The neck opening was too large to start with and needed quite a few rounds to get it to a size I liked.

Round 1 : With colour E, make a hdc border, replacing the hdc with a longer, treble crochet stitch whenever I hit the point where the half motif meets the full motifs to fill in the gap and create a curve.

Round 2 : continuing with the same colour, switch to the smaller hook and 1sc in each st around. Fasten off.

Round 3 : Keeping to the smaller hook, but this time change to one of the contrast colours; (1hdc in each of the next 6 sts, hdc2tog across the next 2 stitches) repeat around. Fasten off.

Round 4 : Using colour E – (1hdc, ch2) around.

Round 5 : 2sc into each ch2 sp, skipping all the hdc sts; fasten off.

Round 6 : Switch to a contrast colour, working into the back loops only – (1sc into each of the next 5st, sc2tog across the next 2 sts) around; fasten off.

Round 7 : Using colour E, sc into the back ridge of each stich, making a decrease (sc2tog) after every 8^th stitch. Fasten off and sew in all ends.

Connect with me!

I hope you found these Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly instructions useful. If you are inspired to make a sweater after reading this post, please do let me know! You can often find me on Instagram. Please do follow and tag me @mezzamay if you make one of my patterns, use one of my tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

Why not sign up to my newsletter to receive news about my latest patterns, tutorials and giveaways! First name or full nameEmail By continuing, you accept the privacy policy.

Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links in my posts usually for Amazon & Lovecrafts. If you click on a link and buy something I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Support me!

If you have enjoyed my free content or have found my tips and techniques useful, please consider making a small donation by buying me a coffee via Ko-fi. Buy me a coffee!

Hdc Border Join for Twinkling Granny Square

June 23, 2021 // by mezza// 3 Comments

Here are the instructions for the hdc border join for the Twinkling Granny Square. You could also use this for any crochet motif with 12 stitches per side or a stitch count that’s divisible by 3.
Note : on the Twinkling Granny Square motif, I am counting the ch1 from each corner as a stitch (see illustration below).

chart showing starting stitch count for hdc border join

I developed this hdc border join because I wanted a slightly narrower crochet border than the usual dc granny join so that I could get the final dimensions of the sweater to the size that I wanted.

Joining Options for hdc border

Join as you go (JAYG) : As you make the border for each square you join to the adjacent motif(s). The yarn is fastened off at the end of each round.
Continuous border join : The border is made and joined in one continuous sequence of crochet.
Sew together: In my opinion, sewing motifs together for sweaters does not give a very good outcome because it’s difficult to match the gauge of the crochet with your sewing. I would strongly encourage you to try joining with crochet before resorting to sewing the motifs together.

cover of japanese continuous join method book

For my sweater, I actually used the “continuous join” method, i.e. you join multiple motifs with one continuous border join, which I learnt from a Japanese book (see left) purchased from Etsy. The instructions that follow are for “join as you go” (JAYG), i.e. the border for each motif is started with new yarn and joined to the adjacent motifs and fastened off at the end of each border round. This method results in more ends to sew in but is easier for inexperienced or crocheters lacking in confidence. It also requires less planning ahead.

I will be covering the “continous join” method in my upcoming class at the Riverhouse Barn in Walton on Thames in September 2021. I will also be running the course online in November so please do sign-up to my newsletter (scroll to bottom of post) to make sure you get first dibs for enrolling on the course as numbers are limited.

printed pdf instructions for hdc border join and 9 crochet motifs joined with hdc - third image shows granny square sweater

Hdc Border JAYG Method

In the downloadable instructions I’ll go over the technique using 4 motifs (pattern for motifs is here). The instructions assume you have already made the 4 motifs. The pdf includes a chart and step by step photos for crocheting the hdc border join.

Note: Due to the way hdc stitches are formed and fall, i.e. the top of the stich falls far to the right of the post, there is are two slight adjustment to the way the border is joined to keep it looking symmetrical.

