My mother, in her never-ending quest to help me be crafty, unloaded some of her old crochet gear on me. Not much, really, just some hooks, a couple skeins of yarn, and a book that was written in 1957 called the Learn How Book (which also contains instructions on knitting, embroidery, and tatting).
I love my mother very much. She’s one of my heroes, and a Goddess in Her Own Right. She’s also one of those people that can make stuff. You know them. The McGuyvers of the craft world. The people at JoAnn Fabrics and World Bead Company call her name like Norm on Cheers when she enters their stores.
So, I’m going to learn to crochet. I’m going to try, anyway.
Any other crafty people here? Do you get as much pleasure out of it as my mom does?
And while you’re at it, share ways to make cool stuff. Doesn’t have to be crochet. Just easy, inexpensive, cool things. Christmas is only a few months away, you know!
I haven’t picked up my crochet needle in a while (two years) but I love it when I do it.
I have two unfinished projects I really need to get going on.
One is a daisy blanket the other is a blanket with a hood that when it’s complete looks like a bunny rabbit.
It sooths the brain and when you aren’t on the internet or busy with house crap it gives you something to do.
My grandmother taught me many, many years ago and about 10 years ago I ran to the Hobby Lobby, got some cheap yarn, needle and a book with all kinds of crochet stitches and started it all over again.
I also have been known to do counted cross stitch.
Things about crafts like that is you can be productive while doing nothing but watching TV.
If you are looking for cool Christmas things, cross stitch can be a good place to start.
I’ve tried to crochet, but can’t get into it. Usually, my cat gets into it. I do other crafts, though. It does soothe the brain and satisfy the soul to make something with your own hands.
I’m a lefty, and if I can do it, you can, too!!
It gives me a justification for sitting in front of the TV, I’m accomplishing something. I really only do afgans, all kinds, all colors. I’m in great demand for baby shower gifts!! And do yourself a favor: buy good yarn. It’s really annoying to put all that work into something and have the yarn fail.
I know how to crochet and knit, but I do them sporadically. I love how crocheting goes so fast, but I like the texture of knits better. I’ve crocheted a bedspread and an afghan and knitted a sweater, a bunch of scarves, and a very SMALL afghan (I gave up in the middle because I was bored).
The only problem I have with crafts like these is that they’re not really absorbing enough to command your full attention, but they require the use of both hands and you often have to look at your hands (well, I do anyway), so you really can’t do much else either.
Persephone, I crochet, my best advice for a beginner is to start by having your mom teach you how to make a chain. After that go to a granny square. They are easy and you can make it as big as you want. Or you can make lots and lots of little ones and then put them together. But start with a bigger one. That way it’s not as confusing.
I love to crochet, and when I’m really angey I can pretend the yarn is whoever I am angry with’s neck while I am twisting and pulling !
I’ve been knitting and crocheting for 30 years or more - afghans more than anything else, but I’ve done slippers, sweaters, shawls, scarves - criminy - all them “S” things!! What I like about these crafts, apart from the products of my labors, is that I can let my mind wander while my fingers fly. Or I can occupy myself in front of the TV. Or I can pass time on a plane or in a waiting room.
There’s something comforting about the repetitive nature of the craft, and on a chilly afternoon, there’s nothing like a lap full of afghan that grows steadily. And there’s a great satisfaction in saying “Oh that? Yeah, I made it…”
I crochet, but usually in the cooler months. I have two afghans unfinished in my room now that I probably won’t ever be able to finish. My husband threw away the pattern books that I was using for them. When I do complete afghans, they are in great demand. I think it’s fun and in the winter, they are warm across your lap. Once you learn a basic stitch, buy one of those mile-a-minute afghan books to help you do a few and get those accomplishments under your belt.
Ayesha, I hadn’t thought about picturing the person I’m mad at as being the yarn I’m working with. Good idea.
My grandma tried to teach me how to crochet. She tried, really, really hard. I’m a clutz and couldn’t do it. I DO however another whole craft/creative area, and currently about 1/4 of my gifts to family and friends are things I made them. Really cool. Love it. If I could figure out how to do that and not work, I would. Go for it. But, if crocheting and you don’t get along, don’t sweat it, there’s lots of stuff out there to do that you can be creative with (speaking English is one of them perhaps???)
I do alot of crocheting, mainly making afghans which are so warm in the winter. As Aye said, start with granny squares, you would be surprised at what you can create just from there. Good Luck and enjoy!!
My first crochet project is a funny story.
I started with a verigated yarn and made some granny squares. Then my wonderful husband comes along and asks what in the hell I am making and damn is it ugly! I then informed him if he felt that way then I was going to turn all those ugly little squares into a blanket for him. I went to Wal-Mart and found even more of the ugliest verigated yarn and made hundreds more of the ugly little squares and a huge black square for the middle and then boardered it with the other little ugly squares. This blanket is a monster! The kids now call it dads ugly blanket, but I know that he loves it.
I am now working on a huge Irish flag for one of my guys. I started with a chain of 400. That is the width! In other words this is going to be another huge blanket. It’s going to take at least 8 skeins per color to make it look perportionate.
I put a lot of energy into my work. I usually have to ground them out before I let them go to where they are going. Ayesha is right it is a great way to vent so to speak. I just have to watch what energy I put into it.
