The Extended Single Crochet stitch is one of my favorite stitches. It it simple like the regular single crochet stitch but has a bit more height and stretch than the regular sc. I have used the esc stitch in a number of my patterns, including the Parker Baseball Tee and the KJ hat. I also use this stitch in an upcoming pattern, the Springtime Sweater.
I’ve created a video tutorial for this stitch to help you while you make these patterns or any other projects. I am left-handed, but the steps are still the same. Right-handed crocheters will just be going in the opposite direction when working their yarn.
Written instructions:
ESC: insert hook into stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on your hook), yarn over and pull through one loops (2 loops on your hook), yarn over and pull through both loops.
Video Tutorial:
I hope this tutorial is helpful! You can find my other left-handed crochet tutorials HERE. Let me know what other stitch tutorials you would like to see!
The Cherry Blossom shawl is my first design using both hand dyed yarn and fingering (#1) weight yarn! I purchased the beautiful yarn pictured above from Ashleigh and CJ of Handmade Home Fibers, during one of their updates. The names of the yarn were Georgia and Peach Cobbler, and being from the state of Georgia, I was in love already! This yarn is wonderful to work with. It has an amazing drape, even before blocking! The colors were just stunning! I love how the solid color was truly solid and very saturated. There wasn’t any spots of yarn that didn’t have color or color that wasn’t as bright. And the speckles on the other color were my favorite! They worked together perfectly! The Cherry Blossom Shawl is perfectly customizable to your size preferences. You’ll love the workup as much as the finished project!
You can purchase the ad-free, printable, pdf version of the pattern on Ravelry and Etsy!
Materials
700-750 yards fingering (#1) weight yarn
G/4.0mm crochet hook
Scissors
Measuring tape
Yarn needle
Difficulty
Easy
Gauge
Rows
1-5 = 4” across the top
Sizing
52” across the top unblocked
Pattern
Notes
Starting chain does count as first stitch unless stated
otherwise within the pattern.
Each row should increase by 6 dc.
Sample shawl changes colors every 8 rows.
Stitches
Needed & Abbreviations
st(s)- stitch(es)
ch(s)- chain(s)
sc- single crochet
dc- double crochet
puff st- yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert
hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, insert hook, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull
through all 7 loops.
Row 2: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, 1 dc in next 2 (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2, 2 dc in
last st (the starting ch). (12 dc)
Row 3: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, 1 dc in next 5, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 5, 2 dc in
last st. (18 dc)
Row 4: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, 1 dc in next 8, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 8, 2 dc in
last st. (24 dc)
Row 5: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, 1 dc in next 11, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 11, 2 dc in
last st. (30 dc)
Row 6: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last 2
sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3,
skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.(10 ch spaces, 16 dc)
Row 7: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st
in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last ch space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in
ch-2 space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3,
puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st. (12
ch spaces)
Row 8: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, skip next st, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space on
that side, 1 dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2
sts, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space, skip next st, 2 dc
in last st. (48 dc)
Rows 9-13: Ch 3, turn, turn, 1 dc
in same st, 1 dc in each st across to ch-2 space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2
space, 1 dc in each st across to last st, 2 dc in last st. (stitch count will
increase by 6 for each row.)
Row 14: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3, skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last 2
sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, ch 3, skip 2 sts, *1 dc in next, ch 3,
skip 2 sts*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.
Row 15: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same
st, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3, puff st
in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last ch space, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in
ch-2 space, ch 3, puff st in next ch space, ch 3, *sc in next ch space, ch 3,
puff st in next ch space, ch 3*, repeat from * to last st, 2 dc in last st.
Row 16: Ch 3, turn, 1 dc in same st, skip next st, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space on that side, 1 dc in next 2 sts, (2 dc, ch 2, 2 dc) in ch-2 space, 1 dc in next 2 sts, *3 dc in ch-3 space*, repeat from * to last ch-3 space, skip next st, 2 dc in last st. Repeat rows 9-16 until shawl measures 52” across the top or to desired length. Fasten off, weave in ends, and block.
Video tutorial of steps 1-8: (Correction at 10:54 in video, it should be a ch 3, sc in next ch-3 space. See written pattern row 7 for more details.)
