4 Crochet Stitches, Whispering Through the Pines
While sitting at a table with other knitters and crocheters, I posed the question, “Do you practice unfamiliar knit or crochet stitches or learn as you go?” The responses were pretty mixed. Some said they would practice ahead of time while others said they would figure them out when the time came, and there were lots of extenuating factors. What’s the new stitch? What’s the yarn? Is the new stitch included in the gauge swatch? After much discussion, it seemed like we were pretty evenly divided between those who wanted to know how to do the stitch before starting a project and those who wanted to wing it.
Personally, I find myself falling between the two categories. When starting a new project, I like to have a general idea of how to do all the stitches, but I don’t actually work them until the pattern calls for them. This is what happened when I worked the Whispering Pines Hat by Brenda K.B. Anderson.
Found in Interweave Crochet Winter 2018, this hat uses four crochet stitches that could take some practice. These stitches are the extended single crochet (esc), the front post double crochet (FPdc), the front post double crochet three together (FPdc3tog), and the front post double treble crochet (FPdtr).
If you’re familiar with these crochet stitches, that’s awesome. You’re ready to jump right in and start making this hat. If not, never fear! We’re here to help you figure out these stitches so that by the time you’re ready to use them, you’ll be well prepared.
Extended single crochet (esc): This taller cousin to the standard single crochet has one extra step. Once this step is completed, just finish the stitch like you would a normal single crochet—Insert hook in next stitch or chain, yarn over and pull up loop (2 loops on hook), yarn over and draw through 1 loop (1 chain made), yarn over and draw through 2 loops—1 esc completed.
Front post double crochet (FPdc): Work this stitch the same way you would a normal double crochet with one slight variation . . . work it around the post of the indicated stitch—Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, (yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook) 2 times.
Front post double crochet three together (FPdc3tog): As with the FPdc, this stitch is very similar to its non-post relative the dc3tog—Yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook, [yarn over, insert hook from front to back to front around post of next stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, yarn over and draw through 2 loops on hook] 2 times, yarn over and draw through all loops on hook.
Front post double treble crochet (FPdtr): This stitch may be the trickiest of the bunch. It has a standard relative, the double treble crochet, but neither of them seem to be used very often. Let’s see what you think of this one—Yarn over 3 times, insert hook from front to back to front around indicated stitch, yarn over and pull up loop, (yarn over, draw through 2 loops on hook) 4 times.
So . . . There you have it. A rundown of all four special crochet stitches used in the Whispering Pines Hat. Now the question is: will you try them out first or wait until the pattern calls for them? Let us know in the comments!
Happy stitching!
Susanna
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