top of page

Forager Ruana/ Shawl MAKE ALONG
Overlay Mosaic Crochet Gauge Checking Swatch
Joined Double Crochet  VS  Regular Double Crochet

See other posts:

​

The Make Along takes place in the official Scheepjes Facebook groups:

​

 

Pattern will be available October 4:

​

  • With 20% discount ($4.39*) during the MAL (4-25 October 2023) on Ravelry or Etsy. *VAT and US sale and use taxes apply.

  • Languages: English and Dutch

​

​

by Lauren Wolf

Images: by pattern tester Lauren Wolf. Yarn: Scheepjes Scrumptious (upper image), non-Scheepjes (lower image).

Hello,

 

I hope you're all set with your yarn, as we're just a week away from our ruana and shawl Make-Along! Your enthusiasm has been fantastic, and I'm thrilled to see you getting ready to turn that lovely yarn into wearable creations.

 

Before we start, let's dive into a crucial topic: gauge swatches and the choice between joined double crochet and regular double crochet. Understanding these stitches is key to your project's success.

​

Please, watch a video below, then scroll to the bottom for the gauge swatch instructions or read on...

During our pattern testing, all our diligent testers used joined double crochet for the background. This stitch is similar to a regular double crochet but has an essential distinction: it's joined to a single crochet from the previous row, creating a slightly different texture. This texture contrast helps the leaves stand out more distinctly.

Joined double crochet has some noteworthy advantages. It produces a denser, less stretch-prone fabric with a smoother wrong side. However, the fabric density might be seen as an advantage or disadvantage depending on your garment, yarn, and personal preferences.

 

In the picture above, you can see two examples crafted by Lauren Wolf. Her first ruana showcases joined double crochet for the background, while her second one uses regular double crochet to avoid the additional step of joining dc to sc.


Let's talk about the side wave effect. Due to the ivy design, the edges of your shawl or ruana won't come out perfectly straight (see image below). Instead, they'll have a gentle wave, which can be mostly corrected during blocking. Based on only one project made differently, joined double crochet doesn't seem to contribute to this effect, but we don't have enough projects to compare to be 100% sure.
 

In the images below you can see that sides of the ruana are not perfectly straight. The first one (blue) features joined background double crochet before blocking. The second and third one show regular background double crochet before blocking.
 

To sum it up, each stitch has its pros and cons, and your choice should align with your project goals, yarn selection, and personal taste.

Joined Double Crochet

​

Pros:

​

  • Smooth wrong side with fewer ridges due to not attached single crochet stitches.

  • Denser, less stretchable, and less prone to distortion fabric.

  • Different texture on the background compared to leaves makes leaves stand out more.

​

Cons:

​

  • Requires an extra step for every background stitch.

​

Regular Double Crochet

 

Pros:

​

  • Easier to make with one less step.

  • Creates a softer, more stretchable fabric.

 

Cons:

​

  • Results in an uneven, more textured wrong side due to ridges created by unattached single crochet stitches.

  • Yields the same texture for the background and leaves.

  • Produces a looser, more stretchable, and more distortion-prone fabric.

Joined Double Crochet Gauge Swatch

​

Let's create a gauge swatch and practice joined double crochet. This stitch is recommended for the borders, ensuring they stay flat and neat.

​

Use crochet hook 4mm or size to obtain the gauge.

​

Gauge

​

  • 10cm x 10cm/ 4'' x 4'' in overlay mosaic crochet: 21 sts x 20 rows.
    Finished ruana or shawl has a slightly different gauge because of the garment stretch under its own weight.

 

Gauge instructions

​

Abbreviations: ch (chain), dc (double crochet), sc (single crochet), st (stitch).

​

Videos: see below instructions for foundation cord and gauge swatch.

​

Row 1: with Yarn2: 23 foundation cord sts, turn, ch1 (doesn't count as st throughout), 23sc, keep st open (place marker (pm) in loop).

Row 2: join Yarn1 in first sc from previous row (pr), ch1, sc in same st (in both loops; = border sc), 21sc in back loop only (blo), sc in last st (in both loops; = border sc), keep st open (pm in loop).

Row 3: leave Yarn2 strand on wrong side (WS) from end of second row down to beg of pr plus 10cm/4'', join Yarn2 in first sc from pr, ch1, sc in same st (in both loops; = border sc), 21 joined dc (in front loop only (flo) in second row down), sc in last st (in both loops; = border sc), keep st open (pm in lp).

Rows 4-21: rep Rows 2 and 3.

​

Measure, make sure to obtain the gauge, unravel..

​

Proeflapje/Stekenverhouding:

​

Afkortingen: l (losse), s (steken), st (stokje), v (vaste), pm (plaats markeerder), vAL (vaste in achterste lus), AK (achterkant), VL (voorste lus).

​

Video's: zie onderstaande instructies.

​

Rij 1: met Kleur2: 23 s basisopzetrij, keer, 1l (telt nergens als steek), 23v, hou lusje open (pm in lusje).

Rij 2: hecht Kleur1 aan in 1ste v van vorige rij, 1l, v in zelfde s (in beide lusjes; = rand v), 21 vAL, v in laatste s (in beide lusjes; = rand v), hou lusje open (pm in lusje).

Rij 3: laat draad in Kleur2 aan de AK hangen van het einde van de 2de rij tot beg van vorige rij plus 10cm, hecht Kleur2 aan in 1ste v van vorige rij, 1l, v in zelfde s (in beide lusjes; = rand v), 21 vastgehechte st (VL in 2de rij neerwaarts), v in laatste steek (in beide lusjes; = rand v), hou lusje open (pm in lusje).

Rijen 4-21: herh Rijen 2 en 3.

Meet, zorg ervoor de stekenverhouding te bekomen, haal uit.

​

Tutorial for Overlay Mosaic Crochet

​

I've also put together a tutorial to help you get acquainted with my mosaic crochet style, stitches, and how to read my overlay mosaic crochet charts. It's important to note that reading charts is not a requirement; they are provided as an extra resource. Typically, we refer to charts when we have questions or need additional clarification.

In this tutorial, I'll walk you through each row on a chart and demonstrate the stitches, row by row.

The next blog post is scheduled for October 4 when we launch the Make-A-Long. You'll finally be able to get your hands on the pattern and start creating!

In the meantime, if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me by tagging me in the groups.

Cheers,
Natalia

bottom of page