How to adapt a crochet pattern

One of the things I love about crochet is its flexibility and the good news is you don’t have to be an experienced crocheter to change and adapt patterns. Although changing a pattern is not advisable for clothing. Adapt patterns to make your projects distinctive and to add a ‘wow’ to your crochet projects. Here are my favourite ways to do this:

• Change the yarn thickness of a cushion pattern to a bigger or smaller weight yarn. Change your hook size to create a bigger or smaller cushion. Using thicker yarns gives less definition than finer ones, but creates a lovely chunky feel.
• Add two yarns together to create your own blend of yarn to create a tweedy effect.
  
• It’s particularly easy to adapt patterns if the pattern uses motifs. For example change the actual motif of your pattern or mix and match motifs. This will work if the additional or changed motifs have the same finished size as the original pattern motif and you use the same yarn and hook.
• Add extra rows of dc’s (sc’s) ot tr’s (dc’s) to crochet cushions or throws to make a larger cushion.
• Add rows of flowers as you go along or on top of your work. This works well with bags, cushions and throws. Keep to the original size of the pattern and you will be OK.
  
• Change the colours of a pattern or add more colours. If a pattern has motifs use multiple colours or one colour for the centre of all your motifs for a completely different effect.
• Simply changing the main colour of your design from light to dark or subtle to bright will dramatically change your finished project
• Add picots to the edge of a cardigan or scarf. This won’t affect the pattern but will make it look special and finished.
• Add beads and buttons to the centre of crochet flowers if using a pattern with flowers.
  
• Replace standard buttons with hand crafted wooden buttons or crochet your own buttons
• Add a different edging to clothing, cushions and throws than the one in the pattern.
• Crochet on top even simple chains will highlight a specific area using a different colour.
• Instead on one big motif make 4 small ones that finished make the same size as the original pattern.
• Use shells or popcorns instead of groups of trebles (dc’s) adding chains or leaving spaces to get the balance of your pattern right.
• If using a motif pattern that stitches motifs together change this by crocheting motifs together using dc’s (sc’s) or slip stitches.
  
• If a pattern has groups of trebles (dc’s) and dc’s (sc’s) crochet into back loops only to create a pretty ridge effect this works on garments as well.
• If using motifs make the last row all the same colour to create a background look.