Our April 2023 issue of Crochet World has several projects that involve images on your crochet work. These styles of project require several different colorwork techniques, like intarsia, tapestry and fair isle crochet. Christine Naugle’s (Sweet Potato 3) design the Summer Dream Wall Hanging also incorporates a stitch you might not be accustomed to working.
This wall hanging that depicts a lovely mountain scene with pretty decorative tassels can be worked up in a color combination that suits your decor. To top it off the Premier Bamboo Fair yarn is a dream to work with! This pattern uses foundation crochet stitches for nice stretch as well as what is called a knotted half double crochet. These stitches may seem a bit daunting if you haven’t worked them before but they a useful set of stitches to add to your crochet mental toolbox.
Let’s start with foundation half double crochet stitches (foundation hdc). These stitches are created without a starting or beginning chain. You work the starting chain and a half double crochet all at the same time to create your first row. Foundation stitches are stretchy and tidy and are great for edges where you want to have a little give. (I personally love using them in garments.) Click the highlighted text for how to work each portion of the foundation half double crochet: first foundation hdc and next foundation hdc.
This wall hanging is worked in the knotted half double crochet. This stitch works your half double crochet across 2 stitches and helps to create a fuller stitch while lining up the colorwork (image) nicely.
Like the foundation stitches, this stitch also requires a first stitch and then the full stitch. In the issue we give you written instructions for creating the stitch, a few how to photos AND information for finding a video tutorial. I am not going to tell you exactly how to work the stitch, because you can get the information in the issue (and we want you to), but I do want to make it easier for you to find the how to video. Click this link to get the full tutorial for this stitch.
You will need to be able to read charts to work this pattern. Charts aren’t super complicated just remember a couple of details. Each square on the chart represents a stitch. Work the chart starting at the bottom right, working right side rows from right to left and wrong side rows left to right.
When you are ready to change colors, you will work to the last stitch of that color and on the last pull through of that knotted hdc, drop the color you are using and finish the stitch using the next color. This makes a clean transition in color.
And finally to finish it off you just need to be able to make some tassels. Christine also has a great video that will help you with the tassels.
Did you love creating this piece? Now that you have made something like this on a small scale maybe you want to try something like it on a large scale. Christine has a wonderful book called Nature’s Landscapes Crochet Blankets. All the techniques in this wall hanging are used to make showstopper afghans for your home!
—Britt Schmiesing, editor