Do we have any proficient crocheters on here?

[itsybitsy]

Desperate to master the art of crochet, so if any of you ladies (or gents?!?) are any good, and can offer me any pointers, I would be most grateful.

I've got myself a 4mm crochet hook and some double knit yarn to practice on!

[Arzosah]

Sadly, no .... I went to a class run by an arts museum near me, and it really did my fingers in (arthritis was still incipent only in those days, but still ouchie...). Good luck tho.

[smileyt]

Go on youtube and watch someone crochet. That's how I taught myself.

A word of warning - British and Americans use different names for the stitches and it can get very confusing. So check you're watching a British video first, and then when you start making stuff, check which country the pattern comes from. I have a list somewhere of the names of stitches, they're easy enough to find on the net.

Enjoy! Crochet works up faster than knitting so you get faster results.

[diamond lil]

Not me itsy, I'm a knitter but can't crochet at all.

[Ferricks]

Itsy - have a look at the u tube videos and let me know how you get on.

I have a friend who is an obsessive crocheter and I'm sure she would be happy to pass on some tips or answer any questions if you send them through to me!

Good Luck and keep us posted!

[wolfpup]

I can crochet - but I cannot follow a pattern (same with knitting). I usually make shawls and wrap-arounds (never liked coats), handy for the colder weather - but have also made simple summer tops.

[Rosesandtea]

I crochet - both "big" stuff and lace (but not much of the latter these days). As someone said above, pay attention to where your pattern is from, but it's not much of a problem to get used to the differences.

I learned to crochet, making granny squares for cushion covers, taught by a very old lay nun in Italy, who was from someplace in Yugoslavia before it became Yugoslavia. Nice memories. She loved her chickens too. She had one that roosted in the niche behind the statue of the Virgin Mary, out in the garden. (The priest kept goats, so it was a cool place to live. I lived on the grounds when I lived in Italy.)

I digressed, sorry.

My advice would be to do some practice pieces with various stitches. Then start!

Lucy of Attic 24 has some lovely patterns that she shares and they are written in such a way to be understandable by beginners. I think her list of patterns is in the left-hand sidebar of her blog. Search for Attic 24; I'm afraid I will get the URL wrong if I try to write it out from memory on the phone.

If I think of anything else I'll try to come back and post again.

[SooBee]

I learned to crochet many years ago when kid's ponchos were all the rage. I did my daughter up like Little Red Riding Hood and took her to Berlin. The German Hausfraus loved her hooded poncho...cute!

My tip is to master chain, single, double and trebles and then start on blankets. By the time your first blanket is finished you'll be able to teach the others here.

It is the best way to use up the odd bits left over from other projects - 'Waste not - want not!'

Don't use too small a hook or too large either. When the size and fit does not matter too much, judge the thickness of the hook much as you would for knitting...medium wool - medium hook. ( thick wool - thick hook)

[BelfastGranny]

I can crochet but I can only manage square blankets and the Centre of them is usually deformed I think its a bit sad that not one of my four daughters can crochet or knit a stitch (including sewing on a button). The problem has been that with equality of the sexes in education (for which I have campaigned for years) as a feminist it makes me mad that instead of teaching boys as well to sew and knit they have stopped teaching it at all in schools which is sad.

[latebloomer]

I just started by checking out you tube sites, I found this one > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eqca00LdmAc was really clear about how to do the stitches. Its american, and like the others said they call stitches different to we do. I am still practicing different stitches. I use a size 7 hook that i got off freecycle (there are others but they seem a bit small for me at the moment) and dk wool that i got from Wilkos. I found it really difficult at first to see which loop i should be sticking the hook through and i still am not sure i am doing it right but i am keeping on practicing until i feel comfortable with it. i like that you dont have to sit for hours, i dont have the time or inclination for that. i can do a square or a circle in a quite short time and then go off and do sommat else, then do another square or circle later on or the next day. suits me. i think with knitting you have to do for longer lengths of time non stop. maybe i am wrong but thats the impression i get.