Interweave Crochet Blog
Sunday, March 23, 2008
How to Crochet a Three-Color Spiral
In this issue's Yarn Spotlight I wrote about crocheted spirals. At the end of this post you can see the hat I mentioned, which I crocheted from one skein of Noro Matsuri yarn, drawing from both ends of the self-striping skein to produce a two-color spiral.
But first, as promised in my column, I'll explain how to make a three-color spiral, which simply builds on what I wrote about two-color spirals. The result of this tutorial is Swatch D as shown on page 7 of the magazine, shown in Classic Elite Soft Linen yarn. I worked each color in a different stitch, to vary the height of each round.
Form an adjustable ring by looping the end of A behind itself; hold the end against the loop and insert the hook in the center of the ring.
Round 1: With A, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc) in ring, remove hook from loop (pull loop long so stitches don't unravel); join B to ring and ch 1, (sc, 2 hdc) in ring, remove hook from loop; join C to ring and ch 1, 3 sc in ring, place marker in last stitch to mark the end of the round—9 stitches. (Do not remove your hook from C at this time; I did that just to take the photo, below.)
Round 1
Pull the yarn tail to tighten the ring. (The arrow in this photo indicates the yarn tail; you don't need to pull it to the right, per se. I find that holding the first round stitches in one hand and pulling down on the tail works best.)
Round 2: Continuing with C, [2 sc in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of A; with A, [2 dc in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of B; with B, [2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times—18 stitches. Note that a pattern has been set up: You will always work C into A, A into B, and B into C. It is very useful to mark the last stitch of the round, because the end is actually in the middle of a section of a particular colour.
Round 2
Round 3: Continuing with B, [hdc in next stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times; with C, [sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] 3 times; with A, [dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch] 3 times—27 stitches.
Round 4: Continuing with A, [dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch] 3 times; with B, [hdc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times; with C, [sc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] 3 times—36 stitches.
Continue as established, increasing by nine stitches evenly on each round (three increases in each color) until desired size. Fasten off each color. To make a hat or a bowl, stop increasing and work even to desired size.
And here is the one-skein hat. It's a great way to make the most of an odd ball of striping yarn.
But first, as promised in my column, I'll explain how to make a three-color spiral, which simply builds on what I wrote about two-color spirals. The result of this tutorial is Swatch D as shown on page 7 of the magazine, shown in Classic Elite Soft Linen yarn. I worked each color in a different stitch, to vary the height of each round.
Form an adjustable ring by looping the end of A behind itself; hold the end against the loop and insert the hook in the center of the ring.
Round 1: With A, ch 1, (sc, hdc, dc) in ring, remove hook from loop (pull loop long so stitches don't unravel); join B to ring and ch 1, (sc, 2 hdc) in ring, remove hook from loop; join C to ring and ch 1, 3 sc in ring, place marker in last stitch to mark the end of the round—9 stitches. (Do not remove your hook from C at this time; I did that just to take the photo, below.)
Round 1
Pull the yarn tail to tighten the ring. (The arrow in this photo indicates the yarn tail; you don't need to pull it to the right, per se. I find that holding the first round stitches in one hand and pulling down on the tail works best.)
Round 2: Continuing with C, [2 sc in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of A; with A, [2 dc in next stitch] 3 times, remove hook from loop and reinsert in loop of B; with B, [2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times—18 stitches. Note that a pattern has been set up: You will always work C into A, A into B, and B into C. It is very useful to mark the last stitch of the round, because the end is actually in the middle of a section of a particular colour.
Round 2
Round 3: Continuing with B, [hdc in next stitch, 2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times; with C, [sc in next stitch, 2 sc in next stitch] 3 times; with A, [dc in next stitch, 2 dc in next stitch] 3 times—27 stitches.
Round 4: Continuing with A, [dc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 dc in next stitch] 3 times; with B, [hdc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 hdc in next stitch] 3 times; with C, [sc in each of next 2 stitches, 2 sc in next stitch] 3 times—36 stitches.
Continue as established, increasing by nine stitches evenly on each round (three increases in each color) until desired size. Fasten off each color. To make a hat or a bowl, stop increasing and work even to desired size.
And here is the one-skein hat. It's a great way to make the most of an odd ball of striping yarn.
Labels: crocheted hat, spirals, Yarn Spotlight
Comments:
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thank you for sharing how to do this. I love the way it came out, and I always wondered the "how" of it!
Thanks. I've just used your method to make some coasters that turned out to be far more interesting to make and look at than any others I've done.
Hello, I'm really excited to try this spiral technique, but I'm having trouble understanding how to join the second color into the adjustable ring. Can you please explain this? Thanks in advance for your help!
-Ashley
-Ashley
# posted by 
: May 3, 2008 5:55 PM
: May 3, 2008 5:55 PM
Ashley - Join a new colour in the ring as follows: Insert your hook into the ring, yarn over with the new colour and pull the yarn through the ring, ch 1.
I prefer the above method because it avoids adding a bulky slip knot to the work, but alternatively, you can start with a slip knot of the new yarn on your hook, then insert the hook into the ring, yarn over and pull the yarn through the ring and through the loop on your hook -- this is joining by way of making a slip stitch.
I prefer the above method because it avoids adding a bulky slip knot to the work, but alternatively, you can start with a slip knot of the new yarn on your hook, then insert the hook into the ring, yarn over and pull the yarn through the ring and through the loop on your hook -- this is joining by way of making a slip stitch.
Kim,
I love your detailed instruction. I'be been making caps for preemie babies for quite some time. I have fun playing with different yarns and different colors. I found you through crafttutorials.com
I love your detailed instruction. I'be been making caps for preemie babies for quite some time. I have fun playing with different yarns and different colors. I found you through crafttutorials.com
Are the magazines blog/patterns/emails ever going to come up to par with Interweave Knit? What is there is good, but not much going on anywhere. I subscribed to the RSS feed and nothing comes. The blog ends in March, with little before. No emails ever come with info like Knitting Daily. Is it going to happen or are we still the step-sisters to the knitting community? I know before they said it was mainly because it's a new magazine - but it isn't still new. It's established and being loved and supported by those of us who crochet. If it isn't going to happen, then fine. Just let us know what is going on. Love the magazine, but sure would like to be on the same level as your knitters...even quilters!
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