Have you had enough passive screen-time and want to make something with your hands, maybe learning a new skill in the process? Join us in contributing to a gallery display of Griffith Park in crochet, with the help of these how-to videos.   

As part of our exhibition Investigating Griffith Park we’re inviting the Autry community to make pieces to represent various aspects of the park, from nature to recreational activities, and mail them into the Autry (or drop them off in person once the museum re-opens, if you prefer). We’ll then add your art to the gallery, around a crocheted Griffith Park sign, to capture the essence of the park and create a post-pandemic community display.  

As well as providing a home for wildlife, Griffith Park is used by people to celebrate special occasions. This week’s video shows you how to make your own party sign, just like the ones you see taped to lampposts and fences throughout the park. In our exhibition we have a collection of party signs gathered by museum staff from around the park, memorializing these gatherings of friends and family. You can personalize your sign based on a special event you attended or hope to hold in the park one day and it will join them on the gallery wall.

You don’t need experience with crochet, as instructor Julie Kadoi walks you through the basic stitches, and for those more comfortable with working from written instructions we have included the pattern below. So, pick up those hooks and yarn, make a sign to celebrate a party in the park (or maybe make a leafy daisy , a kite, a butterfly, a California poppy , an elderberry leaf or a red-tailed hawk from previous videos) and look for future videos in the coming weeks.    

Download Directions as PDF File

Materials

• DK-weight (#3) yarn in various colors, depending on your design
• 3.5 mm (E) crochet hook
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors

Glossary of Terms, Stitches, and Techniques: 

• chain stitch (ch): To make, draw yarn through the active loop on the hook. 
• fasten off: cut the yarn 3 to 4 inches from the last stitch and draw the end through the active loop. Pull tightly to secure.  
• double crochet stitch (dc): To make, yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, draw up a loop, (there will be three loops on the hook) yarn over and draw through two loops, yarn over and draw through two loops again.
• double-treble crochet stitch (dtc): To make, yarn over three times, insert hook in indicated stitch, draw up a loop (there will be 5 loops on the hook), yarn over and draw through 2 loops four times.
• front loop only (FLO): Indicates the location of where to place a stitch. Out of the two loops in the top of a stitch, only work under the one which is closest to the crocheter.
• half-double crochet stitch (hdc): To make, yarn over, insert hook into indicated stitch, draw up a loop, (there should be three loops on the hook) yarn over and draw through all three loops.
• long single crochet (spike stitch): To make, insert hook into the indicated location in a previous row, draw up a long loop (back up to the current row), yarn over and draw through both loops.
• single crochet stitch (sc): To make, insert your hook into the indicated stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through both loops.  
• skip (sk): helps to identify where the next stitch goes by accounting for any stitches in the row below that will not be worked in
• slip knot: To make, cross the tail end over the yarn to make a loop, draw up yarn from the yarn ball side through the loop and tighten, making sure the cut end is not pulled through.
• slip stitch (sl st): To make, insert your hook into the indicated stitch, draw up a loop, draw the top loop on the hook through the bottom loop.  
• stitch (st): a generic stitch, usually designates the location in the previous row in which a particular stitch, such as a single crochet, will be made 
• tail: the unworked cut end of the yarn
• treble crochet stitch (tc): To make, yarn over twice, insert the hook into the designated stitch, draw up a loop, yarn over and draw through two loops three times.
• weave in the ends: using a tapestry needle, draw the yarn end through several stitches on the back side of work, skip one strand of yarn and pull the end through the opposite way, skip another strand and pull the end the opposite way again to lock in place.

PATTERN

Poster Board

• Ch 19. 
• ROW 1: Sc in 2^nd ch from hook and in all remaining ch (18 sc). 
• ROW 2-14: Ch 1, turn. Sc in each st across (18 sc).  
• Fasten off.  

Message/Design

In a contrasting color yarn, make a slip knot. Insert hook in desired point where you will start writing on the poster and draw loop from slip knot to the front of the fabric, leaving knot on the back. Insert hook in next point in the direction you want the “line” of your stitches to go, draw up a loop and draw the top loop on the hook through the bottom loop on the hook making a slip stitch. Insert hook in the next point you would like the line to be drawn making another slip stitch. Continue drawing/writing with slip stitches until you want to discontinue the line.  

Remove the active loop from the hook and insert hook backwards through the space where the last stitch is located and draw the loop to the back. Decide where you would like the next line to begin and chain any number of to move the yarn just as far as that next point but without tugging. Once you get to the next point, remove the hook and insert it from the front side drawing the active loop back to the front of the poster. Begin to slip stitch across the front of the fabric as desired.  

Continue to work design as desired until finished with that color yarn. Remove the hook from the front side loop. Insert hook from the back side into the space where the last stitch is located and draw the loop to the back. Fasten off.   

Weave in the ends.

---

Mailing Submissions 

Please mail your Party Sign submissions to:  

YARNSCAPE AT THE AUTRY 
Autry Museum of the American West 
4700 Western Heritage Way 
Los Angeles CA 90027 

If you prefer you may drop them off when the Autry reopens to the public.