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  • Wednesday live video… my basic stitches!

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    I am revisiting this post to see if the link to my video works and hay ho it does!!!

    So if you click on the link you will find one of my latest videos all about the basic stitches that I use for latch hook crochet.

    I am pleased it works because this is one of my better videos. It is really informative and I tend not to talk too much drivel as I have done in the past.

    I am also quite chuffed because I am hopefully getting my head around some of this confounded techno bumf!! Do make a comment if you stumble about with this too.

    Then do click the above link and pop over to my facebook group page where I sum up all the basic stitches!!

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  • Freeform crochet… what is it?

    Freeform crochet… what is it?

    For a few months of the year, I’m lucky to stay on our boat in Australia! So here I am, relaxing with lots of time to start some Freeform Crochet projects!

    So what is freeform crochet?

    Freeform crochet can be described as “patternless”, and is often referred to as “painting with yarn”. Incredibly fun and relaxing, there is no wrong way or right way… only your way.

    I love to use finer yarns and a small latch hook. A latch hook is traditionally used for rug making and sometimes hair braiding, but I have found a new and easy way to crochet!

    Once you have (easily) mastered the simple crochet stitches, using a latch hook, you can embrace your inner artist and try some freeform crochet! I have some free videos on YouTube and when you are ready to move to freeform and more advanced crochet, I have a subscription which includes videos, tutorials and one to ones on the platform 2, facebook group

    Thanks for looking and remember to keep in touch by subscribing to the blog!

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  • What is a latch hook?

    What is a latch hook?

    Did you know the answer? A latch hook is usually used for making rag rugs or hooked rugs. It is slightly similar to a traditional crochet hook but it a latch to hold the yarn when a loop is pulled through. Have you ever made a rug using a latch hook?

    Can you use a latch hook for crochet?

    Well, I love crochet and I love teaching (I’m a retired teacher) so I combined my two passions and discovered an easy way to crochet… the new way! I found that by using a latch hook, instead of traditional crochet hook, beginners and kids, picked up the basics in minutes. I believe it is easier… just try it out and see! They say …… ‘this is soooo cooool ! ‘

    Left is a latch hook and Right is a traditional crochet hook

     So when children ask me “What is a latch hook?” I tell them, that it is like having their own little machine. I explain, it’s how knitting machines work with rows of similar latch hooks and that is how machine made knitted jumpers and cardigans are made.

    Giving a child a latch hook is in itself motivating. But seeing the resulting chain appear is a fascinating experience and as they succeed they often become absorbed in the process. Adults do too, as not a lot of folks have used a latch hook and for those who have, it sparks off memories of making rag rugs!!

    A short chain length will make a simple plain bracelet. A longer chain length will make a necklace.

    Traditionally beginners would go on to make repeated rows and rows of traditional stitches, however the next step I teach is to make the same chain length bracelet with fancy yarns. There are so many available nowadays

    I also go on to teach a different set of basic stitches, which have been chosen for ease of use with a latch hook. These are chain stitch , slip stitch, bullion stitch, Tunisian stitch, and later puff stitch.

    I have many resources including a book on Amazon, a Youtube channel with tutorials and a community of like minded latch hook crocheters on facebook!

    Join in the fun and subscribe to the blog for future updates and projects.

    Thanks for reading!

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  • Tunisian Crochet

    Tunisian Crochet

    One of the basic stitches introduced for crochet is Tunisian Crochet Simple Stitch. Did you know, I teach crochet with a latch hook instead of a traditional crochet hook? It’s so much easier!

    Don’t believe me? Check out my other articles and my YouTube channel.

    If worked with the upright stitch with two or three colours it is very simple to work this stitch with a latch hook. It is also easy to do, I think easier than knitting in the sense that you are casting on (picking up loops) and casting off.

    It’s an attractive and neat stitch. I love it. It doesn’t have to be square either.

    Tunisian crochet, is easy and I have many resources to help you out, including a book on Amazon, a Youtube channel with tutorials and a community of like minded latch hook crocheters on facebook!

    Join in the fun and subscribe to the blog for future updates and projects.

