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Emdash Scarf: Flounced Filet

I’ve had the idea for this double-flounced spring scarf ever since I swatched filet lace with the first shipment of our Lotus yarn. The name “Emdash” refers to the vertical spacers between tall stitch columns.

Our Lotus yarn of course is great for this, but the pattern works equally well with any yarn or crochet thread you would use for filet crochet. Diagrams, lovely photo step outs, helpful links, and customizing tips are included. It’s easy to change the scarf’s width and length.

Emdash has two design sisters: the fine mohair Antoinette, and the rather boho Cantina. Cantina is Emdash’s double flounce that is beaded and repeated in different colors (or scrap yarns). It started out as an eye-catching way to display Emdash in 15 Lotus colors in a show booth.

Skill Level

Easy Intermediate. This elegant filet crochet project offers Intermediate-level refinements: Special Turn, Centered stitches, and Standing stitches. The first two polish up the selvage-like row edges. Centered stitches disguise the stringy look that often develops at the tops of very tall filet stitches.

While crocheting Emdash you’ll experience:

  • How to start a new tall-stitch row without the usual gap along the edge.
  • How to give an elegant finish to super-tall stitches using Intermediate-level options.
  • How to create lacy double-layer flounces at the scarf ends.
  • How to crochet cleanly centered tall filet stitches in columns.

Finished Measurements

65″ x 7″ (165cm x 17.78cm)

Materials

  • Crochet Hook: US G6/4mm or size required for gauge. 
  • Yarn used: Designing Vashti Lotus (52% Cotton/48% Rayon; 3.5oz/100g; 256yds/235m each), 2 skeins.

To substitute a yarn, choose a #2 Fine Weight yarn with a recommended crochet hook size range of US E/4 {3.5 mm} to US G/6 {4.0 mm}. These yarns may be called Sport or Heavy Sock {Light DK, 5-Ply}. To use a thinner or thicker yarn, use a crochet hook size from the larger end of the range stated on the yarn label.

Expedient Cowl-Capelet

Beginner slip stitch crochet with a big hook!

This stretchy 100% slip stitch crochet pattern contrasts two simple kinds of slip stitches. Crochet this fast, cozy, satisfying capelet-style cowl in one piece with a big crochet hook and thick yarn.

It took me one evening to crochet with a jumbo crochet hook and two balls of thick yarn. It’s exactly the accessory I’ve been needing for an unpredictably chilly season: warm, snug, breathable, and easy to put on.

All you need to use for this “expedient” satisfaction are the two most familiar slip stitches (front loop only, and back loop only).  Simply alternating groups of front and back loop slip stitches provides smooth shaping because they vary in stitch height. (See the Slip Tectonics Cowl for an interesting demonstration of this.) An occasional short row enhances the way Expedient Cowl pours over the shoulders.

Skill Level

Easy Intermediate. This pattern is a good introduction to slip stitch crochet technique, so I’ve included tips that help students of my “Slip Stitch Crochet 101” classes. If you’re new to slip stitch crochet, Eva’s Ribs Scarf is a free beginner pattern of all back-loop slip stitch that you can try if you’d like some practice before beginning Expedient. Some beginners find front-loop slip stitch easier to start with than back-loop—an easy pattern to try this stitch with is the Slipster Slackscarf.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn these skills:
✤ How to crochet jumbo-sized slip stitches with thick yarn and a big crochet hook.
✤ How and why to crochet back-loop and front-loop slip stitches within the same row.
✤ How to count rows of back-loop slip stitch as ribs, vs front-loop rows.
✤ How to do simple and occasional short rows.
✤ How to use the designer’s row direction diagram, a handy tool with slip stitch crochet.

Finished Dimensions

Neck opening circumference 17″ {43.2 cm}, stretches to approx. 42″ {106.7 cm}.
Shoulder opening circumference 42″ {106.7 cm}, stretches to approx. 64″ {162.6 cm}.
Height is 17.5″ {44.5 cm} from neck opening to shoulder opening, edged; 13.5″ {34.3 cm} when collar is worn folded over.

Materials

  • Crochet Hook: Size P {11.5 mm} crochet hook or size needed for gauge. Note: size P in some brands are 12 mm instead, which is fine too.
  • Yarn: Lion Brand Wool-Ease Thick & Quick Tweeds (6oz/170g, 106yds/97m per skein, 86% Acrylic, 10% Wool, 4% Rayon), color Wheat, 2 full skeins used.

Yarn substitution advice: choose a yarn thickness classified as a #6 Super Bulky Weight or look on the yarn label for a recommended crochet hook size range of US M/13 {9 mm} to US Q {15 mm}. These yarns have also been called Super Chunky, Roving, or Polar Weight.

