Crochet Free Patterns Tutorials Work In Progress

C2C: perfect for 8-bit

The moment I saw corner to corner (C2C) crochet, I was sold. As a nerd, I immediately started imagining 8-bit patterns that would be awesome with this technique. One design was so awesome, I had to make it. I ordered yarn and drew out the pattern, so I can easily cross the squares that I finish.

And then a lot of other projects came in between. Planning has never been my strong suit, or I should say: sticking to my planned schedule is the problem. So about half a year later, I finally am ready to start with this awesome tote bag design I’ve been thinking about for so long.

The technique

This C2C is fun to do, but it took me (and others, according to forums) a while to figure it out. I will post the way to do it below in US terms. If you are used to UK terms, switch dc (double crochet) for tr (treble) and you’re set! For the Dutch version, check out the Dutch post by clicking the flag in the top left corner.

Used stitches: dc, chain, slip stitch.

Start with chaining 6. Crochet one dc in the 4th, 5th and 6th stitch. This is your first pixel!

Chain 6 to start
The first pixel

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chain 6 again. Turn your work so you have first 3 chains to work into. Dc in each chain (3 in total). Turn the first pixel upside down so that the first dc (made of chain 3) is facing the top. Attach the new pixel to the first one with a slip stitch in the chain 3 (first dc). Then, chain 3 (first dc) and dc 3 times around the chain 3 (first dc) of the previous row. That’s it for this row!

Chain 6 again to start a new row.
First pixel of second row. Turn the first pixel upside down, so you can slip stitch in the chain 3 of the first pixel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chain 3 to start a new pixel.
Second row done

 

 

 

 

 

 

Chain 6 again, turn your work and dc in each chain (3 times). Join to pixel of previous row with a slip stitch. For each next pixel, chain 3 as your first dc and dc 3 times around the chain 3 (first dc) of the pixel below. Keep repeating this until you have reached the desired width.

Chain 6 to start a new row.
First pixel of third row. Turn work upside down to attach to chain 3 of previous row.
Attached.
Third row done.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When you have the width you wanted, don’t start with chaining 6. Instead, slip stitch your way along the side of the last pixel you made (3 sl st), and chain 3 to start a new pixel. Then dc 3 times around the chain 3 (first dc) of the pixel below. From here on, just repeat what you have been doing for each row.

Slip stitch 3 and chain 3 to start a pixel.
First pixel of fourth row.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Remember that each pixel exists of 4 dc’s, of which the first is always 3 chains. Pixels are joined with slip stitches. When working with a pattern, the rows go back and forth diagonally: the second row goes from the right side to the bottom side, and the third row goes from the bottom to the right. Keep that in mind when you are switching colors according to a pattern!

The design

“Talk nerdy to me” has been in my head since at least seven months! About half a year ago, I decided to put it on a bag, and this pattern was born. Because of the nerdy text, I wanted the letters to be in an 8-bit pattern.

Luckily, there are many fonts online that use pixels. I searched for “8-bit font” and found many options! This one was my favorite. I imagined this bag to be burgundy with white letters. The yarn I chose is SMC Bravo Originals in the colors 08222 (burgundy) and 08200 (off-white).

Because of the width of the letters I picked, the bag will be a bit wider than I had imagined. That means more space in the bag for my stuff! The pattern is 30 pixels wide and 26 pixels high. I’m still figuring out the back, but I think it will be just one solid color. Any ideas? Let me know in the comments!

The pattern I made
The yarn I choose for this pattern

What else?

This technique is so cool for 8-bit projects and I have a lot of other ideas! A 1-up mushroom, heroes from the NES/SNES era, big blankets with a cool design… The list goes on!

If you are a geek and love to crochet, you should definitely try this. You can use this pattern or use your own imagination. The most important thing is to get the technique down before you start on your awesome project, and to keep calm while learning it: it can be tricky to figure out the turning and how to move onto the next round. Practice makes perfect!

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