I am crap at crochet. I can do single and double crochet well enough, and it usually comes out looking all right, if a bit boring. My trouble in learning has been in learning to read the patterns and instructions. They don’t make a lot of sense to me for some reason, I think I have a mental block.
A very good friend in Japan is expecting a baby girl early this fall, and I would like to make them a baby blankie. I have two skeins of homespun I would like to use for this, and can go pick up more if two isn’t enough.
I would like something with a fairly loose stitch so it’ll be all soft and wubbly. Anyone have simple (ie easy to understand) patterns or instructions they’d care to share? Know of any resources on the 'net that can teach me to read the patterns?
Also, since my MS attack my reading comprehension isn’t what it used to be, and my hands don’t really want to do what they’re told - just more reasons to keep it simple for this one.
You should try searching Ravelry.com. Once you join you can use their pattern search for crochet - home - blanket - baby. They have thousands of patterns that you can look through.
I have often used Homespun on a “N” hook and just Double crochet back and forth. Homespun has a ton of texture and color interest. 2 skeins should be perfect.
Are you very familiar with this yarn? Some people consider it hard to work with.
I have made a couple of wubbly scarves with the same brand. I thought that with my lack of skill it was rather forgiving as far as the look of the finished project goes, and is very soft and washable.
The skeins I have are variegated with a cream base and some purple, blue, and tan mixed in, I think it’ll make a great blankie for a little girl. Don’t really dig the ‘pink for girls, blue for boys’ thing.
I registered at ravelry.com, I didn’t know it was there. Sure, I can Google up yarn craft sites and pattern sites, but it’s good to hear what real people like to use! Thanks!
The good thing about Ravelry is that you can read fellow crocheters’ reviews about the patterns. It’s pretty helpful - people will post about pattern errors, yarn choices, common mistakes, and will often suggest modifications that can make the pattern easier or even improve certain elements of it. Good luck with your baby blanket. I recently knitted the Wool Leaves pattern for a pregnant friend of mine (which reminds me, I should weave in the ends and actually send the thing to her before the baby arrives).
Oh, I love Homespun, in fact I know the exact colorway you’re talking about – “Tudor” right? I often use it for baby blankets, because, as you say, it’s pretty, practical, and unisex. The only reason I asked is that some people absolutely HATE this yarn. I, myself, am not a hater.
My Rav ID is “heycrochet” . There’s an SDMB group/forum, but its kind of inactive.
I can’t crochet with Homespun. Knit, sure. Crochet, hell no.
The Lion Brand website has lots of blankets too - you can even look for patterns that specficially use Homespun. There’s reviews on there as well - and people are NOT kind if the pattern hasn’t worked for them.
Ooh thank you so much, guys! And yup, Hello Again, it’s the ‘Tudor’ color pattern. Quite lovely, and I bought it with baby blankets in mind.
That shell stitch looks neato, and reminds me of a blanket I had as a child. That’s my main goal here, I feel like the solid blocks of single and double crochet I do are kinda boring. If I can learn some new stitches I could at least break up the monotony!
