Crochet Chat Anyone?

[frazzledblob]

I have recently taught myself how to crochet and I am really enjoying it so wondered if anyone else out there fancied chatting about what they are upto?

I also thought writing down what projects I am working on would help motivate me to complete them as I seem to spend ages looking at ideas online rather than finishing what I have started

At the moment I am working on a couple of hats for family, DD wants some more animals, and I really want to start some fingerless gloves for me and perhaps for others as xmas presents.

I also have a couple of books from the library on working with wire so I am eager to give crochet jewellery a go.

So does anyone else have some exciting projects on the go that I can add to my to do list?

Hi,

I also just taught myself to crochet and I'm loving it!

Are you on Ravelry? I have found putting things on their project list is really helpful.

I just finished a Robin which was quick and easy and he looks great!

Hi Littlestlass

I am on Ravelry, have been for ages which is why I am so good at looking for things to make rather than actually making them!

I have not used the project list yet but I think I will give it a try.

I would love to see your robin - do you have a pattern as I am currently making a list of christmas themed items to start making?

I am going to add some pictures to my profile as I complete some projects. DD's pony is on there. I have finished one hat today and I am about to start some mittens. I also want to start on a reindeer next and at some point I am going to try some wire earrings.

Do you know what you are going to do next?

Pattern for the Robin is here. If you want to have a look at mine, search for me, I have the same user name. He was easy and I'm going to make a few more for pressies.

I know what you mean about adding things to the list - I could have queued half the site by now! I love that site though. Along with YouTube it's made learning so much easier.

I have so many things I need to finish before starting anything new - I'm doing a granny square blanket and have a half finished bag for my Auntie and bunny for DD. I really want to make myself a hat though.

You sound like the crochet bug has really bitten!! Loving the sound of the reindeer - do you have a link to the pattern?

Hello, I have also recently taught myself to crochet. My current project is trying to make some socks - the pattern was from Inside Crochet magazine. I thought I would crochet them because for some reason I haven't plucked up the courage to knit any yet. It just seems too hard - pathetic really as I am not a novice knitter by any means. Crocheting them is really easy though and they grow really quickly. I haven't done the first one very neatly so far so they might look a bit odd as the second one will be easier and probably neater. Ho hum. At least I can hide them under trousers!

I also have a part finished blanket made up of hexagons. I have nearly finished all the hexagons but don't really know how to put it together. I know how to sew it together, but what I mean is how I finish it so that it doesn't look unfinished as it won't have straight edges. I wish now I had done one with Granny squares instead!

It you are interested in blogs have a look at Attic 64 - she crochets some lovely stuff - the colours are gorgeous.

Attic24 is the first crochet related blog I ever read - her colours are beautiful!

I know, it is all about colour isn't it?! Another one I like is Do you mind if I knit I know she says knitting but she does a lot of crochet too and seems to have similar ideas about colour to Attic 64.

I need to be braver with colour (and money) and buy lots of different balls of varying colours so I can make something loud!! Do either of you have a favourite yarn to crochet with? Preferably something relatively cheap so I can afford to buy lots of balls in different colours.

Just wish I had time to do more at the moment but hopefully I will do in a few weeks.

Hi Niecie

Another fan of the Attic24 blog here aswell.
I am planning to do some of the snowflakes from there as I have a huge bag of white wool to use!

As I am just starting out, I don't pay much attention to the type of yarn I am using. I have been lucky enough to pick up some mixed colour bundles from the local charity shops which have beend different ply.

I also have a bag full of eyelash wool from my scarf knitting frenzy a couple of years back. I have made one hair bobble for DD with it and it was a nightmare! I need to find a use for it though and I prefer crochet to knitting now so if anyone has any suggestions for how best to crochet with this type of yarn please share?!

I have just spent the past hour or two browsing on ravelry I am loving the robin!

The reindeer is in the Super Cute Crochet book which I had from the library. I am adding it to my birthday wish list as its a lovely book.