The stitches are always joined one stitch to the left of the corresponding st on the adjacent motif. Most of the time, inexperienced crocheters misread hdc stitches anyway, so chances are the correct stitch placement is made inadvertently.
The 2^nd ch of the ch2 in the corners is omitted to avoid an unsightly hole.

Download instructions here.

Once you’ve mastered the basic principles, it’s pretty easy to add squares to make the shape and size you need– if you give it a try, please let me know!

collage of three images showing granny squares in natural yarn, joined to make a crochet sweater

Connect with me!

You can often find me on Instagram. Please do follow and tag me @mezzamay if you make one of my patterns, use one of my tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

Why not sign up to my newsletter to receive news about my latest patterns, tutorials and giveaways! First name or full nameEmail By continuing, you accept the privacy policy.

Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links in my posts usually for Amazon & Lovecrafts. If you click on a link and buy something I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Support me!

If you have enjoyed my free content or have found my tips and techniques useful, please consider making a small donation by buying me a coffee via Ko-fi. Buy me a coffee!

Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern

May 7, 2021 // by mezza// 11 Comments

I designed this variation of a traditional granny square in order to make a sweater. Here you’ll find a downloadable, written pattern with chart as well as an instructional video. The pattern will make a crochet motif of between 6cm/2.36″ and 9cm/3.54″, depending on the yarn thickness and hook size used. See image below.

three different sizes of twinkling granny square crochet pattern in natural yarns - 4ply, DK, Aran in green, cream and yellow

Tools & Materials

You can use any yarn weight and corresponding hook size to make this motif but for these instructions (see above), I am using a Light DK / Sport weight yarn in three colours – A, B & C with a 4mm / G hook. I like to recommend Clover Amour, Tulip or Lykke wooden hooks.

I have used:

Vanilla – DK Rare Breed Wensleydale and Bluefaced Leicester in colourway “Sunrising Hill”
Yellow – Naturally dyed fine pure British Wensleydale light DK in “Sunset Gold” from The Outside Dyers
Orange – Naturally dyed fine pure British Wensleydale light DK in “Melon” from The Outside Dyers
Green – Falkland Poldale DK in Lichen from WitchCraftyLady

three images of crochet motifs in various stages - made in natural wool yarn in vanilla, yellow, orange and green

Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern – Download

The PDF pattern is now available on my FREE Crochet Motif Pattern Directory, please sign up here: Mezzacraft Crochet Motif Directory.

Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern – Video

Granny Square Sweater

I’ve used this motif to make a granny square sweater, which you can read more about here: Twinkling Granny Square Sweater Layout & Assembly – Mezzacraft – Sharing the Art of Crochet

Border and Joining Ideas

Would you like border and joining ideas for this crochet motif? Check out this post for downloadable instructions for the hdc border join shown below.

Did you crochet it?

I hope you like my Twinkling Granny Square Crochet Pattern – if you give it a try, please let me know!

Connect with me!

You can often find me on Instagram. Please do follow and tag me @mezzamay if you make one of my patterns, use one of my tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

Why not sign up to my newsletter to receive news about my latest patterns, tutorials and giveaways! First name or full nameEmail By continuing, you accept the privacy policy.

Affiliate Links

I use affiliate links in my posts usually for Amazon & Lovecrafts. If you click on a link and buy something I may receive a small commission, at no additional cost to you.

Support me!

If you have enjoyed my free content or have found my tips and techniques useful, please consider making a small donation by buying me a coffee via Ko-fi.Buy me a coffee!

Perforated Pin Stripes Crochet Stitch

April 23, 2021 // by mezza// 1 Comment

I’m going to show you how to make this very simple, but effective stitch pattern. I’ve coined it the “Perforated Pin Stripes Crochet Stitch” pattern, and it’s quite a simple crochet stitch combination. Click here to jump straight to the instructions. It only uses US double crochets (UK trebles) and US half doubles (UK half trebles). What I really like about it, is that it’s not a completely solid fabric – it has, what I call perforations, so it’s also not too open and therefore, it’s quite good for garments where you don’t want a totally solid stitch pattern, but at the same time, you want a bit of modesty that you might not get with a very lacy pattern.

close up of crocheted vest top in pinstripe crochet stitch pattern from mezzacraft ...worn by mezza

I designed this stitch pattern for a summer top. The top is crocheted from side to side so I’ve actually used the stitch pattern vertically which gives this nice, pinstripe effect. The top is crocheted with a 4ply yarn in a wool/silk blend and a 2.75mm hook, a combination that gives a really nice drape for a garment. Additionally, because of the way light shines on silk, it means that these horizontal stitches catch the light slightly differently to the vertical stitches which just gives a really interesting texture.

