Diploma update…

Hello everyone,

As you can see I finally received my certificate for Part 1 of the International Diploma in Crochet- I was pretty pleased to get this in the post! I know it’s just a piece of paper but for me it represents all those samples I crocheted and new and different crochet techniques I have learned over the last year and a half.

So it’s on to part 2 and here are my first three submissions…

A simple square of half treble stitches. In part 2, for each sample submitted I also have to write a pattern for the actual sample. Definitely a good place to start developing my pattern writing skills.

I also need to give design suggestions for using the actual sample…

This second sample is in half trebles but it looks a little like knitting. This can only be achieved with half treble stitches as it’s a stitch that has three strands to the top of each stitch. Crochet into the back loop only on one row then front loop on the next and so on, pushing all the chains to one side of the fabric giving the knitted look.

The third sample had to be a circle in double crochet, not a spiral. Each sample also requires me to give the pattern in international symbols…

I’ve struggled with this. There are so many patterns in books and online for circles (each a little different) and some produce a hexagon rather than a circle. I staggered my increases on each round but as you can see from the feedback I received below, I still haven’t mastered the perfect circle…

So I have submitted another circle and am waiting on feedback. I’m really keen to master the perfect crocheted circle!

And now that it’s December, here’s a little Christmas tree which I crocheted with tiny beads and mini pom poms added at the end…

It’s always an extra busy time of year for those of us who like to add some of our crafty endeavours to the Christmas festivities. Hope you are all managing to do all you want- there’s still time…

Happy Crocheting 🙂