Crocheting (and other crafts)

[Zoom]

I'm finally getting to the point where I've got a few different stitches and patterns memorized, so I can carry around a ball of yarn and my hook without needing a bunch of patterns too. :lol-sign:

Right now I'm working on both a ripple afghan and a granny square blanket, with the random coaster, pot/pan holder and dishcloth tossed in to break up the monotony.

My knitting needles have been resting for awhile, as I just seem to like crochet better. However, I do still have a giant desire to do a hat and scarf and then get a pair of round needles to learn socks on.

Eventually I'd like to be able to make a sweater. I found some wonderful "Fisherman's Wool" today that I'd love to be able to make something out of.

What's your current DIY project? Doesn't have to be yarn-oriented.

 

[MyHorseMyRules]

I like to crochet more than knit, as well. I'm working on a big blanket right now for the wife of one of my team members.

 

[Kat09Tails]

cross stitch. I do a ton of it while I watch tv

 

[yoko]

I crochet when I'm bored but I've been super busy lately. I'm making a baby blanket with the basket weave pattern

I am planning to learn how to knit pretty soon though.

 

[Romy]

I finally learned how to knit and made Samuel some wool diaper soakers. Right now I'm working on some longies for him. Hopefully they'll be finished before he outgrows them. Next I want to knit him a hoody coat.

I'd like to knit a coat like these. They're sooo pretty.

http://www.etsy.com/shop/EnlightenedPlatypus?ref=seller_info

 

[Catsi]

I have just started crochet. And I mean just started - I'm learning how to hold the yarn and needle and how to make the first chain.

Please tell me it will become easier and make sense if only I keep putting in the effort... I'm all thumbs right now and I have no idea how I control the tension of the yarn (well I have some idea in my head, but my hands aren't very helpful in these endeavours.) Some of my chains are huge and loose and others are so tight that I cannot get my needle back through.

Just teething problems I will just have to work through I guess. I'm no stranger to frustrating hobbies (errr... dog training is one, piano the other) but it's the challenge that makes them so very enjoyable.

Do you guys remember how long it took you to get the hang of it right at the beginning?

 

[LostAndConfused]

I have just started crochet. And I mean just started - I'm learning how to hold the yarn and needle and how to make the first chain.

Please tell me it will become easier and make sense if only I keep putting in the effort... I'm all thumbs right now and I have no idea how I control the tension of the yarn (well I have some idea in my head, but my hands aren't very helpful in these endeavours.) Some of my chains are huge and loose and others are so tight that I cannot get my needle back through.

Just teething problems I will just have to work through I guess. I'm no stranger to frustrating hobbies (errr... dog training is one, piano the other) but it's the challenge that makes them so very enjoyable.

Do you guys remember how long it took you to get the hang of it right at the beginning?

It will get better, I promise. I mostly just stuck with scarves at first, but I'd say after the first couple projects you get the hang of it.

I knitted a scarf once in college, then I passed my needles to my sister. I'm working on a 'scrap yarn' scarf. I did ponchos for my MIL, Grand-MIL and great...umm...aunt-in-law I guess. So I have a few little balls left from that and I'm just making a scarf out of that.

Once I get the yarn for it, I need to make a bag for one of my co-workers. I don't really have anything big that I'm working on right now. I'm kind of taking a break after the mad dash of getting those ponchos done. I also need to do one for my mom sometime.

I made an elf hat for my niece too.

 

[sparks19]

Well... My current project is making 80 starfish ornaments for a wedding. OMG I am going to go insane by the end i just know it lol. I may need you guys to talk me down a few times by the end of this

 

[MyHorseMyRules]

I have just started crochet. And I mean just started - I'm learning how to hold the yarn and needle and how to make the first chain.

Please tell me it will become easier and make sense if only I keep putting in the effort... I'm all thumbs right now and I have no idea how I control the tension of the yarn (well I have some idea in my head, but my hands aren't very helpful in these endeavours.) Some of my chains are huge and loose and others are so tight that I cannot get my needle back through.

Just teething problems I will just have to work through I guess. I'm no stranger to frustrating hobbies (errr... dog training is one, piano the other) but it's the challenge that makes them so very enjoyable.

Do you guys remember how long it took you to get the hang of it right at the beginning?

Hahaha, no worries! It does get easier. I remember I used to have to concentrate sooo hard on it. And my first project was a "scarf," but it came out really short and kind of tilted with one end kind of flaring out really wide and the other end really narrow. It was one of the most awkward looking things I've ever seen.

Now I can just watch movies and let my hands do all the work with little to no concentration. It's very relaxing. So just keep at it!

 

[Lilavati]

I'm trying to make a copper chain with riveted links. Making the links, I got down. Making those little silver rivets . . . I may just lose my mind.

 

[Taqroy]

I'm making new fingerless gloves. I left mine at Buffalo Wild Wings and it makes me sad all day. Especially because Tipper and I just joined an outdoor walking class and my hands got so freaking cold yesterday.

This is (half) of what the first pair looked like.

IMAG0431.jpg by taqroy, on Flickr

I'm doing the second pair in this truly awesome fall colorway with brown tops that flip over. I'll probably do a hat too - a silly one with earflaps.

 

[Doberluv]

You guys are so clever! Those things are all so beautiful! What a cute baby! I wanted to learn to crochet, bought two things of yarn, hook and a little booklet with a pattern. I got onto the first, basic stitch... and that's all. I could not seem to catch onto the directions and just put it all away in a closet. That was about a year ago. So, I think I need to have someone really show me. I need a "club" to go to. When I lived in Priest Lake, there was a ladies' quilting club. That interests me too....even more than the crocheting. I have made a quilted baby blanket and robe for my niece when I was a young teen. I just haven't gotten around to getting into it lately. And I really don't know much about it. I only made a patch work quilt of random fabric scraps. But it was cute. I think crocheting a couch throw would be awesome. You all have inspired me to try again.