You can, of course, use different thicknesses of yarn and larger hook sizes.

Same stitch, different yarn!

Here you can see that the different yarns, thicknesses and hook size do generate quite different kinds of fabric that you could use for lots of different crochet projects. For example, the Aran/Worsted weight would make quite a nice cowl or even a hat. The stitch in DK could make a lovely baby blanket since the holes in the fabric are not big enough for babies’ fingers to get stuck in. You can see a stitch in a whole new light when you change the type of yarn and the hook size – each one catches the light differently and shows the stitches up in a slightly different way.

4ply/Fingering

For the 4ply swatch, I’ve used a 2.5mm hook for the starting chain and a 2.75mm hook for the main stitch pattern.
The gauge is : 24sts and 13 rows to 10cm (4”).
Yarn details : Posh Yarn Undyed Dorothy Sock (50% Superwash Merino, 50% Silk) www.poshyarn.co.uk

pintripe crochet stitch in double knit yarn

DK (double knit or heavy Sport weight)

For the double knit swatch, I’ve used a 3mm hook for the starting chain and a 3.5 mm hook for the main stitch pattern.
The gauge is : 22sts and 12 rows to 10cm (4”).
Yarn details : MillaMia Naturally Soft Merino in Putty Grey (121)

simple perforated crochet stitch in worsted weight yarn

Aran / Worsted

For the Aran swatch, I’ve used a 4mm hook for the starting chain and 4.5mm hook for the main stitch pattern.
The gauge is : 18sts and 9 rows to 10cm (4”).
Yarn details : Rico Essentials Soft Merino Aran in Cream (61)

The Importance of Swatching

I wanted to make the same top again but this time in some 4ply cotton. I crocheted up a swatch but didn’t like the drape of the fabric – it was very stiff at the correct gauge. There can be quite a lot variation in yarn thickness from one brand of 4ply to another which isn’t all that evident until you actually work it up. And that’s one of the reasons why I always suggest swatching, especially when you’re making garments, because it’s not just about getting the gauge spot on so that the item will fit you, it’s also about just seeing whether you actually like the fabric that will result in using the stitch pattern, the yarn, the hook size and getting the gauge.

Remember to wash and block your swatch too. This is particularly important if you are making a garment as the gauge, because drape and stitch definition of the fabric can alter considerably, especially with natural fibres.

Matching Chain and Stitch Gauge

two crochet swatching showing the difference in using a smaller hook for the starting chain

One thing I need to point for this stitch pattern and the resulting top that I made, is that I had to go down a hook size for the starting chain because it didn’t match the gauge of the main stitch pattern. You might be fortunate in that the gauge for your starting chain and swatch match but you won’t really know this before you start so this is another reason why it’s really important to swatch because this is the kind of thing that can show up that you might not have thought about.
So here you can see another swatch sample that I crocheted up. I used the same hook size for the starting chain as I did for the main body of the stitches. What you’ll notice is that the starting chain doesn’t match the gauge of the stitches, i.e. the gauge is bigger, resulting in the bottom edge of my swatch being distorted and too wide. If you’re making a garment or a blanket and you use the same size hook for the chain as the stitches, you’re going to end up with the bottom or edge, depending on where you’ve started being much too long. So in the case of the top, it means one of your side seams will be out of proportion.
To correct the disparity between the gauges, I used a 2mm hook for the starting chain and then for row one, I switched to the 2.75mm, which gave me matching gauges. For the other swatches in this post, I only went down 0.5mm in hook size. You might need a small amount of trial an error. I am a big advocate for adding hooks in in the smaller, 0.25mm increments to your collection, because these can often be the key to getting correct gauge for garments.

