Team Hooker - Welcome to the Hotel Crochetfornia

[SoupDragon]

You can check in but you can never leave...

The hard part of amigurumi is the counting! Check my profile, think there's a couple of pics. It's pretty much just dc, increase and decrease and embroidery :)

I do them too. I agree with the counting, and also marking the end of the round. I always get confused with the joins and whether to count them or not but so long as you do the same throughout I don't think it matters...

I started doing them about a year after learning to crochet, there's some pics on my profile too, I have found that it's best to do a whole part, eg a body or head in one go to make sure you are being consistent with the joins. I use a short bit of contrasting wool as a marker at the join. TBH there is a certain amount of leeway anyway, unless you are making a set of identical ones the exact size and shape doesn't matter.

Checking in :)
I'm about a third of my way through a join as you go paintbox blanket but I haven't sewn in any ends yet so am increasingly put off it
From wants a beret for Christmas but I have to finish the knitted cowl for my mum first.

Welcome, Pig is it the kind of pattern where you can lay the pesky ends on top of your work and crochet over them, thus avoiding sewing??

Hello pig!

I found crocheting over the ends was impossibly with my join-as-you-go elmer squared blanket. Unfortunately.

crochet.about.com/library/weekly/aa091998.htm
Just started this to edge a 16x16" mini hug (the edging will bring it up to size)

Wish me luck

Very pretty :)

I'm half way through round 2, and giving up for the evening! Too complicated, especially on a 2.5mm in 4ply (ironically, that's the name of my mates' band I'm going to watch!)

I'm about 2/3 through the poncho for my niece, but now have a list in my head & another one on ravelry of "stuff to crochet next". Aghhh! can't start a second project, as I might never finish the first.

Must be strong & finish poncho. Must be strong & finish poncho (repeats to self)

I now have a square mini hug and just have to work out how many more rows of squares make it a proper rectangle. Then I'll put a border on.
Then I have the squares for Dexter.
Then there's the Refuge blanket.
In between I have crafty stuff for Yorkhill.

And I believe there may be some household chores that need doing

I have a mini hug, MrsY's blanket, refuge squares, 2 hats and the buttons on some dungarees for PidjChick then maybe Yorkhill crafty bits, squares for My5 and a nice cowl for MIL and SIL for Christmas

Then there's the sewing.

I'm due in 6 1/2 weeks...

Best hurry up and finish it all then :)

How's your hand?

Hand is fine, a mini scald, just came right in the middle of everything else as these things do!

Don't start mentioning wip or project list - mine is mammoth!!

Oh, my list is far longer than the one I posted... they're just the Top Three :o

glad the hand is Ok!

Hellooooo! Just read the thread planning the crochet meet up in Winchester in September and would have LOVED to have come but, a) but didn't know about it, b) work on Mondays and c) only taught myself to crochet a week ago . Would love to meet up to get crochet advice as don't know anyone who crochets.

Also I have some questions:
Do you crochet using the skein of wool, or do you turn it into a ball first? Have read somewhere that's what you should do. If so, how and why?

How does Lucy in Attic 24 get such precise corners and sides on her granny squares? Mine are wobbly mishapen things.

Would any of the MN projects for other people want wobbly mishapen squares??

Nice to 'meet' you x x

Theodora, feel free to organise one - i should be able to waddle to Southampton at least (6 1/2 weeks till due date) :o

I've only once used yarn posh enough to come in a skein and it tangled so i would ball it first.

I only chain 1 between treble clusters, if i do 3 it looks all lacy and loopy. Otherwise, go down a hook size, although i find this can slip and split the wool easier...

Give me a mo and I'll hunt up some links for you :)

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/arts_and_crafts/1564029-Woolly-Hugs-new-project-Little-Hugs-for-Little-People-Woolly-Crafters-Sewing-Folk-and-Donors-Sign-Up-Thread

www.mumsnet.com/Talk/_chat/1584677-A-Blanket-for-My5boysandme-Sign-up-thread-for-crafters-and-donors-Can-you-help-us

Thank you so much for replying. I'm really a complete novice as I don't think I meant a skein what is a skein? I've only bought a few colours of cheap hobby craft acrylic but remembered that people used to roll yarn into balls - but that probably wasn't cheap acrylic .

When I started last wednesday, I tried a few different types of granny square and a flower brooch and have now embarked on a small blanket using Attic 24's garden granny tutorial. I'm really enjoying it but do need to work on an even tension I think.

Thank you for the links, when I have a bit more practice I really hope I can offer something.

It's really addictive, isn't it. The children have had to fend for themselves for a week now x x x

A skein is a long twisty thing, if it's not one of those just grab an end and get going :o

You should have your hook in your dominant hand, and your yarn wrapped round your other hand, which also supports your work. I wrap the yarn round my little finger twice, bring it over the back of my hand and through between thumb and forefinger, then hold my work between thumb and middle finger, but there are many ways to do it.

Thanks so much, Pidjin, that's a real help. In some ways I'm trying to do more than my skill level suggests. I'm joining my granny squares as I go using attic24's tutorial and that's when my tension goes to pot as its tricky keeping it even while hefting the half finished blanket around.

How long have you been crocheting for?

... Not that my blanket is very big yet it's just trickier than a little 4inch square!