If you want to learn to crochet, join us in making this cozy Afghan.  Each month, beginning in February, you will learn how to crochet three different blocks.  After 10 months (in November, you will have 30 different blocks in total that we will learn to stitch together in December to make a wonderful lap-sized afghan perfect for Christmas gift giving, although, you may be tempted to keep this for yourself to use for snuggling on the couch.

Our crochet along is finished, but you can start anytime and work at your own pace.

This is the seventh part of the twelve-month series.   Refer to Part 1 for links to all six past posts.

Let’s start crocheting!

This month we will be turning our work and learn to crochet C2C on the diagonal.  Don’t worry this stitch builds upon your basic crochet skills, which makes it is VERY easy to learn.

I was so excited about this month’s post as  I have NEVER done a corner to corner stitch before, so I am going to learn to crochet C2C along with you!!  And you will be happy…no gauge!

Corner to corner crochet (C2C) is a technique that works on a diagonal – corner to corner just as it sounds. sometimes it is called diagonal box crochet. Boxes (also referred to as tiles, blocks, and squares) are crocheted on a diagonal, increasing each row by one box until your work  is as wide and long as you want it,  Then, you start decreasing each row.

C2C is also used if you want to create a “picture” on your project.  These are referred to as graphgans.  Sarah Zimmerman of Repeat Crafter Me  is a fabulous crochet designer for this type of work. Some of her patterns that use this technique are free. Here are a few examples. To find the pattern, click on the picture below.

Don’t worry, we are not doing anything that complicated.  But once you learn to crochet C2C, you can create these easily!!! In Part 11, we will also learn how to change the colors.

You can make a corner to corner crochet pattern in a square or rectangle. For a rectangle, you will keep adding boxes on one side but not the other in order to make the longer shape

A word of advice written by  Emma from Emma Wilkinson Designs for those who want to learn to crochet C2C:

C2C is like a staircase. Each box is one step, and each row builds another step. Row one has one step, Row 2 has two steps, etc. 

The hardest part is turning your work, and working out where to slip stitch to join your ‘steps’ But once you’ve done 3 or 4 rows, it should start to be really clear. persistence is the key, as with any new technique you are learning!

So let’s learn to crochet C2C!  We will learn the stitch as we make the block.

BLOCK 16 – The standard C2C  with a Double Crochet (DC)

To start – Chain 6

ROW 1 – Double Crochet (DC) in 4th chain from hook, then DC in each of next 2 stitches. (3 double crochets) Turn

ROW 2 – Chain 6. DC in 4th chain from hook, then DC in each of next 2 stitches. This is your first box of Row 2.  To create the second box of Row 2, slip stitch (sl st) into the space between the third DC and the chain 3 stitches on the left side of the first box.  CH 3, 3 DC into that same space. Turn

ROW 3 – Chain 6. DC in 4th chain from hook, then DC in each of next 2 stitches. Then, (sl st, CH 3, 3 DC) once into the end (chain 3 space) of each of the two boxes from Row 2..   Turn

Keep growing your square by repeating Row 3, adding one more box each time. Do this until the row that you’re on measures 10 inches. You should have a triangle that’s the first half of your C2C square.

DECREASING

NEXT ROW – Sl st in each of the 3 DC stitches of the first box. Then work your boxes as normal across the row (sl st, CH 3, 3 DC) until you get to the last box.  Do not crochet a box in the last box.  Instead, simply slip stitch into that space.  Turn

Repeat this row until you have only one box left.  Finish off.

EDGING

When you look down the sides of the square you will see alternate blocks.  One block you will see the double crochets as you normally would and the second block is turned on it’s side.  To make the edging, single crochet (SC) in each of the double crochets of the normal block and single crochet twice (SC2) in each of the chain spaces of the sideways block.  Do this on all the sides with a SC3 in the corners. 

BLOCK 17 – The Mini C2C

This is simply another version of C2C called the “mini” C2C because it uses the Half Double Crochet (HDC) instead of the Double Crochet. It looks much the same, however, the stitches are tighter.

Basically it is the same technique as Block 16 with the difference being we are going to use a Half-Double crochet (HDC) in place of the DC.