Perforated Pin Stripes Crochet Stitch – Instructions

You can find video instructions here which includes lots of additional tips. Check the comment under the video for the timestamp, click to jump straight to the stitch pattern instructions:

Downloadable Instructions

Download a .pdf here, which includes a stitch chart : Perforated Pin Stripes Crochet Stitch – Instructions

Tools & Materials

You can use any yarn weight and corresponding hook size. For these instructions, I am using a 4ply/sock weight yarn with 2.5mm hook for the starting chain and switching to a 2.75mm hook for the main stitch pattern.

Stitch pattern repeat

3 – so to make a larger piece of fabric, increase your starting chain in increments of 3.

TIP : Try to keep the chains true to hook size, i.e. when you crochet, keep the loop exactly the same size as the diameter of the hook, rather than extending the loop. For this particular pattern, it keeps the stitches really neat, minimizes the gaps between the tall stitches and enhances the effect of the “perforations”.

Start with the smaller hook, ch 26.

Row 1 (RS): Working into the back ridge of the chain, dc into the 4^th ch from the hook, 1dc into each ch. (24sts, counting the turning ch)

Row 2 (WS): ch2, don’t sk any stitches; 1hdc; *sk1st 1hdc in each of the next 2sts, 1hdc around 2hdc just made*; repeat from *to* until 2sts rem; sk1st, 1hdc in last st (which was the ch3 turning ch of Row 1). (7 sets of wrapped hdcs, 8 perforations)

Note: from now on, at the start of every round, there’s going to be a ch2 turning chain. This chain is never worked into, nor is it ever counted as a stitch.

Row 3 (RS): ch2, 1dc into 1^st st; *1dc in sp; 1dc into each of 2 wrapped hdcs*; repeat from *to* until 2sts rem; 1dc in last sp; 1dc in last st. (24sts)

Row 4 (WS): ch2, don’t sk any stitches; 1hdc; *sk1st 1hdc in each of the next 2sts, 1hdc around 2hdc just made*; repeat from *to* until 2sts rem; sk1st, 1hdc in last st. (7 sets of wrapped hdcs, 8 perforations)

Repeat rows 3-4 as desired, ending with a Row 3 for symmetry.

If you are swatching, make a total of 13 rows.

Hand wash your swatch in luke warm water with a mild detergent. I like to use a gentle shampoo. Do not wring. Squeeze out the excess water between two layers of a clean towel. Lay flat on a towel, gently pulling into shape to open up the stitches. You can pin it square with some stainless steel (rust free) pins if you like. Allow to dry naturally.

I hope you like my Perforated Pin Stripes Crochet Stitch – if you give it a try, please let me know!

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Feather & Fan Crochet Blanket

January 11, 2021 // by mezza// Leave a Comment

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This Feather & Fan Crochet Blanket uses the “feather & fan” stitch, click here for video tutorial of the stitch.

This blanket was inspired by the beautiful, hand-dyed yarn of Almas, who has an Etsy store under the name of Witchcraftylady. I used some of her Falkland Corriedale mini skein sets and one full 100g skein of 4ply, a total of 300g to make a blanket that measures 90cm x 90cm (approx 35 x 35 inches).

You could easily make this blanket larger or even turn it into a wrap – I give approximate yardage. If you fancy using a thicker yarn, such as DK, bear in mind that using thicker yarn will make larger “holes” in the lacey sections which may then not be suitable for babies’.

Note : the pattern only gives approximate yardage for 4ply/fingering with a 3.5mm/E hook but please feel free to use whichever hook gives you your preferred fabric, e.g. if you’re making a blanket you don’t want it to be too stiff and tight so you might opt for a slightly larger hook than usual and remember changing hook size and/or yarn will result in a different yardage requirement.

