Freeform Crochet Masterclass and Ideas

Creating a Scrumble

1. Using thick yarn (400 m / 100 g), make a chain of 5–6 chain stitches (ch), work around it with single crochet stitches (sc), then work another row of sc on top of the previous row. (1)
2. Using thin yarn (600 m / 100 g), make puff stitches (ps) with 4 yarn overs. (2)
3. Randomly edge the piece with fluffy yarn using sc. (3)
4. Attach two other yarns of different shades and make block stitches, alternating colors as in jacquard knitting. (4)
5. Without breaking the cream-colored yarn, work a ruffle (3–4 double crochet stitches [dc] into one stitch) up to the opposite edge.
   At that edge, make an arch of 5–6 chain stitches, and edge it with a semicircle of dc. (5)
6. Attach another yarn and make “cones”: work 6 dc into one base stitch, joining on the wrong side with one dc (horizontal) through every other dc.
   Without cutting the yarn, work relief dc stitches (insert the hook behind the post of the dc) with one chain stitch between each.
   Turn the work and make puff stitches under the chains. (6)
7. Attach a light beige yarn with a shine and edge the “cones” with dc stitches.
   Continue edging the puff stitches with sc.
   Turn the work and make puff stitches with 2 yarn overs, gradually increasing their height. (7)
8. Separately crochet a flower of 5 puff stitches and sew it on. (8)
9. Attach white yarn, crochet sc, turn the work, and make puff stitches, increasing their height. (9)
10. Repeat the previous step in another color. (10)
11. Edge the piece with fluffy or any novelty yarn. (11)
12. Crochet additional flowers of puff stitches, sew or attach them to the piece. (12–14)

Sequence for Making Twisted (Coiled) Stitches

To make your twisted stitches even and to avoid difficulties when working with a large number of wraps, it’s recommended to use a tapestry needle with a large eye.

1. Place the needle along the crochet hook, with the eye of the needle toward the hook’s head. (1)
2. Wrap the working yarn around both the hook and the needle together, pressing each wrap against the hook with your finger as you go. (2)
3. While continuing to hold the wraps in place, insert the hook into a chain stitch and pull up a loop. Then yarn over and draw the yarn through the wraps, using the hook to push the needle out as you pull the yarn through. (3–4)
4. You now have two loops on the hook. Adjust the height of the twisted stitch, yarn over again, and pull through both loops on the hook. (5–6)

Each motif created in the freeform technique

is a unique composition. Don’t be afraid to express your imagination and freedom of thought — in this technique, more than in any other, you can fully realize your creative potential and create your own masterpiece!

Before you begin, determine the overall color scheme.
Start crocheting your scrumble, using several colors and shades simultaneously.

1. Crochet two round motifs and edge them with horseshoe-shaped elements, forming curves by working two stitches into one base stitch. (7)
2. Join the two pieces together and sew them neatly. (8)
3. Continue with a new color, working along the outer contour a group of wrapped (twisted) stitches. (9)
4. Using a darker shade, add a group of cone-shaped stitches (“kulichki”).
5. Begin to introduce new motifs into the composition. Crochet a “sun” motif (10), and edge two-thirds of its outline with dark yarn, gradually increasing the stitch height.
6. To join motifs, use the same yarn to make a matching border on the adjoining section of the main motif. (11)
7. Sew the pieces together.

Important: Always end the bordering rows of the adjoining pieces with stitches of the same height!

8. Crochet a triangular element from fluffy yarn sized to fit the empty space, and sew it in place. (12–13)
9. Continue building your composition by adding a flat semicircular element (14), then a circle with a raised center. (15–17)

Now try, using these same techniques, to create your own version of the composition.