CypressTextiles Art Studio
Published on November 16, 2018

The Art of Crochet Blankets: Beginner’s Guide and CAL Hub

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Hi, everyone! Welcome to the Beginner’s Guide and CAL main page for my book, The Art of Crochet Blankets. On this page, you will find helpful information that supplements the patterns in my book. I know some of the designs appear daunting, but they are just made up of stitches, as any pattern. Hopefully this page will put your mind at ease when you pick one and get started.

Crochet-along Information

I am hosting a huge crochet-along for all of the patterns in the book. The CAL will take place beginning Monday, December 3 in my Facebook Group, and prizes will be given weekly to folks who post their projects and WIP pics on Ravelry – more info to come. Since each pattern will have a separate CAL timeline, I have set up an info page for each of them.

All you have to do is click the pattern name below and get started! Note: CAL pages will go live tomorrow, Nov. 28 – CAL begins Dec. 3. The CAL weeks will not be assigned dates, this way you can jump in at any time and move at your own pace.

CAL Info Pages Include

  • Yarn amounts and ordering info
  • Alternate yarn price-point where possible
  • Full weekly CAL timeline
  • Videos of tricky stitches where applicable
  • Ways to share your WIP pics (and any concerns!) with others in this CAL community
  • Link to behind-the-scenes content

Be sure to keep scrolling to the end of this post to see helpful info that will supplement the book. This info below is general – or non-pattern specific. The CAL info pages for each pattern will include the info that is specific to that design.

The Art of Crochet Blankets CAL

Chapter 1: Weaving – Maryanne Moodie

  • Rolling Plains
  • Rock Ridge
  • Sun and Sky

Chapter 2: Digital Art – Francisco Valle

Chapter 3: Fabric Design – April Rhodes

Chapter 4: Paper Cutting – Maud Vantours

Chapter 5: Cement Tile – Caitlin Dowe-Sandes

  • Stone Path
  • Moroccan Tile
  • The Northerner

Chapter 6: Quilting – Tula Pink

Stitches and Techniques

Use this general information as a beginner’s guide – I created this CAL and guide for folks who bought my book and don’t know where to start. Hope these stitch and technique videos help!

Stitch Guide

These stitches are used in my book, The Art of Crochet Blankets. They are general stitches and in US terms. Specific special stitches for each pattern can be found on their individual CAL pages above.

Links lead to how-to pages (with videos) where applicable/available. Un-linked stitches will have how-to pages soon if applicable.

Abbreviations

beg begin; begins; beginning
bet between
blo back loop only
CC contrasting color
ch(s) chain(s)
cm centimeter(s)
dc double crochet
dec decrease(s); decreasing; decreased
dtr double treble crochet
foll follows; following
g gram(s)
hdc half double crochet
inc increase(s); increasing; increased
lp(s) loop(s)
MC main color
m marker; meter(s)
mm millimeter(s)
pm place marker
rem remain(s); remaining
rep repeat; repeating
rnd(s) round(s)
RS right side
sc single crochet
sk skip
sl slip
sl st slip(ped) stitch
sp(s) space(s)
st(s) stitch(es)
tog together
tr treble crochet
WS wrong side
yd yard(s)
yo yarn over
* repeat starting point
( ) alternative measurements and/or instructions; work instructions within parentheses in place directed
[ ] work bracketed instructions a specified number of times

Glossary of Terms 

(Videos coming before Dec 3!)

beg dc (beginning double crochet)
beg dc3tog (beginning double crochet 3 together)
beg dc4tog (beginning double crochet 4 together)
beg dc5tog (beginning double crochet 5 together)
beg dc9tog (beginning double crochet 9 together)
beg dtr (beginning double treble crochet)
beg hdc (beginning half doublecrochet)
beg tr (beginning treble crochet)
dc2tog (double crochet 2 together)
dc3tog (double crochet 3 together)
dc4tog (double crochet 4 together)
dc5tog (double crochet 5 together)
dc8tog (double crochet 8 together)
dc9tog (double crochet 9 together)
Magic Ring
reverse sc (reverse single crochet)
sc2tog (single crochet 2 together)
sc3tog (single crochet 3 together)
sc4tog (single crochet 4 together)
sc5tog (singe crochet 5 together)
sc6tog (single crochet 6 together)

Special Techniques

  • Changing color
  • Border stitches
  • Beginning the row without a turning chain
  • Making matching decreases at both ends of a row
  • Making tall stitches neater

Joining Techniques

  • Joining square motifs as you go
  • Joining hexagon motifs as you go
  • Pull Loop Through (PLT) join
  • Slip-stitch motifs together
  • Whip-stitch motifs together

Finishing

  • Blocking
  • Making a flatter border
  • Weaving in ends – Lacy, open stitches
  • Weaving in ends – Solid stitches

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