Well, its about time I wrote a Corner to Corner Crochet for beginners post. There is certainly a number of tutorials out there, but the thing about tutorials is no two will be the same way.
And since there will be a more Corner to Corner Crochet patterns on LoopinglyMade in the coming months, it is only right to make a Corner to Corner crochet for beginners tutorial.
If you have never tried to learn this technique, please do now. I am telling you it is a worthwhile technique to learn. It improves your crochet skills by giving you the power to create many more designs that include graphics, texts, ect.
In this Corner to Corner Crochet for beginners, I will (figuratively) hold your hand through each step and explain things along the way. I really hope you have a great time learning this amazing stitch technique that’s been used to create so many jaw dropping designs.
Before I start anything though, I’d like to give credit to the fantastic desginers who have inspired me with this technique and ‘forced’ me to learn it. I have loved creating the few C2C patterns I have designed so far.
C2C Patterns to Make
Corner to Corner Crochet for Beginners- Making a Square
Check out the VIDEO TUTORIAL
This tutorial will cover some of the following topics:
- what is corner to corner crochet?
- making a C2C Triangle – explaining increasing
- making a C2C Square – explaining decreasing
- how to identify the right or wrong side of your work
- C2C Formula
What is Corner to Corner Crochet?
It is a stitch technique made in diagonal rows by working blocks or tiles per row. It is usually accompained by a graph that guides the crocheter on the next tile to make (especially if it involves colour changes, pictures and text). Each tile is made up of four (4) stitches
Since it is worked in rows, the graph is usually numbered in a reflective manner as seen in the photo above; at the right side and right bottom- showing increasing rows and sometimes at the left side and let top- showing decreasing rows, but numbered in ascending order. Sometimes the direction of work could also be shown with an arrow; this is usually not necessary as the numbers alone guide your work.
Essentially, the number on the row is the number of tiles you will be making- only when you are inreasing. Where there are colour changes, most desginers provide a written pattern to show the number of tiles to make per colour. No matter the number of colour changes, the number of tiles on the row remains the same= whether increasing or decreasing.
The most common stitch I have seen used in the Corner to Corner technique is Double Crochet. This is not to say other stitches cannot be used, even the single crochet.
Making a C2C Triangle
In corner to corner crochet, before a square, a triangle or half a square is first formed.
For this tutorial we will use the Double Crochet stitch. Also, the placement of the crocheted piece in this tutorial is to reflect the chart. It will not always be so when you are crocheting.
Row 1
- Chain 6
- DC in 4th chain from hook (first 3 chains stand as 1 DC)
- First tile on Row 1 made
Row 2
- Chain 6, DC in 4th chain from hook and in next 2 chains
- Turn so that the tile on Row 1 is now facing the WS. Slip stitch in chain 3 space (see insert photo) Chain 3 (counts as 1st DC)
- 3 DC in chain 3 space. Row 2 done!
Row 3
- Chain 6, DC in 4th chain from hook and in next 2 chains
- Turn so that WS of row 2 is facing up, Slip stitch in chain 3 space, Chain 3, 3 DC in same space.
- Slip stitch in next chain 3 space, chain 3, 3 DC in same space. Row 3, done!
Explaining Increasing
For everytime you Chain 6, you are increasing, making your work wider and taller. As you may have noticed, this chain 6 is done only when you are moving to the next row.
If you were making a big triangle scarf, all you have to do is keep repeating Row 3. The number on the three sides will be the same, for our chart, it is 7.
Making a C2C Square
Still with me? We will continue from the triangle formed at Row 7 above. We have done half of the chart so we will turn it into a square.
Row 8
- slip stitch in each stitch across and in the chain 3 space, Chain 3, 3 DC in same space.
- continue to make tiles by slip stitching in next chain 3 space, 3 DC in same space across. Slip stitch in Ch 3 space of last tile.
- Turn. Row 8 (first dececrease row), done.
notice that the Triangle is beginning to straighten
Row 13
- repeat the same thing from Row 8 to this last row 13. Turn, slip stitch in the stitches and chain 3 space
- chain 3, 3 DC in same space. Slip stitch in chain 3 space
- we are ‘almost’ complete,but you can see from the photo that the last tile is lopsided. So turn and slip stitch in each of the 3 stitches, and you are done.
Congratulations! You just completed a 7 by 7 tile Corner to Corner Crochet Square.
Explaining Decreasing
*Everytime you Slip Stitch across the 3 stitches and in the chain 3 space, you are decreasing*, thus forming a straight shape as guided by the chart.
How to Identify the Right or Wrong side of a C2C piece
This should be easy. Most designers will mention this, but if not. You can find out by checking your work. Your first row is usually the right side, so use that as a guide. Or you could use the odd numbered rows to identify the right side of your work.
C2C Formula
So, the formula is simple. When using the Double Crochet stitch, to increase you chain 6. To decrease, you slip stitch across the 3 stitches and in the Ch 3 space, then Chain 3. To make a tile you chain 3.
Well, I did say this was a long tutorial. If you got to the end, well done! I hope now you can do Corner to Corner Crochet. As with most things, you need to practice to become an expert.
There will be another tutorial on making a C2C Rectangle. So check back or better still sign up for LoopinglyMade Newsletter.
You are free to share this tutorial with anyone and everyone. Thank you!
Giving Credit
I want to thank Sarah at repeatcrafterme, her designs were the first I ever heard and saw of Corner to Corner Crochet. Jess at makeanddocrew, her designs made me start seriously thinking of learning the C2C crochet.
When I made up my mind to learn the technique, I found the video tutorials by thecrochetcrowd and bellacococrochet very useful.
Amanda says
Thank you so much for this very helpful tutorial. I tried to learn c2c a couple of years ago and just couldn’t catch on. There are so many newer stitches that I still need to learn. I agree there are a lot of c2c patterns out there now. You explained the technique clearly thank you again for all your wonderful patterns and this tutorial. I have been crocheting for years just need to learn so many newer popular stitches. Thanks Amanda
Rose says
I am so glad you found this tutorial helpful. There are many stitch techniques I want to learn too, but one at a time we will conquer them. Thank you for stopping by and sharing your thoughts.