Finally, a One-Skein Wonders book just for crocheters! In Crochet One-Skein Wonders (Storey Publishing, 2013), Judith Durant and Edie Eckman offer 101 great crochet projects, from jewelry and cowl scarves to bags, hats, dresses, and home décor items. Each project uses just one skein of yarn. Whatever your experience level, you’ll find something here to delight you! The following excerpt is from the section “Thread.”
You can purchase this book from the MOTHER EARTH NEWS store: Crochet One-Skein-Wonders.
Nana’s Hanky
Designed by Gwen Steege
Gwen’s grandmother was never without a hanky with a crocheted edge — either up her sleeve or in progress on her hook! This simple edging was designed in her honor. Handkerchief blanks are widely available online as well as in some fabric and craft stores. Take care not to let the first round of single crochet stitches pull in too tightly, or the edges will “cup.”
Abbreviation Key
ch—chain
dc—double crochet
hdc—half double crochet
RS—right side of work
sc—single crochet
slip st—slip stitch
WS—wrong side of work
*—marker
Finished Measurements
The edging is approximately 1/2″/13 mm wide; total measurement depends on handkerchief measurement
Yarn
DMC cotton perle size 8, 100% cotton, 95 yds (87 m)/0.35 oz (10 g,) Color 818
Crochet Hook
Steel US 5 (1.9 mm) or size you need to obtain correct gauge
Gauge
7 repeats = 3″/7.5 cm in pattern
Other Supplies
Water-erasable marking pen (optional), ruler (optional), hemmed fabric handkerchief (sample is 11″/28 cm square), embroidery needle for blanket stitching, yarn needle
Pattern Essentials
Blanket st Thread embroidery needle with perle cotton. Working from left to right along edge, insert needle from WS to RS at very edge of fabric. *Holding thread to the left, insert needle from RS to WS at a point 1/8″/3 mm in from edge of fabric and 1/8″/3 mm to left of first st, then tilt top of needle away so that needle tip peeks out at edge of fabric and is in front of thread; pull needle through and adjust stitch to fit snugly but not tightly against edge of fabric. Repeat from * around edge (See illustration in the Image Gallery).
Setting Up for the Edging
To create a guide for blanket stitching, use a water-erasable marking pen to make small 1/8″/3 mm marks around the entire edge of the handkerchief. If the existing hemstitches are about 1/8″/3 mm apart, use them as a guide.
Using the perle cotton and embroidery needle, work blanket sts all the way around the handkerchief, spaced 1/8″/3 mm apart. At each corner, stitch into the same spot three times. Work a multiple of 3 blanket sts plus 2 across each side, counting 1 corner st.
Crocheting the Edging
Rnd 1: With hook, join yarn 1 st to the left of any corner blanket st, ch 1, sc in each blanket st around, placing 3 sc in each corner st, join with slip st to first st. You now have a multiple of 3 plus 1 sc across each side, plus 3 sc in each corner.
Rnd 2: *Ch 3, skip 2 sc, slip st in next sc; repeat from * across to 1 sc before corner st; at the corner, ch 5, skip 3 sc, slip st in next sc; repeat from * around, join with slip st in first slip st.
Rnd 3: (3 sc, hdc, 3 sc) in each ch-3 space and (3 sc, 2 hdc, dc, 2 hdc, 3 sc) in each ch-5 corner space around, join with slip st to first sc. Fasten off.
Weave in ends.
Read more from Crochet One-Skein Wonders:
How to Make a Cowl Scarf
How to Make a Tea Cozy
This excerpt has been reprinted with permission from Crochet One-Skein Wonders, edited by Judith Durant and Edie Eckman and published by Storey Publishing, 2013. Buy this book from our store:Crochet One-Skein Wonders.