LEARNING TO CROCHET - THE STRAIGHT BOX STITCH

The Straight Box Stitch
©2003 Sandra Petit, http://www.crochetcabana.com
Please click on thumbnails to view larger image.

This tutorial will concern the pattern stitch I call the Box Stitch. I have also heard it called the crazy stitch and the brick stitch. According to Sandi Marshall over at about.com's crochet site, this stitch has been around since at least 1899. I wrote up the tutorial for the diagonal box stitch when I worked up an afghan for my sweet friend, Darby. When it came time to decide what I wanted to make for her sister, Samantha, I didn't want to duplicate the pattern, so I decided to use the same stitch but to work it up in straight rows rather than diagonally. I did find a couple places that had similar patterns since the pattern is fairly common, but I wanted to remain as close to the original stitch as possible because I'm easily confused. LOL So here are my instructions, with pictures as always.

Just a reminder - my instructions, written in my own strange way, are copyrighted by moi. That means "me" for those of you who don't know French. This is a gorgeous, closeknit stitch I think you will really enjoy, especially  if you live in a cold area. Although I used Wool Ease for this one, I have it on good authority that the acrylic yarns are just as warm. *grin*

Okay, then, let's get started.

The best place to start is at the beginning. All crochet begins with a slip knot and foundation chain. So if you don't know how to do that, please go through the Learning to Crochet pages to find out how. Let's assume you've done that and move on.

Next thing you need to do is gather the materials for your project. I am going to use the doll blankie I am making for Samantha to demonstrate the technique, so I will tell you the materials I used for that.

Materials list:
worsted weight yarn in two colors - I used Wool Ease green, and Wool Ease white

H hook -  Size will depend on not only what hook you use, but also how tightly you crochet. If it's important to you to have a particular size afghan, then you need to find the hook that gets you your desired finished product. So even though I'm telling you an H hook, if you crochet tightly, you may need an I or J to get a finished size the same as mine. If you crochet very loosely, you might need a G. If you go too much smaller, however, you might have some trouble keeping the worsted on the hook. If you don't care how big or small the blankie is, but you're in a hurry, use a larger hook and bulky yarn. Also, if you're making this for a pup or kitten instead of a doll, the thicker yarn, or perhaps cotton, might be a good choice, since there are claws involved. hee hee Cotton also stands up well under repeated washings. (Not that the acrylic or wool won't, of course, but you likely wouldn't wash an afghan as often as you might a smaller pup blankie.)

#16 needle - for sewing in ends, though you will not have a lot of ends to sew in on this stitch if you use only two colors and work it changing color every two rows as I've done.

Note: I won't use abbreviations in the text, but I will use them in the pics so here is a list.

Abbreviations
ch = chain
dc = double crochet
hk = hook
sl st = slip stitch
sk = skip

And we're off...

Also note that this particular pattern is a multiple of 4. If you want a larger blankie, just chain a larger number. This one would probably be good to wrap a Barbie doll in, or just lay over a larger doll.

Completed piece approximately 14" x 16"

Row 1: With green Chain 52, (if you don't know how to chain, you're in BIG trouble. LOL You should immediately go to the Learning to Crochet tutorials!), work 3 double crochets in 4th chain from hook,  * skip 3 chains, (single crochet in next chain, chain 3, 3 double crochets in same stitch); repeat from * to last 4 chains, skip 3 chains, end 1 single crochet in last stitch ( 12 "boxes" made) (alternate method for underlined part (not pictured):  chain 2 rather than chain 3 after your single crochet. I find this adequate for myself.)

Now here are the steps with pictures:

Row 2: chain 2 or 3 (whatever brings you up to the right height), turn, 3 double crochet in space between last single crochet and box of previous row (pictured, if you prefer you can go INTO the single crochet), * insert hook under chain-3, work slip stitch over chain-3 loop in same space, chain 3, 3 double crochet in same space, repeat from * ending with 1 single crochet in top of chain 3, drop green (do not cut), pick up white. [alternate method for underlined part (not pictured): * insert hook under chain-3, work (single crochet, chain 2, 3 double crochets) in same space]

Once again, in pictures:

ch 3, turn, 3 double crochet in space between last single crochet and box of previous row (pictured, if you prefer you can go INTO the single crochet),	* insert hk under chain-3,	slip stitch under chain-3
chain 3, 3 double crochet in same space, repeat from *	ending with 1 single crochet in top of chain 3, (note: you will finish sc in new color), drop green but DO NOT CUT, pick up white	beginning Row 3

Rows 3-31: Repeat ROW 2, changing color every other row. Row 31 will be a white row. Do not cut yarn. Continue with border on next page.

picture above shows picking up the dropped color

completing the stitch with the dropped color
Picture shows 6 rows worked, preparing to begin row 7 with white

05/04/2007


 

The buttons above were my first at the Cabana. I keep them for sentimental reasons. :-)

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