I last wrote about the Special Olympics scarf project in January.
At the time, I had just finished this scarf as part of a project the Off the Hook Crochet Guild was working on:
I had wanted to learn how to do the “join as you go” method of granny squares, so I used that joining technique on this project. Once joined, I found that the scarf wasn’t quite wide enough to meet the guidelines, so I added a single crochet border.
The reason I am thinking about scarves as we head into summer is that the colors for the 2012 Special Olympics scarf project have recently been released: Red Heart Super Saver cherry red and soft navy, or Red Heart Soft really red and navy
The only requirements for the scarf itself are that you use the official yarn and colors and that the finished scarf measures approximately 6″ wide and is 54″ to 60″ long.
This leaves any interested crocheters the opportunity to try out a new stitch patterns and joining techniques, and today I decided to explore the technique known as interlocking crochet.
I first learned of this method last March when I bought Tanis Galik’s book Interlocking Crochet.
Also known as double filet, intermeshing or interweave crochet, what sold me on the book was Ms. Galik’s enthusiasm for and devotion to this method:
With hook in hand and skeins of soft navy and cherry red beside me, I first made foundation row A:
and then foundation row B:
After 45 minutes to an hour of fiddling and frogging (unraveling), I completed this swatch:
My first foray into interlocking crochet was neither a complete success nor a complete failure.
It required a lot more of my attention than I am accustomed to giving crochet at this point, and even with my full attention, I still made a number of mistakes, some of which are visible in this swatch, and some of which were so egregious and impossible to work around, I had to frog my way back to the error and redo it.
I also found that the resulting fabric is dense and does not have a lot of drape, so while it is ideal for rugs, totes, purses, placemats, hot pads, and warm blankets, I think that this might not be the best technique for a scarf worn south of the Maxon-Dixon line.
To learn more about interlocking crochet, you can check out Tanis Galki’s website that comes complete with video tutorials that I will be watching just as soon as I post this blog.
And if you want to know more about how this project came to be, you can watch this video:
*tissue alert: some portions of this video may move you to tears.
I have this book on my amazon wishlist. 🙂 I think first I need to try out some of the other new techniques in the other books I got recently.
After I went to bed last night, I realized that this is method would make lovely pet mats. So many possibilities.
as always you’ve inspired me anew….
checked out Tanis Galik’s site and have been bitten by the bug… this technique will be the perfect one to use for creating new much needed potholders for my sister… the last ones I made for her were sewn from double quilted fabric…these are more in keeping with my love of crochet!!!
Thank you for sharing your project! I’m inspired both to try interlocking crochet (it looks so unique!) and to participate in the Special Olympic Scarf project!!
This can be scarf fabric with lace weight or light sock weight yarn, if you have the patience to work at the small gauge. A larger than usual hook also helps the drape a bit. Agree that heavier yarns lean toward upholstery fabric and rugs.
I found using one size larger hook creates a very soft feel to interlocking and then the item can be worn as a scarf. I am using aran wool. I was also recently bitten by the interlocking bug and working on a large sampler bedspread.