Last time we discussed a few different ways that we can work into the 3rd loop of half double crochet stitches - and even a few other stitches, too, if you're persistent enough! Today, I want to share with you a few of my own designs that feature this technique.
Now, for the most part, this is not the featured stitch starring in my designs. It's more of a supporting character. It's a way to add a little extra texture with the lines it creates or it's used because it makes a nice clean line between colors instead of that little sawtooth profile you usually see.
That's not to say, though, that you couldn't use it as the main event stitch choice! It would make a super warm and scrunchy hat, for example. Take a simple half double crochet stitch beanie and instead of working into the top two loops like you normally do, try working into the 3rd loop!
Perhaps I should put that on my to do list, eh?
For now, though, let's have a look at what I already have available!
My very first design featuring this technique was the Indubious Neckwarmer.
There are three pairs of lines created by working into the 3rd loop of hdc stitches; they run along the center and both the top and bottom edge with a variety of other stitches placed in the segments between them. Kind of stitch sampler style!
This is a quick make and pretty fun to do because the stitches are switched up with each row. But they're also simple stitches! So this one is definitely adventurous beginner friendly.
Next up is one of my favorite designs, the Lunar Phases Cowl.
I got to totally nerd out on moon phases with this design and it influenced almost every design element I used. The lines created by working into the 3rd loop, however, were just because I love the texture they add! You'll find a pair of lines stretching between each shell stitch in the edging all the way around this fun piece.
In the Baublette Hat, the use of this technique is so subtle you might miss it!
For this design, it functions as a transitional element between the marled body of the hat and the single strand ribbed brim. That's it! Just one small sweet little detail that creates a beautiful line between fabric texture changes.
Another one that only uses working into the 3rd loop in a couple strategic locations is the Sibyllinity Scarf (which is another favorite design, by the way!).
See the contrasting horizon line in black? You see how nice and neat that line looks? Yep! All thanks to working into the 3rd loop! It almost completely eliminates that sawtooth effect you would have seen with such a high contrast color change. I used it twice, once for the first row of black and again for the first row of peach.
Next up is Wendover, which actually also only features this technique in two rows, I think!
For this design I wanted to create a stitch sampler style piece that was mirrored from the center out. I was working with lots of different colors from a Bridgerton themed kit of mini skeins and I wanted that line of yellow to pop just a little bit more! Enter the added lines created simply by working into the 3rd loop and bam! More color. Of course, it also looks perfectly delicious in a solid color:
Highclere uses a lot of the same stitches as Wendover because it was also designed using yarns with a theme that just made me want to bring elegant details into the pattern.
Hmm, that's a bit hard to see, though, isn't it? Let's take a closer look because you'll notice more frequent use made of working into the 3rd loop in this one!
I used this technique to create lines alongside the "pearls" of those tiny treble popcorn stitches so that your eye is drawn to the curves in the golden panel in the center as well as lengthwise along the wings between each color.
Lastly, let's have a look at The Curiosity Door.
This was another fun one! With so many different colors in this Stranger Things inspired set of minis, I was really challenged . I wasn't even convinced that they worked together until I finished it and took pictures! But it somehow all came together into this quirky little scarf that has actually been great inspiration for a lot of folks looking for stashbusting projects!
Here are both versions together for a closer look:
I used working into the 3rd loop again here for that clean line look between color changes. It also reinforced the "panels" I was trying to create like in a door. Can you see the difference between the rows of regular single crochet and the rows with that added line of texture created by popping those top two loops forward? I love it!
Apparently, I also really love making scarves that are worked lengthwise... You might turn gray working on that foundation row, but by golly the rest of it is so much more better, don't you think!? Or maybe it's only me that goes a little bonkers turning scarves around and around and around every few inches...
Anyway! That's my tour de 3rd loop designs! If you'd like to see some of these in action, here's the video from the livestream I did over in the Facebook group!
Oh and if you missed the tutorial, you can find that here on my blog along with written instructions at www.crochetcetera.com/post/working-into-the-3rd-loop
So what do you think? Is this a stitch you think you'll be trying out soon? Have you already tried it? How do you feel about it?? I know not everyone can possibly love it as much as I do! But we all have our favorites. What's YOUR favorite stitch?
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