Chain it Up

Chain It Up Crochet Design by Jessica Phillips

What Is Being Made

Chain It Up is a downloadable crochet pattern designed by Jessica Phillips that creates a decorative openwork piece featuring prominent chain spaces. The finished project measures 7.5 inches wide after row 18, making it suitable for use as an accessory, appliqué, or decorative element. The pattern uses a repeating construction method that builds vertically through color changes and strategic chain-space placement.

Crochet Techniques Used

This intermediate-level crochet project employs several fundamental techniques to achieve its distinctive appearance. The design utilizes color changes between rows, with three different yarn colors (C1, C2, C3) creating visual interest and definition. The pattern incorporates slip stitch joining to introduce new colors seamlessly, and finishing off techniques to complete color sections cleanly. The structure relies on chain spaces as a primary design element—specifically, ten-chain spaces (ch10) that are skipped during subsequent rows to create openwork sections. This technique produces a lacy, dimensional appearance while maintaining structural integrity through the solid stitching that frames these spaces.

Crochet Stitches Used

• Chain (ch) – The foundation stitch used to create the initial base and the decorative chain spaces throughout the pattern
• Single crochet (sc) – Used to establish the foundation row and to work across rows while skipping the chain spaces, creating solid sections
• Half double crochet (hdc) – Listed in the stitch abbreviation key for reference
• Double crochet (dc) – The primary stitch used in the main body rows, worked in groups of five stitches between chain spaces
• Double crochet 2 together (dc2tog) – Included in the stitch key for potential decreasing applications
• Slip stitch (sl st) – Used to join new colors at the beginning of rows with the right side facing

Materials and Tools

This pattern requires minimal materials, making it an economical project. You will need 1 to 2 ounces of worsted weight yarn distributed across three colors (labeled C1, C2, and C3). A 5mm (size H) crochet hook is used throughout the project to work the stitches and achieve the specified gauge. A tapestry needle is necessary for weaving in yarn ends after color changes and upon project completion.

Pattern Structure and Gauge

The pattern is organized in sequential rows that build upon each other, with rows 4 through 17 repeating the color-change sequence established in rows 4 and 5. This repetition creates a consistent, rhythmic pattern. The gauge is measured after row 18, at which point the piece should measure 7.5 inches in width. Each row maintains 25 stitches as the stitch count, with the addition of four chain-10 spaces per row creating the openwork design. The pattern uses a turning chain method where ch3 is always counted as a double crochet stitch, and the first stitch of each row is skipped accordingly. This is an important structural detail that ensures proper stitch counts and pattern alignment.