Simple Crochet Braid Trim

Don't you love to sit down and simply mess about with yarn? Sometimes the most surprising things happen.

Here are some results of a recent yarny play session at the Micawber house:

Braided-looking Crochet Trim
(Yarn used is Planet Penny Cotton Club)

Each of the above trims is a variation on a very simple theme: chain 2, make a stitch in the back loop of the first chain, and go from there.

Trims are crocheted with the right side facing at all times. No turning necessary.

Let's start with the most basic. It's a simple row of linked single crochets, but it looks more like some kind of double chain.

Single Crochet Chain

Chain 2, then insert hook through the back loop only of the first chain:

Pull up a loop, then pull through both loops. First single crochet made.

Inserting hook through the back loop of the single crochet you just made...

...make another single crochet.

That's it - pretty simple, really. Just keep making single crochets, always inserting hook into the back loop of the previous single crochet. (In the photo below the back loop is marked with a dot. It really looks more like a middle loop because the work is turned towards you at all times.)

Here's what it looks like a few inches later:

This basic braid is a very handy replacement for the chain stitches used to start a flat oval (such as the sole of a baby bootie). If you work your rounds into the top loops of the single crochet, you will avoid the gaps which often appear with a standard chain stitch.

Now let's see what happens when we add a chain stitch between each single crochet.

Single Crochet Simple Braid

Chain 2, and single crochet in the back loop only of the first chain. Now chain 1...

...and single crochet in the back loop of the previous single crochet. (The back loop is marked by a dot in the photo above.) Do not turn your work.

Repeat these steps (ch 1, sc in back loop of previous sc).

This gives us a nice flat braid:

So what happens if we chain 2 between single crochets?

Single Crochet Bumpy Braid

Chain 2, single crochet in the back loop of first chain. *Chain 2, single crochet in back loop of previous single crochet*. Repeat from * to *.

Here's what it looks like (this is my favourite so far):

Okay, one last experiment. How about replacing the single crochets with half-double crochets?

Half-Double Crochet Bumpy Braid

Chain 2, half-double crochet in back loop of first chain...

 ...chain 2, and half-double crochet in back loop of previous hdc. (Back loop is marked with a white dot in photo above.)

Repeat these steps (ch 2, hdc in back loop of previous hdc)...

...and you'll get a braid that looks like this:

Here are my four crochet "braids" all in a row:

Note: These braids do have a tendency to twist - blocking is highly recommended. You can even press them with an iron if you like (if the fiber content allows). I think the three on the right would make a simple, pretty trim for towels, napkins, or clothing items.

Grab yourself a hook and some yarn, and start playing around with various stitch combinations. You never know what you might come up with.

Thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!

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