Today I am planning to finish at least one mitten - I have done the cuff so far and spent the rest of the morning on here and ravelry. I am totally addicted to crochet!!

Niecie have you looked on ebay for some mixed bundles of yarn?

I've been using Stylecraft Special DK (because of Attic24) and that seems really good - not splitty at all. I recently used Kool Kotton to make a cupcake and really struggled with it, though I liked the finished effect as I'm more a fan of matt-look everything (we just painted DDs skirtingboard in matt paint even though I know it'll get scuffed because I HATE gloss!). Again, I'm totally a beginner so haven't have the time to develop favourites...

I'm going to go look in John Lewis for some wool today to make my daughter another hat for winter (knitting this time though) and need to try not to spend a fortune on pretty colours! I have such a weak spot for yarn and buttons ;-)

Hi Frazzledblob,

I started crocheting about this time last year. I LOVE it, I've made loads of hats, some fingerless mittens, various toys, and most recently some bootie and hat sets for friends new borns. I am without a project at the moment although my friend has asked me for some xmas decorations for her Christmas fair so the robin and reindeers would be great for that. I have also used very fine sparkly yarn and a fine needle to crochet stars, flowers and hearts for greetings cards.

The thing I love compared to knitting is that its so forgiving, mistakes are easier to hide, you can make a small toy in no time and its much more sculptural than knitting. Once you know how to make the basic shapes you can pretty much make any animal without a pattern.

frazzledblob - thanks for the ebay idea - never thought of that. I used to be an ebay browsing addict..... then found MN and didn't have the time! So I spent yesterday evening trawling for yarn.

Only placed one bid though so that's something.

I have a yarn stash but I have jumper sized stashs and don't want to use it up on little crochet bits until I have done the jumper or whatever. Plus really you need it to be all the same weight and type of yarn and it wouldn't be.

But on the other hand I was never one to turn down an excuse to spend money on yarn.

I think I shall carry on knitting for a bit though. I don't yet feel confident to do a whole jumper in crochet. If my sock is anything to go by I need a bit of work on increasing and decreasing. I should really get going on the other one but I have gone back to a jumper I started knitting for DS1 for his school residential trip last January and didn't finish. Maybe it will be ready for this winter!

The Patons Fab range do small 25g balls for toy making purposes although they don't have any at our LYS but I will go and look for the Stylecraft DK - thanks for the tip Littlestlass.

Hope you all manage to get some yarn time in this weekend.

Thanks also for the Attic24 tip. Beautiful colours there. I think I might try a bigg project like a granny square blanket. They are so gorgeous.

Whilst mooching around the internet last night I found this - icrochet. Apart from being a page of lovely pictures of crocheted things, the pictures link to lots of different crochet blogs. Hours of entertainment and some links to patterns too.

Plus I found the Stylecraft yarn at a very reasonable price for only £2 postage which beats anything I have seen on ebay. I am very tempted by the 17 ball pack at the bottom.

With all that I didn't do any actual crochet only lots of planning!

The 17 pack is the "Lucy" pack (Attic 24)! - she used it to make her granny stripe blanket. That's the site where I bought mine from and it arrived within about 2 days - I was so impressed!!

I bought some very cheap Hayfield Bonus DK at the weekend to make a penguin and Highland Cow (don't ask!!) for people for Christmas but have got distracted making a spotty cushion for my daughter's room...

Am waiting until next week before buying some nice yarn to make me something.

Just had a baby so barely functioning let alone crochet, but marking spot for when more compus mentis!

Congratulations Bumperlicious! Completely understandable you don't have enough hands free for crocheting. I'm impressed you can find a free finger to type with tbh!!

Littlestlass - It seems I am behind the times having only just found that online shop. I found it linked from somewhere else other than Attic 24. If I could remember where I would posted it as I seem to remember it was another lovely crochet blog!

