The Barkham Hookers 2015 CAL ...Introduction and General Info

As a New Year project  I have decided to challenge my ever-growing group of Barkham Hookers to a stitch-sampler type blanket which we will all work on together as a CAL (crochet-a-long). There are so many beautiful examples out there to gain inspiration from like these beauties...

Little Woolie


I have decided to design my own using as many new stitches  as possible so that we all get to practise new techniques.
I have found Sarah Hazell's book 200 Crochet Stitches very very useful and I can highly recommend it.


                
We will all be using different types of yarn and many of us will be treating it as a stash-busting exercise. Some will be using a limited colour palette whilst others will be going for the mad mix of everything. I hope to publish about 5 rows every Sunday starting from 1st Feb and I guess there will be around 150 rows in total. 

Here's a sneak peek of the first few rows to whet your appetites I hope! 

Foundation Treble, Granny Stripe and Back loop stitches

It will start with some basic stitches that we are familiar with and I will gradually introduce some new ones each week so I hope that by the end we will be stitch gurus having mastered spikes, front post and back post, crossed stitches, tulips, Catherine Wheels, starbursts, basket weave, waves, v-stitches, and maybe some Fair Isle too. I'm very excited I can tell you!

    

Stripey CAL by Hannah Davis

General Info

1) I will be using UK terms throughout but will give the US terms in brackets. As a reminder though,
UK DC Double Crochet =US SC Single Crochet.   Go into stitch, YO pull through, YO pull through both loops on hook
UK HTR Half Treble = US HDC Half Double.  YO, go into stitch, YO pull through, YO pull through all 3 loops at once
UK TR Treble = US DC Double. YO, go into stitch, YO pull through, YO pull through 2 loops, YO pull through last 2 loops
UK DTR Double Treble = US TR  Treble. YO TWICE, go in to stitch, YO pull through, YO pull through 2 loops, YO pull through 2 loops, YO pull through last 2 loops.

2) To change colour you can either YO (yarn over) with the new colour on the last pull through or just tie it on with a knot then put hook in first stitch and pull the new colour through.

3) Try to crochet your ends in as you go wherever possible to save you a huge job at the end. If crocheting them in isn't practical because of the type of stitch then try to sew them in at the end of each row....good intentions and all that...

4) Don't worry too much about the exact stitch count. I have to admit that mine isn't always perfect after every row but as long as you are within 1 or 2 of the original count then you'll be fine as the border can hide a multitude of sins.

5) If you decide NOT to use the Foundation Treble Crochet to start then I advise you to use a hook one size bigger just for the starting chain but don't forget to pick up your original hook for the first row.

6) I think that most of us will be using DK (8-ply )and a Size 4 hook but you can use any yarn as long as you stick to the same PLY throughout. I will be using up odd bits from my stash so will be using mainly DK but also the odd bit of 4-ply which I will double up to make it 8-ply. I hope that makes sense!

7) Always work into BOTH LOOPS of the stitch unless directed otherwise.


I will try to post links and photos to help with stitches as we go but please just ask; either here in the comments below or on the Barkham Hookers FB page.