Alright! Let's finished up the basic stitches and other simple things you need to know!
Half Double Crochet. (HDC)
Half Double Crochet is a great stitch for cowls and scarves, very popular and easy.
Here is how to do it!
You are going to need to chain whatever number of stitches your pattern calls for, or if you are practicing, just chain 10,+2 for the turning chain (we will talk about that in a minute).
Yarn over, and place your hook into the third loop from the hook. Yarn over, and pull through only the first loop (this is called "pulling up a loop"), then yarn over, pull through all three loops on the hook.
It ought to look something like this.
Now continue down the chain until you reach the end.
Double Crochet.
To do a picture tutorial for this seemed a little redundant, since all stitches are pretty much just slip stitches with extra steps. For the double crochet stitch, you do the HDC stitch, with two extra steps.
Chain your number of required stitches. Chain +3 for the turning chain. Yarn over, then insert your hook into the fourth stitch from it. Yarn over, pull through the first chain (pull up a loop), yarn over, pull through two loops, yarn over, pull through all three.
See? Basically, it's just the same stitch, with more yarn overs and loop pulling throughs. ðŸ¤
There are many more stitches that will need to be learned, but as for now, we are gonna stick to the basics.
Back to Single Crochet real quick.
In most amigurumi, as well as other things, you are going to need to know how to single crochet increase, and decrease. They are not hard once you get them down! The single crochet INCREASE (INC) is so simple there are no pictures needed, you simply place two single crochets in the exact same stitch.
Now Decrease (DEC) is a little more difficult, so much so I couldn't figure out how to take pictures for it. 😋
Thanks to mymerrymessylife.com I have a picture to show you clearly how to do the SC DEC. I will still explain a wee bit though.
In #1, you put your hook into the next stitch, yarn over, and pull up a loop. With two loops still on your hook, place your hook into the next stitch. (#2) Pull up a loop (remember, that means yarn over and pull through the first loop only) (#3), and then pull through all three loops remaining on the hook (#4 and #5). (also don't take your hook out when you are done, she only did that to show you what it will look like).
Turning chains.
Turning chains are essential when crocheting regular or in the round (not in continuous round though, which is what you use for amigurumi.). It is just the number you chain at the beginning of a round that keeps your work from shrinking when you turn - they are VERY necessary.
Number of chains per stitch:
Stitch: Number of turning chains:
Single crochet 1
Half Double crochet 2
Double crochet 3
Alright! That is is for Pt. 2.
We'll see about a part three......😬
Until next time!