Written by Mary Rhodes
This looks very nice in a shiny, smooth thread like silk or rayon to make cords for hanging pendants. Worked in white crochet cotton, it is also used as the base for a Battenburg-type lace. It also works nicely as an alternative to I-cord for things like straps on little purses or closure ties on garments. Once you make some of it, you will probably think of more uses.
To start, use a fairly small hook for the yarn you choose. The braid looks better if the stitches are more snug than loose.
DIRECTIONS:
Chain 2. Single crochet 1 into the 2nd chain from the hook. Turn. Now look at what you have:
Looking at the back side of the single crochet, there are the two top loops of the stitch. There is also a biggish loop that lies in a direction opposite the way the top loops are. Insert hook under that loop and make the next single crochet.
Notice that you don't make any turning chains.
*Now, turn the piece again. Take another look at what you have: There are the two top loops of the stitch you just made. There is the biggish loop lying in the opposite direction. Now there is another loop snuggled up just next to the biggish loop. Insert your hook through the biggish loop and the snuggled loop next to it, and make another single crochet. Repeat from * for the rest of the cord.
This basic idea is so simple, there have to be variations. One variation is in how you yarnover:
clockwise for one, counterclockwise for the second. Another is to chain 1 to turn and make each sc into just the one biggish loop.
Note by MJW: The stitch used to make this cord is sometimes referred to as
the Lobster stitch. I love Mary Rhode's directions on how to make this cord
and the possible variations. Daphne also has some nice illustrations of
how to do the lobster stitch on her website:
Daphnes
Knowhow