Waffle Crochet Tutorial - From Blankets to Dishcloths

You may remember in the Wash Your Washcloths post a dish cloth featured and I said I would show you the stitch....

Here 'tis.

It's my all time go to for blankets. I know the granny is an old time favourite and looks really retro at the moment and it is OK for a climate like QLD, but this waffle type construction traps warm air and provides the cosiest rug of really robust construction.

Ideal for the Tasmanian conditions.

The best thing is there are very few rules and I find it uses up scrap wool effectively.

If you want to make a dish cloth, use pure cotton and those lovely scrubby ridges give just the grunt you need on some of the tough jobs. Maybe it takes a little longer to dry out but since you wash your cloths every day (Right?) that is not really a drama.

For rugs, use whatever you want to use up. (Do you see that variegated brown wool in the foreground there? I can remember buying that in Gladstone when I was in Gr 4/5 back in about 1975)

These are great for watching TV or emergency back up in the car.

Whether you make a single or a king size, it's up to you and how many chain stitches you do.

Even my edge was done with scrap. Leave plain or finish with a scallop edge.

So here is the step by step with LOTS of pictures because, I think I've told you before, I'm a visual person and it's easier for me to show rather than rely purely on words and instruction.

The crochet terms I use are Australian/English

(but I'm sure the Americans will figure out what they need to call the stitches)

Make a chain.....

and keep making it for as wide as you want the article to be.

For beds I always err on the side of caution and do a bit more than I think and I am never disappointed this way.

The first three stitches after you have turned are your first treble (tr)

So go ahead and make a tr in the 4th stitch there.

Now keep tr into every chain (ch) till you get to the end.

Like this.

Now turn around and go back the other way doing this...

Make 3ch (that counts as your first tr and will ever after on every row be the same)

So make a tr into the top of the very next tr.

Now here is where it gets special

Now make a tr but instead of going into the top of the next tr, go behind it.

Now do it again.

So far you have 3ch, 1 tr into the top of the 2nd tr and you have tr into the behind of the very next 2.

Continue along the row making a tr into the top of the next 2 tr and tr into the backs of the next 2.

2 in the tops, 2 in the backs

(Don't stress if you have an odd number once you get to the end, just keep to the pattern.)

Turn again and go back the other way, making your 3 ch

The very next stitch you will do is a tr into the back (see how that 2nd tr below is a sticky-outy type stitch? That tells you it's a tr behind)

The next 2 are into the top and the 2 after that are behind and so on and so forth till the end.

So you've got it now. It's making little pockets. It's all you'll ever do is those three chain stitches at the start of every row and then trebles either into the tops or behind. If you forget where you are up to, just look at the stitch you're about to go into,

Is it straight up or a bit stuck out.

Straight up...into the top.

Stuck out...into the behind.

Back and forth for as long as your heart desires or your bed length is gained.

Let me know if you have any trouble following this and I would love to see any projects made.

My sister-in-law has kindly pointed out that my blankets were done with one treble behind and two in the top rather than two and two. Either way is suitable. Should have got her to proof read - she is very talented and has a precise eye for detail. Thanks Leeann.

29/01/15

This pattern has kindly loaded on Ravelry and some project makers have made great notations about hook sizes and yarn and yardage so I am adding the url which many of you will find helpful. If you have also completed a project load it on the Ravelry page too!

http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/waffle-crochet-tutorial/people