Post Punk Kitchen Forum

I'm teaching myself to crochet now. I love it but it's FREAKING HARD. Figuring out how to count the stitches correctly is really messing me up. Any advice for the newb?

i want to learn how. how are you learning?? the internet??

I just count the little triangles. The Happy Hooker has a lot of good diagrams. I initially taught myself from internet videos, but then I found out i was doing it totally wrong and that book helped me correct a lot of mistakes.

I think practice helps. It was really hard for me at first, but your eyes get trained to the way it looks. I actually count by using the hook as a pointer. I can feel the stitch way better than I can see it.

I never got crochet! I tried, tried, tried, and my stuff always ended up lopsided. I could never figure out how to properly turn around.

I count or use a stitch marker. I had to cut back on the amount of crochet I was doing...my hands started to hurt.

Some of my projects here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=267025&id=514861609

I learnt how to crochet from this book alone. If I couldn't quite visualise something then google was my friend but I would definitely recommend getting a copy from somewhere.

i usually count the "v"'s on the top for a stitch count. i also learned how to crochet from happy hookers.


other random crochet advice, when stitching into the chain i stitch into the back of it, the bump, instead of stitching into the "v." it looks nicer, AND it's easier to stitch under one thread than it is two. i think rabidchild is the one that told me to do it (she's kind of dominates crochet).


ETA: i started crocheting a little over a year ago, and i fracken love it. it's my main creative outlet at this point.

DSCN0212 by CDStadt, on Flickr


DSCN0214 by CDStadt, on Flickr

Here's a couple pictures of the freeform hat I've been neglecting. The pictures don't really do it justice! That yarn is so awesome.

I really want to learn how to crochet! I bought a cute amigurumi book that's meant to be good for beginners, but the instructions on even the easiest ones don't make sense to me. Sounds like I need to get me a Happy Hooker.

Youtube videos have really helped me. I still can't read instructions in books

yeah, i learned how to crochet and make amigurumi from videos. i think once you get the hang of making the circle it's all easy, but starting is the hardest. I often have to start over a few times.

i also think either counting the Vs or, if that doesn't work (i have days where i just can't "get" stuff, and counting Vs is impossible), counting them out loud. starting with something little (baby hat!) but not microscopic (amigurimi) might also help. I must have made about 100 baby hats from the Noodle pattern when I began crocheting in earnest- they're perfect because of the striped colors (easy to tell one row from another). They make up fast and if you can donate them somewhere (hospital) people are usually overjoyed. Plus they're damn cute.
http://haakpoes.blogspot.com/2007/06/no ... y-hat.html

I really want to crochet some baby hats for ViMo but I am having a hell of a time finding a nice simple pattern. I was using this one http://www.hookedonneedles.com/2008/06/crocheted-baby-hat-nice-hat-for-new.html but the pattern doesn't take the same shape as in the 9th picture...mine is not forming a nice smooth dome shape, instead the edge is kind of wavy...Any ideas on what I might be doing wrong or does anyone helse have a super simple pattern I could use...

Maybe I am using the wrong type of yarn? The pattern calls for sportweight yarn, I am using worsted acrylic yarn. it is nice & soft so I thought it was okay.

I'm really good with Amigurumi and making circles, dome shapes so I am totally confused why this isn't working for me...

momo, yarn weight basically describes the yarns thickness. worsted is thicker than sport and will result in a larger end product. it could be what is making your circle wavy. wavy basically means your circle is getting too big too fast. to prevent it you can try reducing the number of stitches in rows (such that it lies flat... at least until the instructions tell you to stop adding stitches at which point it should start coning) or even try to just crochet your stitches tighter.

I wonder if my tension is inconsistent...probably the culprit. Either way, I am so fed up with this pattern, I need to find a new one. I've tried 3 different times and none of them are working for me :(

you could just wing it. make a couple rows of circle increases for the top. then stop increasing, and just do rows with the same stitch count until it seems big enough.

It turns out I was not doing my double crochets correctly...duh. It looks much better now :)

i loooooove crochet. i am crocheting a round basket out of jute garden twine at the moment and it's just divine <3 i started with hats, then scarves, then a blanket, flowers, doilies, lace gloves, and now i'm just convinced i could crochet anything. i made an amigurumi dragon for my son's third birthday, which he adores (the pattern's on ravelry, i think it's called "fierce but friendly dragon" or something and it was pretty easy). the only thing i haven't made is large clothing. which i think just psyches me out, because there's no reason i can't make a cardigan after making a giant pineapple pattern doily, or a freaking dragon ffs :P

that sounds so awesome!! some of my favorite projects ever are made from garden twine, or the twine we use to tie up newspapers.

I must have some serious baby brain. First I thought I was doing a half double instead of a double so I remedied that only to realize I still wasn't doing it quite right but at least the second version turned out okay. Now to actually do the pattern correcttl. hahaha

Newest complete project.

o momo! that is cute, love the colour and button combo!

Did anyone learn to crochet after knitting for years and years? I've been a knitter for a loooong time, but I never learned to crochet. I've been trying to teach myself with books and youtube videos, but I am finding it incredibly difficult. I keep trying to use my second hand as the second 'needle.' The concept of one single hook is really throwing my brain for a loop. I was talking about this one day at work and this lady said that people should learn to crochet first, and then knit. If you try to do it the other way she said it was a lot more difficult. Any truth to that? Any success stories? It bothers me that I can't get the hang of this!

i knit first before crochet. you can do it. in fact, i keep crochet for when my carpal tunnel is acting up and i can't knit.

i have the most fun crocheting big stuff, rag strips, for example. try something thicker, like twine or rope, til you can see on a large scale what you're doing. i tend to crochet and knit everything in fine black yarn and then wonder why i get confused.... try something bigger and see if it helps you understand (said as a totally visual learner....)