ImageThis week I thought I would do a tutorial on one of the specialty stitches of the “Steppin’ Out Poncho” (Kit 2:  Steppin Out Poncho Review) for those of you that are crocheting your way through the “Annie’s Hook & Needle Club” with me.

I personally love doing clusters, the way the dc are combined into making one stitch I think is wonderful. Clusters actually could be worked in hdd, (Half Double Crochet) dc, (Double Crochet) or tr, (Triple/Treble Crochet) str, (Double Triple) etc. Althought I have found that most are done in dc with the pieces I have crocheted. It also could be worked with 2 or more stitches. The one I am doing today is the 3 dc cluster. The cluster is always worked with a foundation chain of a multiple of 2 or an even number of stitches.

3-dc clusters

Foundation chain row: Multiple of 2 chains for each cluster.

Row 1: (*yo, insert hook n 1st ch of foundation ch, yo, pull though a loop, yo, pull
thorough 2 loops on hook) 3 times into same st, you, pull through 4 loops on
hook, ch 1, skip 1st st of foundation chain*, rep * to *

Row 2: Ch 2, repeat directions in row 1 for each cluster (inserting hook in each ch space
of previous row).

Repeat row 2 for pattern.

Now for those of you who are think you are reading Greek, let’s break this down into simple steps:

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(Yo, insert hook in 1st ch of foundation ch, yo, pull through a loop,

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Yo, pull through 2 loops on hook) 3 times into same st,Imageyo, pull through 4 loops on hook,

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ch 1, skip 1st st of foundation chain*, rep * to *.

Helpful Hint: If you can crochet a dc, a dc cluster will be a breeze. When crocheting a dc you yo and pull through 2 and then 2 again. With a dc cluster, yo, and pull through 1 and then 2 , which leaves one on the hook. This is how you end up with 4 loops on your hook.

I hope you found this tutorial helpful. If you have never crocheted a cluster before, let this be the time you learn. Go, right now- and get you some scrap yarn, and practice. You might discover that you have a new favorite stitch.

Until next time keep those hooks flying.