Chicken bald back

[Guest]

I was just reding all Emma's posts about learning to crochet and she had real trouble at the beginning, back in early 2009, but a recent post by her said she's really good at it now. That, as a total beginner, gave me hope!

 

I've just started out and thought it might be good for other beginners to read about other people's experiences of starting out and any tips from those more experienced.

 

I didn't think i'd get the hang of it but the main thing i was doing wrong was making my chains too tight which meant I couldn't see the sticthes and/or get my hook through to carry on the next row but I mastered that by just keeping trying.

 

I mastered doing a chain and single crochet so then moved on to what i thought was dble crochet. It turned out i was in advertantly doing HALF dble crochet because i wasn't putting my hook thru both sides of the chain, just one side. Still looks good though and it is apparently still a recognised stitch!

 

You tube really helped me, especially with being a left hander, as there are left handed videos/tutorials on there. Also there are lessons on the net.

 

I am in the process of making a scarf from half dble crochet stitches which i thought would be a good starting point.

 

So, what I'd like to know and which might help other beginners is......

 

What did other people make as their starting projects?

 

Also, once i've finished I would like to tackle something a little more advanced (but not too advanced) so, bearing in mind that I have only mastered the above so far, what do you think i should tackle next?

[Guest]

...erm, just in case you didn't read all of that, there are 2 questions at the end

[green]

I'm learning to crochet as well and would like to make a small basket (crochet four panels and join by sewing, add a fifth panel to form the bottom), but I have to find some suitable yarn first. I like making granny squares (although they don't look very nice yet, need more practise!), I think they're good as you can do as little or as much as you want and join them to make a scarf, cushion cover or a huge blanket!

[freddie]

I'm teaching myself squares , for cushions, at the moment. they are each quite little projects, so you can see if its going right or not! There are all sorts of patterns from pretty simple to horribly difficult, and they sew togther easily! They also use up all sorts of odd ends of wool!! Look on attic 24 web, she does tutorials, which may not be good for you being LHanded, but the site is gorgeous anyhow!

[eeyoreshunny]

I can sympathise with you learning left handed, it's not easy and I still find now that patterns can be a pain because i have to work the other way round, I learnt to crochet in Jan 2010 and was a bit ambitious with my first project

But it only took me a month and I was very pleased with how it came out, I've lost count of how many project i've done now, but the suggestion to look at Attic24's blog is a good idea as her patterns have loads of pictures and explain everything in fantastic detail,

As for a next project I've found with crochet once you've mastered the stitches there is not much you can't do, if you are not already a member Ravelry Is a fantastic free site with forums and hundreds of free patterns & you will most certainly find something on there that you will want to make

[Guest]

that blanket looks complicated. I only know how to do single and half double crochet so far

[Egluntyne]

I agree with eeyoreshunny ... Attic24 and Ravelry are fab places to visit.

[Guest]

ok, thanks.

 

Just been looking on youtube and now I really don't know what the heck stitch I have been doing! Maybe you can help me?

 

I have been chaining two at the start of a row then yarn over and into the next stitch on the row but only thru half of the stitch (i.e. not both loops of the stitch, if that makes sense?) then pull the wool thru one loop on the hook, yarn over again then pulll thru 2 loops and yo again and thru 2 again and so on repeat.

 

what have i been doing??? It looks fine I just don't know what the heck I've been doing!

[Egluntyne]

Sounds almost like a treble (UK). If you have been following an american pattern or youtube thingummy, then you will have probably done an american double crochet, as the terminology is different. Very confusing until you get the hang of it.

 

**Conversion chart**

[Egluntyne]

Make that a double treble (sort of) UK and a Treble (US). I've just had a play and this seems to be more like it, although, the yarn over bit is not quite right.

 

Treat yourself to a copy of **Crochet Unravelled** ... the best little book I have come across for explaining the basic stitches, with clear instructions for left handers. .... although I am left handed, I crochet in the right handed manner. Sister Theresa beat any left handed notions I might have had with regard to crochet out of me when I was at primary school.

[Guest]

thanks

 

I'll keep on with it for now as I've done too much to change horses mid crochet

 

I'll treat myself to that book for Christmas!

 

My mum tried to teach me years ago as she's a whizz with the old knitting/crocheting but she's right handed and we just got frustrated with each other so I gave up

[bluekarin]

I taught myself last year, just before Christmas and made a secret Santa cushion with crochet snowflakes on it. Bit of a baptism of fire really, as they were quite difficult and I had to unravel many many many stitches until I just got it But, I think in a way it helped me understand what the stitches were doing and how they helped in the formation f the pattern. That and I did over 50 of the things for my Christmas cards, so after that many I could do it.

 

I do still find reading pattern instructions really difficult, but I am getting there. Thinking back, I think I also did squares of different types of stitch to see how they looked. I did a fillet panel which was difficult but looks really good.

 

I am halfway through a ripple blanket which is mahoosive, almost finished a ripple blanket for my friends soon to be born baby (better finish it really) made wrist warmers (which are very simple and a good small thing to do (attic24) ) for my three kids, and am now making yet more snowflakes http://www.coatscrafts.co.uk/Crochet/Projects/snowflake_tree_decoration.htm some of which are turning out fine and some are another matter. Just trial and error I find. My two daughters want to learn, but they won't just sit there for hours like it did doing and redoing chains and basic stitches to understand about turning etc.

 

I have a couple of books which I found helpful. Learn to Crochet edited by Sally Harding (a Coats Crafts UK one) and Compendium of crochet Techniques by Jan Eaton which is brilliant. Not patterns as such but shows you how to do all the stitches and lots of techniques. Great for looking up stitch terms when you get stuck in another pattern. And as everyone else has said Attic24 is brilliant and Ravelery, which I have looked at but not made the most of yet.

 

Just keep at it. As they say, practise makes perfect. Good Luck!