Crochet to the Color Playbook

This 11-page booklet has three scarf patterns, and introduces a kind of freeform crochet that I love to use with richly hand painted yarns. This method has one-of-a-kind outcomes—like a game! All three scarf designs are self-edging and reversible.

This “stitch game” is a fun way to juggle some variables to bring out asymmetrical and startlingly edgy looks in classic crochet stitches. You get one-of-a-kind results each time you try a colorful new yarn with one of the three scarf patterns in this set:

  1. The Easy-level Tea Lights Scarf is based on the practice swatch.
  2. The Lacustrine Cowl is Easy-Intermediate because it uses offset rows.
  3. The Intermediate-level Bare Bones Scarf starts in one corner.

As the introductory playbook for the Level I stitch game, this three-pattern set uses just two basic crochet stitches and discusses game strategy with them. It includes several examples of game swatches. (The Level II playbook will add even more variables by using more stitches in new ways.)

Table of Contents 

  • How to Do the “Crochet to the Color” Method
  • Skill Levels & New Skills List, page 2
  • Yarn Selection Tips, page 3
  • The Practice Swatch & Game Strategy, pages 3-5
  • About the Three Projects in this Booklet, page 5
  • Materials Needed, page 6
  • Pattern Terms, Abbreviations, Special Stitches, page 6
  • The Patterns, pages 7-11
  • Questions & Feedback, & About Level Two, page 11

This pattern set presumes that you already know how to crochet these basic stitches: chain, single crochet {UK: double crochet}, and double crochet {UK: treble crochet}. A familiarity with filet crochet is helpful. In this booklet the color leads the crocheting instead of a filet chart. Each result is unique because each crocheter will naturally apply the game rules a bit differently.

You’ll have the opportunity to learn these skills: 

  • How to evaluate different kinds of variegated yarns and create new effects with them.
  • How to “crochet to the color” in traditional filet rows for a fresh randomized effect.
  • How to prevent a gap after the first double crochet of each row (single crochet method).
  • How to do the foundation double crochet, and start and end rows with increases or decreases.
  • How to crochet a scarf diagonally from one corner to the other, and customize its dimensions.
  • How to include beads in a stitch game project.

Cantina Scarf: Flounced Filet

Cantina Scarf is the yarn-partying sister of the Emdash and Antoinette scarves. Like Antoinette, this one’s a holiday-inspired design; in silvery colors and beaded picots, the flounces remind me of silver bells. 

This is a fast and portable filet crochet project in the Easy skill category. The pattern includes optional intermediate-level skill-building refinements: Special Turn, Centered stitches, and Standing stitches. It naturally lends itself to color changes and scrap amounts of yarn. The beaded option is low-fuss because you only need string on enough beads for one flounce at a time.

After using this pattern you will know (if you didn’t already):

  • How to start a new filet stitch row with a neat, even edge.
  • How to crochet filet stitches so they stack up in centered columns.
  • How to crochet polished-looking super-tall stitches for dramatic effect.
  • How to create quick and lovely layered lace flounces.

Finished Dimensions 

50″ x 5″ at flared points (127.0 cm x 12.7 cm). Change these dimensions using guidelines provided in the pattern. UK and Australian equivalents for American measurements, yarn weights, and stitch terms are in brackets { }.

Materials

  • Crochet Hook: US G6/4mm or size required for gauge. 
  • Yarn used: DesigningVashti Lotus Snacks (52% Cotton, 48% Rayon; 85 yds/77.7 m per 1.16 oz/33 g ball). For 3-color “Silver Bells” version, 1 ball each of Satin Grey (MC), Crystal Blue, and White Blaze. For 13-color rainbow version, 20 yds/18.3 m (7.7g, or ¼ of one ball) per color. To substitute, choose a #2 Fine Weight yarn with a recommended crochet hook size range of US E/4 {3.5 mm} to US G/6 {4.0 mm}. These yarns may be called Sport or Heavy Sock {Light DK, 5-Ply}.
  • Seed beads, optional: 15 beads per flounce (i.e., per 4″/10cm of scarf length). I used jumbo size 1/0. If you change the width of your scarf, the number of beads per flounce will change.
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Deluxe Crochet Hook Diagram: Free Download

Part of the crochet hook diagram I sketched for "Beyond Crochet Hook Debates" issue 71.
I’ve greatly expanded this page since first posting it in 2015, when it was a follow up to newsletter issue 71, “Beyond Crochet Hook Debates”. It’s also now part of an ongoing Crochet Basics series.

