Tag Archives: clone

Swirling in Tunisian Crochet- Some thoughts

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Tunisian Swirl Skirt Photo Courtesy of Annie’s

ScannedImageI have to admit, it is a little overwhelming, in a good way, that I have so many designs out in magazines at the same time. The latest designs out are in the Summer 2015 issue of Crochet! Magazine, and I would like to share some of my thought process of the Tunisian Swirl Skirt with you.

There is actually a lot going on in this skirt. I found myself putting some unusual concepts together for what I feel are nice results. The skirt is worked in Tunisian crochet, utilizing the Full stitch ( I discuss how I work the stitch here). This stitch is worked between the vertical bars, and when worked in flat fabric it has to be staggered in the rows. However in this skirt it is worked in the round.

Working Tunisian in the round has its own unique process, and after playing round with several different options on how to accomplish this, I utilized the Tunisian Loop Return Pass technique, that I discovered from Jennifer Hansen, the Stitch Diva (check out her demonstration here). It offers a join that does not create any open gapping, when worked in Tunisian Simple Stitch it becomes almost invisible, worked in the Tunisian Full Stitch, as in this skirt, you can find the join point, however it is much less obvious then other methods.

Another non-everyday technique that I utilized is the Clone Knot. I learned about Clone Knots from Kathy Earle at a Chain Link Conference (the Knit & Crochet Show), and use them in the lace insert panels that help create the swirl. I like how this stitch is created, I find it fun, but it also offers a nice texture, and allows an open kind of drape to a lace fabric. (I demonstrated how to complete this stitch here).

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My local newsstand this week, 4 issues that you can find my designs in right now…Spring 2015 Interweave Crochet, Summer 2015 Crochet! Magazine, April 2015 Crochet World, Special Issue Crochet Magazine Quick & Easy Accessories

Some of the other thoughts that went into this skirt may not be as obvious. For one, I do not want a skirt to show my under garments, so I seek out a stitch and hook size that will create a fabric that will allow for modesty, the Tunisian Full Stitch fit this build. With is modesty in mind, I also ensured that the lace panels did not climb into areas that I would like to keep modest as well. So you really should not have to wear an underskirt with this design.

Another thought that went into this design was how to you get a fitted waist. Part of this is created by working top down, and increasing for the hips, as well as allowing for a drawstring closure, so you can have a more custom experience with the fit.

If you wanted to change this skirt up and make it a little more or less lacier or have more or less of a swirl. This can be accomplished by adjusting the width of the solid panels the wider the panels the less lace, the more slender the more lace. Just ensure that the number of stitches in the round before the panels is divisible by the number of panels that you want to ensure that they come out even.

I had fun putting this skirt together and growing in my understanding of crochet while doing it. I hope that you enjoy it as well.

New Again, at Least to Me- Clone Knots

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ScannedImageSometimes we find inspiration for crochet in unusual places, sometimes it is just looking at a traditional method in a different light.

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Clone Knots

For me the Clone Knot is one of those stitches that I never really knew existed until I took a thread crochet class from Kathy Earle at a CGOA conference/Knit & Crochet Show a couple of years ago. The class on Irish Crochet really expanded my knowledge, I usually do not work with thread and tiny hooks, however I really have a new level of respect for those that do. I took some of my new found skills and applied them to my yarn crochet, and the clone knot fit into this very well.

The clone knot is essentially a multiple of loops placed on the hook and worked together creating a bump of material in the middle of a set of chains. It creates a unique textural and visual impact to open fabric work, and in Irish crochet is often worked in between motifs during the joining process.

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Bring the hook under the working yarn.

To create this stitch, begin by chaining a couple of chains, then place the hook under the working yarn, rotate the hook 360° and place in under the working yarn again. Placing the hook under the working yarn and rotating the hook causes a loop of yarn to be placed on the hook and twisted to stay in place.

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Twist hook counter-clockwise 360 degrees

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Bring hook under yarn again, and re twist clockwise 360 degrees.

After working this motion a few times or the number indicated in the pattern, yarn over and pull through all the loops. Then chain a couple of more times, now comes the part of securing the stitch. Pull the chain taught and push the loops toward the working end of the chains. You should feel or hear a small pop; this is essentially that you are sliding the loops over the adjacent chain causing it to become secure.

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Yarn over and pull through all the loops on the hook.

This unique stitch does have a slight disadvantage to what you usually expect from crochet, it is difficult to rip back, as securing it makes the stitch more difficult, as it creates what its name implies, a knot.

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Pull chain taught and push Clone Knot toward working end of the chain to secure it in place, you will feel or hear a “pop”.

I hope you give this embellishment a try, add it to an edging, an place of open work, any where you want something a little different.