Get on your Broomsticks!

Warning: this is not about Hallowe'en

but

Hallowe'en is a great time to 'get a handle on'

Broomstick Crochet!

My first scarf of broomstick crochet is on the blocking board!
[August 2016]

Anytime is a great time to try broomstick crochet!

Over the years, I have played around with broomstick techniques but had never made a proper project with it until I attended the 2016 Adelaide Stitches & Craft Fair in May.

Like my Striped Tricot Scarf (22 October 2016) this first rainbow scarf was also a "Workshop Scarf" using the fabulous colours of Katia's 'Darling' superwash  merino blend as supplied by Melbourne-based yarn supplier and workshop sponsor, Lola Lovegrove.

Getting started on my broomstick 'workshop' scarf

 

Participants purchased a kit made up of printed pattern instructions, a 15 mm wooden knitting needle (the 'broomstick'), a 3 mm anodised aluminium crochet hook and two skeins of Katia 'Darling' in a choice of colours. Of course, I could not go past the bright, happy rainbow colours, could I?

The colours I choose do influence the amount of pleasure I get from a project.  If they are colours I love, it helps me to persevere with any tricky patches in the process. I chose colour 201, lot 68521.

Take a good look at these amazing colours.
[Katia 'Darling' superwash merino, colour 201]

The workshop was conducted by Kim Sharman-Smith who was ever patient and calm.
Her friendly and relaxed attitude helped to settle any nerves or excitement about embarking on a new skill. 

A sample of broomstick lace
that I made years ago.
(8 ply acrylic yarn)

I enjoyed meeting the other participants who had a wide range of crochet experience: some had tried broomstick crochet before; others were accomplished crocheters who used more advanced techniques of general crochet such as a stretchy foundation stitch; there were beginner–intermediate crocheters and those who had never done any form of crochet before!  It must be a challenge for an instructor to cater for many different individual needs but in next-to-no-time, Kim had everyone happily making progress on their broomstick scarves.

Everyone's different colours gave us all a learning experience: darker colours made it harder to see the stitches; lighter, solid colours emphasised the stitch definition and texture; my variegated colours made it easier to discern the different strands as I worked each stitch.  We got to know each other a little bit as people explained their reasons for their colour choices and what those colours meant for them.

I was a 'slow poke' with my work.  Like all projects, this one started with a foundation chain. I wanted to make a stretchy one that combines the foundation chain with (Aus/UK) double crochet stitches all in the one motion but I was tired and couldn't quite remember whether I was getting it right or not and kept losing count so I spent a bit of time trying and ripping back and trying again.  

I could not get my tension even because, after using wide handled hooks for so long, my hands took time to adjust to the narrow metal hook. 

To make matters worse, immediately before the workshop, I had met some friends for morning tea and enjoyed a rare coffee (I avoid coffee as part of my pain management strategy). Because I don't drink coffee often, when I do, I like to have a 'proper coffee' - "quality over quantity"! Consequently, the body was unaccustomed to the caffeine and by the time I arrived at the workshop, my hands were all shaky which made it difficult to handle my hook accurately!  It was quite frustrating really.

It takes some time to get used to handling a 'broomstick'
as well as a crochet hook, yarn and project!

Never mind, it is all a learning experience. I also learned that the yarn had a woolly 'halo' which made it prone to sticking to itself and an inordinate amount of time was spent dealing with my self-induced knots caused by reckless ripping.  'S-l-o-w-l-y' is the way to approach any unravelling with Katia 'Darling'. 

Attendance at a workshop is a great reminder of what it is like to be a beginner and I hope it will help me to keep my blog posts relevant to readers with a range of skill levels.

Cast your mind back to when you first learned to crochet or knit. How much fiddling around did you need before you found a comfortable and efficient way to hold the hook and yarn?  Everyone is different so it is worth taking the time to experiment with different holds and methods until you find the one that works for you.

Once into the rhythm, broomstick crochet is very quick.  No wonder it has also been called "Jiffy Lace" because each row is finished 'in a jiffy'! It is addictive too. Like ripple crochet, completion of each small section invites, no, begs one to continue for 'one more row'!

Broomstick crochet has a couple of things in common with tricot (Tunisian crochet)–each row is worked in two passes where a row of loops are lifted onto the 'broomstick' (large knitting needle) and then worked off again using the crochet hook; i.e. cast on and then cast off.  The right side of the work is always facing.

