Crochet Special Stitches and Techniques

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Sparkly Christmas Hostess Apron





Aprons have come back in style, not only to protect your clothes while cooking but as a fashion accessory.  This sparkly hostess apron will add color and sparkle to that plain little black dress.

The finished Apron is about 15 inches long (with sash and ruffle) and 14 inches wide across the red body.  If you would like to have a wider apron make your foundation chain longer the pattern repeats every 13 chains on the first row (an additional 3 inches wide.)  If you decide to widen the apron you will need another skein of Ruby yarn.


Materials:

  • Lion Brand Vanna's Glamour Yarn, one skein each of Ruby Red  and Topaz
  • G Hook

             Or 2 1/2 yards of 1 1/2 to 2-inch wide Gold Ribbon

  • Gold or Yellow Thread


Special Stitches

CLUSTER--Yarn over (YO) hook, insert hook into stitch (st), YO, pull up a loop, YO pull through 2 loops, 2 loops left on hook.  YO, insert hook in same st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, 3 loops left on hook.  YO, insert hook in same st, YO, pull up a loop, YO, pull through 2 loops, 4 loops left on hook. YO, pull through all 4 loops on hook.  

YO

Insert hook in st, YO

Pull up a loop


YO, pull through two loops

Two loops left on hook

YO, Insert hook in SAME stitch

YO

Pull up a loop

YO, pull through two loops


Three loops left on hook


YO, Insert hook in SAME stitch, YO pull up a loop

YO, pull through 2 loops

4 loops left on hook

YO

Pull through all 4 loops on hook, CLUSTER finished


2 DC CLUSTER--This stitch starts after you do a chain(ch) 3.  YO hook, insert hook at bottom of ch 3.  YO hook, pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook.  YO, pull through 2 loops.  YO insert back in same st as before. YO, pull up a loop, 4 loops on hook.  YO, pull through 2 loops, 3 loops left on hook.  YO, pull through all loops on hook, one 2 dc CLUSTER made.

YO hook

Insert hook at bottom of ch 3, YO.

Pull up a loop, 3 loops on hook, YO.


YO, Insert hook in same st, YO.

Pull up a loop, 4 on hook.  YO, pull through 2 loops on hook.
3 loops on hook, YO, pull through all loops on hook.


ch 3 with 2 dc CLUSTER



Abbreviations
ch(s)--chain(s)                            sc(s)--single crochet(s)
dc(s)--double crochet(s)             sc2tog(s)--single crochet 2 stitches together
tr(s)--triple or treble crochet(s)  st(s)--stitch(es)


Corrections
Corrections are in red print.


Apron
Ch 81 with Ruby Red yarn.
Row 1:  Sc in second ch from hook, Ch 3, sk 2 chs, dc in 3rd ch, ch 3, sk 2 chs,  sc in 3rd ch, ch 2, sk 2 chs, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in 3rd ch, ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in 3rd ch, *Ch 3, sk 2 chs, dc in 3rd ch, ch 3, sk 2 chs, sc in 3rd ch, ch 2, sk 2 chs, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in 3rd ch, ch 2, sk 2 chs, sc in 3rd ch* 5 times, ch 3, sk 2 chs, dc in 3rd ch, ch 3, sk 2 chs, sc in last ch. Turn.





Row 2:  Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), sc in dc, ch 2, dc in sc, *ch 2, sc in top of  middle CLUSTER, ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2, sc in dc, ch 2, dc in sc* 6 times. Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 3, 2 dc CLUSTER in bottom of ch 3, ch 2, CLUSTER in same st, ch 2 , *sc in sc, ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sc in sc, ch 2, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in dc, ch 2 * 6 times, sc in sc, ch 3, dc in top of turning ch. Turn.


Row 4: Ch 1, sc in same st, *ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2, sc in middle CLUSTER, ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2, sc in dc* 7 times, ch 2, sc in top of first CLUSTER. Turn.


