Modular Crochet Is The New Tradition

Posted by admin on July 23rd, 2007 filed in Articles

It’s the latest hot new trend that’s flooding crocheters from all over. Yes you guessed it, it’s modular crochet. If you’ve been living on another planet (just kidding) and never heard of modular crochet, it just means making your projects in pieces rather than in one or two pieces. In other words, if you’ve ever done a granny square shawl or any kind of motif crochet, you’ve already done modular crochet. Don’t underestimate it, though because I can tell you that new styles of fashion and new methods are being utilized in modular crochet all the time.

So Let’s Look At The Advantages Of Modular Crochet

Even though modular crochet means the extra work of joining the pieces together, it has quite a number of advantages. As anyone who has ever crocheted a big afghan out of motifs will tell you, it is convenient to work on small parts of a big project if you like to take your work with you. You can manipulate a skein of yarn, a hook and the small motif you’re working on as opposed to half a large afghan when you want to work on the move. This is quite common as well because crochet is such a joy that many crocheters simply love to take their work wherever they go giving the freedom to do little bits as they want to and modular crochet allows this.

And if your project is white or pastel, it keeps the beginning of the project from looking as if it’s been dragged all over the globe. Think about this for just one minute, for young mothers who like to work on a project in the park with the children, this is a valid point. Working with modular crochet also opens up some lovely capabilities in the pattern itself. Instead of being made of many motifs in different patterns and colours, a skirt, for example can be composed of solid colour motifs with patterned ones here and there.

Or hey, perhaps a sweater can be made to look like it is a solid colour yarn with lacy insets of finer yard or crochet thread. The modular crochet method can combine old-fashioned looks with modern ideas.

If you keep current with the joining as you go, even large projects won’t get too monotonous. It’s a great chore to do while watching television. The most usual way to merge pieces of modular crochet is with a whipstitch. Just use the same yarn in a large eye needle and sew through the back loops only. It might be simpler to place the right sides together. You may choose to use a crochet hook and chain stitch through the same back loops.

If you want to add a bit of style to your modular crochet project, you can single stitch some or all of the pieces together in matching or contrasting yarn for a raised ridge. Whichever way you do it, try the very old, new technique of modular crochet. You will not be disappointed.