I am trying to teach myself how to tat. I think I will wait until I have my blankets done. I am still in the middle of a embroidered baby blanket as well as working on the monster flag.
Oooo, crochet. MMMMM. I crocheted as a summer job in college for a while. I made rag rugs. (They are alright. I made anywhere from $30 - $500, yes $500, per rug. I was offered $1000 for one but I didn’t want to sell it, stupid me.) I also crocheted custom hats in college. Some are very bizzarre. I made $30 -$80 per hat. Now I mostly crochet tarot bags. I don’t sell those. I averaged $10-15 an hour crocheting which isn’t that bad but it is really cruddy work. I enjoy doing it, I just don’t enjoy getting paid for it.
The time invested into learning to crochet isn’t really prohibitive. There are five basic stitches, slip stitch (to tie off the ends), chaining (used to make length and for a pattern), double crochet, single crochet, and half double crochet. The latter three all are for the bulk of the fabric. All the other stitches are variations on those. I prefer using double crochet as it adds bulk to the design faster and seems to fit with most of what I like doing. I would suggest that you learn to chain and do it well (all the stitches being even). Then learn to make a granny square using double crochets. Basically a granny square is a 4 chain and a slip stitch to make the circle. Then you chaing three and double crochet two, chain two, double crochet three, chain two, double crochet three, chain two, double crochet three, chain one and slip stitch into the original. You repeat this process working increasing the granny square. In this instance you only crochet in the big holes left by the chaining. Oh, also when you start the second layer, you will have 2 sets of 3 double crochets and one set of chaining in the corners and three double crochets and one chain on the in between spaces. It really is much easier than I made it sound.
Doing several of these will make you a decent afghan. Also, it will increase your skill enough to feel comfortable in doing different designs and objects. Learning how to increase and decrease will make it even easier because then you will be able to crochet into pretty much whatever shape you want.
Oh, one other thing. Use 4 ply yarn as 3 ply yarn tends to make everything really small. Also, size G - L hooks work best with 4 ply yarn, IMO. I like my H and L hooks the best as they fit my hand most comfortably and keep my stitches from becoming too tight.
Ahhh, crocheting! I haven’t had the time lately, but like the others have said, it’s a great way to relax & feel productive at the same time. Once you get the hang of the basic stitches SqrlCub mentioned you can move onto some nifty things, like the fancier stitches for afghans & whatnot. One of my favorite little Christmas gifts to people was crocheted tree ornaments - but you need fine cotton yarn, a slender hook and a bit more patience for those, so they’re not a good project to start with.
Other things I’ve done & enjoyed include needlepoint, cross-stitch, embroidery and rug hooking. Never got around to learning to knit, but I’d like to do that some day.
This is such a coincidence! I’ve been thinking a lot lately that I would like to learn a craft, like crocheting or knitting. Actually, I know how to knit a little bit - I was taught as a kid but I didn’t have much interest in it.
My question to you all is, is it really hard to teach yourself how to do this (crocheting)? I don’t think I know anyone that can teach me. I’m a fast learner and really good with my hands, but I don’t know if it will be too frustrating to try and learn from books.
I wish some of you ladies (or SqrlCub) lived closer to me!
Ah, teaching yourself shouldn’t be that hard as long as you have a good visually based book of some kind. It helps to be able to see where the stitches go. Although, you probably don’t even have to do this as almost any hobby/craft store that sells yarn usually offers free or cheap classes in the craft items that they sell. I learned from my mother and an aunt. My mother also taught me how to knit. (I hate knitting because it moves too slow.)
I know how to crochet, in the most basic sense. So far the only thing I have ever finished are potholders. And if you know me long enough, will receive them as a present.
As a bonus, none of the potholders are ever the same size.
You don’t find that kind of craftswomanship anywhere!
I learned how to crochet from my grandmother when I was very young. I didn’t touch yarn or hooks for years. Then one day I just bought a hook, yarn and a pattern, and I made a sweater. I’ve since taught myself to knit and found I prefer the way knitting looks for sweaters. (Although, as SqrlCub pointed out, knitting is slower.) Once you learn the basic stiches, it’s not that difficult to move on to crocheting with thread. I’ve made a flurry of crochet snowflakes and a few crochet angels. People love getting hand-made do-dahs for Christmas and since they are small and lacy, they take no time at all.
One thing you need to know. There is a difference between the American and the British names for most of the stiches. What we (Americans) call slip stich (sl st), they call single crochet (sc); our single crochet (sc) is their double crochet (dc). Just be aware of this in case you should get some patterns from the other side of the pond.
With me, it’s a in-the-mood thing. If I’m in the mood, the work goes fast and it is very relaxing and rewarding. If I’m not in the mood, the work goes nowhere.
I have a group of friends who get together for “stitch and bitch” every other Sunday. I am currently learning to knit, have done hardanger (white on white cutwork), cross stich, crewel embroidery and I carry small tatting projects with me just about everywhere.
I think my favorite is tatting because it’s entirely portable (fits in a baggie) and it makes good gifts for the more frou frou people in my life. I make small medallions for people for christmas gifts (they make great ornaments), or tat edgings for hankies that I monogram for friends as bridal shower presents. I usually do the monogram in blue so it covers the “something new and something blue” on the wedding day.
