I made this yesterday as a gift for my friend who just so happens to be named “Joy”. I always try to get her a Christmas gift that says “Joy”. It’s probably super-cheesy of me but it’s just the way it is! This crochet project uses 3 simple crochet stitches…
If you know how to do these very simple stitches, this project will be super easy. If you don’t know how, then click the word above and it will take you to a link with easy directions, including pictures.
Supplies:
3 oz. cotton yarn
cotton dish towel
scissors
large sewing needle
size F 3.75mm crochet hook
disappearing ink marker
ruler or measuring tape
fabric hot glue sticks
hot glue gun
tweezers
First of all, I got this kitchen towel at Target. It has great texture. I love it!
Begin by marking the side of your towel (that will have the trim) every 1/2 inch, as shown above.
Next, measure your yarn. This is the yarn I have chosen for my project. It needs to be 15 times the length of the edge you will be crocheting.
I know! It’s a whole lot of yarn but trust me on this. Now, thread your needle so that the yarn is doubled. Do not knot the end of the yarn, leave it loose!
This is the needle I’m using, only because it’s super chunky and I felt like it would do the job at getting 2 threads of yarn through each hole. You can test your needle by pushing it through on that first mark and making sure it fits.
Now, make your first stitch. Starting on the back side, push the needle and all those miles of yarn through the hole, leave about an 8 inch tail on the back side.
Now, using your mark that’s on the back, push your needle through the front side, pull all the yarn through following that needle and then you will have made your first stitch!
Next, you will bring your needle back over the top edge and tuck it underneath that stitch.
Then stitch right into the next marked place, stitching needle from front to back. You will then pull the thread over and tuck it under the stitch loop, as shown above. Repeat these steps across the entire edge. This is called “A BLANKET STITCH” so congratulations on making this new stitch, if it’s new to you!
As usual, I got caught up in crocheting and forgot to take a few pictures. I’m so sorry! After your blanket stitch is completed across bottom edge, then you can leave about 6 inch tail and cut your yarn. Next, make a slip knot on your crochet hook and we will begin crocheting on the far right side of your edge (a shown above). Make 3 single crochets in each of the “stitches” in the blanket stitch. When you get to the other side of the edge, then turn and chain one in that first stitch. Skip 2 stitches and then make 5 double crochets in the next stitch (all 5 in that one stitch). Then you’ll skip 2 stitches again and repeat. Here’s the pattern…
5 dc in next st
skip 2 st
sc in next st
skip 2 st
5 dc in next st…
repeat pattern until you have finished the entire edge.
Using those “tails” from the previous blanket stitch, tie off your work.
Now it’s time to “faux embroider” the word JOY.
Begin by making a really long chain. Try to write the word on a flat surface, then continue crocheting chain length until it will spell out the entire word.
Using the hot glue (made specially for fabric) begin writing your word on the towel, working in 2-3 inch spaces, attach the yarn chain. I used tweezers because otherwise I would have lots of blisters on my fingertips. You can always write out the word using that disappearing marker that you used for the blanket stitch. That technique would ensure that it’s straight and even.
When the word is completed, tie off the ends and add a large dollop of glue to the knots.
Another option would be to hand embroider the word “joy” but I liked the texture of the chain. This towel will be for DISPLAY ONLY because of the glue, I’m not sure how well it would hold up in the washing machine. If it had been hand embroidered, it could be washed.
Happy crocheting!
1 Comment
Denyse Pashup
December 21, 2015 at 11:06 pmHow cute is THAT!