Pretty Crochet Trim

This is my pattern/tutorial for a little itty-bitty piece of Pretty Crochet Trim.

I made my trim specifically to fit around this glass candle jar, and I think jars do look really good with a sweet bit of pretty hooky around them.. Jars for holding candles, flowers, sweets, preserves, they are lovely to have around the home and make cute gifts too.

And there's no saying you have to trim a jar either....you could make longer lengths to trim the front of shelves, or you could stitch a bit of trim onto a pretty towel or cloth, or even hem garments with it I guess. It would look cute along the bottom edge of a scarf, or round the edge of a small cushion. Endless possibilities!

So before we begin, a little summary of the basic stitches. I'm writing using UK crochet terms ::

sl st [slip stitch] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch, then through the loop on your hook.

dc [double crochet] :: insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (two loops on hook), yarn over and pull through both loops on hook (note :: this is equivalent to the US sc stitch)

tr [treble] :: yarn over, insert hook, yarn over, pull the loop back through the stitch (three loops on hook), yarn over and pull through two loops on hook (two loops left on hook), yarn over and pull through remaining two loops (note :: this is equivalent to the US dc stitch)

Firstly make your foundation chain. It needs to be multiples of THREE, and needs to fit whatever object you are intending to trim. If it's going go round a jar, aim for very slightly tighter than you think so that it'll stay put and not slip down.

When you've chained the required length, add another 3 chains for turning.

The first row is worked in Treble crochet, you will begin by working into the 3rd chain from the hook, as shown above where I've put my needle.

This is your first tr stitch made....

...continue along the row making 1 tr into each chain. Fasten off.

You should keep your work with the Right Side facing you now, OK? So don't turn the work.

You will be working the next row right to left, starting at the end with no tail ends sticking out.

Choose your edging colour, and begin by inserting the hook into the top of the turning chain from the previous row (as pictured above). Pull the new colour through to the front, making sure you leave a decent tail end for darning in. Nothing more frustrating than struggling to darn in a too-short tail end!

Chain 2 (counts as 1 dc)

Work 1dc into each stitch along the row.

Can you see in the picture above how I'm making sure I work my dc stitches over the tail end as I go by holding it horizontally along the top of the row? Do this for the first 6-8 stitches, then flip the work over.....

.....thread a darning needle, and darn the tail end back on itself, as above. This is a neat way of dealing with ends As You Go.

There, that's the second row completed. Fasten off.

Now keeping the same colour, and keeping the Right Side facing you, turn the work upside down. You'll be working this row into the bottom of the foundation chain. Can you see above, your hook should pass under a single loop? Pull the yarn through to the front, chain 2 (counts as 1 dc), then work a dc stitch into each loop of the foundation chain.

Remember to do the same thing as before with the tail end...crochet over it for a short way, then darn it back on itself on the wrong side.

That's the top band finished now, with all three rows worked from the Right Side.

Now flip the work over, you'll be working the rest of the trim from the Wrong Side.

Insert your hook into the first stitch and pull a loop through (as above)

You're going to be making a series of chain loops now.

So chain 4, skip two stitches, then work 1dc into the next stitch (as above)

*Chain 4, skip 2 stitches, then 1dc into next stitch* (as above).

Repeat between ** all the way along the row, ending in a dc into the last stitch. Fasten off.

Chain loops made.

Do not turn the work. Go back to the beginning where you started the previous row, you'll be working from right to left with the Wrong Side facing you. Insert hook into first chain again and pull the light green yarn through.

Chain 3 (picture above).

Work 1dc into the middle stitch of the chain loop below (as above)

Chain 3 (as above)

Work 1dc into same stitch as previous dc. You are making little chain loop "buds" as pictured above.

*Chain 2, then 1dc into middle stitch of next chain loop, chain 3, 1dc into same stitch*

This is your second "bud" made (picture above).

