Crochet elastic is one of the most popular knitting elements. It is used in many handicrafts, but most often, of course, in clothing. Socks, mittens, sweaters, hats - it's hard to imagine these common wardrobe details without such an element as crochet elastic. It can also be used in jewelry or things useful in the household - bags, cases and other small things.
There are several ways in which a crochet elastic can be made; we will consider the description of the main options in this article. The rest are only derivatives of the two options, so talking about them does not make much sense.
The first option is quite simple and characterized by good elasticity. In it, the crochet elastic is a fabric knitted with the help of single crochet (sb) columns as follows: a chain of air loops is dialed, the first row of sbn is knitted. Then the work is turned over, two lifting loops are typed and the second row of sbn is tied to the back half-loop. Further work goes on in the same way. The result is a relief canvas, often narrow and long. With this method of execution, the gum is crocheted separately from the product, after which the parts are sewn together.
The second option of tying gum is slightly less elastic. But, unlike the first, it can directly continue the product itself, without the need for subsequent stitching. This method is called "embossed crochet elastic". The name comes from the method of knitting. In this technique, embossed double crochet (rsn) columns are used, which differ from the usual ones in that they are not knitted for the half-loop of the base, but directly for the column itself.
Distinguish facial (convex) and purl (concave) RSN. Just due to their alternation (mainly 1 * 1 or 2 * 2), the necessary texture of the gum is achieved.
The front rsn is performed as follows: a hook (with a crochet) is inserted into the canvas from the front side, it bends around the trunk of the column, leaves the wrong side. In this position, he grabs the working thread and pulls it. On the hook after this operation there are three loops, and then the knitting goes as in a regular double crochet.
The wrong rsn is performed according to the same scheme, but with one change: the hook is inserted from the wrong side of the canvas, it goes around the base column and exits from the front side. After that, the working thread is captured, stretched and knitted.
As you can see, there is nothing complicated in knitting the embossed elastic. However, there are a few rules to remember. If you knit in a circle, then the front ones will be knitted over the front ones, the wrong ones over the wrong ones. But if you knit a straight cloth, the rules change radically. Now already over the front rsn should be tied wrong side, and vice versa.
Often, based on the second method, openwork gums are made (circular viscous), alternating two types of rsn and adding air loops (vp). In this case, the knitting is constructed approximately according to the following scheme: LRSN - VP - IRSN - VP - LRSN - VP - IRSN - VP.