We know… y'all came here today looking for our usual Technique Tuesday tutorial post. Well, we've had to move Technique Tuesday to Thursday this week. We got a little caught up in editing our NEW book of crochet patterns, Designer Crochet, and the time just got away from us.

Fear not! We're only moving Technique Tuesday this one time this one week. We'll be back on Tuesday next week like usual and all will be right with the world.

As a consolation prize, here is a sneak peak of Designer Crochet (that new book of crochet patterns we have been editing) from our publisher's website. Our editor, Connie Santisteban, gives you a brief description of the crochet patterns in Designer Crochet and shares exclusive sneak peek photos AND there is a preorder link with a FAB preorder price for y'all. WOOHOO!! Click the link below to be whisked away to the Lark Publishing blog and see this FAB sneak peek and preorder link.

Sneak Peek of Designer Crochet by Shannon Mullett-Bowlsby of Shibaguyz Designz

Oh yeah… you can still get your Technique Tuesday fix by clicking on the Tutorials category over there in the right-hand column of our page. To make it even easier, here's a direct link:

Shibaguyz Designz Tutorials Category

Thanks for stopping by! See y'all back here on Thursday for Technique Tuesday… ummm… Technique Thursday? How about Temporary Technique Thursday?? Anyway… see you on Thursday. And enjoy the exclusive sneak peek of Designer Crochet!


Stitch On!
S&J

What is it?

First, let's give a quick definition of ribbing. Simply put, Ribbing is a series of raised ridges – called wales – and contrasting low troughs.

That said, there are a number of ways to create combinations of wales and troughs using crochet stitches. In fact, we have:
Reversible Vertical Post Stitch Crochet Ribbing
One-Sided Vertical Post Stitch Crochet Ribbing
Horizontal Post Stitch Crochet Ribbing
Horizontal tbl Crochet Ribbing

We will be covering ALL of these in future Technique Tuesday articles but, for today's Reversible Vertical Post Stitch Crochet Ribbing tutorial, we are creating a reversible vertical post stitch ribbing with wales on both sides of the fabric through the use alternating Front Post Double Crochet Stitches and Back Post Double Crochet Stitches.

Remember: Post stitches are worked around the post of a crochet stitch creating a stitch that is raised to the front or the back of our working row depending on whether we work a Front Post Crochet Stitch or a Back Post Crochet Stitch.

Reversible Vertical Post Stitch Crochet Ribbing creates a series of wales and troughs that are made vertically in relation to the working direction of our crochet fabric. That is, we start at the top or bottom of the fabric and create wales and troughs by working rows of alternating Front and Back Post Stitches. These alternating Front Post Crochet Stitches and Back Post Crochet Stitches build off of one another in successive rows creating the vertical wales and troughs – Ribbing!

For a quick review of crochet post stitches check out these tutorials:
Front Post Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial
Back Post Double Crochet Stitch Tutorial
then come right back! We'll wait… 


Okay… back now? Good… let's carry on…

What is it?

Last week, we started our discussion about post stitches with a brief overview of what a post stitch is. You can find that post here:
Technique Tuesday - Post Stitches: How to make the Front Post Double Crochet stitch.

Let's do a quick review…

Post stitches are just like any other crochet stitches only the stitches are worked around the "post" of a crochet stitch rather than through the loops of the "head" of a crochet stitch.

What is it?

Let's talk briefly about what a Post Stitch is…

Post stitches are just like any other crochet stitches only the stitches are worked around the "post" of a crochet stitch rather than through the loops of the "head" of a crochet stitch.

Now, my personal preference is to always change to a new working yarn at the ends of rows. Unfortunately, when I am working with a limited supply or with a particularly pricey yarn, that isn't an option.

You clicked it… that picked it! These are the top 10 articles, tutorials, and patterns from the pages of Shibaguyz Designz. Click on the title or the preview photo to see the full page. Thanks for coming around this week… see y'all next week!

What is it?
The Double Treble Right Cross Cable is a crochet cable stitch worked over seven stitches.

Technique
Double Treble Left Cross Cable (Dtr L Cross)

What is it?
The Double Treble Left Cross Cable is a crochet cable stitch worked over seven stitches.

TECHNIQUE
Locking Mattress Stitch (for Crochet Fabric)

NOTE: Although the Locking Mattress Stitch works FAB with both crochet and knitted fabrics, today's Technique Tuesday article will be addressing the use of this seaming technique with crochet fabrics. Look for a future article for seaming knit fabrics using the Locking Mattress Stitch.

Why use the Locking Mattress Stitch?

The Locking Mattress Stitch leaves a nearly invisible seam in crochet and knitted fabrics.  It's really that simple.

The seam is sewn using minimally invasive needle work and the stitches snug together in a neat and tidy way that leaves a seam on the inside of the fabric with no noticeable bulk and leaves the outside of the fabric looking… well… seamless! (Pun intended… thanks.)

Click "Read More" link below for the full post.

TECHNIQUE
First Double Crochet (First-dc) 

We've all seen the instructions at the beginning of a row of double crochet stitches that says: Ch 3, dc in next st.

For me, this left a lot of questions in my mind.

WHAT IS IT?
The Foundation Half Double Crochet stitch technique (abbreviated Fhdc) is an alternative to the instructions at the beginning of a crochet pattern that tell you to chain a certain number of stitches.

This technique simultaneously creates a row of "chain" stitches AND a row of half double crochet stitches (abbreviated hdc) without making two passes. Basically, it takes the place of two rows of stitches: the "chain" row that makes up the beginning base and the next row of half double crochet that is worked into that row of chains.

Once you've practiced a bit with this stitch and create it comfortably, take a close look at the "chain" part of the stitch as you are making it. You will see how the "chain" is not, in fact, a chain at all but a clever doppelganger of the chain. It serves the purpose of looking like a base row of chain stitches but it is made in such a way that it is more elastic.

Which brings us to our next point…

This technique simultaneously creates a row of "chain" stitches AND a row of single crochet stitches (abbreviated sc) without making two passes. Basically, it takes the place of two rows of stitches: the "chain" row that makes up the beginning base and the next row of single crochet that is worked into that row of chains.

So your project is finished but it didn’t turn out exactly like you thought it was going to.  In fact, this object you are holding in your hands is a little lumpy (in all the wrong places), the fabric is tight and might feel like it could stand up on its own, and it really doesn’t look anything like the sample in the picture on the pattern.  If your FO (finished object) is a garment, it might be a bit misshapen and, hey, why is this sleeve a different length than the other one? And what person in their right mind would call THIS a size large?? GAH!!

WHAT DID I DO WRONG???

Frustrating, right? We know…