Feather & Fan Crochet Blanket

Tools & Materials

3.5mm/E Hook (my favourite are Clover Amour)

1,200 meters (1,312 yards) 4ply/fingering yarn in 6 colours – 400 meters (437 yards) in main colour, 5 x 80 meters (87 yards) in contrast colours.

This stitch pattern really comes to life after it’s been washed and blocked – the “feather” element opens up beautifully. Natural fibers with good stitch memory work best with this pattern. So wool & cotton blends are a good example. Synthetic yarns such as acrylic may not give the desired result.

I used 100g Hand Dyed Poldale Sock & 10 x 20g Hand Dyed Corriedale 4ply from WitchCraftyLady.

lacey ripple stitch crochet blanket in cheerful colours

Feather & Fan Crochet Blanket Instructions

You can download a .pdf pattern : click here.
Add to your Ravelry library : click here.

Video tutorial for stitch pattern:

Video tutorial for changing colours at the end of rows and minimizing the amount of sewing in required when complete:

Connect with me!

You can often find me on Instagram. Not exclusively crochet or knitting related posts because I don’t separate my life from my craft and my passion. Please do follow and tag me if you make one of my patterns, tips or stitch patterns. I really love to see what you’re making.

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Christmas Star Crochet Decoration

November 23, 2020 // by mezza// Leave a Comment

This Christmas Star Crochet Decoration uses my Pentagon Star Crochet Motif pattern (opens in new tab). The motif pattern has a YouTube video tutorial as well as written instructions. I have used a slightly smaller hook than stated in my pattern to make a firmer fabric. You’ll need to make two motifs per ornament – one for the front and one for the back. The ornament is “reinforced” with a small felt insert and includes an optional, integral hanging loop which you could replace with a ribbon or piece of cord if you prefer.

I have made a free video tutorial and written up instructions for the Christmas Star Crochet Decoration which you will find below.

Please enjoy and remember to share what you make! You can find me on Instagram @mezzamay – I love seeing your work.

Christmas Star Crochet Decoration – Instructions

Tools & Materials

4ply/Fingering Yarn or 3 Count Crochet Thread in 2 colours.

Yardage per ornament:

Approx 10g/42m/46yds

Yarn Examples*

Posh Yarn – Robynn Sock

DMC Petra 3

Yarn & Color Must Have Minis

Piece of felt, approx… 10x10cm / 4×4”

Hook 2.75mm / C – I love Clover Amour

Tapestry / wool needle

*These really are just examples – you can get creative – this is a perfect project for using up scrap sock yarns!

Written Pattern

Pattern is in US crochet terminology. Download here (opens in new tab).

Download & print the pentagon template here.

Video Tutorial

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Pentagon Star Crochet Motif

November 20, 2020 // by mezza// Leave a Comment

I designed this Pentagon Star Crochet Motif back in November 2019 using the yarn I received from the Posh Yarn Advent Swap. I made a few motifs but never really got into it and the stars and mini skeins of yarn remained in a shoe box for almost a year. Then I came across a challenge on Instagram which encouraged you to work on a crochet blanket for 21 days, under the hashtag #21daycrochetchallenge. I decided to work on this advent star blanket and I’m really pleased I did because it revived my enthusiasm for it and I also worked out how I was going to join them with an additional diamond shaped motif. I will show you how to do that in a future post! In the mean time, I have written up the pattern and made a comprehensive YouTube video tutorial.

Fair Warnings

I don’t think this is a particularly easy pattern – probably best suited to a confident crocheter or at least a crafter that is happy to try things that might push their skills a little. I have therefore marked this as an Intermediate pattern.

Additionally, this pattern has not been tested so please do let me know if you have any problems.

three images showing variations of a crochet pentagon star in hand dyed yarns

Tools & Materials

4ply/Fingering yarn in 2 colours. Natural fibers work best.

Yardage per motif:

Approx 4g/15m/17yds

Yarn Examples

Posh Jeannie Sock
Viking Of Norway Nordlys
Malabrigo Sock

Hook 3mm / C – I love Clover Amour
Tapestry / wool needle

Pentagon Star Crochet Motif – Written Pattern

Pattern is in US crochet terminology. Download here (opens in new tab).

