Crocheters; I need a bit of help/advice, please!

[lucysmam]

When you're using a dark wool/thread; how on Earth do you avoid missing stitches?

I've only made snowflakes so far, for my Christmas tree, & found a pattern for some fingerless gloves I like on Pinterest so bought some wool for those (Poundland 3 for £2 so not gutting if I mess up). They're simple enough so I should manage ok...IF, I can get the bloody things started right.

My trouble is, the wool is grey & I keep missing stitches in my original chain so haven't got past the first row . By the time I've done the first row a couple of times, pulled it out, started again, stopped to make a brew, pulled it again...you get the picture...my eyes have had enough!

I wondered about marking each individual stitch with a little bit of a colour I acquired from my friend that neither of us is really fussed about, but wondered if there's a better way I'm not seeing?

Ta :)

Good light and counting your stitches as you go, this is what works for me anyway.

Yep what she said ^

Count each row and pull it out if it's wrong, I use little stitch markers like tiny coloured safety pins. Good light and good glasses

Good light
Loose chain use a slightly bigger hook for the chain.
Keeping it all the same side and avoiding twists.
Focusing closely.
Using a contrast colour hook or one with a lights tot he markers every 15 stitches or so.

It’s gets much easier after the first few rows.

Hmm, daytime crochet may be the way forward with these then! Maybe they can be my weekend project - I usually manage to hide in the kitchen for a couple of hours, with something crafty, at some point.

Counting isn't helping, it's just baffling my brain when I realise it's suddenly half the length it should be even though I think I've managed every stitch.

Maybe grey wasn't my best choice either 🤷‍♀️

I hate using dark colours for this very reason.

As everyone has said, good lighting and counting.

I haven't tried them but you can get light up crochet hooks

Look into a technique called chainless foundation row - it involves creating your first row at the same time as you do your chain and might help. There are loads of blogs and tutorials that will explain it (just be careful of US/UK terminology as appropriate).

It gets easier with practice and you'll reach a point where you can sort of feel where the stitch is with the end of your hook.

GraveyardKerfuffle, I'll have a look on youtube and give it a whirl, thanks.

Other than that, daytime or better lighting would seem to be my best bet. Light up hooks sound novel so maybe I could ask one of the girls for one of those for Christmas or my birthday to try.

I'll do some more snowflakes on an evening & save these for weekends for the moment though until I'm more experienced.

Thank you all!

Definitely chainless foundation - it’s the only reason I persevered with crochet after all the tangles I made when my grandmother tried to teach me!

I'm back with a question about the chainless foundation - it does look like it would solve my problem. Am I right in thinking it covers both the chain & row 1? So I'd make my foundation chain, then stitch row 2?

Bella Coco has a good video on chainless foundation - method saved me from chucking prospective blanket in the bin. The first row after the chain really is the hardest, and chainless foundation method removed the angst.

Everyone's already given the advice I would so I'll not add to it but if you are looking for a bigger project once you finish the gloves then I recommend looking at the Attic 24 and Coastal crochet blogs. The attic 24 blog has lots of blanket patterns with excellent instructions and great for beginners, the wool packs are available from wool warehouse as a set although you can of course use any colour you like. She also has other patterns on there for wreaths and garlands for different seasons.

Coastal crochet is all beach themed, I like her patterns because each row is different and you learn lots of different stitches, again good for beginners with excellent written and video instructions.

@diplodocusinermine that's who I was watching, she was recommended a few weeks ago & really did help!

@HPandTheNeverEndingBedtime (your nn made me chuckle ) thank you for the recommendations. It's the Attic24 snowflake pattern I've been following so I'll have a further look on there when I master these.

@lucysmam

I'm back with a question about the chainless foundation - it does look like it would solve my problem. Am I right in thinking it covers both the chain & row 1? So I'd make my foundation chain, then stitch row 2?

Yes, that's right. It takes care of the foundation chain and first row in one fell swoop and therein lies its genius After that you're onto row 2.

Aah, brill. I'm going to give it a go now, while everyone else is busy. Thank you GraveyardKerfuffle

Also if you are not a fan of counting- and who is- corner to corner is a great method for making lovely blankets that only involves counting to three. I always use chunky variegated wool, it's so easy and relaxing, plus people are impressed as if you made something clever.

Just popping back to say thank you; it's taken me since I last posted but I finally have row 1 completed.

I wasn't seeing the stitch under the one I was doing by the way it's gone this morning, so was only doing every second stitch needed 🙄

In other news, I'm not entirely convinced 25sts is wide enough for anyone's wrist but we'll see. I may go back through the pattern later on and see if I could increase it maybe.

@homemadecommunistrussia I'll look those up later on, sounds nice and easy for practise!

I was going to suggest a chainless foundation too. I love it.

Dark yarn is very difficult without good light though - I'm making something in black and even in the current daylight it's hard.

Another thing I remembered, crocheting against a light background helps too. If I'm using dark yarn and have black trousers on or one of the dark sofa cushions on my lap then it's even harder to see because it blends into the background, if I switch to a light cushion or put a light coloured tshirt across my knee then it's easier as it makes the working space look brighter again.

Or look at it above lit phone screen you can see the holes where you need to put your hook more easily especially good also for counting stitches.