How to Crochet a Polypore : A Tutorial

Don't be frightened by the title . This is a very quick and easy crochet project and it's uses are only limited by your imagination. This is the polypore that inspired this little project. This is what you will make using a small amount of grey wool, and off white and white crochet cotton. You will need two crochet hooks , one for the wool and a smaller one for the cotton. If you know me I don't get fixated on the sizes of hooks. Whatever works for the materials you are using is the right size. Starting with your grey wool and larger crochet hook make a chain of 6 stitches. Make a single crochet in each chain for the first row. The pattern will be achieved by increasing the number of stitches in each row. It is really simply a doubling of the number of stitches in each row. Since we are starting with 6 stitches the sequence for six rows would be 6, 12, 24, 48, 96, 192. So starting with row 2 you make 2 single crochet in each stitch . At the end of the second row you will have 12 stitches. At the end of the third row you will have 24, and so on and so on until you have 192 at the end of the sixth row. I dare you to count them :). When you hear people talking about hyperbolic crochet this is what they are talking about. This method of increasing causes the material to fold in waves and is really quite beautiful and amazing. I had better not get side tracked. Now switch to your off white crochet cotton and smaller hook and crochet 2 plain rows with no increases. Switch to your white crochet cotton and make one row to complete your project. Sew in all your loose threads with a yarn or tapestry needle. Admire your mathematical crochet genius. Bend and fold it and see all the different forms it can take. The next step is optional. I soaked mine in some boiling hot soapy water to soften the wool and felt it a little. I left it by the sink at my mom's home on the weekend and when my eldest daughter went into the kitchen she called out " Why is there a hair scrunchie in the measuring cup?" I replied it isn't a hair scrunchie it is a polypore. To which her response was "Huh!!!". I don't have time to discuss the funny conversation I had with my mom when she asked what I was crocheting . The cats were happy to see me last evening and they were trying to get in the pictures again. Isn't it sweet how edgar's tail matches the polypore. This object makes a great brooch for your fall sweater , coat or purse if you want to wear it. I will have a few other surprises for you this week so check back later.

Comments

[tantehilde]

This is so very beautiful! It makes a great toy for my girls, they love soft textures, they could bend and form it into its different shapes, they would love it, I'll soon make some for them, lovely!

[Molly]

I love it!!! It would make an adorable purse brooch too.

A few years ago I made a couple of scarves following a similar techniqe. Just make a chain(longish), turn and single crochet back across in each space. Then turn and do two single crochets in each space. I did 2-3 more rows of this(depends on how thick the yarn is) and it makes a lovely ruffley scarf! I finished off with a silky fun fur stuff called KISS that made it extra cute.

[karen]

The comments of family members are always the bonus! "Hair scrunchie in a measuring cup" has me chuckling. Not just beside the sink...in a measuring cup....to add to the wonder. Children of artists do have opportunities to have their imagination stretched! My sons found the "this is not fudge - it's soap" sign in the frig on top of a bowl funny - and disappointing! Thanks for the simple explanation of the fibonacci sequence! Hyperbolic crochet.

[molly]

i love this! can't wait to make a few - and you reminded me to take a short walk and take some pictures of the coolest fungi growing in our hood. also - i made a few of your acorn baskets and reverse engineered your pattern to make acorn caps - hope you don't mind :) i'm posting the results tomorrow. thanks!

I tried this yesterday (when I should have been studying or doing my homework!) and it looks so great! I made a test polypore in lime green, but I want to make a lot more to make nice brooches or to stick on hair slides (or whatever you call them)
Thanks for the tutorial!

[dulcet]

Ummm...I always thought the fibonacci sequence was 1, 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 13, 21, 34.... Isn't made by adding the two last numbers in the sequence to get the next number? Sorry.

[Andrea (noricum)]

Why do you refer to this a Fibonacci sequence? (Although I see that you've removed that reference now.)

Math is fun, but not all math is Fibonacci. ;)

[Sarah]

made me smile.