The Linen Stitch
Woefully, I have been absent from the blog-o-sphere for a while. It’s been a busy and full semester with lots of teaching, family stuff, and the start of a new crochet class at The Knitter’s Edge. My voice students are now preparing for their end-of-semester performances, and the end of my academic year is within a week of being finished. You know what that means….so much crafting for 3 1/2 months!!!
Once the flurry of Christmas gift-making came to an end, I resumed a few projects that had been put on hold. One of them was a set of placemats I designed for my daughter using the knit linen stitch. I love how they look with her dishes.
It’s an absolutely beautiful stitch but, because I’m changing colors every row, it takes for-EVER. Don’t get me wrong – they are gorgeous and I will finish them. It did make me want to find a faster version, though. Enter….the crochet version! This link takes you to a very clear tutorial with pictures. And, here’s what it looks like up close.
I have become obsessed with the linen stitch, or the woven stitch as it’s also known, at least for the time being. I’ve just finished 4 placemats for my kitchen (except for the fringe), all done in crochet. A couple of weeks ago, I took one to crochet class to share. One of the students brought along the baby blanket she had started that week. Lo and behold, both projects were in linen stitch!!! So, of course, the class decided to make the Edward Baby Blanket, found on Etsy. At the next class, we compared our projects. Look at the gorgeous colors!
Our blankets are crocheted with Universal Yarn’s Cotton Supreme, a super soft, machine washable yarn with beautiful, vibrant colors. Because we each chose our own color palettes, each blanket looks completely different. Here’s what the picture on the pattern looks like…
…definitely a testament to the influence color choice has on a project.
I never get tired of this stitch, and I love the dense but flexible fabric it creates. I’ve also used it for a scarf, one that I crocheted lengthwise, using two colors, which created horizontal stripes. That’s only the tip of the iceberg with this stitch. You should try it!