trend spotting: crochet that looks like knitting

Hi everyone!

I am delighted to be one of six bloggers asked to predict a key trend for 2015 as part of the Deramores Blog Competition 2015. Use any of the six trends as a starting point for your own blog post and submit it to Deramores for a chance to win a year’s supply of yarn!!! Entry details can be found here and you can see the full list of bloggers and trends here.

I’m predicting a big trend for this year, and it’s crochet that looks like knitting! Are you familiar with the concept?

Last year, when my beach bag pattern came out for Deramores.com, I got a lot of messages from people saying: ‘You’re cheating! That’s not crochet; that’s knitting!’ Well, I guess the joke’s on them; it totally was crochet! ;)

I used the half double crochet stitch, through the infamous third loop, to make the v’s that normally lie on top of the stitch come forward, to create that often sought after knit look!

I think the reason this stitch is gaining popularity is that it’s fairly easy to do, yet it looks complicated. And we all want to brag about our hand made items, am I right? :)

This stitch is so versatile; I use it a lot in things like cowls and scarves and bags, but I think you can really use this stitch for, well, everything! It works easiest when making something that’s constructed in the round, since this stitch doesn’t really ‘work’ when going back and forth. The third loop lies behind the stitch, so you need to keep coming from the same side with your hook to be able to work into it; that way, the v’s will move to the front instead of to the back (where you can’t see them!). So items that are worked in the round, like cowls, bags, and other tubular items are perfect to use this stitch for!

Have you used this stitch in your previous work? I’d love to see! :)

xo,
wink