We’ll be starting a series today that I’ve been excited to share with you for a while now, all about how to embroider on crochet fabric! Throughout the series I’ll share tips I’ve learned over the last few years for embroidering into different crochet stitches, such as what stitches work best and how to keep proper tension. Once we’re done you’ll have a lovely wallhanging to display or gift.

To start off, we’ll make the crocheted base.

Crochet Embroidered Sampler: Making The Base

The crochet sampler base features four crochet stitches, with directions given for each below. While a basic knowledge of crochet is helpful, this project is very beginner friendly. Illustrated guides for special stitches will be linked in the directions below.

A few notes before we begin:

This pattern is very adaptable and can be used with whatever size yarn you have on hand. The sampler shown here is crocheted in a sport weight yarn (Quince & Co. Willet, not affiliated) with an E/4 – 3.50mm hook and after blocking the final crocheted panel measure approximately 6 1/2 inches wide by 6 1/4 inches high.

Stitches Used (US terms): foundation single crochet (FSC, see tutorial here), stacked single crochet (STSC, see tutorial here), back loops only (BLO), front loops only (FLO), double crochet (dc), single crochet (sc),

Section 1: Moss Stitch/Lemon Peel Stitch

FSC: 25, turn
Row 1: moss stitch across (alternate working 1 sc in first stitch, dc in next stitch, sc, dc, etc), turn
Row 2: STSC in first st (counts as dc), then moss stitch across, turn
Rows 3-8: repeat directions for Rows 1-2, turn

Section 2: Double Crochet

Begin each row with a STSC that counts as first dc.
Row 1: working into BLO for this row, 1 dc each stitch, turn
Rows 2-4: 1 dc each stitch, turn

Section 3: Shell Stitch

Row 1: working into BLO for this row, to create shell – 1 sc in first stitch, skip one stitch, 5 dc in next stitch, skip one stitch. repeat 5 more times, 1 sc in last stitch, turn
Row 2: Start row with half shell – in sc below, work 1 STSC and 2 dc, then work 5 shells as normal, then final half shell in  – 3 dc in sc below, turn
Rows 3-5: repeat directions for Rows 1-2, turn
Row 6: 1 STSC in first sc of previous row (counts as dc), 1 sc in center 3 dc of shell below, 1 dc in next st, 1 sc in center 3 dc of next shell below, repeat 4 more times, 1 dc in last stitch, turn 

Section 4: Single Crochet

Row 1: working into BLO for this row, 1 sc each stitch, turn
Rows 2-8: 1 sc each stitch, turn. Fasten off after Row 8 leaving a tail of approximately 3 times the length of the top of the sampler (this length might differ depending on size of yarn used)

Blocking Crochet Sampler:

To block your sampler, simply wet it with lukewarm water, making sure it’s saturated, then pin onto blocking board or corkboard using knitblockers, t-pins, or thumbtacks as shown here. Make sure all sides are straight with no bowing, as shown. as you can see in the picture above, this will cause some stitches to stretch out, such as moss stitch and double crochet. Allow sampler to fully dry before unpinning.

And that’s all for now! Get to work on your samplers so you’ll be ready for Part 2, where we’ll begin our embroidery. If you have any questions about making the crocheted sampler base, leave them in the comments or shoot me an email to minwaters23@yahoo.com. Links to all posts in the series will be added here as they are uploaded.

Part 1: Crocheting The Sampler Base
Part 2: Backstitch & Chain Stitch Vine & Leaves
Part 3: Wagon Wheel Roses
Part 4: Fly Stitch Skeleton Leaves
Part 5: Lazy Daisies
Part 6: Finishing Touches

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