Hey! Let’s not even talk about how long it’s been since my last blog post where I was all “I’m going to blog more about lots more”. Another talk for another day. Today we’re talking about crochet and embroidery hoops!
Over the last week, I’ve been working on a piece of hoop art as part of a “hoop exchange” hosted by It’s Just Emmy to help raise money to adopt her third child. It’s an incredible story and you can read more about it here. It was such an awesome thing to see a community of thoughtful, caring people come together for such a great family. When I posted my hoop, a beautiful autumn embroidery with a scalloped crochet hoop, a few ladies had asked for the pattern. And because sharing is caring, here it is! Now, there are lots of ways to do this and in fact another insanely creative hoop exchange gal, Elizabeth of Sew Chatty, also worked up a gorgeous crocheted hoop. This is just how I did mine. Hope it helps!
For this tutorial, I’m working with a pretty small hoop, cotton yarn, and a size H (5mm) hook. You can work this pattern with any size hoop, using any yarn and appropriate hook. To start off, attach your yarn to your hook with a slip knot.
Next you’re going to attach your yarn to the hoop with a slip stitch. It’s easier to remove the screw and start a bit away from the end, and then slide the stitches over later.
Round 1. You’re going to start stitching single crochets all the way around the hoop as if you were working “in the round” or a magic circle. Be sure to smooth the stitches as you go – you want them to be close together to cover the wood, but not so close that the top stitches start to wave.
I personally like to hide my beginning tail under the first few stitches, so that I don’t have to weave and cut it later. Just saves a few steps! Hide your tail by holding it in the direction your stitches are progressing, in this case against the naked part of the hoop. That way, it will just lay under your stitches and you won’t even notice it later!
As you near the other end of your hoop, stop and count your stitches. For the shell scallops, you’ll need multiples of 7.
For Round 2, chain 3 and turn so that you’re now working the hoop in the opposite direction. The chain 3 counts as your first double crochet. Double crochet in the next stitch, and into every stitch around, working underneath both loops of the single crochets.
You can, if you prefer, skip the layer of double crochets in round 2 and move right to the scallops, which you’re give you more of a loose ruffled look, which is equally pretty!
At the end of round 2, slip stitch tightly into the top of the chain three on the other side of the gap, hiding the metal behind. This helps close the gap and puts you in place to continue with Round 3.
Round 3 is the scallops! You’re going to keep moving in a circle after the slip stitch, moving in the same direction you first did your single crochets (counter clockwise if you’re right handed, clockwise if you’re a lefty). *Skip 2 stitches, and in the next stitch work 7 double crochets. Skip 2 stitches and slip stitch.*. Repeat the from * all the way around.
Once you make it around, cut yarn, fasten off and weave in the end. You’re done! Finish with a bow and smile in satisfaction. (: Can you imagine this in green with a big red bow at the bottom like a wreath?
Please let me know if you have any questions about this tutorial or if anything is unclear! And if give this a try, I’d love to see it! Leave me a link in the comments or tag me on instagram – @heartmadelife. And if you’re interested in being a part of Emmy’s adoption journey, check out this post on her next big exchange – GARLANDS!
Happy hooping!
-Ashley
