How to C2C

C2C Basics

The corner to corner crochet technique (often abbreviated C2C) is worked exactly as it sounds – diagonally from one corner of a square or rectangle to the other. C2C employs a stitch called the diagonal box stitch and it can be worked using double crochet or half double crochet stitches. While using double crochet is faster, half double crochet allows for more detailed yarn "illustrations" because each tile is smaller. The projects in this book will call out which stitch to use.

HOW TO READ A C2C PATTERN

C2C patterns usually include some combination of a graph and/or written instructions. Each pixel in a graph represents one C2C "tile". Each tile is typically made with three double crochet or half double crochet stitches. C2C blankets with designs in them are often called "graphgans", because they are an afghan made from a graph.

The patterns in this book include both a graph as well as written line-by-line instructions. You may find it faster to work predominantly from the written pattern, but I recommend checking your completed progress against the graph every few rows so you can catch any mistakes sooner rather than later (I've learned this the hard way!).

Each project begins in the lower right corner of the graph, even for left-handed crocheters. You'll increase by one tile per row (see How to Increase) until the longest row(s) of the pattern has been completed. At this point, you'll begin decreasing by one tile per row until you've reached the final tile in the upper left corner of the graph (see How to Decrease).

Each written pattern contains a lot of helpful information:

Yarn Type and Yardage: Amount is overestimated so you can create multiple working bobbins in each color.

Stitch Type: Whether the pattern calls for using a half double crochet C2C stitch or a double crochet C2C stitch.

Color Key: Bridges the visual information in the graph with the written pattern. For simplicity, each color in the written pattern is called by the brand name color. Of course, feel free to change up the color palette of each project to suit your style.

Directional Arrows: Referencing these arrows in the written pattern can be helpful tracking your progress in the graph and knowing when to increase or decrease at the beginning of a row.

Row-by-Row Instructions: How many tiles of each color to crochet.

Difficulty Level: Know what you're getting into!

Beginner: Nocolor changes or counting.

Intermediate: Few to moderate number of color changes and working bobbins/skeins.

Advanced: More counting and several working bobbins/skeins at once.

How to Read a Graph

SAMPLE PATTERN

* Row 1 [RS]: Coral x 1

* Row 2 [WS]: Coral x 2

* Row 3: Coral x 3

* Row 4: Coral x 1, Grey x 2, Coral x 1

* Row 5: Coral x 2, Grey x 1, Coral x 2

CORNER(decrease at beginning of each row)

* Row 6 [WS]: Coral x 1, Grey x 2, Coral x 1

* Row 7 [RS]: Coral x 3

* Row 8: Coral x 2

* Row 9: Coral x 1

DESIGNING YOUR OWN GRAPHS

So you're ready to map out your own design? Awesome! Here are some tips for getting started.

1. Come up with a concept. Perler bead graphs, cross stitch and modern textiles can all serve as excellent C2C inspiration.

2. Determine sizing. To figure out how many tiles wide and tall your project should be to create the size you want, you need to first know your gauge. Crochet a small swatch that has six tiles per side. Measure the middle four tiles in both directions and average that number to determine the length of four tiles. Take this length and divide by 4. The resulting number is the approximate length of one tile.

Take the total desired width of your project and divide that number by the length of one tile. This number is the approximate number of tiles you should work for the width of your project. Repeat the same equation to determine the number of tiles to create your desired project length.

Example:

If 4 tiles measure 5in (12.75cm) and I want to make a blanket that is 50 x 60in (127 x 152cm):

Approximate length of one tile is 5/4 = 11?4in

Desired blanket width = 50in divided by 11?4in = 40 tiles

Desired blanket height = 60in divided by 11?4in = 48 tiles

3. Chart it. Even if your design only includes stripes, it's still a good idea to map it out before you get started. Grab some graph paper or head to StitchFiddle.com to design your graph based on the total number of tiles per side you determined above. Stitch Fiddle is a fantastic resource that even allows you to upload a photo and convert it to a graph, create written line-by-line instructions from your graph, and track your progress as you crochet.

How to Increase

In C2C, we refer to "increasing" as adding one tile per row. The first half of any project involves increasing at the beginning of each row. Once you have finished the longest row in the graph, you will begin decreasing at the beginning of each row.

HOW TO INCREASE USING THE DOUBLE CROCHET C2C STITCH

ROW 1:

Step 1: Ch 6

Step 2: Dc into the fourth ch from the hook

Step 3: Dc into the next 2 chs, turn

ROW 2:

Step 4: Ch 6

Step 5: Dc into the fourth ch from the hook and into the next 2 chs

Step 6: Skip the next 3 dc, then slst into the space created by ch-3 at end of tile

Step 7: Ch 3 quite tightly

Step 8: Dc 3 into the same space, turn. (1 tile made)

ROW 3 and beyond:

Repeat Steps 4-8 to begin each row. As rows increase in number of tiles, repeat Steps 6-8 in each remaining tile of row.

HOW TO INCREASE USING THE HALF DOUBLE CROCHET C2C STITCH

ROW 1:

Step 1: Ch 5

Step 2: Hdc into the third ch from the hook

Step 3: Hdc into the next 2 chs, turn

ROW 2:

Step 4: Ch 5

Step 5: Hdc into the fourth ch from the hook and into the next 2 chs

Step 6: Skip the next 3 hdc, then slst into the space created by ch-2 at end of tile

Step 7: Ch 2 quite tightly

Step 8: Hdc 3 into the same space, turn. (1 tile made)

ROW 3 and...