Other craft type things I've done as an adult were making wreaths. I've enjoyed painting with water colors and acrylics since I was young and still mess with that a little.

 

[maxfox426]

Holy crap, I'm actually on a crochet binge right now. I have a trunk full of yarn that I need to use before I'm allowed to buy anymore.

I just finished this guy a couple days ago.

I actually have a little FB album just of pictures of my yarn crafts, but I won't bore you with that thing. LOL

I'm currently working on these baby bunny slippers (in blue), although I ignored the recommended yarn weight so mine ended up way big. Lol!
http://www.coatsandclark.com/Crafts/Crochet/Projects/BabyChild/LC2432+Bunny+Hat+and+Booties.htm

Oh, and about that trunk full of yarn? I have incentive to use it up, because I have no orange. And I'm not allowed to buy orange until I've freed up space in that trunk. And I REALLY REALLY REALLY WANT to make this pattern:
http://sukigirl74.blogspot.com/2011/03/free-hobbes-crochet-pattern.html

 

[Doberluv]

Oh my goodness! That is soooo cute Maxfox! You are really good at this. I love the baby booties. Will you be making the cute hat too? And that orange sweater and stuffed animal? That sweater would be awesome. It's really a nice color too.

 

[maxfox426]

Oh my goodness! That is soooo cute Maxfox! You are really good at this. I love the baby booties. Will you be making the cute hat too? And that orange sweater and stuffed animal? That sweater would be awesome. It's really a nice color too.

I've been crocheting for a long time, since I was a little kid. I will be honest, though, that the first time I ever tried to read a pattern was only a little more than a year ago... I felt like a moron. As a kid I always made things up as I went, for better or worse, and I only knew two stitches to work with!

I'm undecided on the matching bunny hat. I think it will depend on how much yarn I have left after the booties and how bored I am. LOL! I really only set out to make the slippers.

As for the other link, it's the Hobbes doll that I desperately want to make. The sweater IS nice, but the pattern for that isn't included. Bah!

 

[Taqroy]

Dober check here for meet up groups: Stitch 'n Bitch. You can join Ravelry too - there are a lot of meet up groups for Washington. Plus there are technique sections and I bet there's a group for beginner crocheters. Or you can check out any independent yarn stores, they almost always have meet up groups (or classes!). Joanns, Michaels, and Hobby Lobby usually offer classes too.

Also, everything I know about knitting and crocheting I learned on youtube. Seriously. It's a fantastic resource.

 

[Doberluv]

Thanks Taq! What great links and ideas to check. There use to be a Joannes really close, but they closed. There is a Michaels fairly close though. I will check out your suggestions. Thanks a bunch!

Max....Oh yeah, it was a cute doll! I got that mixed up and called it a stuffed animal. LOL. See how short my memory is? Well, when you finish the doll, be sure and show it to us. You're very talented.

 

[AllieMackie]

Most folks here know that I knit. It's my primary "idling" hobby - when I'm idle, I knit. I'm a terrible anxiety fidgeter and used to pick at my fingers -knitting stopped that.

Some of my more interesting projects:

Ongoing Doctor Who fourth doctor scarf - it's currently 5 feet long unstretched. I'm using nice Cascade 220 wool for this scarf, so it's a $100 scarf.

For the uninformed, this is the fourth doctor himself wearing it - I'm quite impressed with my own colour accuracy.

KnitPicks came out with a "Time Traveler" colorway of their Felici self-striping yarn, so I had to make a matching pair of socks. Natch.

I've also knit an angler fish with a flexible pipecleaner lure.

I've also designed some things. Here's a shark hat I designed for Matt, that knitters loathed me for because I wrote the pattern terribly (it was my first):

I also designed a Chain Chomp hat, that thanks to a friend gained me a week of fame in just about every gamer blog, including Kotaku, Iup and even Nintendo's official blog.

And of course, the Jayne Cobb hat, which took me all of several hours to design, is my most popular pattern and knitting request. One of which was given to Wil Wheaton. Who emailed me a letter of gushing gratitude. Yup, I'm so cool. (I didn't knit his Who scarf though - THAT knitter deserves more credit than me!)

I do a few other crafty things, but they're on my other computer - post coming soon.

 

[SaraB]

Ok for the ill-informed... what's the difference between crocheting and knitting? If a beginner were to start out, which would you suggest??

 

[AllieMackie]

Ok for the ill-informed... what's the difference between crocheting and knitting? If a beginner were to start out, which would you suggest??

Crochet is easier to learn. Knitting has a steeper learning curve but once you get it, you got it. Some projects do well in knitting and crochet, but both are well-destined for different types of projects.

Crochet is done using a single hook and a strand of yarn. It's good for creating sturdy fabric, good for bags, hats, and toys. It's also the more popular choice for blankets/afghans because crochet works up faster than knitting. On the other side, crochet also makes great lacey things, like doilies and tablecloth edging. Crochet also takes up more yarn than knitting - for solid fabrics, often three times as much.

Knitting is done using a strand of yarn and two needles. It generally creates stretchier fabric - it's the ideal choice for most types of clothes, accessories, etc. Knitting is also great for lace- lace is great in either craft. Knitting uses less yarn and once you get the hang of it, knitting is faster than crochet.

I personally prefer knitting, partially because I learned it first and partially because I mostly I primarily make and design clothing pieces (hats, socks, scarves etc). But crochet is a great pair to knitting - I'm still new to crochet and want to do more of it. I can crochet a mean granny square, they're very therapeutic. LOL. Plus, many things are cross-compatible- there are knit bags and toys, and crocheted clothing.