Pentagon Star Crochet Motif – YouTube Video

Project Ideas

Luxury Festive Ornaments : These little motifs are perfect for making Christmas decorations (pattern in progress).
Heirloom Scrap Blanket : instructions for filler shapes and joining coming soon. Sign up to my newsletter to learn all about it!
Beautiful Cowl : I have visions of rainbow coloured stars with a plain, dark background.

What would you make?

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Textured Potholder – Free Crochet Pattern

November 6, 2020 // by mezza// Leave a Comment

Textured Potholder – Free Crochet Pattern. There’s something a bit retro about a pot holder. Most modern homes, in the UK at least, favour oven gloves.

The first time I ever came across a potholder, other than the ones I’d only half noticed on Ravelry, was in a cottage I’d rented in Belgium with some friends. I was rooting through the drawers looking for a tea towel and in the process found a smallish square of beautifully crocheted cotton. It was a relatively fine cotton, made with a small hook making a dense yet still flexible fabric. At the time I was an avid knitter and not so much into crochet but it was still obvious that this item had been made with great care and skill and although it was clearly quite old, it was still going strong. Throughout the holiday, it was an unexpected pleasure to use the pot holder for various tasks round the kitchen. From taking off the hot lids of pans, protecting my hands from overheated metal frying pan handles, to removing hot trays from the oven and avoiding burn marks by using as a trivet on the wooden table, it didn’t take me long to realize that this unassuming kitchen accessory was far more versatile than the oven gloves I was used to.

Then there was the pondering about the potholder’s origin. Who made it? How long ago? Was it someone’s gran? Maybe a young girl learning to crochet? Perhaps it was made by a man? How did it get here?

Since then, I have made many different versions of pot holders, even using them as small starter project in my beginner’s classes. And here is my latest pot holder pattern which I’m offering here for free so that you too can become a potholder convert!

Important Safety Notes

Most of what I’m about to write, probably goes without saying, but just to be on the safe side, I will say it!
1. Make sure you use a natural fiber such as cotton or wool – synthetic & acrylic yarns are not only bad for the environment but can also become a hot sticky and extremely dangerous mess when accidentally set alight – think hot burning jam on your skin!
2. If you are making a single thickness pot holder, make sure you have a dense enough stitch structure so that your fingers won’t accidentally poke through the fabric when you are handling hot items. For this reason, I find finer yarns work better than thicker yarns.
3. Make sure the pot holder is large enough for your hand.
4. Weave in all ends before use! Otherwise you risk the dangling bits of thread catching alight.

Textured Potholder – Free Crochet Pattern

Tools & Materials

Mercerized Cotton Yarn, either 3 count crochet thread or 4ply yarn such as “Crochet & Craft Yarn by Crelando from Lidl” in 3 colours.

Alternative Yarn Options

DMC Petra Perle Cotton 3 Count Thread
Yarn & Colors Mini Must Haves

Hook:

2.75mm / C or 3mm

Yardage per potholder:

30g/75m/82yds (10g/25m/28yd for each colour)

Written instructions (US crochet terminology):

Download the PDF pattern here.
Or add to your Ravelry library.

Video instructions:

(I recommend using in conjunction with the written instructions)

Other Potholder Pattern on Mezzacraft

More free patterns available (links open in new tabs):
1. Pentagon Potholder
2. Middle of Lidl Pot Holder

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Lidl Crochet & Craft Yarn Potholder Pattern

October 22, 2020 // by mezza// Leave a Comment

The other night I went into Lidl to get stuff for breakfast and I found these boxes with 3 balls of “Crochet & Craft Yarn” with a pattern for potholders included. There was also a QR code on the box which gave an additional 2 patterns.

That same night I set about making the pot holders featured on the box. The pattern however was not very well written and evidently not even tech edited because there is a mistake in the first round. I also didn’t like the way the pot holders spin, so I decided to make my own version of the pot holder which you can find written instructions for below and also a YouTube video. This is not the same as pattern included in the box with the yarn, if you want the original pattern, you can find it by clicking here.