Pattern is a copyright of Two Brothers Blankets. Please do not sell or alter this pattern in any way.
One of the key components to my crochet pattern designing process is pattern testing. Over the years I’ve gathered a great group of reliable, talented pattern testers that I work with each time I design a pattern. But it wasn’t always that way. I’ve had my share of dealing with bad tests and difficult testers. Or the worst, pattern thieves. So I’m going to share, what I believe are, 10 key components to being a good pattern tester.
The Do’s
Complete your test in a timely manner. Meaning complete the test by or before the due date. Before committing to a test, ensure that you will be able to complete it in time. Yes, life situations may happen that are beyond your control. But for the most part, make sure you will have enough time to commit to completing the project in time.
Treat it as a job commitment. You may not be getting paid in a monetary manner, but you do get a free pattern out of the deal. So treat this pattern test as a true commitment and treat it as you would a job for your own business or career.
Communicate with the designer. If you are confused on a part of the pattern or if you run into a deadline issue or anything else, contact the designer. Reaching out is going to create that relationship with the designer and will help your chances of being chosen again or the designer giving you a good reference. Keep those lines of communication open at all times.
Take good pictures. In most cases, designers don’t expect you to have a professional photographer take your test photos, but they do want to see a good quality photo. This means natural lighting, preferably outdoors. If indoors, use a window to give you the natural light. Also, don’t take a photo with clutter or lots of items in the background. You want to showcase the project, and only the project.
Work up the pattern exactly as it is written. The whole point of pattern testing is so that the designer can ensure that the pattern works out as it is written. Now, if there is an error or a problem, go to the designer and ask if it is okay to fix it or make changes. Just do not make changes without letting the designer know.
The Don’ts
Disappear if you cannot complete the test. Life happens and it is impossible to complete a test. Designers understand that. So communicate with the designer if something comes up and you cannot complete the test. Do not just disappear or not respond. This will ruin your chances of ever testing for that designer again and possibly other designers. Tell the designer the truth and, more often than not, they will be understanding.
Share the pattern. This is just a big no. Don’t share any patterns with others. But even more so, don’t share a pattern you are being trusted to test. This is sure way to ruin the trust and respect the designer has for you as a tester, and you will not be asked to test again.
Share project progress without permission. Sometimes designers don’t mind you sharing your test progress on social media but always make sure to ask them before you do. I usually don’t mind if I have already shared on my own social media, but there are other times I don’t want it shared at all until I am ready for a full reveal. Get permission to share first, and respect the wishes of the designer.
Change the pattern during testing. If there is an error or problem with the work up of the pattern, go to the designer and let them know what it is. Then wait to receive further instruction from the designer. Don’t just change the pattern because you don’t like the way it is written or the way it looks. You can let the designer know these things, but always check with the designer before making any changes.
Tear the pattern/design to pieces because you don’t like it or you think it would be better the way you would do it. If you don’t like a design, don’t test it. Designers love feedback but not if it’s just ripping the pattern to shreds. Necessary and constructive feedback is key. If it’s just your opinion, think first about whether it absolutely needs to be said. The point of testing is to see if the written pattern can be worked up, not changed to be something else.
So those are my personal do’s and don’ts of pattern testing. I think if you stick the do’s you’re on your way to being a great pattern tester. What do you think? Are you a tester or a designer? What other things would you add to these lists?
This post- Dude Pullover Sweater Crochet Pattern- may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!
I’m the only girl in my house! Well, unless you count our two dogs. But the humans in this house are all boys, except for me. So I like to crochet them some things every now and then. Last year I created the Dude Cardigan, which is like a blazer style cardigan. This year, it’s a pullover style sweater using the same great stitch combo!
I created the Dude Sweater in both children’s sizes and adult sizes so I could make the guys matching sweaters! In your purchase you’ll get both downloads of the adult sizes and the children’s sizes! The children’s sizes are 2 through 12 and the adult sizes include Small through 2X! All the sizing details are in the listing!
