How it all began
I am excited to share with you a new crochet stitch that I discovered and have been using in my baskets ever since.
I named it the Bolster Stitch.
Let me start by telling you how I discovered this stitch.
One evening during movie night about a year ago, I decided to crochet a basket. I have been quite obsessed with crocheting baskets, but I will save that post for another day.
For this basket, I wanted to try using the cross stitch with alternating half double crochet stitches. While watching the movie, I mindlessly crocheted my basket. When I reached the end of the round of what I thought was cross stitches, I looked at my work and thought "huh? That doesn't look like the cross stitch at all." But I loved the way it look and it felt so natural crocheting it, so I continued my basket with this stitch.
Research
Over the next few weeks, I looked through books of crochet stitches and searched images online of crochet stitches and could not find this mystery stitch. I gave up researching for the moment, as it was time to start building my inventory for the holiday season. After the new year, I began researching the mystery stitch again by posting a photo of my baskets on social media to see if anyone recognized the stitch. It was unanimous. No one had seen this stitch before. People asked, "how do you make that stitch?" and "where can I find that basket pattern?" I decided to contact the Crochet Guild of America and Craft Yarn Council about the stitch. Again, no one recognized the stitch. They suggested I contact Susan Lowman, a crochet expert. I reached out to Susan, who was super helpful; she didn't recognize the stitch either but suggested I contact Edie Eckman, another expert. Edie agreed that this stitch was new and thought is was clever. Edie suggested one more expert to consult, Dora Ohrenstein. Dora replied that she hadn't seen the stitch before either. It was suggested that I give the stitch a name.
The Name
So, how did I come up with the name The Bolster Stitch?
As a massage therapist, I use a bolster pillow (a cylindrical shaped pillow to support client's knees and neck when laying on the table), and like the bolster pillow, the bolster stitch has a cylindrical shape and a cushion like feel and it supports the basic single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet stitches to make them more sturdy.
What am I doing with it now
I'm still making baskets using the Bolster Stitch because it is my favorite thing to make and stitch to use. I find myself working in the round a lot, it just comes naturally I guess. I am still learning all the different ways I can use the Bolster Stitch. How to use it back and forth in rows instead of just in the rounds and how it works with other stitches.
I'm hoping to get more Bolster Stitch tutorial on YouTube. I currently have a few videos on how to use it as a single, half double and double crochet Bolster Stitch. You can subscribe to my YouTube channel and click the bell for new videos at Jsodet Crochet on YouTube.
All the items I make to sell and the crochet patterns I design all feature the Bolster Stitch.
Where to find the Bolster Stitch
You can find the Bolster Stitch used in my Crochet patterns which are available on Ravelry Store, Etsy Shop and on LoveCrochet.com.
For tutorials on the Bolster Stitch, check out Jsodet Crochet on YouTube.
If you are not a crocheter, you can find my finished ready to ship items featuring the Bolster Stitch in my Etsy Shop.
