How To’s

How To: Make A Pom Pom

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I often get asked how to make a Pom Pom when you don’t have a Pom Pom maker, or if you don’t have a Pom Pom maker for the size you are wanting so I have put together a how to make pom poms in any size.

How to: Make a pom pom

Materials:

  • Wool in your chosen colour(s).
  • Cardboard.
  • Compass/something circular that is the size pom pom you are wanting, and a smaller circular item to draw a smaller circle.
  • Scissors.
  • Darning needle.
  • Pencil.

Step 1: Making the cardboard circles.

  • If using your compass: set it to span half the diameter of the circle you are wanting, then draw 2 circles onto the cardboard. Next make the span of the compass smaller and draw a smaller circle in the middle of the larger circle.
  • If using a circular object, draw around this object to get your circle, then draw around the smaller object for the middle circle.
  • Cut out the two circles and then cut out the smaller middle circle.
  • Stack the two circles together.

Step 2: Wrapping the wool.

  • Using your chosen wool colour: cut a long strand of wool and thread it onto the darning needle, hold the tail end of the wool and wrap the wool around the card board template.
  • Continue to wrap the wool all the way around the cardboard circle – using the darning needle will make it easier towards the end when the middle circle starts to fill up. If you run out of wool, cut another strand and continue, holding the tail of the wool and wrapping around the cardboard.
  • Keep wrapping the wool around until the circle is completely covered and the middle smaller circle is full of wool.

Step 3: Cutting the wool.

  • Cut around the edge of the circle, lining the scissors up in the gap between the two pieces of cardboard.

Step 4: Securing the wool.

  • Cut a piece of wool 20cm long and tie it around the middle of the pom pom in between the two cardboard circles. Tie a knot to secure it, then cut the longer length so it is the same length as the wool in the pom pom.
  • Remove the 2 cardboard circles (you may need to cut them off).

Finished!

Notes:

  • You can make a multicoloured pom pom just by using different wool colours while wrapping the wool around.
  • You can make pumpkin themed pom poms by wrapping green wool only around the top middle section of the cardboard circle, and wrapping orange wool around the rest of the circle.
  • If you want to display some pom poms you can make a ew in different sizes, attach them to fabric and display them in an embroidery hoop.

Crochet How To: The Granny Square, Step By Step Guide

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How To Make The Granny Square

Definitely one of my favourite things to make, a Granny square can be used for all sorts of crochet projects, from blankets to cushions to table mats. I often use these on my Minecraft makes as they are perfect for creating the block effect needed.

A giant granny square is a perfect ‘quick make’ blanket – to make one just keep continuing the rounds, change the colour each round or every couple of rounds to add a bit of detail.

How To Make A Basic Granny Square:

To Start:

  • ch5, then slip stitch into the first ch to make a round.

Round 1:

  • ch3, then complete 2 trb into the round, *ch2, then complete 3trb into the round, repeat from * twice more, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the ch3 at the start.

Round 2:

  • ch3, then complete 2 trb into the corner space, * ch2, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from * twice more.
  • Then ch2, 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch to the top of the 3ch at the start.

Round 3:

  • ch3, then complete 2trb into the corner space.
  • *ch2, then complete 3trb into the ch2 space, ch2, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from *twice more.
  • Then ch2 3trb into the 2ch space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the 3ch at the start.

Round 4:

  • ch3, then complete 2trb into the corner space.
  • *ch2, then complete 3trb into the ch2 space, ch2, then complete 3trb into the next ch2 space, then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the same corner space. Repeat from *twice more.
  • Then ch2 3trb into the 2ch space, ch2, 3trb into next 2ch space, ch2 then complete 3trb into the corner space, ch2 then slip stitch into the top of the 3ch at the start.

Crochet How To: Solid Granny Square, Step By Step Guide

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A Bit Of Variation On A Traditional Granny Square: A Solid Granny Square

With a little bit of a twist on a traditional Granny square, these solid squares and perfect for when your wanting a more solid block of colour on a blanket/cushion. I find them perfect for my Minecraft makes as they really help each of the blocks stand out.

