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If you want to learn more about
miniature knitting, crochet and sewing,
then you are going to love this regular feature!
Adapting full size crochet patterns for miniature crochet...
By AIM Member Frances Powell
Some full sized crochet patterns can be miniaturised very successfully for personal use in your own dolls
house, without changing the pattern, simply by using a very fine hook and very fine thread. However do bear
in mind that certain types of pattern will work better than others.
The best types of patterns to use are those that need a large hook and thick thread (for example a ladies
shawl pattern may adapt quite well, as the stitches in real life are already quite large). Most baby patterns
will not adapt well to being miniaturised, as the stitches, even when scaled down, will be far too large and the
finished item will look wrong.
It is not possible to give advice on which size hook to use or the thickness of thread, as this is best done by
experimentation with various sized hooks and threads until you are happy with the finished results.
If you are unsure of where to start with miniature crochet, then perhaps it would be best to start by using a
simple full size doily pattern to make a miniature tablecloth or a rectangular mat pattern for a miniature
bedspread. Whatever you choose remember that the finer the thread and hook required in the original
crochet item, the better it will look in a miniature setting.
Full size rugs and afghans (such as the one shown in the photo) may also work well when scaled down, using a
much finer hook and thread.
Unfortunately this scaling down method doesn’t usually work well with clothes, as if you are being true to
scale the stitches would be too big (remember a stitch that is ¼ inch/0.75 cm when worked in miniature will
be 3‐inches/7.5 cm if the garment was scaled up again). Another problem is that clothes are often shaped
over several rows of pattern and this may not be possible when miniaturising the pattern.
But the main problem with miniaturising is to make the items look right in
the scales they are designed for. This means for example that some items
will work in 1/12th scale, but not in 1/24th scale.
Don’t forget that if you are working on making miniatures for a
pre‐Victorian era dolls house, crochet did not exist before that time, but
netting did. Netting can also look quite similar to crochet and in this scale
is probably interchangeable.
Text and photos ©2010 Frances Powell – Buttercup Miniatures www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk
If you want to learn more about
miniature knitting, crochet and sewing,
then you are going to love this regular feature!
Adapting full size crochet patterns for miniature crochet...
By AIM Member Frances Powell
Some full sized crochet patterns can be miniaturised very successfully for personal use in your own dolls
house, without changing the pattern, simply by using a very fine hook and very fine thread. However do bear
in mind that certain types of pattern will work better than others.
The best types of patterns to use are those that need a large hook and thick thread (for example a ladies
shawl pattern may adapt quite well, as the stitches in real life are already quite large). Most baby patterns
will not adapt well to being miniaturised, as the stitches, even when scaled down, will be far too large and the
finished item will look wrong.
It is not possible to give advice on which size hook to use or the thickness of thread, as this is best done by
experimentation with various sized hooks and threads until you are happy with the finished results.
If you are unsure of where to start with miniature crochet, then perhaps it would be best to start by using a
simple full size doily pattern to make a miniature tablecloth or a rectangular mat pattern for a miniature
bedspread. Whatever you choose remember that the finer the thread and hook required in the original
crochet item, the better it will look in a miniature setting.
Full size rugs and afghans (such as the one shown in the photo) may also work well when scaled down, using a
much finer hook and thread.
Unfortunately this scaling down method doesn’t usually work well with clothes, as if you are being true to
scale the stitches would be too big (remember a stitch that is ¼ inch/0.75 cm when worked in miniature will
be 3‐inches/7.5 cm if the garment was scaled up again). Another problem is that clothes are often shaped
over several rows of pattern and this may not be possible when miniaturising the pattern.
But the main problem with miniaturising is to make the items look right in
the scales they are designed for. This means for example that some items
will work in 1/12th scale, but not in 1/24th scale.
Don’t forget that if you are working on making miniatures for a
pre‐Victorian era dolls house, crochet did not exist before that time, but
netting did. Netting can also look quite similar to crochet and in this scale
is probably interchangeable.
Text and photos ©2010 Frances Powell – Buttercup Miniatures www.buttercupminiatures.co.uk