This sweater is a top-down, raglan style sweater with no sewing required! I used, my favorite, Knit Picks Brava Worsted, in the colorway Hunter. Knit Picks Brava Worsted and Brava Sport are my go-to acrylic yarns. They are a really great bang for your buck. They are soft, true to weight, and less than $3 a skein!
I’ve added quite a bit of notes to the pattern to help you customize your sweater to fit the person you are making it for. It’s very easy to make adjustments within the pattern to get a good fit. You can adjust both the length and the width with just a few small tweaks. As always, if you have any questions, please feel free to reach out to me!
You can purchase the ad-free, printable pdf pattern on Ravelry or Etsy!
This post- My Five Crochet Must-Haves- may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!
We all know yarn and crochet hooks are a huge must-have when crocheting, but there are other products that I couldn’t live without when creating new designs and projects! Today I’m going to share five of my crochet must-haves! These are items I swear by and use almost every day when I’m working on a crochet project or planning a new one!
My Swift. I went many years without purchasing a swift, but about six months ago I had enough with tangled yarn, so I purchased this swift. It’s so easy to put together and take apart and all the parts fit in a small drawer in my filing cabinet. It’s simple to use and makes winding yarn SO much easier and faster! I don’t know why I waited so long to buy it! If you purchase a lot of hand dyed yarn or yarn that is hanked often, this swift is a game changer!
My Knit Picks yarn winder. This works with the swift to wind my yarn into beautiful, center pull cakes. It’s fast, attaches to my desk, and is easy to use. I’ve had it for a few years now with absolutely no issues. It’s great for winding half skeins of yarn, or brand new hands of yarn. It creates beautiful cakes, and can hold quite a bit of yarn. It’s another product that just makes everything quicker and easier.
My Wescott Scissors. I have about 5 pair of these lying around my house. They are just the best scissors I’ve ever used. They are really affordable and last just about forever, if you take care of them.
My Soft Measuring Tapes. I have about 5 of these lying around my house too, but mostly because they always seem to go missing. I really only every know where 1 or 2 actually are located. But they are a must have. I use them every time I’m crocheting or designing. I use them to measure myself, measure my gauge swatch, and measure my project as I work. They work great and are definitely a must-have!
My cubed shelves! Before I purchased two of these shelves, I stored my yarn in a shoe rack! It was not cute! But I’ve purchased two of these 9 cube shelves and they sit in my office and work perfectly to store my yarn stash in! I can pile the yarn all the way to the top and all the way to the back, so it holds a lot of yarn! Plus, shelves filled with yarn are super cute and look great in my office!
These are my five crochet must-haves, other than my yarn and hooks, of course! What other crochet tools and products do you love and use all the time?
This post- Primrose Blouse Crochet Pattern- may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!
The Primrose Blouse is a crochet pattern that I released in May of 2015. Just recently, I decided to make another one, and after making a few changes, I’ve updated the entire pattern!
For this lovely spring top I used Knit Picks Brava Worsted yarn (#4 weight) in the colorway Seashell. The color was just perfect! It’s a bright coral color that has me SO ready for spring! This top is worked from the top down, with the sleeves added at the end. It is easily adjustable in both width and length.
You can purchase the Primrose Blouse crochet pattern on Ravelry and Etsy!
I am an independent crochet pattern designer. Which means, I design and write crochet patterns! I self publish my patterns independently. I’ve been doing this designing thing for 5 years now, and it’s the best! But there are a lot of things that people don’t understand about my job. So in my Wednesday live (1pm est on Instagram every Wed!) show, I shared 10 things that you may or may now know about being an Independent Pattern Designer! Hope you enjoy! If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment below!
1. It’s fun!
I get to use my creativity for a living! It’s a blast! I get to crochet and challenge myself and learn new things! I get to express myself every day! Being an independent pattern designer is so fun!
2. There is a LOT of math involved!
I hated math so much when I was growing up and was so certain that I would not have a job that required me to do math on a regular basis. Boy, was I wrong! Being a crochet pattern designer requires using math every single day. Grading sizes and even just figuring out stitches requires math! So I use math all the time! So much math! I still hate the actual math, but I love designing so much that I get over it and do it.
3.It looks different for everyone.
