Egzandra Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I taught myself to crochet just over a year ago, using a great book for teaching crochet to left-handers. I have been "hooked" ever since! My younger daughter had ripped a fluffy collar off her knitted jacket and wanted me to make it wearable again. So I did a row of trebles in a shell pattern around the raw edges. She was very pleased, and I was amazed because it looked good! I then made her another, black lacy jacket which she has worn and worn. I then started to make one for myself, which is still unfinished. I made a doily with fine thread, this looked all right as well although I got mixed up with the right side and the wrong side a couple of times. Now I am doing a big throw/bedspread for my older daughter, that has taken a while but I am over half way through. I like knitting as well, but have found that I prefer crochet. It seems to be bigger in America than over here though. Anyone else on here like crocheting? Love from Egzandra Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 I can crocket in a circle and I managed to crochet in a straight line once I couldnt read a pattern though, it doesnt make sense to me I like my knitting (im making Kev a jumper - he may get it for his 40th birthday - maybe thats a bit too soon though - he is only 36 ) do you have any photos of your crochetting cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hi Egzandra, I love crochet as well! I've done lots of knitting in the past, but have recently rediscovered crochet. I started doing craft fairs last year and found that I could fill any quiet times by crocheting -I started making little flower corsages, then did some stripey beanie style hats. I'm currently doing a blanket of hexagons inspired by this lady, if you like crochet you will love this blog: Attic24 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 Having been crocheting from early childhood, taught by various elderly ladies (RIP) the one thing I have been unable to do is teach anyone else to crochet! I would really love to teach my daughter, but with my inability to teach and the fact she is left handed for some things and right handed for others , my OH has banned us from trying again as it is the only thing she and I end in heated arguements over Do you know the name of the book you learned from Egzandra? It may be worth getting for her and seeing if she can do it lefthanded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prudance Posted February 19, 2009 Share Posted February 19, 2009 ... I would really love to teach my daughter, but with my inability to teach and the fact she is left handed for some things and right handed for others , my OH has banned us from trying again as it is the only thing she and I end in heated arguements over Do you know the name of the book you learned from Egzandra? It may be worth getting for her and seeing if she can do it lefthanded. It's been years since I've done much. However, my mum tried to teach me and failed so I taught myself (early teens) using the children's Ladybird book "Learning to Crochet". It was brilliant -I could do with a copy now, because I've forgotten most of what I knew! Try ebay or a second hand book shop for a copy. I've picked up quite a few vintage ladybird books recently quite cheaply on ebay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 Hi Egzandra, I love crochet as well! I've done lots of knitting in the past, but have recently rediscovered crochet. I started doing craft fairs last year and found that I could fill any quiet times by crocheting -I started making little flower corsages, then did some stripey beanie style hats. I'm currently doing a blanket of hexagons inspired by this lady, if you like crochet you will love this blog:Attic24 Hi Snowy, Thank you for your reply, I have had a quick look at that site, will go and have a longer look later, looks fascinating and with a wealth of ideas. I am doing hexagons as well, in my daughter's quilt! using Paton's 4 ply cotton. My inspiration was an excerpt from a book that I got with a knitting magazine. There's a lovely pattern for covering a round pouffe in there as well. Having been crocheting from early childhood, taught by various elderly ladies (RIP) the one thing I have been unable to do is teach anyone else to crochet! I would really love to teach my daughter, but with my inability to teach and the fact she is left handed for some things and right handed for others , my OH has banned us from trying again as it is the only thing she and I end in heated arguements over Do you know the name of the book you learned from Egzandra? It may be worth getting for her and seeing if she can do it lefthanded. Thank you for your reply, the book I used was Crochet Unravelled by Claire Bojczuk, and I got it from the website called Anything Left Handed but you can get it from Amazon as well. I had trouble learning knitting and crochet from my mother, who is right handed. I was taught to knit by a left handed friend, who knits the right handed way but with the right hand needle supported in the abdomen. (Sounds painful, I know but it is comfortable and gives a lovely even finish). And, I learnt to crochet with this wonderful book! Hooray! Good luck with your daughter. It's quite a nice little book with a cartooney cover and projects inside in varying degrees of easiness. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted February 19, 2009 Author Share Posted February 19, 2009 I can crocket in a circle and I managed to crochet in a straight line once I couldnt read a pattern though, it doesnt make sense to me I like my knitting (im making Kev a jumper - he may get it for his 40th birthday - maybe thats a bit too soon though - he is only 36 ) do you have any photos of your crochetting cathy x Hi, thank you for your message, I like knitting too although I have not done any for a while. My projects take quite a bit of time, too - in fact it's a family joke. I bought some green wool in the 1970s (goodness knows why, because it was a horrible shade, like something unmentionable on a refined site like this) and finally gave it away last year concealed in a bagful of other wools, still unknitted. I hope Kev appreciates his jumper. My husband had one knitted by me with intarsia triangles, although our eldest daughter nicked it and wore it mostly. I think that knitted fabric is definitely better for jumpers, drapes better. Crochet has its place for other things and as you sayit can be knitted in the round as well as straight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 20, 2009 Share Posted February 20, 2009 [the book I used was Crochet Unravelled by Claire Bojczuk, and I got it from the website called Anything Left Handed but you can get it from Amazon as well. I had trouble learning knitting and crochet from my mother, who is right handed. I was taught to knit by a left handed friend, who knits the right handed way but with the right hand needle supported in the abdomen. (Sounds painful, I know but it is comfortable and gives a lovely even finish). And, I learnt to crochet with this wonderful book! Hooray! Good luck with your daughter. It's quite a nice little book with a cartooney cover and projects