How did you learn to crochet ?

rufydoofyM

Hi,

I recently came across my nans old knitting needles and a crochet needle and have decided it is time I learnt how to use them. Nan passed away over 25yrs ago but being sentimental and a bit of a hoarder I've never been able to part with them. When I was little she taught me to knit but all I managed was a dolls blanket and nothing since. That was over 40 yrs ago.

So here I am, I have the needles and have bought some wool. I've been looking on youtube for tutorials, but forgot to bookmark the one that made it look so easy. I've watched quite a few, but my first attempts have only managed a knot !!:o

So my question to you is how did you learn and can you suggest or give me a link to enable me to do my nan proud and use her needles to create something like a blanket to keep me warm this winter.

Thanks

M:)

tru

I used HookedOnCrochet A friend recommended her, I find her videos really easy to follow. Be careful to use either American or UK terms (at least until you know what you're doing) - a UK double crochet stitch is called single crochet in US terms, etc. I managed to confuse myself many times because of this, even though I was told about it before I even started

Just keep practising the stitches and don't worry about tension, that just seems to come naturally as you get more confident. If you're anything like me, you might fling your hook across the room in frustration but I promise it gets easier very quickly.

ERICS_MUM

I've knitted for over 40 years, all sorts of garments. But I have never managed to grasp the art of crochet, even nowadays with You Tube and Pinterest proving a wealth of detail. Hum

tizerbelle

Crochet is an exasperating art - I agree with tru above- things will get hurled across the room in frustration but leave it a day and start again - it does get easier - honest. Says she who never held a crochet hook in her life until last month and is now the proud owner of a hand made beanie (that fits and is worn), a rather large granny square that is pretending to be a doily and a bag full of crochet flowers that she has no idea what to do with and even more attempted granny squares that are in no way, square.

Happyberry has a nice way about her - this page has most of the basics covered and she has a lot of videos on her youtube channel that show you how to make stuff from start to finish not just the stitches. She does use American terminology though. Her youtube channel is here

For granny squares I started off with BellaCoco - she does use UK terminology. Her blog is here and she also has a YouTube channel here

tizerbelle

Just spotted you want to do a blanket but you don't say whether you want to crochet or knit it.

Knitting wise - I hadn't done any of that for 40 years. I haven't found just one site that I used for remembering how to knit - I even had to check out how to cast on again! I didn't bookmark any knitting sites though but Deramores have a page of them here that may help you out

Do remember that your nans knitting needles may be marked in the old UK style (yes that has changed as well) so if for example the needle is marked 8 it may mean it is actually a 4mm (new method) needle - there is a conversion chart here

I recently knitted a sofa throw - I had 10 balls of a slightly chunky yarn (with little bobbles) and so I knitted a diagonal blanket where you start at one corner and knit diagonally, increasing stitches on each row as you go until you use up 5 balls of yarn and then you start decreasing to use the other 5 balls. I only followed the linked pattern to get how to do the increases and decreases but it's very simple pattern and all done in garter stitch (what you may know as knit stitch). The yarn I had said on the band to use 6.5mm needles but that made the blanket very dense and didn't drape very well and wouldn't have been very large so I frogged it after a couple of balls and started again on 8mm needles which were large enough to produce a really nice drape without the stitches looking odd. Although I have got interchangeable needles (two needles joined by a cable) so I could hold all the stitches and more on one set of needles. With straight needles, the size of your blanket will be limited by the number of stitches you can hold on the needles - the thinner the yarn, the more stitches.

Here's a simple pattern for making a nice blanket on straight needles - basically a lot of scarfs then sewn together.

suki1964

My auntie taught me to crochet when I was about 5/6 and I found it very easy. Yet I can't knit

I remember her teaching me to make chains of slip stitches on my finger,once I could do that I progressed to the hook and I was away


Made many a granny throw over the years

Prinzessilein

They tried to teach me crochet at school....knitting too....and failed spectacularly in both cases!


I asked Mum to teach me a few times....and just feel lucky we both managed to survive the resultant trauma!


A few years ago I pulled out my copy of Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlecraft, turned to the page on crochet, read it through, grabbed a crochet hook and an odd ball of wool....and away I went!....Mum was astonished to see a few almost perfect squares a week or so later!


I never really decided WHY I wanted to crochet, I had nothing I wanted to make, just wanted to prove I could do it I suppose...and so I stopped there.


A couple of years ago I saw a pattern for Operation Christmas Child Crafts that I thought I would like to put in the boxes I was doing. (A simple bag and purse)....out came the book again...I borrowed a pair of needles and an oddment ball for a trial run....one week later I had thrown away the sample, bought the wool I needed and made my first bag!....I made bags, purses, doll-puppets and hats for the boxes that year!...Knitting has been a joy ever since! (Although I am currently struggling with using double-pointed needles...time to get out that book again!)


Clearly, I learn best by reading!....also I think it helps to have a definite project in mind.

Waffle_On

I've been using youtube tutorials. Especially as a left hander, I was finding it hard to follow the book I was given.

Mrs_Grey

Have a look at Lucy on Attic24 blog. There's loads of lovely things on there to make once you've got the basics.

good_advice

I learned to crochet from reading books and following the photograph.
The same with knitting and cooking.

rufydoofyM

Thanks everyone for your sharing your tips and experiences.

tru and tizerbelle thanks for pointing out the American vs English terminology and size differences. I had woken this morning and decided that maybe I should try knitting instead and got the needles out. OH asked how I'd got on last night after he'd gone to bed and when I replied 'I made a big knot' he thought it hilarious and laughed for sometime. I'd got a bit frustrated and given up about 3am. Bless him though as he's encouraging me to persivere with it all.

I seem to be in a muddle as to what to hold how and the tensioning etc. I managed a string of stitches, but then it all became a mess and I unravelled and started again. Apart from the one attempt that i had tried to go back and add a second row. That became the big Knot !

I've never really wanted to knit or crochet before, but feel that these needles have so many years of use and love that they should be revitalised and perhaps they may guide me somehow. (Yes I know that will sound daft to some). Nan taught me to cook and I mastered that, but I could never sit still long enough or concentrate when she'd try and teach me to knit or crochet. Now I have more time and less energy I figured it would prise me away from too much time on the computer and be productive too.

Seems it may take me longer than I thought, but I will share how I get on and have a look at all the sites suggested and with a bit of luck succeed.

Right off to try again now and if I feel the urge to throw something I'll retire to the kitchen and make chocolate cake:D