A Stitch By Any Other Name...

The stitch for the November "Stitch of the Month" is called the "Lemon Peel" stitch.  It is also called the "Griddle Stitch."  It's been my experience, over many years as a crocheter, that stitch names have evolved over time, but oftentimes what's old is new again.  Great stitches never really go out of style!

The Lemon Peel stitch is fairly simple, just rows of alternating single and double crochet stitches, but it makes a lovely textured fabric that can be used in a myriad of ways.  It's sturdy, but with a larger hook, and thinner yarn, it can also make a fabric that is soft with a beautiful drape as well.  The yarn used in this photo is KnitPicks Brava Worsted yarn in Dublin.

What makes it a great stitch this time of year is that it's perfect for crocheting with darker yarns.  It's not so necessary to see the stitches, as one can feel where the single and double crochets should go, singles in the "hills" and doubles in the "valleys."  Sometimes a dark and/or fuzzy yarn will make it nearly impossible to see where to insert one's hook; the Lemon Peel stitch makes correct hook insertion easy.

We learn a new stitch the first Monday of every month for our Square of the Month project.  This marks our third square, so we are one-quarter of the way to completing our 12 squares for our sampler afghan!

Want to expand your crochet skills?  Come join us every Monday at 10 a.m. to learn something new!

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