Crochet stitch challenge 2 - Waistcoat stitch
Introduction
Welcome to part 2 of my crochet stitch challenge. As I mentioned in my first post on the subject, I've challenged myself to create small squares using different stitches in different ways (in rows, rounds and working corner to corner). This week I've been making squares using the waistcoat stitch (WST). As I said last week, working this stitch in rows can be a little tricky as there are a couple of ways of doing it. Because of this, I have made 2 swatches for WST in rows and 2 for the corner to corner (since you work in rows for that too). You can see all the squares together in the photo above.
Working the WST in rows
As I said previously, the two different ways of doing the WST in rows lead to differences in how the edges of your swatch look (see photo above). However, since I'm adding a border to each square it doesn't matter too much what the edges look like as the border evens things up.
The photo below shows the squares after the final border was added. As you can see, adding the border removed the jagged edges observed with the orange square.
Working the WST in rounds
Working in rounds is straightforward so I only made one swatch in the round. Instead of adding single crochet in the final round, I continued using WST but added an extra stitch in each corner so that the final round had the same stitch counts as the other squares (see photo below).
WST swatch worked corner to corner
Working the swatch corner to corner I was left with the same sort of dilemma that I had working in rows (since you're basically still working in rows but with increases and decreases) so I've made two swatches that way as well. As you can see in the photo below, the version on the left has slightly jagged edges from the way I did the rows whereas the version on the right looks a little cleaner (the rows for the square on the left were worked in the same way as the orange square in rows).
Of course, like the versions in rows, once you add the single crochet edging to all of the squares you don't see the jagged edges observed for working these swatches corner to corner. You can see my two versions of the WST corner to corner in the photos below after the final round has been added. Sadly, neither of the squares below looks particularly nice after adding the border. However, none of my swatches have been blocked yet either. Once I have blocked all the squares ready for the final project I will have to add some new photos to my blog posts so you can see that adding the border really did make a difference to the appearance.
Brief instructions for all the above swatches:
Notions
3.5 mm crochet hook
Approximately 5 g (8 m, 9 yds) of yarn (I used 4 Seasons pure wool entwine)
Yarn needle
Scissors
Abbreviations
US terminology used
Ch(s) - chain(s)
Sc - single crochet
Sl st - slip stitch
WST - waistcoat stitch
WST2tog - waistcoat stitch two together
Special stitch
Waistcoat stitch: insert your hook into the centre of the stitch post from front to back and pull through a loop. Yarn over and pull through two loops.
The photo below left shows where you place your hook when working in rounds. The photo below right shows where you place your hook when working in rows (since there are differences in the appearance of the stitch post depending on which side of your work you are looking at).
WST in rows
With your chosen colour, ch 11
Row 1 Sc in the 2nd ch from hook and each ch across, ch 1 and turn. (10)
Rows 2-9 WST in each st across, ch 1 and turn. (10)
Row 10 WST in each st across, ch 1 and turn slightly to the side of the row. (10)
Rnd 11 2 Sc in the side of the row, sc in the side of the next 8 rows, 2 sc in the side of the last row. Turning slightly again, 2 sc in the first st, sc in the next 8 sts, 2 sc in the last st. Repeat for the remaning two sides, sl st to join. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (48 sc, 12 sc per side)
WST in rounds
With your chosen colour, make a magic ring
Rnd 1 4 Sc into the magic ring {make sure your tension is relaxed or you will not be able to do the next rnd}. (4 Sc)
Rnd 2 3 WST in each st around. (12 WST)
Rnd 3 WST in the first st, *3 WST in the next st, WST in the next 2 sts* 3 times. 3 WST in the next st, WST in the last st. (20 WST)
Rnd 4 WST in the first 2 sts, *3 WST in the next st, WST in the next 4 sts* 3 times. 3 WST in the next st, WST in the last 2 sts. (28 WST)
Rnd 5 WST in the first 3 sts, *3 WST in the next st, WST in the next 6 sts* 3 times. 3 WST in the next st, WST in the last 3 sts. (32 WST)
Rnd 6 WST in the first 4 sts, *4 WST in the next st, WST in the next 8 sts* 3 times. 4 WST in the next st, WST in the last 4 sts, join to the first st with a sl st. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (48 WST, 12 WST per side)
WST corner to corner
With your chosen colour, ch 2
Row 1 Sc in the 2nd ch from hook, ch 1 and turn. (1 sc)
Row 2 2 WST in the same st, ch 1 and turn. (2 WST)
Row 3 2 WST in each st across, ch 1 and turn. (4 WST)
Row 4 2 WST in the first st, WST in the next 2 sts, 2 WST in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (6 WST)
Row 5 2 WST in the first st, WST in the next 4 sts, 2 WST in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (8 WST)
Row 6 2 WST in the first st, WST in the next 6 sts, 2 WST in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (10 WST)
Row 7 2 WST in the first st, WST in the next 8 sts, 2 WST in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (12 WST)
Row 8 2 WST in the first st, WST in the next 10 sts, 2 WST in the last st. Ch 1 and turn. (14 WST)
Row 9 WST2tog, WST in the next 10 sts, WST2tog. Ch 1 and turn. (12 WST)
Row 10 WST2tog, WST in the next 8 sts, WST2tog. Ch 1 and turn. (10 WST)
Row 11 WST2tog, WST in the next 6 sts, WST2tog. Ch 1 and turn. (8 WST)
Row 12 WST2tog, WST in the next 4 sts, WST2tog. Ch 1 and turn. (6 WST)
Row 13 WST2tog, WST in the next 2 sts, WST2tog. Ch 1 and turn. (4 WST)
Row 14 WST2tog 2 times. Ch 1 and turn. (2 WST)
Row 15 WST2tog, ch 1 and turn to the side. (1 WST)
Row 16 Sc evenly around the swatch adding 12 sc per side. Fasten off and weave in the ends. (48 sc, 12 sc per side)