Here's a basic description of how I do it:

1. After a row of regular crochet, place the active loop (the loop on the crochet hook) onto the 'broomstick'. I end up with the broomstick in my left hand and the crochet hook in my right.  I feed my yarn with my left hand.
2. Insert the crochet hook into the next stitch and draw up a loop.  Place that loop onto the broomstick. Repeat across the row until there is an entire row of loops on the broomstick.
3. Use the crochet hook to work the loops off the broomstick in groups. In the case of the rainbow scarf, I am working in groups of 4 loops.  Slide the loops closer to the point of the broomstick until the crochet hook can be inserted under the next 4 loops. Use the crochet hook to lift the four loops off the broomstick and onto the shaft of the crochet hook. Be careful that no other loops fall off the broomstick!
4. Keeping all 4 loops on the crochet hook at the same height, yarn round hook, pull yarn through all 4 broomstick loops at once and make a chain stitch. This will 'lock' the height of the broomstick loops and keep them together as a group. This 'locking stitch' is only necessary at the beginning of the cast off row.
5. Now there will be a hole in the middle of the first group of 4 broomstick loops. Insert the crochet hook into that hole to make 4 dc stitches across the top of the 4 broomstick loops and voila! The first broomstick lace group is complete!
6. Continue across the row, working 4 dc stitches into each subsequent group of 4 broomstick loops until all the loops are off the broomstick. After the last group is done, there will be 1 active loop on the crochet hook ready to go back onto the broomstick for the next row of loops.

"This broomstick needle looks good enough to chew!"
says Max bunny.

It takes a little while to get used to holding the broomstick and hook. Every person will find their own way of managing it.

Holding the broomstick between your legs leaves your hands free. Some people place the broomstick under one arm to hold it firmly.  The broomstick can be wedged between the arm of a chair and your thigh; as long as the broomstick is held securely, that's all that matters!

I still don't have a 'set' way of holding my broomstick. It depends on the yarn and the size of the broomstick.  I mostly hold the broomstick in my left hand, supporting the end against my body or the furniture.  It has been most comfortable for me to have the blunt end of the broomstick propped up on an armrest while I handle the pointy end with my left hand and the crochet hook with my right.

What a messy bottom edge!
That will not do for a scarf end.

Back at the workshop, it didn't take long to find an even tension and the results were pleasing until I discovered the wriggly, uneven tension of the foundation chain and early rows. I had succumbed to using a basic foundation chain and my shaky hands had created a very uneven result. 

According to the pattern instructions, the foundation chain would become one of the short ends of the scarf. My chain edge was in no state to be on show like that.

• Problem: untidy, uneven foundation chain edge.
• Solution: do not use the foundation chain as an edge but as a central spine. Create the scarf by working each end outwards from either side of the central spine.  It won't matter if it looks messy because no one will see it at the back of your neck!

So I worked one skein of yarn until I had enough left over for a fringed end, and then joined the second skein into the underside of the foundation chain.  Lucky for me that I had decided to do that because the actual foundation chain was so uneven that even a good blocking couldn't straighten it.

A very uneven green foundation chain on my first broomstick scarf.
Look at how it wiggles and is wider than the other rows.
The section above the foundation was worked first.
The second skein was joined to the underside
and can be seen in the bottom half of the picture.

Another discovery–the foundation chain was wider than the broomstick rows.  Nothing would fix it but that's okay because there were other rows with uneven lengths due to it being my first effort.  It didn't matter, I kept this scarf for myself to wear. I just love the way the colours fell across the rows and no one will be able to see the imperfections when it is around my neck.

• Problem: ordinary foundation chain is wider than the broomstick rows.
• Solution: use a stretchy foundation double crochet row instead.

The foundation double crochet row is a technique that combines the foundation chain and the double crochet stitches all in one row instead of making a chain first and then working the double crochets into it. There are a couple of different ways of starting and ending a foundation double crochet row so I won't try to give instructions here. I figured that being stretchy, this type of foundation would be more accommodating for the shorter broomstick rows and I think it worked. Here is a comparison:

That foundation double crochet row (right) looks so much neater, doesn't it?
Left: First scarf / ordinary chain stitch foundation;
Right: Second scarf / foundation double crochet row.
It's amazing what a little practice can do!

Broomstick lace rows have a different tension to ordinary crochet stitched rows such as a row of double crochet. It is important to find the right combination of broomstick and crochet hook sizes in relation to the yarn weight.  Fortunately, the pattern from Lola Lovegrove had already done that hard work for me.

A close up of the wrong side of the scarf.
When broomstick loops are worked under both loops of a dc stitch,
the dc rows are pushed to the wrong side to create ridges.

One thing that the pattern did not do, was describe how to insert the hook into the top of the stitches. Usually when inserting a crochet hook into the top of a stitch, the hook goes under the top two loops of the stitch.  In broomstick crochet, it results in textured raised rows on the wrong side of the work. I thought that looked untidy and besides, I wanted a smooth fabric on both sides of my scarf instead.

• Problem: inserting the hook into both top loops of the double crochet stitches causes raised ridges on the wrong side of the broomstick lace. 
• Solution: insert hook into the top back loops only of the double crochet stitches.

A view of the ridges that appear on the reverse (wrong) side of the broomstick lace fabric
when the hook is inserted under two top loops of a double crochet row.
Compare the pictures below.

The reverse (wrong) side of the first scarf after inserting the hook
into the top back loops only of the double crochet stitches.
The fabric is flatter and looks neater.

The Lola Lovegrove pattern instructions were for a plain broomstick scarf with straight edges.
Naturally, I had to finish my versions with fringes!

First Broomstick Rainbow Scarf complete with fringe.
All tagged to share at the Maker Faire ADL.
"This one is MINE!"

