So this stitch is listed as intermediate. I'd say it borders on easy, but that might be from someone with some experience. A newbie would need to know how to chain, single crochet, double crochet, and triple (or treble) crochet. There are videos on those and they're not really hard. If you can double crochet, then you can triple crochet. It's just an extra loop.
I found this to be super easy. I kept waiting for the 'difficulty' to start. LOL!
Here is my lovely version:
I actually show you the front and back here so you can see what it should look like.
Here is the video tutorial by Creative Grandma:
If you want the PDF written pattern, you can find it here: Up and Down Stitch
So I am finding that, as neat as it looks, I'm not a huge fan of the Tunisian stitches. I feel like they take a lot of time and I'm not sure why I'd use them. That being said, I did make this tiny swatch and hope you can see the fine details in it.
My version has the front and back sides, just cuz. It's a neat looking stitch, but requires a lot of focus.
You can follow the video tutorial below. Creative Grandma always makes these look so easy!
This stitch started out interesting... ok, lots of single crochet stitches to begin. Then the double crochet stitch.. from behind... ???? I had to rewind that video a couple of times, try it and... voila! So it may look intimidating at first, but as Ms. Winkleman says, "Once you get it, it is real easy." or something like that.. You might like it so much you may, as she suggests, find excuses to use it as often as you can.
It has a really nice bulky texture to it. I used a chunky yarn, but I think it just adds some texture and bulk to whatever yarn.
This is a very intricate stitch. I screwed up on the finishing part, apparently thinking I knew what she was going to say or do. Apparently, I was wrong. So, my finished swatch is actually NOT finished. Regardless, it's staying put for now and in the future, I will do it again and follow through. I got confused on it, thinking the video was replaying the ending. Hah.
I'm very frustrated today and this stitch took too much effort, too much concentration for me. As such, I don't think it got a fair shake. I'll come back to it and try again. I've been so very interested in the Tunisian stitches before and I'm fascinated by them still. Now, I know how to get them going!
I just need to learn to finish it. Anyways, this came out pretty good anyways...
My version:
Here's the video tutorial by Creative Grandma for you to use:
I am not a fan of this stitch... Because it beat my butt. I can't tell at all if it looks right. To me it's a mess. I had a hard time finding the stitches I needed to work other stitches. I had trouble counting my chain. It's clearly a bad day to crochet. *GASP* I know, right? Maybe I'll do it better another day.
My version:
I used this video tutorial by Creative Grandma to make my swatch:
This is a very super easy stitch. Great practice for beginners! You need to know how to chain, single crochet, and double crochet stitches. This was a fun stitch to do, actually. If you need practice with crochet, you can make placemats, pot holders, and so on. Lots of little things.
Here's my swatch:
I gave it a single crochet border to just make it neat. I love how it turned out and am thinking of making some hot pads with this stitch!
This is the video I used to make the stitch by Creative Grandma:
I do not recommend this for beginners. While not difficult, it's intricate with different stitches. Double, Half Double, and Single Crochet stitches, plus chaining. Kind of basic, but used over a 3 row repeat pattern. I'd likely have a written pattern beside me or watch/rewatch the video as I went along for awhile.
My attempt:
My swatch looks a tad messy, but I just followed along with the video as Ms. Winkleman taught the stitch.
If you want the PDF Pattern, you can get it here: Fan Tail Stitch
Here's another fairly simple stitch. Beginners don't need to know much, just how to chain and single crochet. Very basic.
My versions of the stitch:
The first attempt went sideways. I chained 20, but kept ending up with an extra stitch which went unused in the first row, no matter what. I decided to let it go and just do the stitch, work out the problem later.
This is using my Red Heart Super Saver Stripes yarn. I chained 20 here.
After reviewing my PDF instructions, I realized I was not starting the clusters in the stitch where my last cluster ended. So I tried again and, voila! No more missing that last stitch!!!
I used Bernat Living yarn for the second attempt. It came out much better! I chained 40 here.
Comparison of the swatches.
Here is the video tutorial by Creative Grandma. I used it as a way to help me see what the PDF pattern told me.
The PDF pattern can be found here for the Trinity Stitch.
UPDATE:
I made this as a beginning to a placemate... not sure if I'm into it being that big...
This is a very simple stitch. Beginners need to know how to chain, single and double crochet. That's it. This could make a pretty scarf or place mat. Anything, really.
My attempt:
I used my Red Heart Super Saver Stripes yarn. It came out pretty cool, showing off the tulips really well, I think. It's just interesting to see how the colors come out between the black.
You can watch the tutorial for the Tulip Stitch by Creative Grandma here or on YouTube:
This stitch is super easy. Great for beginners as the pattern is the same, over and over. You could totally make a blanket with this stitch or whatever you like.
