Christmas Crochet Pattern - Crocheted Candy Cane

Finished length about 6 inches (15 cm)

Extra materials - One bendy drinking straw

This is one of my personal crochet patterns. It is handy and quick item that beginners to crochet enjoy making. Any mistakes are easy to pull out and can always be hidden by the needles of the Christmas tree!

This pattern uses UK crochet terms.

Candy Cane

Using white make 50 ch

1st row – miss 1st st, dc to end Change to red.

2nd row - 1ch, miss 1 st, dc to end

3rd row – same as 2nd row Change to white (or pale colour)

4th row – same as 2nd row

Fasten off.

The crochet strip is sewn up around the drinking straw.

Trim off 1.5 cm (about 5/8 of an inch) off the straw nearest the bendy section. Pull out the bendy section.

Gather up the row ends, starting with this end over-sew the two long ends together enclosing the straw.

Gather up the other row end and fasten off.

Twist the strip around the straw to form the spiral effect.

Bend over the straw at the bendy section and sew a couple of stitches just underneath the bend to hold it in position.

Bow

Using green make 28 ch

1st row – miss 1 st, dc to end. Fasten off.

Wrap this strip around the candy cane, cross over and sew in place with a couple of stitches.

Attach a cord of chain st at the top of the crocheted candy cane for hanging on the Christmas tree.

Learn to Crochet - Basics

How to do different Crochet Stitches

The Double Crochet (UK term) Or Single Crochet (US term) Stitch

This is the same stitch, it just has a different name depending on what country you live in.

Step 1:

Skip the first chain stitch.

Step 2:

Insert hook into centre of next chain stitch. Yarn over the hook. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch. There are now 2 loops on the hook.

Step 3:

Put the yarn over hook, and draw it through both loops on the hook. One loop remains on the hook, and you have just made one double crochet stitch. :-)

Double Crochet (US Single Crochet) - Insert the hook into the work, yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through the work only, yarn over hook draw the yarn through both loops on the hook.

Repeat the last 2 steps in each of the remaining chains - be sure to work in the very last chain.

You have now completed one row of double crochet.

Step 4:

At the end of the row, make one chain stitch. Then turn the work counter-clockwise, leaving the hook in the chain stitch.

Now you can begin another row, working into the stitches of the previous row.

Step 5:

Miss the first stitch and make one double crochet stitch in each remaining stitch of the previous row. Be sure to work into the last stitch.

Then, 1 Chain stitch and turn.

Repeat Step 5 until the block measures the length you want. If you want a square measure the width of your block and work until the length is the same measurement as the width.

Starting Your Crochet with Chain Stitch

Chain Stitch - Hook through a loop, wrap the yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through to form a new loop

Starting to Crochet

1. Make the slip knot (video posting for this is below) and put it onto the crochet hook,

2. Thread the yarn (long end that goes back to the ball of yarn) through your fingers for tension,

3. And hold just below the slip knot with your thumb and third finger. Hold the crochet hook in the other hand and start the row of chain stitches.

This sounds worse than it is!

How to do a Chain Stitch

Step 1: Put the yarn over the hook.

Step 2: Pull the hooked yarn through slip knot. This makes one chain stitch. Step 3 Repeat to form a row of about 25 chain stitches.

To Practice

Practice the chain stitch until most of your stitches look fairly evenly sized.

Once you have done a length of chain stitches just remove the crochet hook and pull it back to the beginning and crochet the chain stitch again.

Crochet is very easy to pull back. :-)

Top Tip

You will only have one loop on your hook when the chain stitch is completed.

If you have more than one you have made a mistake, so just take out the hook and put back to a single loop. Put the hook through the loop and continue to do more chain stitches.

This video clip shows how to crochet a chain stitch and how to count the number of chain stitches you have done.

How to Hold Your Crochet

The Hook

Hold the crochet hook in your dominant hand (the hand you write with).


The Other Hand

Your other hand helps to tension the yarn so that the crochet stitches will look even. It can take a few attempts to get your tension even, but don’t worry, it’s easy to pull back crochet and sort out any areas that need it.


How to Hold the Yarn

To tension the yarn - one option (this is the classic way) is to put the yarn over your first 2 fingers, under the next and over the little finger as shown in the first photo.

A variation on this is to do a circle of yarn around the little finger as shown in the second photo.

However I just put the yarn over my index finger and up and down between the remaining fingers, which is the third photo. As you can see I am right handed so my left hand is the one that tensions the yarn.

Just experiment to find the style you’re most comfortable doing.

Learn How to Crochet Video Tutorial 1

How to Start Crocheting Video

I intend to do a range of short videos showing the crochet basics. It is a lot easier when you can see how the different techniques are done rather than just reading about them!


This video shows how to do the initial first stitch when starting a crochet project. This is usually called either a slip stitch or a slip knot.



Watch out for more videos to help you with your crocheting.

A Guide to the Different Crochet Hook Sizes

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Here is a chart to the different sizes of crochet hooks.

This is handy when –

• Crocheting items from vintage patterns

• Using patterns from another country


It can be a bit confusing trying to work out the size of crochet hook recommended in the pattern.

Remember that this is only a guide. Once you start crocheting the item you will quickly see if you are happy with the result or want to change to a different size of hook.

Everyone crochets with a slightly different tension so if you are unhappy with the feel of your crochet try using a larger hook if it is too hard or a smaller hook if it is too loose looking.

Buying Your Crochet Equipment

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Matching the ‘Right’ Size of Crochet Hook to Your Yarn

Beginners to crochet are often pleased to find that the main equipment is just a crochet hook and some yarn. However when it comes to buying these two pieces of equipment it can be confusing and difficult to know what to buy.

The easiest yarn to start with is the double knitting (or double worsted) yarn. This is widely available and comes in a huge range of colours.

The next piece of equipment is a crochet hook.


Getting the Correct Size of Crochet Hook

If you look on the wrapper of the ball of yarn you will see that there is a recommended size for knitting needles shown, usually beside the washing instructions. I find that using a crochet hook about 0.5mm less than the recommended knitting needle size is about right.

That means that if the recommended knitting needle size is 4.00mm then the crochet hook would be 3.50mm, or if the recommended knitting needle size is 3.50mm then the crochet hook size is 3.00mm

Obviously everyone crochets with a slightly different tension but this is a good starting point for buying your first pieces of crochet equipment.


Granny Squares are Good Practice

For anyone new to crochet I always recommend that they practice their crocheting by making Granny Squares. This allows you to practice your crocheting on something that is a good manageable size and fairly quick to complete. This means that you won’t get discouraged by trying a large project too soon.

The other benefit of crocheting Granny Squares is that you use knitting yarns which are thicker than the crochet yarns. If you are a knitter you will already have yarn left from other projects you can use to start you off.


Do a Test Square

I always do a test Granny Square to check the ‘feel’ of the square. If you think it is too loose try using a smaller crochet hook or if the square is too hard change to a larger size of crochet hook.


Top Tip
If you do your test square in a single colour you will be able to easily pull it back if you decide to change to a different size of crochet hook.