A012: Crustacean Cocktail (Party)

Sliding-scale pricing:

The suggested/cover price for this collection is US$10, but you can enter any amount above US$7 (about 1/3 off) if a discount would make a difference to your budget—or your willingness to take a chance on something new!

This PDF collection includes:

• Fully-illustrated patterns for 10 interlocking filet crochet motifs
  • A012-01: Barnacles
  • A012-02: Brine Shrimp
  • A012-03: Copepod
  • A012-04: Crab
  • A012-05: Crayfish
  • A012-06: Kiwa hirsuta ("Yeti Crab")
  • A012-07: Krill
  • A012-08: Lobster
  • A012-09: Prawn
  • A012-10: Woodlouse
• A comprehensive introduction to interlocking (filet) crochet.
• A full explanation of the simplified diagrams and notation used in these patterns.
• Instructions for 6 different border treatments.
• Graph-paper-compatible charts to print or trace, to help you combine and plan extensions for motifs.

About these patterns:

• Motifs can be completed with any yarn or crochet thread and the manufacturer's recommended hook size, or a hook ~75% size. (Patterns include a gauge chart and hook recommendations for six common yarn/thread options).
• Use crochet thread (or even sewing thread) and a very small hook to make badges to pin or sew on backpacks, jackets and baseball caps, to slide into greeting cards, slip into care packages, or sneak into loved ones' pockets when their attention is elsewhere.
• Use cotton yarn to make durable washcloths and coasters, or combine motifs to create larger items like towels and tote bags.
• Use wool yarn for sweater patches, potholders/hot pads, blankets, scarves and other clothing, wall-hangings, and felting projects.
• This collection features patterns in a range of sizes and difficulty levels. Small, simple patches should take experienced crocheters 1-2 hours, with the largest motifs potentially taking 6-8.
• Patterns feature an illustrated chart for every row, so you can always check your work and get your bearings if you get lost, wander off or space out.
• Patterns use a form of simplified notation, but this is fairly intuitive, fully explained, and much easier to read than standard notation would be in this context.

About interlocking crochet :

• Interlocking (filet) crochet is a method for crocheting images, patterns and text using two colours of yarn or thread (colourwork).
• Each motif comprises two pieces of separate-but-interwoven pieces of crochet mesh made in alternating rows using a simple sequence of double crochet and chain stitches (filet crochet). It's simpler than it sounds!
• It has some advantages over other crochet colourwork techniques:
  • Unlike intarsia/tapestry crochet, you only use one colour per row, so you never have to change colours, manage bobbins, or carry and conceal unused thread.
  • Unlike mosaic crochet, you only work into stitches of the same colour, and you can work flat without having to cut your thread or switch to your non-dominant hand at the end of every row.
• Interlocking crochet is an intermediate-to-advanced technique, but if you can crochet a granny square, you'll be able to figure it out. You'll have to move your hook in unfamiliar ways, and this is hard to get across in writing, but if you have a good grasp of the basic crochet stitches and their parts, you'll get it with practice.

The animation below shows the process for making a simple motif. You can download the free Clover pattern (which includes a bonus pattern, for a Bee, as well as full documentation) and watch a (left-handed) video tutorial at interlockingpatches.com/free.