Wiggly Tutorial (1)

 

Tutorial: Wiggly Crochet K-Town-Style
(Part 1 - The Basics)

Please note: If you'd like to share this tutorial (or parts of it, like the pictures or graphic patterns), please link back to made-in-k-town. Thank you!

Thanks for all your lovely comments about my wiggly cushion! Your enthusiasm really made me wanna write a damn good tutorial - at least I've tried my best :) This post turned out a little bit longer than I had usually planned, so today we start with Part 1 and I'll post Part 2 in a few days.

Let’s start with some basics. Usually you start with a foundation mesh that should look like this, just bigger (this is just a little patch):

For the mesh you keep repeating *1dc, ch2* in every row, just like in filet crochet with empty squares only. Here’s the graphic pattern for my little patch:

 Then you usually need a pattern that could look like this:

or this

The thin black lines symbolize your mesh, the thick colored lines indicate the bars/posts where you have to place your stitches. The stitches are usually groups of double crochet stitches: I like to work with 4dc-groups, but I’ve also seen patterns with 2dc-groups.

Basically you could use the same yarn for the dc’s as you used for your mesh, but I prefer making my mesh with a thinner yarn (or even thread) and then work the dc’s with a thicker yarn. This makes the whole structure look denser and the ruffles more pronounced.

There are actually two alternative ways to work your dc-groups into your mesh and your pattern will look a little bit different depending on which method you use (an amazing fact that I’ve just discovered when I started making this tutorial)!

Let’s start with Method A (clockwise):

Attach your yarn at the indicated starting point with a slip stitch (slst), work ch3 (they replace the first dc) and 3 dc around the same bar.

(it’s easier when you fold the mesh while working your stitches!)

Next, make a right turn and work 4dc around the next bar “just around the corner” (the second green bar in the pattern above). Please note: In both methods there are no chain stitches between the dc-groups! Follow the pattern (the pink lines) clockwise until you’ve reached your starting point and join with a slst. Your pattern should look like this, the right side of your dc’s should face outwards and the ruffles should fold a little towards the outside:

Method B (counter-clockwise) is my preferred way of working:

Notice the difference? Again, attach your yarn at the indicated starting point with a slst, and work your ch3 + 3dc around the first green bar. This time, make a left turn and work 4dc around the next green bar. Now follow the pink lines counter-clockwise until you’ve reached your starting point and join with a slst. This time, your pattern should look like this, the right side of your dc’s should face the center of the mesh, and the ruffles should stand up a little bit more:

 

The difference between the two methods might not be clearly visible on the pictures. Maybe you should just grab your hook and try both alternatives on two different meshes and then decide which look you like better.

These were the basics of wiggly crochet. In the next part of the tutorial I'll show you an alternative way of working your mesh (i.e. starting the mesh in the middle and working in rounds). This helps you to control the size of your work and makes it easier to follow (or adjust) a pattern. We'll combine this method with the pattern I used for my cushion, and you can decide if you want to make a cushion also, or leave it with a hotpad - I think I'll stay with the hotpad this time :)

Hope to see you back for the second part! :)