Repeat between **, working your way along the row making little buds in the centre of each chain loop.

When the last bud has been made, chain 3, then slip stitch into the last stitch of the edging row below to anchor. Fasten off.

Yaaay, a weeny row of buds! The above picture shows how it should look from the Right Side....remember you've been working the stitches with the Wrong Sides facing you, it should look slightly neater and slightly more "buddish" from the right side!

Now for the weeny flowers. And I'm sorry if this is confusing, but I found the flowers work best if you work them from the Right Side, so make sure you've got the Right Side facing you now.

Choose a colour for your flower, insert your hook through the 2nd (middle) chain of the green "bud" and pull the yarn through to the front (as above).

Chain 4, then 1 dc into same stitch (above)

Chain 5, then 1dc into same stitch (above)

Chain 3, then 1 dc into same stitch (above). Fasten off.

Remember to leave decent length tail ends when you start and finish each flower. You need to neatly darn both ends into the back of the flower...I like to go first one way, then darn back again the other way so that the end is secure, then snip off.

As in the picture above, you work the flowers into alternate buds, not into every one.

You can make the flowers all different colours, or maybe all one colour (red would look good for Festive Trim, almost like berries).

For the final finishing touch, I decided to weave a contrasting coloured yarn through the first row of Trebles. Thread up a darning needle, secure the end of the yarn, then weave in and out of the spaces between the treble stitches, as above.

I love this effect!

Depending on the thickness of your yarn, you may want to take the thread back on itself and add a second run right next to the first, as I did above.

Awwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!!!!!!!!!!

Now if you're making your trim to fit round a jar, you'll need to stitch it up at the sides. Put Right Sides together, and use the tail ends to over sew the two ends of the trim together. I used a green tail end to sew up the green bits, and one of the first red tail ends to sew up the top bit. Any other tail ends that are left will need to be threaded onto a needle and carefully darned in.

There! All finished and Ready To Trim!

So cute!

I'm looking at this and already I'm thinking of a red, white and green version for Christmas candles, possibly with little bells added.............it also occurred to me that if I made the first row of stitches taller (ie a double treble stitch), then I could weave some 5mm red and white gingham ribbon through!!!!!! Yipppeeeeeeeeee, oh I do love to skip off on a creative buzz, don't you?!

I hope you have fun making this Pretty Trim, and I hope once you've made one, you'll perhaps think about adapting it and making it your own. Add buttons, beads, or little bells instead of flowers. Try out different colour combo's. Thread ribbon through.

Have lots of hooky fun and get Trimming with abandon!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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ps you can read my original Ta-dah post about the candle trim here.

♥

All my tutorials are created for you to use and enjoy for free.  As I'm sure you can appreciate, they take a lot of time and energy to create. Ooodles of it. So if you would like to support what I do here in the Attic you can make a small donation......

 

xx Thank you so much, and happy hooking! xx

♥

 

 

 

 

Comments

[Lisa de Speville]

I've been following your blog for a while now - most enjoyable. I'm actually busy with a lovely hexagon baby blanket out of 100% bamboo yarn. So soft!

Your link to subscribe to the blog feed doesn't work - just gives code (both on the bottom right and top of page). I'd love to get your blog in my inbox.

Thanks for the colour and hooky inspirations.

Lisa
South Africa

[Rosy Hill]

Thank you so much for that brilliant tutorial. That's Christmas presents for work people sorted! :-)

[Peggy]

Amaaaaaaaaaaaazing; a pretty trim will be my next project after my ripple scarf (to practise the ripple pattern). I am so enjoying rediscovering hooking after a 15 year break - thankyou so much for your inspiration. Attic 24 is my guilty pleasure!

[Amy @ Heritage Homamaker]

Lucy girl, I LOVE this! I'll definitely be making some of these for my candle jars. I may make some longer ones as curtain pull-backs for my daughter's room, too!

