How to get better at crochet

[PastaandCheese]

My Nan taught me to crochet and I've recently taken it up again to make squares for Woolly Hugs. I'm much faster at crochet than knitting which says more about my knitting than my crochet!

So far I can only make a granny square and a granny stripe.

How do I get better? I'd like to be able to make flowers and more detailed squares but I don't know where to start.

Are there any books you'd recommend?

[drinkyourmilk]

I learnt using you tube videos. I just stopped and rewound a million times until I could copy them. I had my book of stitches on hand to translate US to UK terms.
I'm learning to follow patterns now.

[Pinkandpurplehairedlady]

I learnt using patterns on Ravelry. Once you've got the hang of pattern reading its just a case of practise.

[drinkyourmilk]

Can you get to a library? I picked up loads of books there. I just keep trying.
There are some lovely groups on Facebook- creative crochet crew, Crochet addict, granny square crochet.

[DotToDott]

i used the happy hooker book.

very clear instructions and diagrams for lots of stitches which then allow you to make hearts, flowers, circles, cables etc.

i cannot stand learning anything via video.

[PastaandCheese]

I think the nub of it is learning to read a pattern. I can do the individual stitches and know what they are called but I am stumped after that.

I will check out the library for the Happy Hooker and similar.

I found YouTube good for reminding me how to do the stitches initially so will see what is on there for slightly more complicated patterns.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Attic 24 and Simply Crochet magazine have been my learning ground, then more and more practice.

[PookBob]

To get myself comfortable with all the stitches I made a scarf that was alternate rows DC, HTR, TR, DTR, TR, HTR, DC, which looked ace.

Once I finished that, nothing really scared me and I had a go at any fancy pattern I found.

[WhoKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes]

I can't work from videos either, Attic24 has helped me a lot too, also a couple of the Nicki Trench books.

I've just bought this flowers and can't wait to try a few, I'm hoping to try the knitted ones as well, although I haven't knitted for years.

[PookBob]

That's a very good book

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Oh that book is one my wish list.

[craftynclothy]

The Happy Hooker book is really good as the pictures are really clear but worth noting that it uses the American terms.

The Attic 24 blog is also really clear about where to put your hook.

[PastaandCheese]

See I can actually knit and can follow a knitting pattern but I hold the wool incorrectly which is deeply ingrained bad habit now and means I am terribly slow as a have the twist the wool round the hook by gripping it in my hand each time.

Being a returning hooker I've mastered holding the wool correctly so I'm much quicker.

Off to library tomorrow to see what they have for me to browse through.

Don't know HTR or DTR so need to learn those stitches.......

[GlaikitFizzog]

Attic24, little tin bird and crochet crowd with a little input from the lady at my local pottery place taught me to hook earlier this year.

[PastaandCheese]

That blanket pattern is perfect for practising different skills! Thank you.

Like Pookbob's scarf suggestion but I'd like to make something for DS's room I think.

This is why I like crochet..... Mistakes are immediately obvious and easily corrected so you can dive into something like the blanket. Knitting is a pain to practice because it takes a few rows of work before you can assess how you're getting on!

[Kniternator]

I started doing a CAL (Crochet along), each week we had a different square which used different techniques. It was really helpful. Have a look online as there are a few out there.

[YeGodsAndLittleFishes]

That blanket is stunning!

I started with that flowers book, making granny squares, then made some ripple blankets.

Find a new stitch you like the look of and make a blanket or scarf using it, then you'll remember that stitich. Look up the brit/uk shorthand for it and the videos of how it's done and how it looks in a pattern.

Next I bought a couple of books of square patterns for woolly hug ideas, and just experimented a bit.