Wide Linked Treble Crochet Tutorial

One of the problems with inventing stitches* is coming up with suitable stitch names.

Take the Wide Linked Treble Crochet (wltr), which makes up the main body of the just-published Sedona Top. Wltr is tall and lacy, with a hint of knitted drape, and more than a hint of Tunisian about the technique. It starts with a single yarnover, picks up two more loops in unlikely places, and has extra chains in the middle of the stitch.

It's basically a treble with flourishes - but what in the world do you call it?

("How about 'Fred'?" suggests Tallulah the Turtle. "Thanks, Tallulah," I say. "I'll bear that in mind for next time.")

Taking into consideration the stitch qualities - treble, linked, spaced one stitch apart - Wide Linked Treble seems reasonably appropriate and concise.**

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Linked stitches are most often worked into the horizontal strands of the previous stitch, which gives a pleasing (if rather regimented) appearance of horizontal lines running across the front of the work, and a dense, stable fabric:

Traditional Linked Treble Crochet,
worked back and forth (2 rows)

Wide Linked crochet, on the other hand, is worked into vertical strands of the previous stitch, with extra ch-1s added between each stitch. This opens up the work, breaking the horizontal lines and giving a lacy, almost criss-cross effect:

Wide Linked Treble Crochet,
worked back and forth (2 rows)

A row of Wide Linked stitches will use less yarn than a solid row of traditional stitches, giving you more bang for your yarny buck. Like traditional stitches, Wide Linked Crochet can be made taller or shorter according to your preference, by increasing or decreasing the initial chain stitches in each row, and the number of loops pulled up. (For a really lacy appearance, omit the initial yarnover.)

As with Tunisian crochet, you may want to increase your hook size when working Wide Linked crochet, to achieve a better drape in the finished fabric.

Some suggested uses for Wide Linked crochet include: garments, cowls (worked lengthwise or widthwise), shawls, and blankets.

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If you'd like to try Wide Linked Treble Crochet for yourself, here are the basic stitch instructions (video tutorial follows):

All crochet terms are American.

Ch multiple of 2 + 1 for base.
All rows: Ch 5 (counts as first wltr + ch-1), turn so top of ch is facing you,
yo, ins hook into back loop of 3rd ch from hook, pull up a lp, ch 1,
ins hook into back loop of 2nd ch from hook, pull up a lp, ch 1,
ins hook into 3rd st from hook, pull up a lp,
[yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook, ch 1.
First 2 wltr made.
*Yo, ins hook into left vertical strand of center segment of previous st, pull up a lp, ch 1,
ins hook into left vertical strand of bottom segment of previous st, pull up a lp, ch 1,
ins hook into 2nd st from hook, pull up a lp,
[yo, pull through 2 lps on hook] twice, yo, pull through 3 lps on hook, ch 1.
Repeat from * across, omitting final ch-1 at end of row.

Note: the Sedona Top pattern instructs you to ch 6, rather than 5, when turning to begin a new wltr row. (This number seemed to work best with the project yarn and hook size used.) You may chain either 5 or 6 when turning - whichever helps you maintain proper row height. (If chaining 6, pull up initial lps in the 4th and 6th ch from hook rather than the 3rd and 5th.)

Tips for Wide Linked Treble Crochet:

• Don't forget to chain 1 between each treble, and skip a stitch between trebles when working into row below.
• In plain pattern stitch (with no increases or decreases), trebles are always worked into trebles from row below; ch-1s between stitches are always skipped over.
• Watch your row ends - it's easy to miss a stitch there. Work final treble of each row into 4th turning chain from previous row.

Eyes glazing over at all this crochet shorthand? Here's a video tutorial:

In my next post, I'll share a free pattern for this quick and easy Summery Cowl, featuring Wide Linked Treble Crochet:

Thanks for viewing, and happy crocheting!

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*I'm probably not the first person in crochet history to use this stitch - but I've never personally come across it in a pattern, and it doesn't show up on any of the standard stitch lists. It's something I worked out for myself - so in a sense I feel that I've invented it. :)

**Concise when you consider the alternative: Treble with Single Yarnover, Worked into Vertical Strands of Previous Stitch, with Extra ch-1 at Each Step, then Skipping a Stitch and Chaining 1 when Done.

"I still think 'Fred' would be a good name for this stitch," says Tallulah the irrepressible.

"I think you should retract into your shell now," says Mrs. M.

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