How to Handle Large Crochet Projects

In another post (Irish Crochet Throw Degrades into Tablecloth) I told you about the Irish crochet tablecloth I was busy with. This is a blog to help you start a big project like that one. In another post, I will tell you how I made one of these motifs.

Starting a Large Project

Starting a crochet project right is just as important as ending it with a beautifully homemade creation. You can't expect to start with a chain and end up with exactly what you want without proper planning, unless that of course was your plan. I'm not going to go into details about selecting yarn and hooks, if you want more info on this subject, look at this blog post.

Draw it out

I started with drawing my idea on a normal A4 paper. You can go into great detail if you want by drawing your motifs, or you can keep it simple by using rough forms. I looked around on the internet for some inspiration and ideas. Often the internet will help me decide how to get the look I have in my head.

Cut it out

This part I find really fun. When I was still planning on making a throw, I cut up any papers I could find and placed them where I wanted the actual motifs to go. Each paper circle got a letter on it, which corresponded with a paper I had, telling me which motif will go in that space.

After I placed them as I wanted them, I start making the motifs. Often I will make changes to the motifs I had planned in my head to fit the pattern, or I will change the pattern for the sake of the motif I really like. Go with it.

Put it Together

This is a personal matter between you and your crochet project. You will have to decide how you want your project linking together. Do you want mesh? Do you want a thick, bulky lining? Do you want a nicely hidden stitch?

Mesh

Mesh is open work that you use to put your crochet motifs together. It will look like a spiderweb between motifs, and can look great in a design. Below is an example of mesh. The small balls are pivots and are not a must. There are also plenty of ways to design mesh, so make sure to do research first!

Bulky Lining

This is what I used for the tablecloth. I created the bulkiness by using single crochet stitches to stitch the two motifs together. In the image below, you can see the bulky lining used in the middle of the combined motifs, whereas the motifs on the outside are combined using hidden stitches. It all depends on what you have in mind.

Hidden Stitch

A hidden stitch can be accomplished with the old fashioned needle - work your motifs together like you would work two pieces of material together with needle and thread, but obviously use your large eye needle and your chosen yarn.

End Result

I find it helpful to take a break from my work (if I have enough time) to give my mind a chance to process the crochet pattern I have worked on. This will allow me to notice and change anything that I might not be comfortable with; something I might not have noticed if I plunged right in.

By thinking of the smaller details beforehand, you can save yourself a lot of time, thinking and struggling once you near the end of your project. Just keep focused and plan it out in any way you feel comfortable with.

Just remember: Planning a pattern does not mean it is now set in stone. You can always change something if your artistic heart calls for it. At the end of the day planning can let you down, but following your heart mostly pays off!