Corner to corner crochet (or C2C) has become very popular in the last few years, especially with the growing popularity of graphghans. I know some of the elaborate blankets out there look complicated but c2c is actually a very easy stitch to master. In fact, it’s probably one of the best crochet projects for beginners as it gets you acquainted with chain and double crochet stitches, which are foundational when learning to crochet.
Corner to Corner Crochet for Beginners
After purchasing one of my crochet alongs I send participants a list of tutorials in case they’re not familiar with the stitch. But I realized that a lot of people are intimidated at the thought of reading graphs or working c2c and that was stopping them from joining the fun. So I decided to make a public resource to help put your mind at ease if you’ve never done a corner to corner project before.
In this post I will link to:
- stitch tutorials
- tips for changing colors
- tips for using bobbins
- beginner patterns
Keep in mind that this mega list of tricks, tips, and tutorials is the drinking-from-a-fire-hose guide to corner to corner. Don’t get overwhelmed! And don’t be surprised if some articles contradict each other. A lot of mastering this method is choosing what works for you.
For example, when reading a graph some articles may tell you to start working your graph from the bottom left corner. Personally, I always start in the bottom right. That’s the way I did my very first corner to corner project and now my brain is wired to prefer it. Some folks choose to use a million bobbins (more on bobbins below) so that the back of their work looks neater while some people carry the yarn more often so that there are less ends to weave in (this girl).
Related articles
- Three Ways to Crochet a Graph
- How to Estimate Yardage for Graphghans
- Minimizing Gaps in c2c
- How to turn a Corner in C2C
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Corner to Corner Crochet Basics
C2C is worked diagonally with row one starting with a single block, row two having two blocks, row three having three, etc. Basically you’re making an ever growing triangle until your project is the size you want and then you begin to decrease.
Decreasing
If you decrease on both ends equally you’ll end up with a square finished piece. If you want to make a blanket that’s a rectangle you can continue to increase on one end (continuing to create length) while decreasing on the other end, which keeps your blanket the same width.
Below are a few easy guides to get your started.
Step-by-Step Photo Tutorials
- Craftsy
- Make and Do Crew
- Nicki’s Homemade Crafts
- Miggledy Maggledy (this one shows you how to decrease)
- c2c for Lefties by The Slippin Stitch
Mini C2C vs Regular C2C
The traditional version of this stitch uses double crochet clusters. The mini stitch is worked exactly the same but substitutes a half double crochet. It also uses a smaller number of chains in its increase. I prefer the mini stitch for my big crochet alongs because it’s a little faster and I like the smaller, tighter clusters that it makes. If I had used the regular double crochets in my Office blanket it would have been humongous.
Below are some video tutorials to help you get the hang of corner to corner work.
Video Tutorials
- The Crochet Crowd (Love Mikey. He literally taught me to crochet.)
- Vickie Howell (At around the 20 minute mark this video shows a granny stitch variation)
- Meladora’s Creations (Right and left handed versions)
- The Purple Poncho (Increases and decreases)
Beginner Corner to Corner Patterns
The articles listed below include a small sample pattern to practice on. Before taking on a big project (especially one with lots of color changes like my CALs) I highly recommend practicing on a couple of small projects first. It’s really not a difficult stitch at all but the tricky (and sometimes tedious) part is in the color changes (more on that below). Download the pattern pictured above here.
Free sample patterns
- It’s All In a Nutshell – Simple 10×10 panel with color changing practice.
- 1 Dog Woof – 5×5 sample panel with full video at bottom of post.
- All Crafts Channel – 15×15 heart square.
- Midwestern Moms – Striped dishcloth. (with written pattern)
Changing Colors Tips and Tricks
Color changes are the Achilles heal of this crochet method. Don’t worry if your work is a little messy when you’re first learning. It’s a rite of passage! My first blanket had the most hideous color changes and carries but I’ve learned a lot since then. Now when people ask me how I change colors I find it almost impossible to answer because honestly it depends on what side of the work I’m on, how far I need to carry, and what kind of mood I’m in.
If you’re a bit of a perfectionist like me you’ll eventually want to learn how to get cleaner transitions in your graphghans. After you’ve practiced with the sample patterns above and feel comfortable with the stitch, explore some of these tips and tricks for carrying your yarn more neatly. The videos below range from the simple to the advanced.
Color changing and carrying videos
- Repeat Crafter Me – Basic color changes, beginner friendly.
- Heart Hook Home – 5 quick tips.
- Two Hearts Crochet – Color changing and carrying examples.
- 3 AM Grace Designs – Advanced! – What I use!
Using Bobbins in Corner to Corner Graphghans
Bobbins are a must if your graphghan involves a lot of color changes. For my first big project I was trying to work attached to multiple skeins and it was a hot mess. There are a variety of different kinds of bobbins out there from the simple to the supah fancy.
When trying to decide how much yarn to wind on a bobbin, first you need to know approximately how much yarn one block uses. The easiest way to do this is unravel a single block and measure the length of yarn. If you need 10 blocks of a certain color, you can now confidently measure and cut 10 blocks worth of yarn to add to your bobbin.
Different kinds of bobbins
- How to Make Butterfly Yarn Bobbins – by Moogly (no materials needed!)
- Cardboard Yarn Bobbins – by Rosebud Productions
- Wooden Yarn Bobbin Holder – by Handcrafted with Grace
- All About Bobbins – by West Coast Mom (What I use)
Or you can purchase yarn bobbins online that are especially made for this purpose. There are a lot of different ones to choose from. Browse and compare different ones on Amazon below.
I hope you found this list of tutorials helpful, I probably should have put together this resource a long time ago! Pretty often I’m asked questions about corner to corner crochet because of my nerdy TV CALs. But I didn’t see the point in reinventing the wheel and making my own tutorial when there are already so many good ones out there.
Let me know if you have any more questions in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer them.
Happy crocheting!
Jessica
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