The greater part of close crochet articles are done in the double-plain
stitch, which is done by taking a piece of wool, and casting on as many
loops in chain-stitch as you may require, with the needle; it is very
simple, being only to form a loop and draw the wool through one and
another; the easiest manner would be, to continue drawing the wool
through from right to left; this will make the work the same on both
sides. The plain single-crochet is done by merely drawing the one loop
you have on your needle through each stitch. Plain double crochet is
when you have cast on the foundation-loops, draw the wool through one
stitch; take it up again, and through two; this stitch is used for
table-covers and sofa-cushions; also when patterns are worked in. In the
double-stitch crochet, you take both sides of the loop, but that is only
used when you require it thick, and is very nice for soles for shoes.
RAISED CROCHET is worked alternately from one side to the other, drawing
the wool quite through, and taking the underneath part of the loop.
The CHAIN OPEN CROCHET is made of chains, as for instance, five or seven
loops drawn one through the other, and joined to the centre stitch of
the preceding row; this is very pretty for purses, with a bead on each
of the centre stitches.
SINGLE OPEN CROCHET is done by putting your needle under the wool, and
then through the loop, draw the wool through, you will find that you
have three stitches on your needle; draw the wool through the first two
stitches, and then through the other two; you will now have one loop:
make one by drawing the wool through that one; put it underneath and
through the next loop but one; repeat as before.
DOUBLE OPEN CROCHET is done by drawing it through in the same manner as
you did for the single, but omitting the one-loop stitch until you have
done two long stitches between each of the long ones.
TREBLE OPEN CROCHET is much the same as the preceding patterns, but
having three long stitches and three loop stitches between; in the next
row, remember to make the long stitches upon the loops, and the loops on
the preceding long stitches; you increase by going twice in the same
loop, and decrease by missing one loop.
There is another stitch called the TREBLE VANDYKE OPEN CROCHET, which is
done by three long stitches, but put through the same loop.
A PRETTY NECK TIE,
OF TREBLE OPEN CROCHET, AND TWO COLOURS IN DOUBLE BERLIN.
Cast on one hundred and forty loops, and do one row of each colour;
three of white and five of coloured will make it wide enough; finish
with a chenille tassel at each end.
A NEW SOFA PILLOW,
IN TREBLE OPEN CROCHET.
Choose nine shades of double Berlin wool. Cast on eighty loops, and
commence with the darkest shade; one row of each colour to the lightest,
and the same to the darkest. You may do them in shaded wool, with white
between: make it about three complete stripes or half-a-yard square; you
can crochet both sides, or have silk at the back.