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Stitch Yariations

Any stitch can be worked in this way, singly, or in a group, or cluster. A ‘raised’ stitch may also be worked as a ‘twin’ cluster g together with a stitch worked normally under the top 2 loops ot a stitch above.

Working into Chain Spaces

When working a single stitch. or group. into a Chain space. or Chain loop, it is normal to a insert the hook into the space beneath the Chain arch; this is quick and easy. It is impor-tant to notice, however, if the pattern instruc-tions stipulate working into a particular Chain, as you would, for instance, when working into the base Chain b, sińce the technique may well change the result significantly (sec ‘Boxed Shell' and ‘Boxed Błock Stitch' on page 59).

Crossed Stitch I

The simplest form of crossed stitch is madę by inserting the hook into a previous stitch, wrapping the yarn and bringing a loop through and forward again in order to be able to complete the stitch normally. The threads of the new stitch thus madę not only cross over, but also sandwich previous stitches.

To work 2 crossed double crochet stitches (2Cdc)

a Skip 1 stitch, then work 1 double crochet; b, c work 1 double crochet into the stitch you skipped before the first double crochet; d repeat these steps to continue with the pat-tern of crossed pairs of double crochets.

Crossed Stitch II

To make stitches which. although crossed, are not entangled witn each other and so maintain a elear X shape. a work the second stitch by taking the hook behind the first stitch b before inserting it.

b

'X', ^JY' and ^łA'

Shapes

In lacy stitch patterns long stitches are s: -times madę into ‘X’ and *Y' shapes wr Crossing them.

To make a Treble A’ and X’ shape

a Wrap the yarn round the hook twice, ms-r the hook as required to make the lower: r of the first 'leg'; b wrap the yarn, draw a i: through, wrap the yarn and draw throucr : loops (3 loops on the hook); wrap the . t once morę and insert the hook agam s> required to make the lower part of b second ‘leg’; c wrap the yarn, draw a io:g through. wrap the yarn and draw througr 2 loops to complete both lower ^;legs’; d w- -o the yarn and draw through 2 loops; repefl this last step twice morę to complete the rs 'arm' — notę that at this stage you haJ completed a *A^ł shape. e Make chains i required to take the hook to the top of aj second ‘arm’, wrap the yarn once, insert t e hook into the center of the cluster just conj pleted. pickmg up 2 threads at the left-hanł side, and draw a loop through; f wrap "d yarn and draw through 2 loops; g repeat m last step to complete the second ‘arm anJ the whole X shape.

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