Thinking about trying crochet.

craftylady · Thinking about trying crochet.

Can someone guide me into a good book to explain crochet and if possible guide me through reading and following a pattern. Just have a whim to try something new for personal expansion purposes.

TIA girls.

Jobo

CL - I was in Tescos this morning and I saw a new crochet publication - its in a poly bag (rather like the magazines, but not see through) and you get 4 balls of yarn with it, plus instructions on how to crochet and some small projects to try like a purse, granny squares, little slippers.

It looks quite good, but I can't remember what its called. Its in the vein of "Let's Knit", but called Lets Crochet or something similar. Very Happy

Plus they were advertising a free crochet book with it worth £12.99 but I would think you probably have to send away for that Very Happy

Wildpurl

I used Erika Knight's Simple Crochet when I first started. It explains how to do each of the stitches with diagrams and has a range of simple but useful and attractive patterns, with clear directions.

pictish

The Works had Erika Knight's Easy Crochet or Simple Crochet in the other day about £4 reduced from £13 Razz

cazzie

I'm no expert - but will try and guide you through a pattern bear in mind I'm still at the keep it simple with grannies or plain rows of either trebles or double crochet.

Would love to have a go at crochet socks sometime - allycoll on Ravelry has done some lovely ones.

daisydap

i have signed up for a crochet course at a local centre, but have just bought ' the encyclopedia of crochet techniques' by jan eaton, i have her knitting encyclopedia too and that is really good at explaining stuff, hence going for the crochet version too, it is very good at explaining techniques plus there is a feew patterns to try at the back of the book

Auntie Noo

The Happy Hooker is a good one too - although it's in US terminology not British. - It does have a table of translations though!

craftylady

Thanks girls, I appreciate all the recommendations. My problem will be, finding something I would like to make. I had MIL to dinner today and I asked the question could she crochet. I know she's very talented in sewing and knitting but she doesn't do any of it now, so I was delighted when she said a tentative yes - - - - with another yes to "Does she want a pupil?"

So I think I should furnish myself with one of the aforementioned tomes and get cracking!! Please don't expect miracles just yet from me but I'll keep you updated with anything that is reasonable.

Thanks Cazzie for the offer of help I really appreciate that. I looked at allycoll's page on Rav and was gobsmacked - she's even crocheted socks?!!!! You were right there are some amazing things on there.

Edited because I'm rude and had forgotten to thank Cazzie:)

cazzie

What sort of thing would you like to have a go at? Very Happy

If you fancy a throw - could start with something like franny's blankie - to try out different patterns. Or you can do some fab effects with the good old granny - see this one on ravelry.

craftylady

I think I just want to get to grips with the various stitches and eventually I'd like to crochet in thread to create table centres and place mats etc. Hope I'm not setting my sights too high.

franney

I love crochet, it's so much quicker than knitting so you get almost instant gratification Very Happy

My favourite type of blanket to crochet is something called Mile-a-Minute where you make strips and then join them together. I can make a blankie in a couple of evenings that way, especially with a heavier weight yarn Wink

craftylady

I've just been on your rav page and looked at all you've done. Real inspiration.... I'm quite tempted by Jan Eatons book 200 crochet squares.

Auntie Noo

That book does have a "how to " in the back CL, so that might be all you need!

franney

craftylady

My friend was going into town on Monday so I asked her to look for Jan's book. What a super friend she is she not only bought i for me but also made a gift of it as an early birthday present.

I've tried a couple of the squares now and the tension is really odd.

I used a cheap ball of DK and a 4mm hook and what should be a 6" square is 6 1/2 by 5 1/2 Shocked

It's gonna be a long learning curve. Smile

My other problem is when I make a square of crochet by rows instead of rounds, I end up with a triangle; as I seem to lose a stitch on each row. It tells me to do a turning chain and miss the first stitch, making sure I do my last stitch into the top of the turning chain on the previous row. Theoretically I should have the same number of stitches but........

I'm not sure I remeber knitting being this confusing! But that was a very long time ago.

Auntie Noo

that's the bit I always have trouble with CL - and when I made my jumper recently I had to count my stitches after practically every row just to make sure!! (I was paranoid that I'd end up with a bikini top!!) I can't really explain but you did need to start a lot nearer the very edge of the row than you think! Maybe try looking up on the internet to see other photos/schematics they may help you get a better idea.

craftylady

Thanks Auntie Noo,
I think it's a case of trial and error. I'm gonna give it another go with some different yarn and maybe a smaller hook over the weekend.

KnittingLadybird

This maybe not of much help but....find the last visible stitch on your square. then work 1 chain down at the end of square (just under your visible - last- stitch).

You might like this site too Very Happy

craftylady

Thanks for the link KLB. A very informative site. I had a delivery today, the postman brought me Jan Eaton's Encyclopaedia of Crochet Techniques. So between that and her 200 Crochet Blocks I think this weekend's gonna be a crochet one.

If only I can get over the guilt of abandoning my knitting Rolling Eyes

craftylady

I'm still having trouble with my tension. I've gone down from 4mm to 3.5mm and now my square measures 6" across which is correct but only 5.25" up. Any suggestions from the experienced crocheters? (or non experienced just to be politically correct and not cause offence to anyone)

loobyj

Is a round and round type square (sort of granny type) or is it a back and forth row type?

If it's a row type, then I think making the loops you pull through for each stitch slightly looser might help - in effect making each stitch taller.

If it's a round type then I'd try yanking it - or blocking it properly Wink

- into a square. The stitches might just be a bit squashed.

I'd probably try the yanking technique first if it's a row type as well tbh.

Don't know if you're a 'wrapper' or a 'thrower' for knitting, but crochet's a lot more easily controlled if you can train yourself to wrap (if you don't already of course Confused

)

Hope that helps a bit.

lj

Wildpurl

Yeah, I always block my crochet squares because they are never square when I finish them. So you could try looby's technique, which will help, and I would also recommend blocking them to size anyway.
HTH

craftylady

It's usually on a row by row square. I have given them a yank but that tends to make them less than the 6" in width then. I just knew blocking would be the answer....

What's a wrapper and a thrower?

loobyj

It's how you hold (or don't hold) your yarn.

Do you wrap the yarn round your fingers so that you just move your finger to put the yarn round the needle. Or do you let go of the needle in your right hand, pick up the yarn and throw it round the needle.

I was always a thrower till I learned to crochet. Then I became a wrapper. Unless I'm using really big needles.

I don't think we've ever had the wrap v throw discussion on this forum.

lj

craftylady

When I'm knitting, I wrap the yarn through my fingers and let if flow through but I also let go of the needle to make the stitch Exclamation

When I'm crocheting I do the same thing with the yarn but in my left hand, perhaps I need to "loosen up" a little bit Laughing

Wildpurl

Actually, for crochet I'm neither a thrower nor a wrapper. I hold the yarn tensioned in my left hand and the hook in my right, and I flick the hook to catch the yarn, so more like continental I suppose. It's quite fast.
For knitting I'm a wrapper though.

loobyj

Yeah, I've never thought of it like that - for crochet I hold the hook in my left hand (as I'm left handed) and tension the yarn with my right, and do the whole flippy thing with the hook. So, I too am a continental style crocheter!

lj