Crelando “Crochet & Craft Yarn” Review

This yarn is really nice to work with. Although it is mercerized, the sheen is quite subtle and though I might not use it for garments, it’s certainly a good, robust yarn for something like a pot holder. I also think this yarn would be great for small amigurumi projects.

Yarn Alternatives

I realize not everyone will be able to get hold of the Lidl yarn so I am giving you some ideas for other options. Because this is a single layer potholder, you’ll need a yarn that will create a nice dense fabric. Mercerized cotton crochet thread is perfect because it’s a tightly plied, firm yarn with virtually no elasticity.
If you want to try another type of yarn that has a looser ply and more spring, I would recommend adjusting your hook size DOWN to get a tighter stitch… as a result, you may need to add a few rounds to the pattern to get an adequately sized pad.
I would not recommend acrylic yarns as they melt when hot and can be quite dangerous.
Here are some suggested yarns that would be a suitable alternative.

DMC Petra Perle Cotton 3 Count Thread

Yarn & Colors Mini Must Haves

How much yarn?

I used about 30g/75m/82yds of yarn.

Hook Size

The pattern recommends 2.5mm-3.5mm hook size. Unless you crochet very tightly, I think it’s best to stick to 2.5mm-3mm because you really don’t want a lose fabric – your fingers could poke through and burn on your hot kitchen equipment.

I used a 2.75mm hook & Tulip Etimo crochet hooks are my favourite!

Lidl Crochet & Craft Yarn Potholder Pattern – Instructions

You can download the written instructions here: PDF potholder pattern

Video tutorial (best used in conjunction with the pattern) is here:

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Quick & Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern – Two Ways

October 16, 2020 // by mezza// 1 Comment

This is a Quick & Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern that I made for the Yarndale 2021 Creative Project. This easy pattern is available in two versions and works up pretty quickly (a tad over half an hour). You can also adjust the size if you like, so you could make it bigger for a face cloth or flannel. One version is corner to corner and the other version is crocheted from the bottom up.

These have been preoccupying me on and off over the last few months. Once I get an idea in my head, even for something as humble as a dish cloth, I can’t let it go. The question to myself was – can I make a quick and easy crochet dishcloth that only uses 25g of cotton Aran/worsted yarn so that I can get 2 cloths out of each ball? Then, what’s the quickest, simplest AND most suitable stitch?… single crochet (uk double) is too slow, double crochet (uk treble) is too “open”… so half double (uk half treble) it is. Can I make it from corner to corner to give more flexibility with size? I.e. keep going until it’s the desired size rather than having a fixed size defined by the chains to start. This took a bit of experimenting because it’s not as simple as increasing the same number of stitches each row due to the height of the stitch. How about a bit of texture to add some visual interest without complicating things with fancy stitches? … ok, let’s work through the back loops. Then finish off with a simple yet quick border that doesn’t require too much stress along the edges of the work trying to decipher “what’s what” – solution : quick & dirty single crochet & chain 1 border. 10 dishcloths later and I’ve cracked the formula. Each one takes about 30 minutes. All of them will be donated to the Yarndale Worldwide Creative Community Project to raise funds for Martin House.

powder blue hand crochet dishcloths folded with a lemon sliced in half

Tools & Materials

Aran or Worsted weight cotton (un-mercerized works best).
Approximately 25g/38m/41yds.
Hook – 4.5mm / G or H.

Supplies

Here are some suggested yarns:

Yarn & Colors Epic
Lily Sugar ‘n Cream Solids
DMC Natura Medium

Quick & Easy Crochet Dishcloth Pattern

Features 2 Versions
1. Bottom Up
2. Corner to Corner

Download pdf here. (opens in new tab)

powder blue textured dishcloth crocheted from the bottom up... natural bristle washing up brush

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Transparency

I use affiliate links for yarns, hooks and some other products. If you purchase anything via one of my links I may make a small amount of commission.