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!