Row 5: Ch 1, sc in same st, *(ch 2, CLUSTER) 3 times all in next dc, ch 2, sc in next sc, ch 3, dc in next dc,ch 3, sc in next sc* 6 times, ch 2, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) 3 times all in next dc, ch 2, sc in last sc. Turn.


Row 6:  Ch 5 (counts as dc, ch 2), *sc in top of middle CLUSTER, ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2, sc in dc, ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2* 6 times, ch 2, sc in top of middle CLUSTER, CH 2, dc last sc. Turn.


Row 7: Ch 6 (counts as dc, ch 3), *sc in sc, ch 2, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in next dc, ch 2, sc in sc, ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3* 6 times, sc in top sc on top of CLUSTER, ch 2, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in top of turning ch. Turn.

Row 8:  Ch 1, sc in top of same CLUSTER,  *ch 2, sc in dc, ch 2, dc in sc, ch 2, sc in top of middle CLUSTER, ch 2, dc in sc* 6 times. Ch 2, sc in top of turning ch. Turn.


Row 9:  Ch 1, Sc in same st, Ch 3, dc in dc, ch 3, sc in sc, ch 2, (CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER, ch 2, CLUSTER) in dc, ch 2, sc in sc* ch 3, dc in top of turning ch. Turn.





Repeat to Rows 3 to 9, 3 more times, then repeat Rows 3 to 4 once more.

These last 2 rows will gather in the top of the apron.
Row 37:  Ch 1, sc in same st,*sc in ch-2 sp, sc in next st* repeat to end of row. Turn. (51 scs)

Row 38:  Ch 1, sc2 tog all the way across row, sc in last st. ( 25 sc2 togs, 1 sc)  Fasten off.

                             

Ruffle
Row 1: Attach Topaz yarn in end of foundation ch, sc 3 times in sp, sc once in next st (bottom of CLUSTER counts as st) all the way across foundation ch. (105 scs) Turn.

Row 2:  Ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in each sc all the way across row. (105 trs) Turn.

Row 3:  Ch 4 (counts as first tr), tr in same st, tr 2 times in each tr all the way across row. (210 trs).



If you want to learn how to use a sewing machine, check out this tutorial.

Sash
I happened to have a long piece of fabric that ran along a selvage edge, so I didn't have to cut two pieces, but to do it this way you would have to get about 2 1/2 yds of fabric.  If you get a smaller piece of fabric you will have to sew the two pieces together across the width with a a 1/4" seam.  You may want to use pinking shears to cut your fabric so that it will be less apt to unravel.

If you would rather crochet your sash, you can either make a really long foundation ch (2 1/2 yds long) and then single crochet 10 to 15 rows or crochet a shorter ch and single crochet enough rows to make the sash 2 1/2 yds long.  You will need a lot more of the Topaz yarn.








The right side is where the clusters push upward

Pin right side of apron to right side of sash
                         

Sew a 1/4" seam

fold the sash in half with right sides facing and pin together where it doesn't touch the apron


Sew a 1/4" seam along the sash, stopping when you get to the apron.  Do this on both sides.


Un pin


clip corners

turn the sash right side out

You can use the pointy end of your scissors to push out the corners, just do it gently so you don't push through the fabric.


Press out the seam using a cool iron
Pin down the open edge of the sash over the apron, turning in a 1/4" seam and matching the edges to the seam you sewed on the other side.

Hand sew the sash to the apron, making sure not to let the stitches show on the outside of the apron.

To finsh, top stitch all the way around the sash 1/4 inch from the edge.




You May Also Like:

Amigurumi Penguin Stocking
Peacock Scarf
Penguin Flip Flops

4 comments:

  1. this is really cute, thanks for sharing your tutorial xx

    ReplyDelete
  2. Replies
    1. Thanks, I made it for my daughter, she loves aprons.

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  3. Such an adorable apron. Thanks for the tutorial. You can also find aprons that have a free size fitting option which means it has adjustable lace and it is indeed fashionable. The materials used in making it is high-quality grade. It feels so comfortable wearing an apron.

    ReplyDelete