How To Make A Solid Granny Square:

To Start:

  • ch4 and slip stitch into first dc to make a round.

Round 1:

  • ch5, then 3trb into the round.
  • ch2 3trb into the round twice. ch2, 2trb into the round then slip stitch into the 3rd dc of the ch5 you started with.

Round 2:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 3trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.

Round 3:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.

Round 4:

  • ch5, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, 2trb into 2ch space.
  • *ch2, 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb 2trb into 2ch space, repeat from * once more.
  • ch2 2trb into 2ch space, 7trb, trb into 2ch space, then slip stitch into 3rd ch of the starting 5ch.
  • Fasten off

How To: Crab Stitch/Reverse Single Crochet

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This stitch is perfect for edging projects, and the added bonus to it looking great is it also makes the edges more study to making your projects last even longer.

The stitch itself is a single crochet (sc) stitch, the only difference is you actually work it in the other direction and complete the stitches going the opposite way around the row/round.  This sounds tricky I know (it had me in a complete mess when I first tried it!), but once you get going with this you will have the hang of it in no time.  

Once you have completed the row/round previously you are ready to start on the row/round of Crab stitch/Reverse single crochet. 

  1. To start, ch1 (picture 1).
  2. sc into the previous stitch:
    • Insert the hook into the stitch in the direction shown in the picture (pointing downwards) (picture 2 and 3). 
    • Yarn over (picture 4).
    • Pull up loop holding the hook in the same position as when you inserted it (2 loops on hook) (picture 5).
    • Yarn over (picture 6).
    • Pull through all loops on the hook (picture 7).
  3. Repeat (picture 8) until you have finished the row, and for a round (picture 9) complete a slip stitch into the top of the ch1 at the start of the round to complete (pictures 10 and 11). 

Picture 1
Picture 2
Picture 3
Picture 4
Picture 5
Picture 6
Picture 7
Picture 8
Picture 9
Picture 10
Picture 11

How To: Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet

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Following on from a few queries on my Minecraft TNT block make and the use of Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet to make it I decided to put together a little ‘how to’ on completing a project using Half Treble(UK)/Half Double(US) Corner To Corner Crochet.

Row 1:

ch5 (picture 1), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook (picture 2), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into last two ch (picture 3).  Turn.

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2.
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Row 2

ch5 (picture 1), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook (picture 2), htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches (picture 3), slip stitch into ch gap to join (picture 4), ch2 (picture 5), 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap (picture 6). Turn.

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Row 3

ch5, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches (picture 1), *slip stitch into ch gap to join (picture 2), ch2, 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap (picture 3).  Repeat from * one more time to complete the row (picture 4). Turn.

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Rows 4+

ch5, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into 3rd ch from the hook, htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last two stitches, *slip stitch into ch gap to join, ch2, 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into ch gap.  Repeat from * along the row. Turn.

Decreasing rows

To decrease at the edges (top edge and left hand side of the pattern):

To decrease at the start of a row complete 3 slip stitches (one into each of the 3 htr(UK)/hdc(US) ends)(picture 1) and a slip stitch into the ch gap (picture 2).   Next complete a ch2 (picture 3) and 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the ch gap (picture 4) and then continue the row in the same way as row 2 (picture 4).

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When you have a decrease at the end of a row, do not complete a slip stitch and ch2 htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the last ch gap, instead only complete a slip stitch into the ch gap and turn (picture 1).

When starting the next row complete 3 slip stitches (one into each of the 3 htr(UK)/hdc(US) ends) (pictures 2 and 3) and a slip stitch into the ch gap (picture 4).   Next complete a ch2 (picture 5) and 3htr(UK)/hdc(US) into the ch gap (picture 6) and then continue the row in the same way as row 2 (picture 7).

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Continue decreasing the rows until the end of the pattern.