Crochet for beginners...

[CouthyMow]

I'm desperately trying to learn to crochet. I want to be able to do Granny squares.

I can make a foundation chain, I can do double and triple, but after that I just end up in a knotty mess!

I have two crochet books, both of which are meant to be from the basics onwards. Neither of which seemingly explain it in a way that makes sense to me...

Can anyone help me to crochet a granny square?!

[CouthyMow]

I want to crochet nice blankets!!

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

I'm working on squares for a blanket at the moment - I've got The Crochet Bible, and a couple of granny square-specific books that I can't remember the name of right now.

What I found helpful was watching and working through the granny square tutorials on youtube, and then going back and reading the instructions in the book - sort-of working backwards from knowing what to do to working out what the instructions meant.

I have been struggling with my tension - I did some simple granny squares, but they were all loose and baggy - and I was kindly told on here that I am a loose hooker (much to dh's delight shock). I have gone down to a smaller hook, but my tension is still quite loose.

Do you have a knitting/crochet group in your area, Couthy? Or could you go along to your local knitting shop and ask for some help? I have found that knitters and crocheters are more than willing to help out someone who wants to learn. If you are in my area (near Paisley, Scotland) you would be very welcome to come round here for coffee and hooking. Otherwise, find a local group and get thee along there.

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

how to do a UK treble and turn your work couthy

[RenterNomad]

Oh, a friend of mine really recommends Erika Knight!

[alemci]

Sally Bear I am making a single bed blanket. I am doing large squares with smaller granny squares within. It is either 3 or 4 large 30cm squares across with 6 down then some grannying for a border.

Harder with single bed because usually one side faces a wall so do you make the blanket narrower as you won't see one side.

[TimrousBeastie]

Just started to crochet and i'm making a granny square blanket. Doing mine the same way as yours SDTG

Oscar cat creations do lessons in crochet in the south side of glasgow- thinking about going to her next amigurumi workshop if i'm feeling brave enough.

[TimrousBeastie]

oops mean the same way as miaow

[CouthyMow]

There's only a knitting club in my town, crafts aren't well catered for (we don't even have a craft shop since the one I worked in closed down 5 years ago).

And it is right across the other side of town, in the evening, and I would only be able to get as far as town on the way back by public transport, as it would be after my last bus home. (I don't drive).

I'm in the East of England - not very near Paisley!

[CouthyMow]

I am only attempting wool based craft because a crochet hook can be held firmly with one hand, and the ball of wool can sit in my dressing gown pocket...

Unlike my usual cross stitch that requires sharp needles - and plenty of them - 90+ different colours, a stand and a table.

I don't do small cross stitch pictures, as I've been doing that since I was 7yo.

Crochet is more of a challenge to me.

But I doubt I'll be at extreme crochet levels...

[SallyBear]

Our local craft shop is made up of franchises, and the wool one is run by a lady in her 50s. She was made redundant after working as a HR Manager in a London Bank for 25 years and decided to take a risk and set up a wool shop business. She is lovely and it's like walking into a Treasure Den. Much better than my local John Lewis!

[CouthyMow]

We don't have a John Lewis either!

[CouthyMow]

Ooh, Miaow - I've put a link on that '2 under 2' thread for our dairy free recipe and chat thread in allergies.

Link again Here] in case you can't find it

Sorry for diversion!

[CouthyMow]

My link didn't convert?! It did on the other thread!

I'll try again.

Thread here

[CouthyMow]

Miaow - I'm so thick when it comes to crochet that even the first paragraph of your instructions leaves me !

I need a 'crochet for dummies' book!!

[CouthyMow]

So you do 6 stitches on a foundation chain.

Then you poke the hook through (front to back? Back to front?) the first stitch you did, with the 6th stitch still on the hook?

Then loop the wool over the hook, and pull it through both the first stitch you did that is now on your hook, and also through the 6th stitch that was also on your hook?

I think I've got that bit!

[CouthyMow]

Then with that loop on the hook, you poke the hook through the big hole in the middle of your circle.

Then do three chain stitches. Think I've got that far now!

[CouthyMow]

By Jove, I think I might actually understand it now, at least for the first row of trebles.

I'll give that a go later, then return to see about the next round.

Quick question - what would be the best size hook to use for granny squares?

I have a 5.5mm one, and one that is really skinny.

[CouthyMow]

The skinny one is 3.5mm. Random but from Tesco!

[alemci]

I would use 4mm. I have used this for most projects.

[EllenJanesthickerknickers]

I'd use 4mm for DK, so 3.5 should be ok, it depends on how loose your tension is/will be once you get the hang of it. 5.5 should be good for Arran (or DK if your tension is tight.)

[TheWoollybacksWife]

Couthy whereabouts in the East of England are you? I'm in Northants if I can help with one-to-one queries.

[TimrousBeastie]

www.youtube.com/user/naztazia?feature=watch

www.youtube.com/user/CrochetHooksYou?feature=watch

i found that these are good channels when getting to grips with the different stitches