Learning to Crochet

Learning to Crochet

I’ve had tradies in for weeks, so haven’t had a chance to felt. Having a rare bit of quiet time the other day, I thought ‘why not give crocheting another go?’ After about 8 videos, I remembered why! I did manage to make some things you could loosely describe as chains, though:

I thought felt and knitting were hard to photograph, until I tried to photograph crochet! All these photos have been redone at least 3 times. I thought I might have better ‘luck’ if I used some commercial yarn instead of my handspun superwash which spun about as well as it felted. I also looked for a better video, and finally found someone who spoke slowly enough for me to understand and had a really clear explanation:

So with some commercial Aran wool and a new video, I made a neater single chain:

The thing I’d had most trouble with on other videos was their explanation of how to do the next row, which stitch was the ‘second stitch’ etc. Luckily, Lesson 2 was SO clear, I did it first time:

My samples weren’t perfect, but much better than my first chains!

I thought I’d try it with the pencil roving I was using for knitting:

But, what now? I don’t know what the next part is called so couldn’t find a video for it. How do you do a 3rd row? Turn it over and do the same thing? It didn’t look the same, but I gave it a go:

Is that right, how it’s meant to look? If you have any tips for what I need to know next, I’d be grateful! So, wanting to keep practising my new ‘skill’, but not having a clue, I thought I’d freestyle it:

Yeah, that is some kind of small crochet bowl! I wondered if I might be better at bigger crocheting, like I am with chunky knitting. So yesterday, I made myself a chunky hook, here it is next to the size 4 one I was using:

It needs a bit more sanding and maybe a bit of beeswax or something, but I had a go and made a chunky sample:

I am now going to enjoy the first peace and quiet for weeks, by clearing a space to do some felting! Any crochet tips greatly appreciated!!

18 thoughts on “Learning to Crochet

  1. “…How do you do a 3rd row? Turn it over and do the same thing?…”

    I’m also a beginner crocheter here, but, yes, you have the right idea! With the single crochet you are doing, the stitches in one row will slant slightly to the right and in the next row they will slant slightly to the left.

    If you crochet in the round, the stitches will slant all the same way because you’re not flipping your work at the end of every row as you do in flat crochet.

    Here’s a link to beginning crochet videos that I have found helpful: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL69F5A7FE3F95232F&feature=view_all

    1. Thanks, DeeAnna 🙂
      I did watch that first video in the playlist, and it was clear until the chain part, I couldn’t get the hang of doing it on the back. It might be clearer once I’ve done more though.

  2. It’s nice to have things done, but having tradies in is hard work!
    I love your freeform crochet – you’re a natural!
    And those videos do show well what you’re supposed to be aiming for.
    You MADE that crochet hook ?!? I’m really impressed at the skill that took.

    1. Thanks, Lyn 🙂
      I made the crochet hook out of a kinitting needle I made! I did enjoy freestyling, though I wish I could remember how I made the bowl!

  3. Ok, I have no idea what tradies are. But great start on the crocheting. Especially the free form. I like the little bowl. I imagine you can felt theses pieces into something along the way.

    1. Thanks, Marilyn 🙂
      tradies are plumbers, plasterers, joiners, tilers etc Yeah, I think they’d all felt apart from the superwash. I don’t think I’ll be crocheting any patterns like yours though!

    2. Thnaks for the explanation. I’m sure you could duplicate what I’ve done. With the exception of a couple of those experiments I did, nothing too complicated, just practice. I look forward to to seeing more of what you do. Good job on the needle.

  4. Glad you’re nearing the home stretch with the renovation. I think you should just stick with free form because that’s awesome. Why follow a pattern when you can create your own? And I agree with Lyn, WOW, on making your own crochet hook 🙂 No help here from me with crochet or knitting. I am hopeless with both.

    1. Thanks, Ruth 🙂
      It’s all finished now, I just have to find the will to put all the mess back, and make some fibrey mess! I wonder if I can knit freestyle too, that’d be good!!

    1. The shawl’s great, Frances 🙂
      I’ll deffo have to learn some more stitches get freestyling, mine was fun to do, but looks a bit boring in comparison!

  5. Love your free form crochet. And your pencil roving crochet appears very nice and neat.One hint I would like to share is that I would put a little marker (piece of contrasting coloured wool) in the last stitch of each row so that when you reach the next end you don’t add another stitch in. I think this may be what’s causing the slight angle at the edges. If you count your stitches on practice pieces and perhaps keep to a small number you will begin to recognise the stitches. Stretch your piece and count the POSTS. these are like the uprights in a fence. Do this for each row and you’ll build a good habit. When more experienced you’ll maybe only check every few rows or not at all eventually. Great hand made crochet hook as well.

    1. Thanks Janet 🙂
      I had a feeling I was miscounting, adding or missing stitches here and there, so a stitch-marker is a great idea! I think I was pulling and making some stitches too, which adds to the wonkiness 🙂

    1. Thanks 🙂
      it’s a bit rough under the hook, I’m going to look for a proper file instead of my nail file and sand paper!

  6. Well done Zed. I am hopeless at knitting or crocheting. I always add stiches and end up with holes People look at me funny when I am spinning and then say I do not knit.

  7. Wow! You are doing remarkably well for someone who is new to crochet! That freeform is so lovely. Don’t worry about not being able to remember how you did it. That is why it’s called freeform and most people don’t remember how they ended up with their completed result. I appreciate this post as I have recently started my own YouTube channel (late to the game I know) and sometimes forget that I need to slow down or that things that may seem like general knowledge or common sense to me (someone who has been crocheting for quite some time) aren’t actual general knowledge. You’ve given me food for thought and I hope you continue on your journey of adding crochet to the list of your talents!

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