Monday’s Question—Who’s familiar with this technique?

Hi everyone!

I have a technique question for Monday.

Has anyone ever tried hairpin lace crochet? This technique has been around for a while, but it seems to come back into style every now and then. I have an older pattern book that includes a nice sweater.

I’ve always wanted to try it, but somehow I haven’t gotten around to it yet. I did buy the hairpin lace loom you need for it years ago, though.

Who’s tried it before? Is it hard?

Best, Marion

Hello dear Marion,

I watched a few videos about it a few days ago because I happened to come across this technique.
But then I decided against it for myself, because all that turning and laying the needle over annoyed me just watching it *laugh*

Still, fork-crocheted pieces do look interesting.

Best regards

Isn’t it relatively easy to make pom-poms with forks?
But that’s not what you’re talking about.

Dear Josefa

you're right about that. Hairpin lace crochet requires a special hairpin lace loom. It consists of two long rods connected crosswise by two short pieces. You then crochet around these pieces.
I can't describe the loom any better than that.

Best regards

Hello Nina

I agree with you. I’ve looked at it too and have also read patterns in magazines.

But that lovely sweater has simply stayed in my memory; maybe I’ll manage it someday.

Best regards

Hi Marion,

I’d never heard of this technique before, so I just looked it up on YouTube. It’s amazing what’s out there! It looks really great, too. I don’t know if I’ll ever get around to crocheting something like this, but it’s definitely interesting.

Thanks for the thread and for broadening my horizons :-D.

Best, Inna

I actually had to Google it just now to see what it was all about. I vaguely remember seeing it once a long time ago, but I’ve never tried it myself.

I crocheted with a fork like that many years ago. I still have it lying around somewhere.
I found it extremely tiring to always catch the right loop when crocheting the individual strips together. That’s why I gave it up pretty soon after. 

I’ve tried it too, and I really like garments like that. I also made a garment right away and wrote a pattern for it, which is available in my shop.

It’s a bit time-consuming, and personally I find it boring after a while to keep turning the hairpin lace loom, but even so I’m still going to make myself lots of clothes with the hairpin lace loom, because I simply love it 

That's funny that you're asking about that right now :-)
I also came across my fork again and am just trying something out with it. I also found working with it very fiddly, but with thick yarn it really goes great and is much more relaxed.

I tried making a scarf; I can only show you these terrible pictures (it's still dark outside), which I just snapped quickly.

I crocheted two strips with the fork and crocheted them together lengthwise down the middle with a different yarn. On each outer edge, one row of single crochet, twisting the loops once each time; but they also cross over on their own already. 

Yeeees, it's not finished yet, the ends are still hanging off, and the yarn might also be a bit toooo thick (it was for needle size 7-8). But this way it's fun, and it doesn't have to become a sweater right away.  We'll see, maybe the next try with yarn for about needle size 5-6 will turn out better, maybe it will even become a pattern then.

Have a nice day, everyone
regards Caro

Jeski, I just took a look at your sweater—it turned out great! Hats off to you :-)
Best, Caro

Dear Caro, thank you. I found another UFO yesterday—partly crocheted on a hairpin lace fork, the rest knitted *laughs*

Let’s see if and when I finish it

Hi Jeski,
I found your sweater. I hadn’t even noticed until today that part of it is crocheted in hairpin lace. Up until now, I’ve only ever seen pieces that are made entirely in hairpin lace.
Your sweater looks really nice.

Hi Caro,
I really like your loop scarf, too.

Now I have to think about whether I should give this technique a try after all. But I haven’t had a chance to do it yet.

Best, Marion