Chapter 7

CROCHET

If a poll were taken on hobbies, crochet would be found among the five top favorites. Certainly there are very few hobbies you can take with you to luncheons, picnics and Aunt Emma's tea party. It requires no elaborate equipment, a very modest investment. From a slender needle, thread and a page of instructions come forth rare and beautiful designs to ornament and enrich your home. Relaxing, soothing and strictly non-strenuous, crochet is a complete rest-cure to be taken in easy sittings.

For those of you who are novices, the crochet section begins with some small, useful and easy-to-make articles. These, we hope, will make your practice period pleasant and rewarding and whet your appetite for more. The experienced crocheter will find plenty of oppor­tunity for displaying her skill on the variety of lacy doilies, handsome luncheon sets and exquisite tablecloths, while filet fans will delight in work­ing on two of the most magnificent cloths ever to grace a dinner table.

HOW TO CROCHET

For Those Who Work With Their Right Hand BEGIN BY MAKING A LOOP

1. Grasp thread near end between thumb and forefinger of left hand.
2. With right hand make loop by lapping long thread over short thread.
3. Hold loop in place between thumb and forefinger of left hand (Fig. 1).
4. Take hold of broad bar of hook as you would a pencil.
5. Put your hook through loop, catch long end of thread, draw it through (Fig. 2).
6. Do not remove hook from thread.
7. Pull short end and ball thread in opposite directions to bring loop close around the end of the hook, but not too tight (Fig. 3).

WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFT HAND

1. Measure with your eye about 4 inches down ball thread from loop on needle.
2. At about this point insert thread between your ring and little fingers. (Palm of hand facing up, Fig. 4).
3. Bring thread toward back, under little and ring fingers, over the middle finger, and under the forefinger toward the thumb (Fig. 5).
4. Grasp needle and loop between thumb and forefinger of left hand.
5. Gently pull ball thread so that it lies around the fingers firmly but not tightly (Fig. 6).
6. Catch knot of loop between thumb and forefinger.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE RIGHT HAND

1. Take hold of broad bar of hook as you would a pencil.
2. Bring middle finger forward to rest near tip of hook (Fig. 7).

BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE CHAIN STITCH

1. Adjust fingers of left hand as in Fig. 8. The middle finger is bent in such a way as to regu­late the tension, while the ring and little fin­gers prevent the thread from moving too freely. As you practice you will become more familiar with the correct position.

2. Keep in mind that the motion of the hook in the right hand and the thread in the left hand should be easy and smooth. One of the most common faults of beginners is either to crochet too tightly or too loosely. Ease will come with practice.

Chain Stitch

1. Pass your hook under thread and catch thread with hook. (This is called "thread over" -Fig. 9).
2. Draw thread through loop on hook. This makes one chain (ch). (Do not work tightly).
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have as many chain stitches as you need. One loop always remains on the hook (Fig. 10).
4. Always keep thumb and forefinger of your left hand near stitch on which you are working.
5. Practice making chains until they are even in size.

For Those Who Work With Their Left Hand

BEGIN BY MAKING A LOOP

1. Grasp thread near end between thumb and forefinger of right hand.
2. With left hand make a loop by lapping long thread over short thread.
3. Hold loop in place between thumb and forefinger of right hand (Fig. 1).
4. With left hand take hold of broad bar of hook as you would a pencil.
5. Insert hook through loop and under long thread. With left hand catch long end of thread (Fig. 2). Draw loop through.
6. Do not remove hook from thread.
7. Pull short end and ball thread in opposite directions to bring loop close around the end of the hook, but not too tight (Fig. 3).

 WHAT TO DO WITH THE RIGHT HAND

1. Measure with your eye about 4 inches along ball thread from loop on hook.
2. At about this point insert thread between your ring and little fingers, having palm of hand facing up (Fig. 4).
3. Bring thread toward back, under little and ring fingers, over the middle finger, and under the forefinger toward the thumb (Fig. 5).
4. Grasp hook and loop between thumb and forefinger of right hand.
5. Gently pull ball thread so that it lies around the fingers firmly but not tightly (Fig. 6).
6. Catch knot of loop between thumb and forefinger.

WHAT TO DO WITH THE LEFT HAND

1. Take hold of broad bar of hook as you would a pencil.
2. Bring middle finger forward to rest neartip of hook (Fig. 7).

BEFORE YOU BEGIN THE CHAIN STITCH Abbreviation—ch

Adjust fingers of right hand as in Fig. 8— the middle finger is bent to regulate the ten­sion, the ring and little fingers control the thread. The motion of the hook in the left hand and the thread in the right hand should be free and even. Ease comes with practice.