It is a bargain though and I am very jealous!I have been ebaying abit for yarn but I think I might order a pack for myself at the weekend ready as a treat for finishing my course work which I have to post off next Tuesday. Then I get my evenings back and I am freeeeeee!

congratulations Bumperlicious.

There was a lovely knitting book for babies at work today, they looked so snuggly and scrummy in big woolly knits. Makes me think of all the things I would love to make if I had another baby. Then again I still have my knitting bag under the stairs full of a billion unfinished projects from when I had DD who is now 5!

I am trying to avoid blogs at the moment. I seem to get sucked in and before I know it another day has passed and I have not actually done anything but browse online!

rocketleaf I have added cards to my list, that is a fab idea especiaaly with xmas round the corner :)

Has anyone got any other projects in mind for christmas whether its gifts or decorations?

I learned to crochet when my youngest was 2 months old - managed to crochet and BF at the same time.... Loving it now and spend far too long on Ravelry (I'm crochetdisco on there). I love putting pics up there - makes me more likely to do some more. Now working on a very simple bag from Stitch and bitch crochet with some nice shiny brown yarn.

I've just noticed a couple of crochet books in the new bookpeople catalog for next to nothing. One is finger puppets and v tempted to give them a go!

Hi odisco - I saw those books! I might have to indulge - the quilting one looked good too.

Nothing definite planned for Christmas yet. This is the first time in about 4 years that I have had the run up to Christmas free of studying so I have a half formed plan to make my MIL and 2 SIL some sort of scarf or cowl but no pattern in mind except maybe one I saw in this month's Inside Crochet which is nice. Not a stitch/pattern I have ever done before but there is nothing like a challenge.

I also have a freebie ball of sparkly silver yarn and a very simple pattern for a thin evening scarf (not something that has any warmth) which I will try and finish in time for Christmas too. Good to have a bit of sparkle on Christmas day.

Hello all from a fellow crocheter

I taught myself a few years ago but havn't done any for a while. But am now expecting DC3 and have been reinspired - have just finished a stripey blanket (just weaving in ends - takes for ever!).
Am currently making booties plus a scarf for my SIL's birthday and a scarf for my DS - I like to have a few things on the go at once!

Love the Robin idea - am going to check that out.

Regarding wool - I use Kemps Wool shop for most of mine - they have some fab bargains and even with postage are much cheaper than my local wool shop.

Niecie - I did the Cardiff cowl (see my Ravelry page) - a free pattern (yey!), easy to do and feels lovely in the yarn whose name escapes me... Only took a 1.5 balls. Also have done the fanfare cowl from one of the previous inside crochet magazines - bit more fiddly but rather lovely in the end. Sorry about the lack of pics, will do something about that eventually...

Polka - thanks for the shop recommendation, will have to spend a bit more time I don't have there.

I spend more time trawling for patterns online than actually crocheting. Still on the hunt for the ultimate bootie pattern!

Must finish blanket for new baby!

Oops, my fingers slipped on the keyboard and I accidentally ordered that assorted pack of yarn. :o I have started some granny squares in similar colours, 2 down about 100 more to go!

Damn those slippery keyboards!! They are a terrible nuisance aren't they rocketleaf?!

Perhaps we should all get a pack and compare the finished results. I bet they would all look totally different. It would be interesting.

Now, that is am excellent idea! We had a conversation about our favourite kind of shopping the other day in work, ie clothes, food, house stuff. I had to admit I am happiest in a haberdashery than anywhere else. :o

Rockleaf - I must say I probably agree with you!

Trying to lose weight so clothes not really much fun. House needs too much work doing to point buying nice things for that. Food - see above about clothes!

CD's - getting old and don't feel the need to buy them. Never bought DVDs.

So that leaves books - can't buy too much fiction as I have a huge backlog so that leaves craft books or craft magazines.

And then all things woolly or fabric. Plus in these difficult economic times how much is a ball of wool - can be as little as £1. What a bargain to take home a little ray of woolly sunshine in a bag and it will provide hours of entertainment.