How to Crochet a Skirt Pattern
Novice crocheters who learn by creating scads of scarves and hats can stretch their skills by attempting to crochet a skirt from a pattern. While crocheting a skirt from a pattern will not differ much from any other crochet project, the size of the project may be intimidating. If you are confident using basic crochet stitches and have some familiarity with crochet terms, you should be able to find and follow a crochet pattern that will result in a skirt you can wear with pride.
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Things You'll Need
- Measuring tape
- Crochet hook
- Yarn in weight and amount specified by pattern
- Stitch markers
Instructions
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1
Learn crochet terminology and abbreviations for stitch names used in crochet patterns. According to Annie's Attic, abbreviations include "dc" for double crochet, "sc" for single crochet, "tr" for treble crochet, "sl st" for slip stitch, "hdc" for half double crochet and "yo" for "yarn over"--a term that refers to wrapping the yarn around the crochet hook.
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2
Find a crochet skirt pattern online or in a crochet magazine or book, preferably with stitches and stitch patterns you are familiar with. Keep in mind the amount of yarn required and whether you want to create a skirt that requires an underskirt.
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3
Acquire yarn in appropriate weight and amount to complete your skirt pattern. The pattern will tell you the amount of yarn needed, usually in yards or ounces, as well as the weight of yarn appropriate for the pattern.
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4
Crochet a 4-by-4-inch gauge swatch to determine how many stitches per inch you make with the hook and yarn you selected for your skirt project. If your number does not correspond to that given in the pattern, measurements will be off and you need to change hook size to get the correct gauge.
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Measure your hips and waist, and determine the length of your crocheted skirt. Take the waist measurement at your belly button, the hip measurement across the fullest part of your hips and the length from your belly button down to the desired length. According to Crochet Me, you should decrease all measurements by 10 percent to compensate for stretch.
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6
Keep track of where you are in the pattern when crocheting. Unlike a hat or other small project, a skirt is likely to take a number of sittings to complete. Use stitch markers, and mark your place in the pattern by jotting a note on the pattern itself.
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Tips & Warnings
Though many crocheted skirts feature lacy patterns that look complex, they are made of different combinations of the same few basic stitches.
According to the Craft Yarn Council, yarn weights are represented by a number on skein labels, for instance, 0 is "lace" or "fingering" weight, while 2 is fine weight, also called "sport" or "baby;" and 5 is "bulky," "chunky" or "rug-weight" yarn.
Annie's Attic notes that if your gauge is larger than that indicated in the pattern, use a smaller hook and a larger hook if your gauge is smaller.
Incorporate elastic into your waistband so your skirt will not sag.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit crochet image by Lytse from Fotolia.com