  • Latch Hooking for Beginners ..crochet history

    Latch Hooking for Beginners ..crochet history

    It is the week before Christmas and I have just sent my Crochet book off to the printers. It should be for sale on Amazon in a couple of months! It’s all about Latch hooking for beginners but not in the rag rugging sense… it’s all about making traditional crochet much easier to teach and learn!

    *edit …. it is now available for sale.. check it out!

    Meanwhile I am returning to this blog to share some of the ideas in the book. It is all about a fresh look at crochet using a latch hook! So it’s a new and exciting hobby. Kids get so absorbed in it. And it is mistake free learning, no dropped stitches !

    A flower brooch

    Take a look at my many resources including a book on Amazon, a Youtube channel with tutorials and a community of like minded latch hook crocheters on facebook!

  • An easy latch patch using puff stitch

    An easy latch patch using puff stitch

    An easy latch patch using chain ,slip stitch and puff stitch.
    Start with a large chain, followed with a smaller one.
    Use the first chain for your ring.
    *Slip stitch into ring, chain 1.
    Repeat from * to form ring.

    Or you can make about 5 puff stitches into the first chain.

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  • Using variegated yarn… How to use variegated yarn in your Latch Patches

    Using variegated yarn… How to use variegated yarn in your Latch Patches

    Note date of this post…. I was still experimenting here, but using variegated yarn (self made) has become an essential part of teaching Latch Hook Crochet. Also not that I use a latch hook to teach crochet instead of a traditional crochet hook because it is much easier! Also, if you are wondering what a Latch patch is, see here.

    Using variegated yarn, Kids can see what is happening in their work better and also young ones enjoy the next colour yarn coming up!!

    IMG_5880This one shows up the stitches a bit better, but I still think longer stretches of colour?

    Still playing with variegated yarn.

    I am happy that this one shows up the puff stitch. Also on the ‘petal’ shapes, one colour in chain and the next slip stitch.

    Then slip stitches can easily be see round the edges too.

    Magic knots are used in this example. Still easy stitches, easy to see.

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    There are loads of things you can do, using variegated yarn. Feel free to point them towards my many resources including a book on Amazon, a Youtube channel with tutorials and a community of like minded latch hook crocheters on facebook!

    Subscribe to the blog for updates 🙂 Thanks for reading

  • Adding a new colour

    HOW TO ADD A DIFFERENT COLOUR YARN TO YOUR SCRUMBLE
    No rules here at all.
    Attatch it any way you like!
    Kids may like to tie it on to the scrumble or tie it to the end of the previous colour.
    You may hook it through your scrumble anywhere and and leave an end to come back to.
    You could hook it through and double up the yarn.
    Hook it through and pull through two loops.
    No rule. At the moment do what works for you.

  • A large scrumble crochet history

    A large scrumble crochet history

    After finding Sylvia Cosh and James Walters work on the Internet, I made my first large scrumble….learning as I added to it. Discovering Tunisian crochet completely altered my approach to all aspects of crochet about 2009. The following one was made this year with a more formal learned techniques.

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  • Easy crochet learning bracelets

    Easy crochet learning bracelets

    Bracelet tutorials can be found on my YouTube Channel

    When you have mastered chains with flowers and the bullion leaf bracelet then you can have a go at this unique headband or necklace. The following image shows how these flowers and leaves can also be added to decorate a simple lacy latch patch.


  • Why am I using a latch hook?

    Why am I using a latch hook?

    The main question I am asked is ‘why are you using a latch hook?’  and the simple answer is that it is easy to teach beginners how to crochet using this hook.

    I first used it with a lady who said ‘I can knit ,but I cant crochet, its so hard to do’. I showed her using the latch hook and she was able to crochet. I tried it with a group of beginners and they said ‘this is easy, its so cool!’

    In 2018 I wrote the book ‘ Latch Hook Crochet for Beginners’ and the following year I began holding drop in workshops in local libraries and community centers. Children found it really easy to get started and their bracelets and chains were getting longer. One six year old said I can do this with my eyes closed!