Crochet Study Buddy

 

I was in two minds whether to post this to my blog as in my opinion it's certainly not very good.  However, as the name of the blog suggests, it's imperfect because I'm still learning.

So...here is a crochet study buddy.  Or whatever you wish to call it.  This was my first successful completed item using crochet in the round technique.  In the round is mainly used in amigurumi items for a neater finish.

For those that aren't aware, in the round is basically as it sounds.  No rows, just continuing where your last stitch ended.

The other part of the technique that I have not long discovered is yarn under the hook not over like standard crochet.

I'm not going to give precise instructions on how to make this as it was a trial run to see if I could do it but I will give you the starting point that I used.

Instead of a magic circle (as I struggle to tighten this shut at times) I started with 2 chains and then inserted the hook into the second chain from the hook and added 6 double crochet stitches into this chain.

You do not need to add a turning chain or even turn your work - the next round (not row) starts straight away so I then added 2 double crochet stitches into each stitch giving me 12 stitches in this round.

To increase further, add 1 double crochet in the next stitch then 2 double crochet in the next stitch - repeat round until 18 stitches in total.

Then to increase further still - add 1 double crochet into the next 2 stitches then 2 double crochet into the next stitch, repeating all the way around to 24 stitches.

However much you wish to increase by - increase the amount of double crochet stitches in each stitch and add 2 double crochet stitches into the next stitch. For example, add 1 double crochet stitch into the next 3 stitches followed by 2 double crochet stitches into the next stitch or add 1 double crochet stitch into the next 4 stitches followed by 2 double crochet stitches into the next stitch.  I hope that makes sense.

Once you are happy with how wide your work is, you can stick to just 1 double crochet stitch in each stitch in the round.

I have not decreased the study buddy to complete but I sewed it shut flat to add to the shape.

The arms were my first attempt at crocheting on both sides of the foundation chain - this looks a little rough but it was my first attempt!

At the end of the day, my 13 year old daughter likes it and said it will come in handy when doing her maths homework when she needs something to squeeze in frustration!!!