Happy June to you all!
My list of crochet techniques to try only grows: playing with the crocodile stitch and Jacob’s Ladder technique, crocheting with wire or cassette tape (provided I am convinced it’s not hazardous to my health to do so), beaded crochet, more intensive color work, and (the most recent addition) overlay crochet.
Overlay crochet is a technique that produces flat but multi-layered motifs in the round. In its fullest version the “background” is stitched in back loops only and the front loops are used to stitch outer-round colors into the inner rounds either by chains connecting them or by very long stitches. It is a great elaboration of spike stitches; I found simpler patterns that have this idea on Ravelry and Crochetville (both free).
Online patterns for overlay are not abundant. There is a woman in Germany who sells beautiful patterns on Etsy and Ravelry under the name CAROcreated; I chose this pattern of hers as my entree into overlay crochet. I ordered 2-ply afghan yarn (sport weight) from Herrschners, below, to make it, in colors chosen on a whim.
There is a much simpler free pattern of an overlay crochet heart available as well, but I went to the CARO pattern because I had some confusion that twisted me up when I looked at it. I think it is not so hard as I thought at first. The only other pattern I found that was called overlay crochet was an afghan block with overlaid hummingbirds, though I believe these Tangled Web and Celtic Cross afghan blocks both qualify. Offline, there is a book called Overlay Crochet Jewelry, by Melody MacDuffee, who really developed and popularized the technique, and one chapter (also by her) in the book Crochet Master Class.
I would have to consult the books to know what overlay crochet does and does not consist of “officially.” This flower (free) is three-dimensional because each layer of petals is made in two rounds of stitching. To add a layer of petals, you start by making a round of single crochet in the spaces between the petals of the previous layer, joined by enough chains to make a circle but no more. Those chains lie behind the previous layer of petals and well below their tips; the second round of stitching creates the next layer of petals on those chains. I’m pretty sure that technique alone is not overlay crochet, though there is a beautiful stained glass afghan square on Ravelry that combines this technique with “proper” overlay crochet.
Finally, on the stained glass topic, here is another stained glass crochet project – this time far, far larger – that also uses a technique that ends looking similar to overlay crochet. However, the description says the front is made first and the back after, so I doubt the construction details are the same as the overlay patterns I’ve linked to.
Anyway! That’s my plan. You will certainly see my CAROcreated pattern when I finish, and I’ll let you know what I learn about overlay crochet!
Hi there,
thanks for posting a link to my overlay crochet heart.
I’m sorry to hear that you found the directions unclear.
What exactly did you not understand?
I did have the pattern tested by several people and they all said the directions were very clear.
I’d just like to know so I can improve them, thanks.
Stephanie
Thanks for your comment! I think the only thing that really confused me was the color change to start a round. For the first to second round transition: Is the first loop of the new color pulled through the last loop of the old color (the one left on the hook when you complete the slip stitch) to become the first chain of the second round’s ch 3 start? Or maybe you loosely finish off round 1’s ending slip stitch, pull up a loop of the new color through the top of the stitch as usual for a previous round’s stitch, and then chain 3 afterward?
I had figured I would eventually figure it out comparing to the pictures, after trying a different overlay project. Looking again at your pattern I think I convinced myself I was more confused than I was, because the rest looks perfectly clear. Thank you again for your reply and I’m going to edit the post to be less dramatic. It is a lovely heart!
Thank you for your reply 🙂
Yes, the second colour is attached by drawing the yarn through the loop created by the last slip stitch of the previous round. I found that this way the colours run more evenly and you don’t get little bits of the new colour in the previous round.
I would love to see your completed heart so please don’t hesitate to send me photos, please 😉