Instead of SC, CH 3, 3DC  you are going to SC, CH2, 2HDC.  To increase, you will start the row with a CH4 and HDC in the 3^rd chain from the hook (two HDC into the chain).

Making the block

Chain 4

ROW 1 – HDC in 3rd chain from hook, then HDC in next stitch. Turn

ROW 2 – Chain 4. HDC in 3rd chain from hook, then HDC in next stitch. This is your first box of Row 2.  To create the second box of Row 2, slip stitch into the space between the second DC and the chain 2 stitches on the left side of the first box.  Chain 2, 2 HDC into that same space. Turn

ROW 3 – Chain 4. HDC in 3rd ch from hook, then HDC in next stitch. Then, (sl st, ch 2, 2 HDC) once into the end of each of the two boxes from Row 2. (see picture).   Turn

Keep growing your square by repeating Row 3, adding one more box each time until the row that you’re on measures 10 inches.

DECREASING

NEXT ROW – Sl st in each of the 2 HDC stitches of the first box. Then work your boxes as normal across the row (sl st, ch2 , 2 HDC) until you get to the last box.  Do not crochet a box in the last box.  Slip stitch into that space.  Turn

Repeat this row until you have only one box left.  Finish off.

EDGING

As above, you will have alternating blocks down each side.  To make the edging, single crochet (SC) in each of the half double crochets of the normal block and single crochet once in each of the chain spaces of the sideways block.  Do this on all the sides with a SC3 in the corners.

BLOCK 18 – C2C with Moss Stitch

Although C2C is normally worked using the diagonal box stitches, you can work the C2C in other stitches.  Remember the moss stitch from Part 2 ?  This is a great stitch to C2C and looks fabulous with variegated yarn.

The hardest part of this stitch is figuring out which space to crochet into when turning.  Remember from our moss stitch tutorial, you will be single crocheting into the chain space of the previous row.   The Single Crochet stitch looks like a “V”.  The Chain 1 Space would be the space that does NOT look like a “V”.  Single crochet into the Chain space and skip the “V”.

MAKING THE BLOCK

Chain 3.

ROW 1 – SC in the 3rd chain from the hook . Turn

ROW 2 – Chain 3. In the chain 3 space of the previous row work a SC, then CH 1 and work another SC in the same space. Turn

ROW 3 – Chain 3. Skip the first single crochet, SC in the first chain 1 space,  CH 1. (SC, CH 1, SC) in the chain 3 space of previous row.  Turn

ROW 4 – CH 3,  SC in the first chain 1 space, CH 1, *SC, CH 1* in each of the remaining chain 1 spaces, (SC, CH 1, SC) in the chain 3 space at end of the row. Turn

Repeat until work measure 10 inches

Decreasing

NOTE: Your turning chain becomes a Chain 2 NOT a Chain 3 when decreasing!!!

ROW 1 (also called transition row) – CH 2, skip first , SC in the first chain 1 space, CH 1, *SC, CH 1* in each remaining chain 1 spaces (SC, HDC) in the chain 3 space at end of the row. Turn

ROW 2 – CH 2, skip first two stitches, SC in the chain 1 space CH 1, *SC, CH 1* in each remaining chain 1 space to last space. SC in the final chain 1 space but do NOT CH 1,  SC in the chain 2 space at end of row. Turn

Repeat Row 2 until there are three stitches remaining.( 2^nd to last row).  CH2, work a SC in the second chain 1 space (as before), then SC in the chain 2 space (NO CHAIN IN BETWEEN)

LAST ROW – turn, CH 1, and SC in the chain 2 space. Finish off. 

EDGING

SC in each row down each of the sides with 3 SC in the corners.

Can you think of other stitches you could do using this method.  Perhaps the mesh or seed stitch?

Remember if you have any questions or need any help, send me an email or PM me on Facebook.

EXTRA PROJECTS

Once you learn to crochet C2C try these projects. A few more projects for you to practice these stitches and to keep you busy until next month.

NEXT MONTH  – We may be going to the beach!!

SEE YOU AUGUST 5.