Tuesday, March 6, 2012

Learning to Crochet

I decided at the beginning of the year that I wanted to learn how to crochet.  I don't know why, it just looked like fun and I am intrigued by granny squares.  I remember my grandma made a granny square blanket for us that we had around the house when I was a kid and I want to make one for myself.  My mom can crochet some beautiful stuff, so I'm hoping her talent didn't fall far from the tree and that I'll be able to do it half as good as she does.

So first I got a book out of the library "Crocheting for Dummies."


It's a pretty good book and I ended up making that my one purchase so far this month.

I spent the entire month of February practicing the basic stitches.  I'd crochet a couple of rows, rip them out, and do them again.  I made a washcloth and a headband, and then started a scarf, but it's looking pretty good, so I decided to just keep repeating the pattern until I have a blanket.  It's going to take awhile to finish, but I figure I'll work on it in between some of the more interesting things I want to make.

I got extremely lucky because Anneliese over at "Aesthetic Nest" decided to start a tutorial program on how to crochet.  Her brilliant idea could not have come at a better time for me.  I learn much easier when I can see something being done, and she is doing a written tutorial and some videos.  Genius!  So easy to follow!  You can see her first lesson here and then follow along if you like.  I highly recommend it.

I had pinned a bunch of cool looking projects onto one of my Pinterest boards and one of them was a cowl.  Coincidentally, it was one that Anneliese had posted on her blog along with the instructions.  Chablis happened to see it on my board and fell in love with it and begged me to make it for her.  Since winter is just about over, I thought I'd better get cracking on it, even tho I felt it was beyond my talents at this point.  It wouldn't hurt to try it right?

We went to the store and Chablis picked out some yarn and I sat down and started crocheting.  I got about half way done and realized that it wouldn't be long enough.  I think I still have to work on my gauge.  I compensated for it by just starting out with a longer chain, and in a few hours I had completed the cowl.  Now, I know there are probably some mistakes, but I think it turned out pretty good.  What do you think?




All I know is that Chablis is happy with it, she wore it to school today and 3 different girls commented on it, so I think I am on my way.  I have to say, it's very addicting and I'm enjoying it very much.

Anneliese, keep going with those tutorials, because they are such a huge help!  In the meantime, I'm on my way to the yarn store again....Tony wants a skully cap.

11 comments:

  1. Awesome! You are a crocheter! My daughter Laci learned to crochet by watching videos on Youtube.

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    1. I think I remember seeing cute little animals on Laci's blog that she crocheted. Am I right?

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  2. Fun! I'll have to bookmark those tutorials for future use (I don't even have time to keep up with the blogs right now).

    My mom taught me how to crochet and knit (at least the basics) oh so long ago I can't quite remember when! I must have been 15-16... I was in my creative with thread phase... the only things I ever managed to complete were a weird scarf for one of my stuffed dogs and several cross-stitch patterns that are framed and hanging somewhere. I've often wished I had taken it more seriously and taken it further... I love the idea of hand-made sweaters, scarfs, hats, blankets... But then my mom isn't very good at it either! She's a clear case of taste/talent for a thing skipping generations since she's always hated anything to do with sewing although her mother was a dress-maker and her grandfather a tailor (the only one available for three whole towns!). She did enjoy (once upon a time) crocheting because it reminded her of her grandmother who did some beautiful crochet work... I vaguely remember a summer dress I had as a child with a flowery blue skirt and a white crochet bustier (right word? think what would be above an empire waist, for a child). My great-grandmother did the crochet part and my grandmother put it together in the dress. I need to look for pictures of those dresses...

    Keep on practising!!! Chablis is lucky you've taken an interest! (and your future grandkids will also love it)

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    1. Hi Cris: What a great story. I bet you wish you had something that your grandmother or great grandmother had made.

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  3. Crochet is an art I think. Good luck with your endeavors.

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  4. I've tried to knit and crochet, and my brain just doesn't get it. Maybe I need to try those tutorials. Great job on the cowl!

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  5. Thanks for letting me know about this post--I love it! Love the cowl too--beautiful color.

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  6. You did a nice job!! I've learned to crochet in the last year or so, by tutorials online too (youtube!) It's amazing what you can learn on the web these days ;-)

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  7. Thanks for sharing that tutorial website! I've learned to crochet in the last 6 months - I had a friend teach me to make a pot holder and my first granny square. Now I'm working on a shawl/sweater thing that was in the free patterns at Jo-Ann's :) It is taking me forever - I just added in skein number 4 last night and need to work on my gauge, too - I had to make my chain 20 stitches longer just to make it the right width at the bottom.

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  8. Kim, I'm going to be honest, part of the reason a lot of guys follow your blog is because of all the good looking chicks.LOL! Chablis looks great in your masterpiece. I love to learn new things. Right now, I'm working and learning "street Spanish" which blends Portuguese and Spanish. I'm off to a great start, I know all the curse words. This after an employee told me to "Eat $hit and die" and I THANKED him for that. I had no idea?
    Have fun with your new interest, go wild, make thousands, sell them on eBay, go Internationale with distribution and become a millionaire! But, have fun.....

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  9. I am so craft challenged and tried my hand at crochet but no go. I am too impatient. Love all those cute scarfs going around.

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