The designing process is different for everyone. There’s not really a right or wrong way to do things when you design. There are standards, yes, which you can find at www.craftyarncouncil.com, but each step is done differently by each designer. I personally don’t sketch out any of my designs before I create them. They just go straight from my head to my hook. Many designers, however, do sketch out their designs. Some designers work up samples of a bunch of different designs and then type them all up afterwards. I have to do one sample at a time, and immediately go type it up. Otherwise I get overwhelmed. The entire process is different for each person, which is what makes designing so amazing!
4.There are a lot of us!
There are a lot of crochet pattern designers! Just scroll the hashtag #crochet on Instagram for a few minutes! I’m certain there are a lot of knitting designers and sewing designers as well! But you know what? That’s okay! Every person has something amazing to bring to the world! Everyone! You, me, and everyone else! So that means each and every independent pattern designer has something amazing to bring to their craft! We all have different styles. We all excel in different parts of the craft. Some of us are better at written patterns, some are better at video tutorials! We all bring something great to this world!
5. We make mistakes!
Independent Pattern Designers are human! We miss things. I’ve had a pattern tested and tech edited and still managed to publish it with a mistake in it! It happens. We don’t like when it happens, but it does. So if you find a mistake in a pattern, please just politely reach out and let us know. I promise we will be happy to fix it!
6.It’s a SLOW process!
From the initial idea to release day, the process can be slow! Also growing as an independent pattern designer can be slow! There are many steps to both! You have to create the pattern, type it up, get it tech edited and/or tested, photograph it, and advertise! Sometimes it can take up to a month for me to publish a design! If you’re looking for something that is quick, this may not be for you!
7.It’s not just sitting and creating all day.
Some days, I just sit and crochet all day. But those days are few and far between. Most days are spent typing, posting on social media, emailing my list, listing patterns on Ravelry or Etsy, or adding content to my website. There’s just so much more to running an independent pattern designing business than just the creating part.
8.It is a constant learning process.
I am always learning new things. Things about crochet, photography, running my business, marketing, and more! Every day there’s a new marketing technique, or an easier way to explain a stitch, or a new app everyone is loving! It is a never-ending learning process!
9.It can get lonely.
I work from home all day, every day. I’m a home body so it’s not terrible most of the time. But every once in a while it does get lonely. Some days I never leave the house. Sometimes weeks go by before I hang out with friends or have a date with my husband. It takes some serious self-care and discipline to not only work when you need to work (which means sometimes you can’t go to lunch with the girlfriends), but also to stop working when it’s time to stop, and go spend some time with the people you love.
10.It’s hard to explain to people who aren’t in your craft community.
If I tell a crocheter that I’m a crochet pattern designer, he/she will know what I do. But if I tell someone who doesn’t crochet at all, they probably won’t have any idea exactly what I do. Many times, I’ve told friends or acquaintances what I do, and they think it means I sell finished crochet items. It sometimes takes a bit to help them understand the designing and pattern publishing part.
Here’s the actual video of the live segment from Wednesday, February 13th! If you have any questions, leave them below in the comments!
I was so excited when Tanya of Cornbread and Honey reached out to me to collaborate! Tanya is an indie yarn dyer who has everything from fade kits to custom colorways to gradient cakes! She sent me a cake of gradient yarn to play with and from it came the Sweet Tea Shawl! The name of her shop Cornbread and Honey reminded me of another southern delicacy (at least to us southerners), sweet tea! Which is how I got the name for the design!
Tanya sent me this beautiful cake of gradient speckled brown yarn. It started off with a very dark, saturated brown and eventually turned into a very gorgeous speckled cream. This yarn was such fun to work with! It was a cake of 656 yards of sport weight yarn. The fiber is 80% super wash merino and 20% nylon. I absolutely love this fiber combo because the merino is so very soft, but the little bit of nylon gives it some sturdiness and makes it smooth on my hook and easy to work with. With the nylon I didn’t run into any pilling or splitting, which was so nice. I wet blocked my shawl after I completed it and the drape was SO amazing afterwards! This yarn is seriously one of the best yarns I’ve every tried!
