I Beg to Differ

I love The Crochet Answer Book and have referred to it often. It was one of the first books I bought when I first starting crocheting, and I’d have to say it’s been one of the most used. However, I do have a difference of opinion on one of the solutions in the book:

Q: Is it possible to stitch into a row of backwards single crochet*?

The book says “no”, which is technically true, and that it’s meant to be the final row in the piece, but if you do the backwards single crochet in the front loops only then at the end of the row begin working in the normal direction and single crochet in the back loops, you can indeed place the stitches anywhere in the piece that you wish. So, technically, you can’t crochet into the backwards single crochet stitch, but you can crochet into the single crochet stitch that you put in the back loops. This leaves only a slight space between the rows, but depending on what look you’re going for, it works.

Perhaps the answer to the question as it is asked is correct, but from my own experience as is described above, it is possible to put the crab stitch someplace else besides the edge.

*(also known as knurl stitch & crab stitch)

Hairpin Lace

Hairpin Lace Goodies

Awhile back, when I first picked up a Susan Bates Hairpin Lace Loom to give this technique a try, I ran across a book in Amazon called “Learn to do Hairpin Lace”. The book is out-of-print, and at that time, there weren’t any available to purchase. I put it in my Wish List so I could remember it later.

Recently, when I was looking through my Wish List and saw that there was a posting for the book available through the Amazon marketplace for a price that I felt was more than reasonable, I decided jumped on the chance to purchase it.

The package came the other day, and it felt a little lumpy, so when I opened it, I was pleasantly surprised to find another hairpin lace book in the package with the one I’d ordered, as well as a Clover Hairpin Lace Tool. All three pieces are in excellent condition; I really don’t think any of them have ever been used. If they were, it wasn’t for long.

So for about 10 bucks including shipping, I ended up with two books on a technique I want to do more with, as well as a loom that is totally different than the one I already have. Not bad, if you ask me. Now, if I can just get my hands on one of the handcrafted looms, my hairpin lace needs will be complete. At least for awhile. Some day, I hope to have enough skill and knowledge about this technique to pass it along to others in my classes and/or the local guild.