 

Thumbnail of Vashti's deluxe crochet hook diagram PDF

At first glance the crochet hook is a very simple tool, so why are there so many different kinds? What makes crocheters fiercely devoted to some and not others? You could make your own crochet hook by carving a notch into the end of a stick or dowel and sanding it smooth. I realized how carefully designed hooks really are when I reshaped a store-bought one.

Please enjoy my deluxe crochet hook diagram and a “hook heat map” from my newsletter (free PDF): Complete Diagram of a Standard Crochet Hook.

Creating a crochet hook diagram also helped me tease out the finer elements that make all the difference between one hook and another. My first sketch grew into a comprehensive map! It brings together terms from several different sources.

How Many Crochet Hooks?

How many crochet hook sizes should there be? How many crochet hooks does a crocheter need? It turns out the answer is different for every crocheter because it depends on about five factors, below.

Consider the yarn you like to crochet with.

Some crocheters are very partial to one or two yarn thicknesses, called weights. Medium or worsted weight is a crowd-pleaser, for example. If you like to crochet with yarn of any weight, from cobweb to roving, you need a few different hook sizes for each of the eight yarn weight categories (#0 Lace to #7 Jumbo)!

How about fiber types?

I’m still surprised sometimes when a crochet hook gets along much better with one yarn than another. If you like to experience the full menu of fibers and fiber blends, from the fuzziest to the slipperiest all spun in different ways, you’re going to need hooks with different head shapes and surface finishes.

  • I really notice this when I crochet with a non-yarn like wire, jewelry cords, and fabric strips.
  • I can pick up a lot of speed with a hook that has a glossy aluminum finish except with very glossy silk yarn. That’s when a brushed matte finish is better.
  • When a fluffy microfiber (synthetic) yarn drags on a giant plastic hook because of static electricity, I switch to a wood hook.
  • When a yarn is dense and round like spaghetti (Jelly Yarn, rayon-wrap cordé, wire, tubing, leather lacing, etc.), a crochet hook with a roomy “bowl”[see diagram] is much better than one with a slit-style bowl.

What kinds of things?

Want to try every possible kind of project, from beaded jewelry to exploded lace to sturdy totes to thick blankets to…so many more kinds of things!? Projects can require very particular crochet hook sizes, styles, and finishes.

Situations, events, and physical conditions.

I have favorite hooks for marathon crocheting (when I have a big crochet deadline to meet). You might like to have a hook set just for traveling like I do; for plane flights I try to avoid metal hooks. Plastic and wood hooks are lighter in my bag, and less quick to slide down between seats to be lost forever.

For those crocheters with hands that are particularly small or large, sensitive to cold, tire easily, are arthritic or in recovery from surgery, and so on, there are crochet hooks specially designed for you. Look for hooks in ergonomic shapes. You can also add your own ergonomic handle with clay, pencil grippers, wrapped fabric, and other materials.

What if you need to crochet in a low- or no-light situation? Light-up hooks, and those that don’t match the color of your yarn are best.

Any special techniques or stitches?

Like to try dramatically different stitches like bullions, split clusters, and picking out that bump loop of single crochets? Tunisian and double-ended crochet? Crochet along the edge of fabric? Cro-tatting? The right crochet hook for the job sure makes a big difference with these.

“Loop Picking”: Hooks with a pointier head are very helpful when trying to pick specific loops to crochet into. Camel crochet is a classic case. I usually reach for one when I do Tunisian or slip stitch crochet. Some brands are naturally pointier. I like how easy it is to file the heads of my inexpensive bamboo hooks in different shapes to learn what works best for me.

Beading: I need to have steel crochet hooks of several sizes on hand. You’ll need some with hook heads that are small and streamlined enough to pull a loop of thread or yarn through bead holes. Tulip has done this with their bead crochet hooks.

Tunisian: (Projects can really vary, so I’m going to do a separate post on Tunisian hooks.) Generally I need the length of the hook head to be as short as possible [see diagram], and I need the surface to be frictionless with the particular yarn.

“Hard Crochet”: The 1970’s crocheter Mark Dittrick emphasized the difference a large steel hook (size 0 or 1: 2.35–3.25 mm) makes for his ultra tight and stiff sculptural crocheting.

Crochet Hooks as Treasure

Did a family member teach you how to crochet? My mother taught me. I treasure her crochet hooks and the brown moiré jewelry wrap that she used as a hook case.

When you teach a family member, you create a future where your favorite crochet hooks will be cherished!

If you know someone who would like this detailed crochet hook diagram, please be kind and send them to this blog post so that they can download their own copy directly. Right-click this direct link to copy it: https://www.designingvashti.com/crochet-hook-diagram-free-download. Thanks!

The next post in this series is on the surprisingly rich topic of crochet hook sizing.