I love freeform crochet! Not only does it look incredibly awesome, but it’s fun to do as well. If you’re looking for a crochet project that allows you to express your artistic creatively in fiber form, you really should give freeform crochet a try.
To get you started, I’ve gathered tutorials from all over the Internet. Starting at the top, you’ll find some simple motifs to incorporate into your freeform crochet. After that, an introduction to hyperbolic crochet, some foundations to use as a base, a webbing technique, and a little bit on how to put in all together.
This is everything you need to get through your first few scrumbles, so get out an assortment of yarn and hooks and try out these great techniques. Before you know it, you’ll have your own freeform crochet project to show off!
#1) Freeform Crochet Basics: The Spiral
The spiral is a popular motif in freeform crochet.
Tutorial at: http://snovej.com/archives/freeform-crochet-spiral
#2) Freeform Crochet Basics: The Two Color Spiral
Now that you know how to do a spiral, add a second color to make it more interesting.
Find the tutorial here: http://snovej.com/archives/freeform-crochet-basics-the-two-color-spiral
#3) Freeform Crochet Basics, Part 4: More About Spirals
More spirals. Moving on soon, I promise!
Here’s the tutorial: http://snovej.com/archives/freeform-crochet-basics-part-4
#4) Freeform Crochet Basics, Part 5: The Nautilus Shell
The nautilus shell has a cool look. It’s still basically a spiral.
Find the instructions here: http://snovej.com/archives/freeform-crochet-basics-part-5-the-nautilus-shell
#5) How to Crochet: Bullion Stitch
The bullion stitch is often used to make flowers or medallions that are used in freeform crochet.
Tutorial: http://www.crochetspot.com/how-to-crochet-bullion-stitch/
#6) Crochet Chestnut Leaf Tutorial
This is a cool motif to incorporate into your freeform projects.
Here’s the tutorial: http://www.irishcrochetlace.com/en/patterns-and-lessons/irish-crochet-lace/548-a-chestnut-leaf
#7) Spiral Flower Pattern
Oops, I said no more spirals! Well, this is a flower so that’s OK, right?
Instructions for the spiral flowers: http://thecrochetcharm.blogspot.com/2012/08/spiral-flower-pattern.html
#8) The Hyperbolic Scrumble
The hyperbolic scrumble is a good way to put some texture into your project.
Instructions: http://free-form-stitching.blogspot.com/2013/02/free-form-crochet-hyperbolic-tutorial.html
#9) Hyperbolic Freeform Crochet Sculpture
This would be a great technique for adding ruffles to hems and necklines.
Hyperbolic crochet tutorial: http://darlombfiberart.wordpress.com/2013/02/16/hyperbolic-freeform-crochet-sculpture/
#10) How to Crochet a Grid
The crocheted grid makes an easy base for items that need to hold a set finished shape. Crochet a grid to fit your garment, then attach scrumbles or crochet right on the grid.
Learn to crochet a grid here: http://stashbusterblog.blogspot.com/p/bohusrutan.html
#11) Crocheted Mesh Pictorial Tutorial
This mesh is crocheted in between scrumbles to attach them together.
Mesh tutorial: http://www.liveinternet.ru/users/ziaka77/post199586729/
#12) Pictorial Scrumble Tutorial
Here’s a walk-through of a simple scrumble. Try making one like it for practice.
http://kryukist.ru/uroki-vyazaniya/urok-po-friformu-2.html
#13) Quick Freeform Tutorial
This scrumble is a lot more complicated. Use it as a guide to make one of your own. Remember, freeform is all about doing your own thing, so if you feel inspired to do something differently, go for it!
http://rensfibreart.wordpress.com/what-is-freeform/quick-freeform-tutorial/
#14) Carla’s Freeform Scarf Tutorial
Scarves make great beginner projects because there are no real rules. Make it as long as you like and as wide as you like. Use your imagination and see what you can come up with.
Freeform scarf tutorial: http://featheredfibers.wordpress.com/2008/09/28/carlas-freeform-crochet-scarf-tutorial/
#15) Pullover Freeform
The beginning of this video gives you an idea of how to create a garment in freeform crochet. You start with a template or pattern and fit your scrumbles to the shape of the pattern. You might want to mute the sound on the video; it’s only music.
Need Some Freeform Crochet Inspiration?
Follow my freeform crochet board on Pinterest!
Click here to see my freeform crochet board: http://pinterest.com/craftscrazy/freeform-crochet/
Resources
Here are some resources that will expand your repertoire of stitches and motifs. Having a few of these books on hand makes it easy to come up with ideas when you catch yourself doing the same things over and over again. (Disclaimer: I earn a commission if you click any of these items and buy something on Amazon.com, but I deserve it for putting this all together, right?)
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Add Your Own Tutorials!
Do you have any questions about freeform crochet? Do you have additional resources you'd like to share? Please let me know in the comments!
Thank you very much. I´m following the lessons and learning Free form crochet. It´s amazing!
Thank you very much for including my tutorials in this excellent list! Since then, I have also posted a tutorial on how to make the spiral bigger … right here http://snovej.com/archives/freeform-crochet-basics-part-4b-bigger-spirals =)
Twitter: bethparker
says:
Hi Marli,
That’s great! I hope you’ll come back and show us what you make.
Beth,
Am so glad your craftscrazy blog is up and running again. Have had so many people request this particular post on Freeform Crochet tutorials ~ and here it is! A wealth of information compiled together…thanks so much!
Twitter: bethparker
says:
Yes! I hope it stays up. I may need to upgrade to better hosting soon. I think the site is outgrowing what it’s currently being hosted on.
Just letting you know that the chestnut leaf link isn’t working. I went to the main page for Irish crochet and found it from there.
Twitter: bethparker
says:
Thanks for letting me know, Kate. I just fixed it.
Hi, Beth! Thanks for including my hyperbolic freeform crochet sculpture in your list of tutorials. :-)
Susan Lombardo´s last blog post ..Crochet Sculpture in a Bowl
Twitter: bethparker
says:
You’re welcome, Susan! I love what you did with the Bernat Mosaic. Those curlicues are a great way to showcase the colors in the yarn.
Bethanny Parker´s last blog post ..Crafts Crazy Design Contest May 2014: Rustic Spectrum
oh! this is wonderful!!!
thank you!
thank you so much for posting all of the wonderful instructions for various scrumbles. I am new to Freeform Crochet, so I am looking forward to learning all of these techniques. And then hopefull creating a Freeform Jacket for myself.
I am just abou to to join all my scrumbles together to make my first Freeform item, a jacket, for my grand daughter. Thank you so much for your tutorials. I have really enjoyed it but terrified it all goes wrong now I am at the joining stage. Any tips?
Sandra
Twitter: bethparker
says:
Sorry, I didn’t see this until now. Did you get the jacket done? How did it turn out?
Thank you so much! I keep coming back to your site again and again – wonderful.
Thank you very much for sharing. I’ll do my best!
This is an excellent site. Thank you!
Thanks for this. Could you tell me, do you create the different patterns as you go or make separate shapes and join them after?
Do you need a grid?
Thanks a lot.
Thank you so much for this wonderful collection of Free Form Crochet Tutorials. Really excited to give it a try.
How do you finish off work so that you have corners and straight edges, if that’s what you want, like a blanket?
This looks so helpful! Thank you for assembling and sharing
Thank you so much for the freeform tutorials I can’t wait to get started 💕