CHAIN STITCH

1. Pass your hook under thread and catch thread with hook. This is called "thread over" (Fig. 9).
2. Draw thread through loop on hook. This makes one chain (ch).
3. Repeat Steps 1 and 2 until you have as many chain stitches (ch sts) as you need—1 loop always remains on the hook (Fig. 10).
4. Always keep thumb and forefinger of your right hand near stitch on which you are working.
5. Practice making chain stitches until they are even in size.

For Left Handed Pupils Only: Place a pocket mirror to the left of each illustration and you will see the exact position in which you work reflected in the mirror.

No. 6-147 . . . Glass Jackets

Materials: Perle, Size 5: 5 balls of Light Blue and 1 ball of White. Steel Crochet Hook No. 7.

BASE . . . Starting at center with Blue, ch 6. Join with sl st. 1st rnd: 12 sc in ring. 2nd and 3rd rnds: * 2 sc in next sc, sc in next sc. Re­peat from * around (27 sc). 4th rnd: Sc in each sc around, increasing wherever necessary to keep work flat. Repeat 4th rnd until piece is same diameter as base of glass. At end of last rnd, sl st in next sc.

SIDE . . . 1st rnd: Ch 3, dc in each sc around, sl st in top of ch-3. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, * dc around post of next dc, dc in next dc. Repeat from * around, sl st in ch-3, sl st in next dc. Repeat 2nd rnd 8 more times. On last rnd sl st in ch-3. Break off.

EDGING . . . Attach White. Working through front loop only, * ch 4, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around, sl st in first dc. Break off. Make 3 more glass jackets like this.

No. 7626 Glass Jackets

Materials: Pearl Cotton,Size 5, 1 ball each of White and Light Blue and 5 balls of Dark Blue. Steel Crochet Hook No. 7.

This amount of material is sufficient to make a set of 8 glass jackets.

GAUGE: 10 sts make 1 inch; 4 rnds make 1 inch.

BASE . . . Starting at center, with Dark Blue, ch 2. 1st rnd: 7 sc in 2nd ch from hook. 2nd rnd: 2 sc in each sc around (14 sts). sl st in next sc. 3rd rnd: Ch 3 (to count as 1 dc), dc in same place as sl st, 2 dc in each sc around (28 sts). Join with sl st in top st of starting chain. 4th, 5th and 6th rnds: Ch 3, dc in each st around, increasing 14 dc evenly on each rnd.

Join (70 sts). Piece should measure about 21/2 inches in diameter. Ch 1, turn. Next rnd: Work sl st in each st around. Join with sl st in first sl st. Ch 3, turn and work up the side as follows: 1st rnd: Dc in each sl st around. Join (70 sts). Ch 3, turn. 2nd rnd: Dc in each dc around. Join and break off Dark Blue. 3rd rnd: Attach White in same place as sl st, ch 3, turn. Holding Light Blue along top of previous rnd, with White make dc in 3 dc (thus conceal­ing Light Blue), thread over, insert hook in next st and pull loop through, thread over and draw through 2 loops, drop White, pick up Light Blue and draw through remaining 2 loops. Always change color in this way. * Holding White along top of previous row and working over it, make dc in next 5 dc, changing to White in last dc of this 5-dc group; conceal Light Blue in the next 5 White dc and change to Light Blue as before. Repeat from * around. Join.

With Light Blue, ch 3, turn. Fit this piece over a glass for size; it should fit snugly. Do this often while working. 4th rnd: Concealing unused color work Light Blue dc's in Light Blue dc's and White dc's in White dc's. Join and break off White. With Light Blue, ch 3, turn. 5th rnd: Conceal Dark Blue in the first 4 Light Blue dc's chang­ing to Dark Blue in the last dc of that group, concealing unused color work Dark Blue dc's over Light Blue dc's and Light Blue dc's over White dc's. Join. With Dark Blue, ch 3, turn. 6th rnd: Work Dark Blue over Dark Blue and Light Blue over Light Blue. Join and break off Dark Blue. Attach White, ch 3, turn. 7th rnd: Work White over Light Blue and Light Blue over Dark Blue. Join with Light Blue, ch 3, turn. 8th rnd: Repeat 4th rnd. Join and break off both White and Light Blue. Attach Dark Blue, ch 3, turn. 9th, 10th and 11th rnds: Dc in each dc around. Join, ch 3, turn. At end of 11th rnd break off. Make 7 more glass jackets same as this.

No. 7716 . . . Hot Plate Mats

Materials: Knit-Cro-Sheen, 3 balls of White or Ecru, or 4 balls of any color. Steel Crochet Hook No. 6.