All trimmed!
Rainbow Broomstick No. 2 "Love the Green & Gold"
made by Jodiebodie [October 2016]
This photograph shows the reverse side of the broomstick lace
after the hook was worked into back loops only of dc stitches.
"This one is PERFECT!"

I had other adventures and discoveries along the way with these scarves but they will be subjects for other days. Let's just say, "To be continued …"


Meanwhile, if you are celebrating Hallowe'en, be sure to wear a crocheted scarf to keep away the chills, especially if you plan to ride on your broomstick!

Happy Hallowe'en!

Do you celebrate Hallowe'en?

Do you have favourite Hallowe'en crochet patterns?

Do tell in a comment below!

Links & Resources

Katia Yarns: Fil Katia, S.A.,Av. Catalunya, s/n - 08296 Castellbell i el Vilar (Barcelona), Spain: http://www.katia.com

• Katia 'Darling' colours: http://www.katia.com/EN/yarns-autumn-winter-darling.html?idLana=darling&lng=EN

Lola Lovegrove, 688 North Road, Ormond Victoria 3204, Australia: lolalovegrove.com.au

Maxxybunny. Yes, Max now has his own Instagram page after much nagging from a certain friend: https://www.instagram.com/maxxybunny/ 

Ravelry Project Pages (Ravatar: Jodiebodie):

• "Broomstick Workshop Scarf", May-August 2016: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Jodiebodie/broomstick-workshop-scarf 
• "Rainbow Broomstick Scarf", August-October 2016: http://www.ravelry.com/projects/Jodiebodie/rainbow-broomstick-scarf

Further Reading

Chan, Doris, Crochet Lace Innovations: 20 dazzling designs in broomstick, hairpin, tunisian and exploded lace, 1st edn., ISBN 978-0-307-46382-1, Potter Craft (www.pottercraft.com), imprint of Crown Publishing Group (www.crownpublishing.com), Random House Inc., New York, USA, 2010.

Gardner, Sue [editor], A–Z of Crochet, 1st edn. reprint, ISBN 978-09775476-3-0, Country Bumpkin Publications (www.countrybumpkin.com.au), 315 Unley Road, Malvern SA 5061, Australia, 2008.

Reader's Digest, Reader's Digest Complete Guide to Needlecraft, 1st edn., ISBN 0-909486-78-6, Reader's Digest Services Pty Limited, 26–32 Waterloo Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010, Sydney, Australia, 1980.

Turner, Pauline, How to Crochet: the definitive crochet course complete with step-by-step techniques, stitch libraries and projects for your home and family, ISBN 1-85585-827-4, Collins & Brown Ltd. London 2001. 

Walters, James & Cosh, Sylvia, The Harmony Guide to Crochet Stitches, 1st edn. 2nd reprint, ISBN 07111-0028-4, Lyric Books Limited, Mill Hill, London NW7, England 1986

Pattern Examples from Other Sources

Chan, Doris, "Chamomile Cardigan", Interweave Crochet, Spring 2011, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/chamomile-cardigan

Daehlin, Lisa, "Hairpin and Broomstick Wrap", Designer Knitting Crochet 2013, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/27-hairpin-and-broomstick-wrap

Hanratty, Jill, "Green Chai Cardi", Interweave Crochet, Fall 2011, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/green-chai-cardi

Hooton, Karen E., "Whimsy Necklace" and "Blossom Hairclips", Interweave Crochet, Spring 2013, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/whimsy-necklace

Howell, Vickie, "Glamp Wrap", Interweave Crochet, Summer 2014, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/glamp-wrap

McCall Pattern Company, "Broomstick Lace Afghan", McCall's Super Book of Afghans, New York, USA, 1978. 

Omdahl, Kristen, "Cables and Lace Broomstick Hat", Crochet So Fine: Exquisite Designs with Fine Yarns, Interweave Publishing, USA 2010; 8 Free Crochet Hat Patterns: Crochet Hats with Crochet Me, e-book, 2011 crochetme.com USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/cables-and-lace-broomstick-hat 

Pullen, Kate, "Broomstick Lace Capelet", Interweave Crochet, Fall 2007; 5 Free Crochet Poncho Patterns, e-book, November 2015, crochetme.com, Interweave USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/broomstick-lace-capelet

Robarge, Natasha, "Free Spirit Tunic", Interweave Crochet, Summer 2014, USA: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/free-spirit-tunic

Strohm, Kristen Hein, 'Fritillary Scarf", Inside Crochet, Issue 20, August 2011, UK: http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/fritillary-scarf

Webber, Kath, "Woodstock Waistcoat", Inside Crochet, Issue 80, July 2016, UK: www.insidecrochet.co.uk

Related Posts on Lupey Loops

"Broomstick Rainbow Finished for You", 10 June 2017: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2017/06/broomstick-rainbow-finished-for-you.html

"Tricot with a Double-ended Hook (Tunisian Crochet)", 22 October 2016: http://lupeyloops.blogspot.com.au/2016/10/tricot-with-double-ended-hook-tunisian.html