[sue]

your tutorial is brilliant and so clear... I have made one and will make more once I find more jam jars. they are so pretty thank you

[MicheyMoo]

Lucy,
Thank you sooooooo much for this tutorial. I've been crocheting basic patterns since my grandmother first taught me 30+ years ago and never ever believed I could follow a pattern. However, I'm almost finished making the front of a pillow using your blooming flower pattern and I'm loving it. Not as colourful as yours though as I wanted it to coordinate with my bedroom's colour scheme.
And now this is perfect timing for this pattern as I need to whip up a couple more handmade things for an advent swap I'm taking part in this weekend.!! Thank you, thank you, thank you.
I so love stopping by your dear blog all the time for inspiration about all things hooky.
Will come back in next day or say and contribute for your time and effort.
It is much, much appreciated.
Have a beautiful day. Michey xx

[noonie]

This would make great tinsel on a tree... wish I could get my head around crochet, tis why I read here, you keep inspiring me to find time to sit down and figure it out.

[Stacey]

Thank yooooooou! :D

[Sara-Nicole]

Lucy,
Thanks tonnes for posting this delightful tutorial - I just love visiting your page and reading up on all of your tips and tricks :)
I have dug out some of my mum's canning jars from the shed, washed them up a bit and I plan on decorating them with this little trim tutorial!

I nabbed Christmas coloured yarn at the craft store yesterday and I'm going to fill the jars with dry cupcake ingredients and such for Christmas gifties!!

*off to crochet!*

[Alisia]

So adorable! I love it!

[cybercita]

Can't wait to have a go at this. It's adorable. Thanks so much!

[Valerie Jones]

Lucy, this trim is beautiful! I'm going to take your idea for giving trimmed jars/candles for the holidays. I truly appreciate all of your fantastic tutorials and your photography.

Warmest regards,
Valerie
Ohio, USA

[sandi]

from the USA...thanks for your post. You are such an inspiration to me even though I am just now learning; I hope to be able to crochet like you one day. thanks.

[Sonia]

You do such a WONDERFUL job of explaining your stitches. The photos are very helpful as well. Thank you!!

[Sue]

Thank you so much! You've put so much time and effort into this - I hope you know how much you're appreciated and loved!

[pia kelly]

hi! i'm from argentina and i love your blog and ideas! i think you could help me to kint cupcakes, they are difficult to me!!! please!
kisses from Pia

[LittleBe]

Hi Lucy,
I just love your blog and many others here in Belgium too!
Happy holiday's and à great 2012
Liefs,
Xxx
LittleBe

[Maria]

I only now saw this lovely tutorial work, thanks!

[Cindy]

Thanks for sharing this. I made this project over the last couple of days and it would have been perfect.. except my 3 year old decided to unzip my bag, take out the scissors, and cut into it in a couple of places. I'm happy to report I was able to patch it together and you can only tell in one spot. I re-worked the top edge row completely but it only took a couple of minutes. I love it - and learned an important lesson that my little guy has wised up to my little bag of knitting/crocheting fun! LOL

[Renee]

What yarn are you using :)

[Rachel]

Lovely! This would be perfect trim for a jean skirt. I am 15 and love crocheting... and really should get back to my Algebra now, ugh.

[Linda]

Love this trim. Thanks so much for your clear tutorial. I think it would be great for anything, but I would use it as grapes! Maybe even to put around a wine bottle (all of the clusters in a wine color).

[Robyn]

Thank you for the tutorial! I love this trim and will make it as soon as I finish the bag I'm making! Love Love Love your blog!!

[Jessica]

Another very pretty idea that I posted from you on my Blog:
http://schoenstricken.de/2012/09/kerzenglas-deko/
I love your work. Very nice. Thank you for sharing!

[Cat G]

My Christmas presents to friends are going to be jars full of homemade Christmas spiced sugar body scrub with this trim in Christmas colours round it. Thanks so much for all the inspiration you give me. X