These covers can be made in any size desired. Oval cover measures 7 x 91/2 inches; round cover 81/2 inches in diameter.

OVAL COVER . . . Starting at center, make a chain 3 inches long. 1st rnd: Make 3 dc in 4th ch from hook, dc in each ch across, 7 dc in last ch; then, working along opposite side of starting chain, make dc in each ch across. 3 dc in same place where first 3 dc were made. Join with sl st in top st of starting chain. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in same place as sl st, 2 dc in each of next 3 dc, dc in each dc across to the 7 dc at other end, 2 dc in each of next 7 dc, dc in each dc to last 3 dc, 2 dc in each of last 3 dc. Join. 3rd rnd: Ch 1, sc in same place as sl st.

Increase across curve as follows: (Ch 2, skip next dc, sc in next dc) 4 times. Work along straight edge as follows: * Ch 2, skip next dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * across to the 14 dc at other end. Increase across curve as follows: (Ch 2, skip next dc, sc in next dc) 7 times. Work along straight edge as follows: ** Ch 2, skip next 2 dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from ** across to last 5 dc, increase across curve as follows: (Ch 2, skip 1 dc, sc in next dc) twice; ch  2, join with sl st in first sc made. 4th rnd: Ch 3, (3 dc in next sp, dc in next sc) 4 times; * 2 dc in next sp, dc in next sc. Repeat from * across to curve at other end, (3 dc in next sp, dc I n next sc) 7 times; ** 2 dc in next sp, dc in next sc. Repeat from * * across to last sps, (3 dc in next sp, dc in next sc) twice; 3 dc in last sp. Join. 5th rnd: Ch 3, dc in each dc around, increasing as necessary across curved ends to keep work flat. Join. Continue working 1 rnd of sps and 2 rnds of dc, increas­ ing as necessary across curved ends to keep work flat until piece measures 1/2inch smaller than desired size, ending with 2nd rnd of dc's.

Now work edging as follows: 1st rnd: * Ch 3, holding back the last loop of each dc on hook make 2 dc in same place as sl st, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (2-dc cluster made), ch 4, make a 2-dc cluster in 4th ch from hook, skip 3 dc, sl st in next dc. Repeat from * around, joining last cluster with sl st in base of first cluster. 2nd rnd: sl st to top of first cluster, ch 1, sc be­tween clusters, * (ch 4, 2-dc cluster in 4th ch from hook) twice; sc between next 2 clusters. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

ROUND COVER . . . Starting at center, ch 4. 1st rnd: 13 dc in 4th ch from hook. Join with sl st in 3rd st of starting chain. 2nd rnd: Ch 3, dc in same place as sl st, 2 dc in each dc around. Join. 3rd rnd: Ch 1, sc in same place as sl st, * ch 2, skip next dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around, joining last ch-2 with sl st in first sc. 4th rnd: Ch 3, * 3 dc in next sp, dc in next sc. Repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd; Ch 3, dc in each dc around, increas­ing as necessary to keep work flat (about 14 dc). Join. Repeat 3rd, 4th and 5th rnds incl until piece measures Vz inch smaller than de­sired size, ending with 5th rnd. Work edging same as edging on Oval Cover. Break off. Starch lightly and press.

No. 7621 ..... Bread Tray

Materials: Best Six Cord Mercerized Cro­chet, Size 50, 3 balls of White only . . . Steel Crochet Hook No. 12. Doily measures 61/4. x 111/2 inches

GAUGE: 6 sps make 1 inch; 6 rows make 1 inch.

Starting at bottom of chart, ch 14. 1st row: Dc in 8th ch from hook, (ch 2, skip 2 ch, dc in next ch) twice. Ch 7, turn. 2nd row: Dc in next dc (1 sp increased), (ch 2, dc in next dc) twice (2 sps made over 2 sps); ch 2, skip 2 sts of turning chain, dc in next ch, ch 5, dc in same place as last dc, turn, sl st in 3 ch (1 sp increased). Ch 7, do not turn. 3rd row: Dc in same place as last sl st (inc made), make 5 more sps, ch 5, dc in same place as last dc, turn, sl st in 3 ch (inc made). Ch 7, do not turn. 4th row: Inc a sp, make 3 more sps, 2 dc in next sp, dc in next dc (bl made over sp), make 3 sps, inc a sp. Ch 7, do not turn. Start­ing with 5th row, follow chart until the 43rd row is finished (when not increasing, ch 5 to turn). Do not ch at end of 43rd row, turn. 44th row: sl st in 2 ch, sl st in next dc (1 sp decreased), follow chart across to within last sp (another sp decreased). Ch 5, turn. Now follow chart to top. Break off.

