Yesterday I pulled out the white and started a garland of snowflakes from THIS PATTERN on the Red Heart Yarn site. I ended up connecting them all together to make a doily. I started crocheting about two years ago, with the help of a few books, so the fact that more complicated instructions not only make sense to me, but can transfer from page to brain to a project is pretty cool to me!
You learned to crochet by a book? My hat's off to you! I'm impressed. I had a dear church friend show my one stitch and told me I could make it into a baby blanket. I think I made 4 baby blankets to give away at showers and I really enjoyed that, but I've never done anything else or since. Which books did you use that you liked for clear instructions to learn by?
ReplyDeleteAfter a few projects in a row, crocheting really gets a lot easier and more relaxing. I really like it because it is easy to transport. I've worked on many projects sitting in the car waiting for school to release, or sitting in on a piano lesson, etc.
ReplyDeleteI used two books to get started. The first was "How to Crochet for Dummies" and the second was "I taught myself to crochet" by Boye (hook brand.) I bought the second one because it was a good deal on a set of hooks, but the book turned out to be a great reference as well.
Youtube was a good source, too, if you learn better by seeing it done. And I pick up books at the library all the time just to see different projects, even if I never make them. (Clothes, for example. It would be SO much work to make, and then so disappointing if it didn't fit right!)
Taking it with me is exactly what appealed to me. And, being able to be doing something while sitting with Dh watching TV..I hate just sitting. But I can't seem to keep count while trying to keep my mind on 2 things! HOW do you do that? Even when doing something as simple as those baby blankets, crochet really requires keeping count of stitches. And, if I did hats it would be really important to keep count?
ReplyDeleteOh, and thanks for the names of the books. I'm sure I can get them at the library!
ReplyDeleteAnd, (sorry) I'm not a doily type of person, but your snowflakes are absolutely wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteThat is funny. Think of it as an over-sized coaster, instead. :)
ReplyDeleteI can't crochet and watch TV that I have to pay attention to, but I love to crochet during kid movies or sports documentaries. :) Once you get in the rhythm of a pattern you don't have to count anymore, because you are just copying to row beneath. And most hats have a few rows of set-up (around the crown) and then just go round and round and round with the same number of stitches each row, so counting isn't needed anymore.
It does look like a coaster. Doilies are usually more dainty, and the snowflakes are not so much, which is probably why I like them too. But, mainly, I really like the design :) They're snowflakes!
ReplyDeleteOk, I could see myself pretending to pay attention to those tennis matches Dave likes to watch, but really just working the project.
I thought I wouldn't have to pay attention to counting stitches because I could tell when the end of the row needed me to turn and go back, but sometimes it didn't match so well. I was thinking with something smaller, it would really be noticeable. I'm terrible at counting, but I LOVE the crochet stuff. Maybe I'll try again. Or just enjoy your projects. I was thinking if I started to applique, I'd do it by hand rather than machine so I could have a hand project. Do you do yours by machine, or by hand?