The Sweet Tea Shawl is a triangle shawl that starts small and increases as you go. This shawl uses basic stitches, but the combination of them creates a stunning look! This is one of those patterns that doesn’t require gauge and that you can make as big or as small as you like! I love to wear it as a scarf around my neck but you can also make it large enough to wear over your shoulders.
I am so happy to have gotten the opportunity to try Tanya’s yarn. It is truly stunning and I plan on purchasing more!
Now through Sunday, January 27th you can use coupon code TWOBBCBH at checkout to get 50% off the Sweet Tea Shawl crochet pattern! Grab the pattern HERE!
You can use the very same code to get 20% off any yarn in the Cornbread and Honey shop! She even has the exact yarn I used for the Sweet Tea Shawl, as well as other gradients! This yarn is worth every penny!
Once I learned how to crochet, I wanted to make all the things! But I couldn’t read a pattern! I had learned how to crochet with YouTube videos and books, but crochet patterns scared me! What were all those abbreviations? What size was I supposed to do? Do crochet patterns even read left to right?! I had no idea! Eventually I figured it out myself, but it did take some time, and lots of trial of error! I want to save you all that trial and error and time! Today I’m going to share with your the very basics of how to read a pattern and you can also watch the live show I did on this topic below!
*Disclaimer- This step by step layout pertains to how my designs are laid out. Not every designer is going to have the same pattern layout or order, but this should give you an idea of what to look for and what each section means, regardless of where exactly it is in the pattern.
The First Page
The first page of a crochet pattern contains the most vital information. This is where you will find what materials you need, gauge, sizing, stitches used, and any pattern notes there are. Sometimes this will also continue on to the second part of the pattern, so be sure to read through the whole pattern before you start.
Materials- Here you will find exactly what you need to make the project.
Difficulty- This is the crochet experience you will need to make this project. (i.e.- beginner, intermediate, advanced)
Sizing & Yardage- Here is where you will figure out what size you are making and how much yarn you will need for it.
Pattern notes- Any additional instructions, tips, or information needed will be in this section.
Stitches Needed and Abbreviations- Here you will find what stitches are required in the project and what abbreviations will be used for them throughout the pattern.
Pattern Instructions
Once you’ve moved past the first page, you’ll come to the pattern instructions. Here is where you will start working. Most patterns will have a beginning section which will include how many chains to start with and sometimes a few beginning rows or rounds.
Most all patterns will be listed by either rows, rounds, or steps. Go through each one in their numerical sequence unless the pattern tells you otherwise. Each segment of the pattern will likely be in order of the way it should be worked up, unless the pattern tells you otherwise ahead of time. So work your way down the pattern until you get to the end.
Finishing
Most patterns will have a finishing section or an area that tells you what to do once you’ve completed all the steps. It may say “Fasten off. Weave in ends. Block if needed” or “Finish off and weave in all of your ends.” This will let you know that you have completed the pattern.
Additional Tips
Most of the time you will be able to find information on the designer in the pattern. There is usually a link to their website or shop and an email address. Do not be afraid to email the designer with questions if you’re struggling. Pattern support is part of being a designer and we want to help. Also, if you find an error within the pattern, and you are certain that it is a mistake, email the designer to let him/her know. That way they can fix it and send a pattern update.
Here’s a live video I did on my Facebook and Instagram on this very topic!
I hope you find this article very helpful as you venture into pattern reading! Please feel free to comment below or email me with any questions you still have!
This post- Bombshell Sweater Crochet Pattern- may contain affiliate links, which means if you make a purchase from the links below, I will get a small percentage of the sales at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continued support!
I am so excited to finally share my first sweater pattern of 2019! This sweater is such a quick and easy, basic sweater! Everyone needs a basic sweater, right?! The Bombshell Sweater is so versatile and easily customizable to fit your preferences! I made mine as a cropped sweater, but it can also be made into a full length sweater! It is a top-down workup, using only 2 basic stitches, and no sewing!
I used one of my favorite yarns, Knit Pick Brava Sport, for this sweater. It’s lightweight and has a nice drape, making this sweater great for layering over a tank top! Knit Picks Brava Sport is currently my go-to sport weight yarn for garments. It’s soft and washes up very nicely. It’s 100% acrylic, which I like for a basic garment.
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