Scrapbooking with Crotat by Helen Free

Scrapbooking with Crotat

Crochet
June 2011
both US and UK
English
This pattern is available for £4.95 GBP
buy it now or visit pattern website

These colourful motifs are designed to enhance your scrapbooking pages. They can also be used on your clothes, accessories or anything else you can think of.

Written instructions and stitch diagrams are included. This pattern does not include basic Crotat Instructions. You will need to download the free eBook if you do not know how to Crotat.

Crochet tatting is a unique form of tatting using a crochet hook. Traditional tatting is done with shuttles. Cro-tat is similar in nature to “Needle Tatting” where the knots (or stitches) are worked on to the needle and then more thread is pulled through them. However, Cro-tat is distinct from these other forms in that it combines the flexibility of crochet and the ease of use of a crochet hook. The hook used has a long straight shank and a smaller head than regular hooks.

You may think this is a new technique, however, instructions for “Tatting with a Crochet Hook” are given in 1869 Godey’s Lady Book ,Vol. 78, pages 271 and 272. A Czech book, produced for the “Womens Hand Work School” in Prague 1881 also has some instructions.

The technique is surprisingly simple and versatile. Use small hooks and thread for lacy edgings and motifs for your clothes or for to make doilies. Use larger hooks and yarn to make items to wear.

Unfortunately, Crotat is not as popular as it once was so pattern books and hooks are not as widely available. However, there is a set of Prym hooks suitable for thread while, for larger items, those lovely wooden or bamboo hooks, with a slight adjustment to the head, are perfect.

Once you have mastered the basic ring, the rest is easy. And to help you do this, I have produced a free “How to Crotat” eBook.

Crotat is best worked with a yarn or thread which doesn’t stretch. I prefer cotton based.

Materials: DMC Perle or Petra No.5 in the colours of your choice.
Equipment: 2.00mm Crotat hook, 2.00mm Crochet hook (or you could use a 2.00mm bamboo hook and adjust the head to make it suitable for Crotat).

You have permission for items made from any of my patterns to be sold either for charity or personal profit. This does not include mass production and/or paying other people to make them so that you can sell them. Please credit Helen Free, Enfys or Rainbow Valley Crochet with the design, and include a link back to www.enfys.me.uk

You do not have permission to reproduce or distribute this pattern, whether mechanically, electronically or any other means, including photocopying. You most certainly do not have permission to load them to another site for your own profit.

All patterns are available in both UK terminology and US terminology. My patterns are not watermarked or locked, apart from a copyright statement at the bottom of each page.

As required by “The Consumer Contracts (Information, Cancellation and Additional Charges) Regulations 2013”, a copy of the T&C is included with your download.