inside in varying degrees of easiness. Thanks for this - as I say, she varies in what she is left or right handed in (draws with left, paints with right ) but it might work. Know what you mean by the "needle supported in the abdomen" style of knitting, I often work like this myself Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Having been crocheting from early childhood, taught by various elderly ladies (RIP) the one thing I have been unable to do is teach anyone else to crochet! I would really love to teach my daughter, but with my inability to teach and the fact she is left handed for some things and right handed for others , my OH has banned us from trying again as it is the only thing she and I end in heated arguements over Do you know the name of the book you learned from Egzandra? It may be worth getting for her and seeing if she can do it lefthanded. I sympathise with your daughter - I am ambidextrous for most things but some things I only do right handed and some I can only do left handed I couldn't crochet right handed but neither could I reverse any instructions and do it left handed - I ended up with a sort of hybrid and managed perfectly well and could follow a pattern as well. I stuck with a mostly right handed version which apparently looks very odd to others - it works for me. Perhaps your daughter could sort out her own way just by watching what you actually do with the stitches? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SAB Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 Thanks for the encouragement Lesley - at the point I learned to crochet I was pretty much fully ambidextrous, but am mostly right now (but not entirely). My daughter is far more of a mixture, complicated by dyslexia, but she is terribly creative and her ability to succeed at anything she puts her mind to is remarkable, given the extra effort she needs to make on account of her dyslexia. I will make a point of letting her sit and watch me work and she will perhaps pick up from there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AJuff Posted February 23, 2009 Share Posted February 23, 2009 I crotcheted two lovely thick dishcloths from unbleached natural cotton. They are so lush to use. i gave them to our hosts as a thank you for having us gift. So much nicer than knitted dishcloths I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egzandra Posted February 24, 2009 Author Share Posted February 24, 2009 I crotcheted two lovely thick dishcloths from unbleached natural cotton. They are so lush to use. i gave them to our hosts as a thank you for having us gift. So much nicer than knitted dishcloths I think. I have found the opposite - I crocheted some dishcloths using the natural cotton as a couple of practice pieces, but I don't find them to be as absorbent and easy to use as the knitted one my mother's got. Perhaps I used a too small hook. I used a 4. The cloths are useful as pan holders though. At the moment, though I am doing hexagons for a throw. That is going well although I still have about 100 to do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 4, 2009 Share Posted March 4, 2009 I love crochet too. I've only recently taught myself - good old youtube! I've been doing a large granny square blanket. I also do amigurumi. Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kimbles Posted March 5, 2009 Share Posted March 5, 2009 Hello everyone, I haven't posted for a while, but have been looking at this forum when I get the chance. I love crochet and am working on a blanket at the moment - I also love knitting but haven't done that for a while. I, too am left handed and remember my poor mum trying to teach me to knit and crochet the left handed way, until one day I just followed her right handed way and was fine! I must be ambidexterous when it comes to crafts! I love chunky crochet and also delicate crochet with fine cotton, its such a relaxing craft. I must thank Snowey Howells for mentioning Attic24 what a lovely colourful blog, I cant keep away from it now! The colourful crochet projects are a joy to look at and inspirational - so thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chickweed Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 All this talk about crochet has got me hankering to do some again after about a 30 year break. There are some lovely patterns around these days, so I have ordered a pattern and yarn for a bolero style cardigan. Can't wait Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Janty Posted March 7, 2009 Share Posted March 7, 2009 I'm making a crochet hen at the moment...along with everything else. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Picture & pattern please Janty? Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 I started making little flower corsages, then did some stripey beanie style hats. I'm currently doing a blanket of hexagons inspired by this lady, if you like crochet you will love this blog:Attic24 I printed off this, and Ive been making some *feeling very proud of myself * Ive made 3 little flowery things , if I do enough, i might make them into a cowl carfy thing wooooo hoooooo ive never been able to rochet anything sensible before, only circles (from guesswork) and a long line (that didnt look very straight ) thanks Snowy cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 Yay!! Well done Cathy! This is my hexagon blanket inspired by Attic24 - get your shades on! Not sure where it will go when it's done - it might become my cosy camping blanket to warm me in my tent Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 8, 2009 Share Posted March 8, 2009 wow, thats fab I now have 4 little flowery things im not sure how to make them hezagons yet though, still practising on the first part cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eeyoreshunny Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Yay!! Well done Cathy! This is my hexagon blanket inspired by Attic24 - get your shades on! Not sure where it will go when it's done - it might become my cosy camping blanket to warm me in my tent Snowy what wool have you used? the colours are lovely, LSH is going to teach me to crochet so I can make this Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 It's Patons Fairytale Colour 4 Me. I got it from our local shop who only had a limited selection of colours - I should've waited and got more but I couldn't wait to start I had to buy some more and used this on line shop - it was the cheapest I could find, and they have a much bigger range of colours: http://www.mcadirect.com/shop/patons-fairytale-colour-dk-pure-wool-p-1643.html Delivery is free with orders over £10 and it all came very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plum Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Very retro Snowy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Couperwife Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 I now have 7 little flowery things Kev keeps picking them up and looking confused (awww, bless ) he has moved them 4 times up to now cathy x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted March 9, 2009 Share Posted March 9, 2009 Men just don't get it do they Cathy? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
