As we approach the end of the school year, I start thinking about teacher gifts. And if I start early enough I know I can gift handmade items that will be loved and show how much I appreciate all that my kids’ teachers poor into them. Thus a series of crochet cotton cowls and scarves has been born.




Often times I don’t allot myself enough time and end up giving gift cards. If you’re out of time but want to add a handmade touch try this crochet heart gift card holder I designed for Valentine’s day. Hearts are always in season when you’re showing your love!

One of my first designs incorporates the slanting cluster stitch, which can be a little tricky to describe in words, or even still pictures so I’ve created both a photo tutorial and a video tutorial for this one. The video tutorial is below, keep scrolling further for all the still pics.

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Video Tutorial:

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Photo Tutorial:

Begin with an even number of chains, the stitch multiple is 2. For this tutorial I chained 20. Sc in the 2nd ch from your hook and in ea across, turn.

To start a row ch 3, which will count as a dc.

Skip the next sc and dc into the next sc.

Yarn over (yo),

bring the hook around the front of the dc and insert it from front to back behind the dc.

Insert your hook behind the dc again from front to back, yo and pull up a loop from back to front around the dc. (5 loops on your hook)

Insert your hook back into the same place and yo again, pulling up another loop (7 loops on hook)

Yo and pull a loop through 6 of the loops on your hook. (2 loops on your hook)

Yo and pull through the last 2 loops on your hook.

One slanting cluster (slcl) or bead stitch complete. Skip the next sc & dc into the next sc.

Repeat the above steps across the row.

In the last two stitches-skip the second to last sc and dc into the last one.

I hope that helps you with this beautiful little stitch. Look for my cowl (sneak peek there in the photo above) coming to the blog as a free pattern soon!

Pin it here!