Cute and easy crochet - springtime throw pattern

[GettingObsessive]

I have this book easy my arse and I am a complete crochet beginner. I am starting at the very first pattern and I seem to be going wrong somewhere. I can't get the inside of the little squares to look like the picture, although it doesn't help that I am practising with yarn of one colour, whereas three colours are used in the pattern.

Is anyone familiar with this book and/or pattern?

I seem to get stuck at around the first/second repeat of the second round.

I have it and also started on that one and got stuck too (I was also using one colour)! I think I've sussed it now (although am no expert by any stretch of the imagination) ~ with Round 1 you should have made four sets of trebles into the ring, so when you start the Round 2, you're making another set of trebles (the first one being made up of a 3ch plus 2 trs) - but this time you're making four pairs of trebles, each pair attaching to the chain space (big gap) between your first round.
Once you've made your first pair of trebles, you do your 2ch to move the yarn over, then the next pair of trebles starts in the next chain space/big gap.

Does that make any sense?

I think so - it's the counting I am not very good at

That and spotting the proper place to put the hook in again..

I'll have another go, thank you

Can't help with the counting :o, but the big gap thing is what stumped me first time with the trebles - think I was trying to hook through one of my previous stitches rather than just going for the big hole as it were :)

Sorry, I don't really know what the pattern you need is. I just know little about crochet.

Flubba (me again ) at the end of round one where it says slipstich into top of first 3ch, does that mean each of the first the 3ch?

And in round 3 where it says 1 dc into top of next 2 stitches, does that mean on dc into each of the next two stitches? I think that it where I am getting confused.

Thanks... Only 9 months til the DC is due. Plenty of time, right?!

No, I think it means you hook through the top of your first 3ch from that round (the one that forms the first line up of your first triangle of trebles). I always had to count the loops so I could hook it through the right place, but actually once you get better at it, it becomes obvious as it's the top height of all your treble triangles. Essentially the SS is there to close up your first round (so attaching your fourth set of trebles with your first).

I remember getting confused too by the round 3 bit - I've gone and dug out my wool (sorry, 'yarn' ) and crochet hook and will give it another go and will get back to you...

Shout if my ramblings above don't make any sense and I'll try again. :)

(and congrats by the way :) :) )

May I just say well done to you folks (and that's genuine, I'm not being sarcastic). I have tried numerous times to crack crochet and I am bloody dreadful. I end up with a massive knot and not much else.

Have watched loads of videos, read lots of instructions etc but I'm still useless. Don't normally let things beat me but this hobby certainly has.
Hope you make lots of wonderful things :)

Okay, so I've just built it up to the start of round 3 so can have a go at answering your second bit...

By the end of the 2nd round, you should have a square(ish!) shape, you do the one chain to give you a bit of room (that the book has done once having added the 3rd colour). You're right that you do one DC into the top of the next stitch (if you kind of pull your yarn up, you should see a hole below the top edge if you see what I mean), then you do another DC into the top of the next stitch (these stitches are the middle and left-hand one at the top of your treble cluster), by then you've reached the big gap (chain space), and you do the 3dc into the big gap and so on...

Does that make sense?

Static - don't give up! It's certainly not easy to start, but once it is, it's addictive and easy! Have you got a local wool shop where you can go and ask for help? Just getting going is what you need and then whoosh, you've made a blanket! :)

I think I am putting the hook in the wrong place to start my treble, because I never end up with a square, just a squashed shape

I am going to look at treble on YouTube and try again.

But thanks Flubba, the bit about the three chain makes much more sense now.

Keep at it - my first few attempts were embarrassingly shit :o but I've since made a few things that resemble what they're supposed to :)

Shout if you need any further help. Or, better still, if you have a local wool shop, go and see if they'll give you a pointer - just five mins of watching a real person is good enough to get going.

Whereabouts are you? I'm in the SW London area if that's any use?

I went to a wool shop when I was just starting. She could only do knitting?!
My aunts sat with me for hours once and while she was her I did fantastically. I'd got a whole circle shape going on. Within ten minutes of her leaving it resembled a dead flower. Twas most annoying. (Said aunty hasn't been back since either!)
I will have another go tomorrow, haven't tried since before Christmas so maybe a miracle will have happened?
I'm in Staffordshire so no where near but thank you for the offer.

Sorry, just realised I gave my brilliant 'wool shop' advice twice in half an hour. Doh!

Am knackered so off to bed, but happy to muddle along with you on projects - although there are many, many more talented crocheters here on MN who could probably help you properly :o

No problem Flubba, I just thought you were on commission for wools shops in general
Good plan on the bed time.

Got distracted reading all sorts of things on MN and have now discovered its almost half past eleven.
Don't think I'm going to be able to settle though tbh, it's really bloody windy outside my window.
Am quite scared that the house is going to blow away

Did your house blow away? If so, that'll really put paid to your crocheting attempts

By the way, if you have a wool shop near you, it's worth popping in to see if they can help :o

Give me a mo.....have a fabulous link to a set of crochet videos somewhere....I found them really helpful. Just off to look.....

Ah yes....here we go

or maybe here

Thanks Flubba. The YouTube video showed that I was putting the hook in the wrong place.

Now if I can just crack the tension and the counting I'll be away

oh, and I am also in the SW, but SW England