My versions...
I used Bernat Baby Blanket Tiny Yarn in Sunflower and Red Barn for the first one. It's a size G hook yarn, but I used an I hook.
I don't really recommend this yarn for work that is not tight. You can see the messy corner. It's flimsy and not so fantastic to work with. It's hard to see the individual stitches, no matter how bright the light. It's soft, so it's great for things that go against your skin, like slippers or gloves, but not much else, I think.
I used Red Heart Super Saver Stripes for the next swatch. It's fantastic! I still used the I hook, which is the recommended hook for this yarn. I love how the colors are popping out. I'm curious what it'd look like with a bigger swatch... I may do that another day and put it here just to see!
Here's a comparison of the two together. Clearly, the Red Heart yarn is better, more sturdy, and more interesting to look at.
Here is the video tutorial on YouTube by Creative Grandma:
Stitch #12 for me. I like the ripple stitch a lot, but this was more challenging with a shell in it. It's a mess.
The second row gave me no end of grief. You can compare my swatch to Ms. Winkleman's and see, clearly, that mine is not at all how it should be. After some frustration, I opted to settle for what I made and will come back to it later and see if I can't improve it.
UPDATE Jan. 16th, 2018:
After a few more views of the video and reviews of the PDF, I realized my mistake. First, I had two many of the ripples (3dc, 3ch, 3dc) and I was not doing the shell right (using 1 stitch to make it, not 3 together).
So, here is my updated version, with a comparison below:
I've made the chevron pattern before, so this was only challenging in that it changes from a double crochet stitch to a single crochet stitch and she decreases the last stitch of each row.
My version, using Red Hear Super Saver Stripes:
I know if you make this into a blanket, which I've done, it doesn't look like an M. I made a baby blanket with Bernat yarn using a similar Chevron stitch.
While I've had trouble with a couple others, I've never had one take me 3 days to do. On Monday, I tried multiple times, unable to manage the stitch or the count. On Tuesday, I was very tired and frustrated, but all my attempts were sad things. Unraveling is my friend.
Finally, I managed this:
It doesn't look too bad, but it feels messy to me. Also, I'm annoyed with the constant curve that seems to happen with the chain row.
So this stitch was not hard at all, but my yarn gave me some grief. I'm not a fan of this yarn. It's too loose and has no backbone, as I call it. Still, you can see the pattern.
I just followed this video from Creative Grandma. It's very easy to do and she provides, as usual, the written pattern at the end.
I didn't like how my previous swatches in January looked, so I have a new one. Other than being too tightly chained, again, it came out very nicely, I think. Here it is:
This is fairly complicated. I don't like how my yarn turned a bit, looking like a crescent moon unless I pull the lower corners straight.
It's hard to see with the variegated colors. But it wasn't really too hard to make.
UPDATED Feb 28th, 2016: This is my newest version and I think it's much easier to see the pattern.
This is fairly easy to master. You just need to be comfortable with the double crochet stitch.
The pattern for the Shell by Shell Stitch by Creative Grandma is here. She has it as #201, but it's my #5.
This is my version:
I am using up my leftover yarn. I really like how this came out and may continue it for kicks. I don't have much of that solid blue yarn, but I'll use what I have since it goes so nicely with that variegated yarn.
So this is actually Creative Grandma's Stitch of the Week #110 ... I varied it.
So in her tutorial, she uses a single crochet stitch only to make the ribbed swatch. I started with a single stitch, then did a half double crochet, then a double crochet stitch.
Here's the video for the Single Crochet Rib Stitch... you can do it with a half double crochet stitch or even a double crochet stitch. You just use the back loop.
Again, my thanks to Creative Grandma as I learn different stitches and gain master of these new stitches or a more practiced hand at the ones I'm familiar with.
I've used this rib stitch, using a half double crochet stitch, in my wrap. There is also a shell stitch in the wrap.
Updated on Feb. 21st, 2018: So I wasn't a fan of my very first attempt at this stitch and did a second. Now, I've done a third. I think this looks a bit less messy, but I'm not sure why I have this hole in the center. LOL. Didn't even see it until I took the picture. Here is my new version:
I'm not seeing a lot of difference or improvement here. I think my originals, in comparison, are better. However, I felt like I was more in touch with how this worked. ****************************************************************
In an effort to have some sort of goal this year, something to do each day, I am going to attempt a new crochet stitch every day. I am inspired by Creative Grandma's Stitch of the Week. I'll be using her stitch of the week for each day until I catch up with her.
Here's the How-To video:
Here is my version:
I used a J-hook and some leftover Lion Brand yarn - sort of a reddish brown that came up nearly cream here in this pic. Clearly, I need to get a little more practice on this.