EDGING . . . With right side facing, attach thread in the first sp on the 43rd row, ch 3,sc in end sp on 44th row, ch 3. Continue thus to top. Then sl st across the end 3 sps and work down other side of point to correspond. Break off. With right side facing finish other end in same way, but do not break off. 1st rnd: Ch 1, work 2 sc in each sp, sc in each dc and 5 sc in each loop along shaped ends. Join with sl st in first sc made. 2nd rnd: Ch 5, tr in next sc, ch 1, * skip next sc, (tr in next sc, ch 1) twice. Repeat from * around. Join with sl st in 4th st of first ch-5. 3rd rnd: Ch 4, tr in same place as sl st, * ch 2, 2 tr in next tr. Repeat from * around. Join. 4th to 7th rnds incl: Ch 4, tr in next tr, * ch 3, tr in next 2 tr. Repeat from * around. Join. 8th rnd: Ch 1, sc in same place as sl st, sc in next tr, * ch 5, sc in 3rd ch from hook, ch 2, sc in next 2 tr. Repeat from * around. Join and break off. Starch lightly and press.

No. 7698 .... Luncheon Set

Materials: Pearl Cotton, Size 5, 10 balls of Ecru and 5 balls each of 3 contrasting colors (Blue, Red and Green) . . . Steel Crochet Hook No.l.

Place Mat measures 11 x 14 inches

GAUGE: 1 shell measures 1 inch diagonally.

Use thread double throughout.

PLACE MAT (Make 4) ... With Ecru make a chain about 18 inches long (6 ch sts to 1 inch). 1st row: 3 dc in 4th ch from hook, * dc in next ch, skip 4 ch, sc in next ch (shell made), ch 3, 3 dc in same ch as last sc. Repeat from * across until row measures 14 inches, ending with 3 dc in same ch as last sc. Cut off remaining chain. Ch 3, turn. 2nd row: * Sc in ch-3 of next shell, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch-3, dc in next sc. Repeat from * across, ending with 3 dc in last ch-3. (There must be the same number of shells on each row.) Ch 3, turn. 3rd row: sl st in ch-3 of shell. Break off. Attach Red, ch 3, 3 dc in same ch-3, dc in next sc, sc in next ch-3. Continue working shells across row, ending with 3 dc in last ch-3. Ch 3, turn. Repeat 2nd and 3rd rows alternately, working 1 more row of Red, 2 rows of Blue, 2 rows of Green, then continue with Ecru until piece measures 8 inches in all. Now work stripes tocorrespond with beginning, reversing colors. Break off.

FRINGE . .. Cut two 4-inch strands of thread. Double these strands forming a loop. Insert hook in a stitch at edge of short side of Mat and pull loop through; now draw loose ends through loop and pull tightly. Make fringe closely together at both short ends, using corresponding colors. Trim fringe to measure 11/2inches.

No. 7743 .... Luncheon Set

Materials: Best Six Cord Mercerized Cro­chet, Size 30, Small Ball: 20 balls of White or Ecru, or 23 balls of any color. . . . Steel Cro­chet Hook No. 10. Each doily measures 121/2 x 17 1/2 inches.

GAUGE: Motif measures 21/2 inches square.

DOILY (Make 3)—FIRST MOTIF.. . Start­ing at center, ch 10. Join with sl st. 1st rnd: Ch 3, make 23 dc in ring. sl st in top of ch-3. 2nd rnd: Sc in same place as sl st, * ch 10, skip 2 dc, holding back on hook the last loop of each d tr, make 5 d tr in next dc, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (cluster made); ch 10, skip 2 dc, sc in next dc. Repeat from * around, ending with ch 10, sl st in first sc. 3rd rnd: In ch-10 loop make 5 sc, ch 5 and 5 sc; * ch 5, (in next ch-10 loop make 5 sc, ch 5 and 5 sc) twice. Repeat from * around. Join. 4th rnd: sl st in next 4 sc, sl st in next ch and in next loop, ch 4, holding back on hook the last loop of each tr make 2 tr in same loop, thread over and draw through all loops on hook (tr-cluster made), * ch 7, in next ch-5 loop make (5-d tr cluster, ch 7) twice and 5-d tr cluster; ch 7, make 3-tr cluster in next 2 ch-5 loops. Repeat from * around. Join. 5th rnd: Sc in same place as sl st, * ch 5, sc in next sp, ch 5, sc in tip of next cluster. Repeat from * around. Join and break off.

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