Learn One of These Crochet Techniques at Yarn Fest

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Are your bags packed—crochet hooks and yarn stuffed in every corner and free space? We can’t wait to see you at Yarn Fest 2022! Crocheters, knitters, spinners, and weavers are descending on Loveland Colorado April 20-23, 2022 to socialize, shop, and learn from the experts. Are you ready to learn a new crochet technique? Here are a few of the crochet techniques that I am excited about!

Stitch Chart Bootcamp

Are you a visual crocheter, a fan of crochet motifs, or just want to learn the trick to deciphering the beautiful language of stith charts? At Yarn Fest, Andee Graves will teach you everything you need to know about crocheting from crochet stitch charts. The ability to read stitch charts will open up thousands of international patterns to you. And the visual nature of crochet stitch charts are unmatched in their ability to show you how stitches work together to create your project.

Before you start Andee’s class, here are a couple of crochet stitch chart tips to get you started:

1. Stock up on highlighters. Many crochet stitch charts will alternate colors every other row to help you see which stitches are worked in that row. If rows do not alternate colors, or if you are printing the stitch chart in black and white, use a highlighter to delineate between rows or rounds. Believe me, after the first few rows, you will be glad to spend a little extra time with your highlighter.

2. Draw your own stitch charts. Is a stitch pattern causing you trouble? Grab a pen and a piece of paper and draw your own crochet  stitch chart. Drawing the pattern will help you visualize how a pattern is created and where to work your stitches. I’ve used this tip several times to figure out a crochet pattern that doesn’t seem to want to work correctly on my hook.

Big & Bold Crochet Cables

The biggest and boldest class at Yarn Fest this year will definitely be taught by Bonnie Barker. Are you ready to learn how to create bold and beautiful crochet cables? Bonnie creates stunning crochet cables, and she is ready to teach you her smoother crochet cabling technique as well as how to work six different cables.

Don’t tell Bonnie now, but I’ll share two of my favorite crochet cable tips to get you excited:

1. Crochet hook is key. I’ve said it before, but for me, having the right crochet hook is the key to creating crisp crochet cables without the holes that can sometimes be created by stretched loops. A crochet hook with a smooth, even shaft always helps me not stretch out crochet loops as they are pushed down the shaft.
2. Did it say in front of or behind? Pay attention to the pattern. Did it tell you to work in front of or behind the existing stitches? Whether you work behind or in front of the existing stitches will determine which direction your cable twists.

Tunisian Stitch Sampler

Linda Dean makes Tunisian crochet easy. In her class at Yarn Fest, you’ll learn six different Tunisian stitches: simple stitch, knit stitch, full stitch, cross stitch, double knit stitch, and purl stitch. Linda will also show you her tricks for starting a Tunisian crochet project and more. If you’ve ever wanted to learn Tunisian crochet, we’ll see you in Linda’s class!

If you are a Tunisian crochet lover, here are two of my favorite Tunisian crochet tips:

1. Count those loops. We all remember our first crochet scarf or blanket. You know, the one that turned out more like a triangle than a rectangle. Just like counting your stitches is important to ensure proper shaping and stitch counts, counting the loops on your hook before you begin your return pass is a great way to make sure you aren’t inadvertently decreasing or increasing stitches.

2. Watch that gauge. I find Tunisian crochet gauge a bit more difficult than regular crochet. I am a tight crocheter, and tight Tunisian crochet fabric can be stiff and lack drape. Don’t be afraid to go up a crochet hook size if your gauge swatch is too small and your crochet fabric is stiff.

Amigurumi

Learn everything you need to know about crocheting amigurumi with Kati Brown. This year, Kati will be offering three amigurumi classes at Yarn Fest. From the basics of creating 3-D crochet creatures to shaping a smoking dragon and designing your own amigurumi animals, Kati has an amigurumi class for any skill level.

Here are two crochet amigurumi tips to know before you start your class:

1. Size doesn’t matter. I’ve seen the same crochet amigurumi worked in thread and bulky yarn. Make sure you have the correct hook size for your yarn and create amigurumi from mini to monstrous.

2. Keep safety in mind. Crochet amigurumi can be treasured gifts for children and babies. While not crocheted, I still have the bear my mother sewed for me when I was just a baby. But there are a few safety considerations you need to keep in mind when crocheting amigurumi for small children. If you add eyes or noses to your pieces, you should use embroidery, felt, or safety eyes to make sure they can’t be swallowed and choke a small child. Also stay away from using things like marbles to add weight as they can also present choking hazards and children are wizards at removing them from even the smallest of crochet holes.

What crochet technique do you want to learn first? Hurry and reserve your space at Yarn Fest before the classes fill up! We can’t wait to see you there!

Happy Crocheting,
Toni

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