Geometry 101

Traditional methods for shaping necklines, sleeves and armholes require skipping stitches and then decreasing by working stitches together or increasing by working more than one stitch in the same stitch. For example, the shaping of a neck requires the skipping of stitches at the center front of the neck and is usually worked up to the shoulders and shaped into a curved line by decreasing stitches as you work. Crochet fabric has intrinsic qualities of elasticity and drape that make it possible to work simple squares and/or rectangles and then assemble them in ways that appear to be shaped, while maintaining the same number of stitches throughout.

Some wardrobe items such as scarves, belts, stoles are easy to make, but still look like what they are—rectangles or squares. But you may be surprised by how easy it is to create fashionable garments similar to those shown on fashion runways just by crocheting simple, basic shapes.

THE CROCHETER’S ADVANTAGE

The crocheter has a huge advantage over a sewer when it comes to the differences in woven fabric and crocheted fabric. A sewer cuts the pieces for the back, front and sleeves of