Photo Tutorial: How to Crochet a Triangle and a Diamond (plus a sc2tog mini tutorial)

In the time passed since I published my Vasarely Bag I've been asked about the pattern a number of times. The answer, like most things in life, divides into three: a triangle, a diamond and a 3D cube.

In order to make the Vasarely 3D crochet cube that you see in my Vasarely bag, you need to have three crochet diamonds. In order to make a crochet diamond you need to know how to make a crochet triangle, and that's why I decided to make this tutorial.

For the purpose of the tutorial I used cotton yarn and a 3 mm hook, but you can use whatever yarn you have available and a hook that match your yarn. The only thing that will be different is the finished size of your triangle. If you'll use a thicker yarn and a 5 mm hook, your triangle will be bigger than mine. The gauge is also not important, as long as your crochet work is consistent and you keep the same tension through out the work. This tutorial will show you how to make a triangle using single crochet stitches. Note that you can use the same pattern to make a triangle using double crochet stitches. Simply replace sc with dc everywhere in the pattern.

Abbreviations for this tutorial:

ch = chain

st = stitch

sl st = slip stitch

sc = single crochet

sc2tog = see further in the tutorial for a special mini tutorial on this stitch

So, after all that introduction, let's start making a crochet triangle:

Row 1: start by making 2 chains. On the second chain from the hook make 2 sc, ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 1

Row 2: make 1 sc in the first st and 2 sc in the last st, ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 2

Row 3: make 1 sc in the next two st. make 2 sc in the last st, ch 1 and turn your work.

Row 3

Row 4: make 1 sc in each of the st except the last one, make 2 sc in the last st, ch 1 and turn your work.

Next rows: repeat instructions of row 4 until you're happy with your triangle's size.

Triangle - Row 5

Triangle - Row 10

Triangle - Row 19

My triangle is made of 19 rows and each side measures about 8 cm (3.5 inches).

If you only want to make a triangle and not interested in making a diamond, this is where you should finish off your triangle by cutting the yarn about 10 cm (3 inches) from the hook, and pulling the yarn all the way through. Weave in the ends and be proud of your triangle.

If you want to make a diamond, don't cut the yarn, just keep reading...

Now that you have a triangle, you can learn how to make a crochet diamond:

One way of looking at a diamond shape is imagining the diamond as two triangles with a mutual base line. The following picture can make it a little clearer:

A diamond is made of two triangles

Looking at this image you can see that you start by making a triangle with uneven number of rows. Then all you have to do is decrease each row by one stitch. You make the decreases at the end of each row in the last two stitches of the row.

First, you need to know how to make the sc2tog stitch. This stitch turns two stitches into one.

Here's how you do the sc2tog:

Insert hook in st.

sc2tog - insert hook in st

Yarn over and pull hook through loop (you have 2 loops on hook now).

sc2tog - yo and pull through loop

So far, it's like the beginning of a sc.

Instead of doing the second part of the sc, insert hook in the next st.

sc2tog - insert hook in next st

Pull hook through loop (you have 3 loops on hook now).

sc2tog - yo and pull through loop again. Now finish off the sc.

Finish off the stitch by yarn over and pull through all three loops on hook.

sc2tog - pull yarn through all 3 loops on hook

Now that you know how to do the sc2tog st, check the triangle you just made. Make sure you have 1 ch at the end of the last row and then turn your work. * make 1 sc in each of the st except the last two stitches. make 1 sc2tog in the last two stitches. ch 1 and turn your work.

First row of decreased triangle

In the above picture you can see how the first row of the decreased triangle will look like after the sc2tog and the extra ch. Turn your work over and start the next row.

Repeat from * until you reach a row with only two stitches, ch 1 and turn your work.

Work in progress

Make 1 sc2tog in those stitches and ch 1.

sc2tog on the last row

Then ch 1 and you're done!!

That's it. One crochet diamond is ready!!

One Crochet Diamond - Done!!!

Congratulations!! Now you know how to make a crochet diamond, which means you're only a few diamonds away from making yourself a Vasarely Bag like mine.

One Vasarely 3D Cube is made from 3 diamonds in different colors. You should keep them in the same color scheme for the best 3D effect.

3 Diamonds to make a Vasarely Cube

Place the diamonds next to each other and stitch them together to look like this:

The Vasarely Cube - Can you see the 3D effect?

Once you have enough cubes you can make yourself whatever you wish, like my Vasarely Bag, a blanket (you can find plenty of inspiration on the Internet) or whatever you can think of.

Good luck with your triangles and diamonds. If you need any assistance, you can leave me a comment. I'll be happy to help and see your work.

You're also welcome to join my mailing list or like my facebook page.

Thanks for stopping by,

Shimrit