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Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

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Discover knitting, crochet, scrapbooking and art and craft ideas on this forum.

Arts and crafts

Crochet for beginners...

233 replies

CouthyMow · 28/05/2013 04:06

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?!

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CouthyMow · 02/06/2013 11:07

I'm teaching myself from Youtube vids. Crochet Geek and The Crochet Crew seem to be the ones I find easiest to follow.

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CouthyMow · 02/06/2013 11:08

What size do the Wooly Hugs squares need to come out as?

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StopEatingThatMud · 02/06/2013 11:52

I used quite a few videos from crochet hooks you on YouTube, with lots of pausing and rewinding!

Woolly hugs squares need to be 6 inches square, so if you can master a granny square they're doable :)

CouthyMow · 02/06/2013 13:18

My basic granny squares are coming out at about 5.5 in sq.

I will try to loosen the tension on them to do some wooly hugs squares, and make them 6in x 6in.

I've always wanted to send wooly hugs squares, but could not knit or crochet before.

Still can't knit, but I'll tackle that one when (if...) I get bored of crochet. Just for a change.

These are skills I don't have, and want to master!

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CouthyMow · 02/06/2013 13:20

I'm in the middle of doing a solid square in a rainbow variegated wool - think it's a Patons Fab DK one.

It's very bright...

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StopEatingThatMud · 02/06/2013 14:21

I've added a border to increase my squares before, doubles, trebles or half trebles, whatever makes the right size!

Have a check on the woolly hugs threads before you start as they use specific wool brands for consistency and usually have colour themes.

I really can't decide what to do next, if I ever finish DD's ripple! The variegated wool I want to use for the Owl Obsession blanket I fancy is out of stock everywhere and deramores are not expecting it back in til August so may have to take a look at the patons!

alemci · 02/06/2013 14:50

I made a yarn owl from a kit by Sue Stratford but haven't sewn him up yet. The wool was lots of different colours.

I like Rico cotton arran as it is reasonably priced and lovely colours.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/06/2013 17:29

Yes, the good thing about crochet in the round is that you can always add a little bit to make it bigger. A round of DC makes a nice border on a granny square. DC into each TR and one DC in each chain space and 5 DC around the corner.

Couthy, I usually get a ball of donor wool sent to me for a Woolly hug as it's expensive, lovely stuff. For a little hug or a Billie's hug they are happy to accept Stylecraft DK squares, though.

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/06/2013 17:30

Or you could go up a hook size, half a mm, so from 3.5mm to 4mm maybe?

CouthyMow · 02/06/2013 23:33

Randomly I'm using the 5.5 hook! I found it was just about me loosening my grip of death on the thread...

Problem is that local to me, there isn't really anywhere easily accessible to buy that much wool from - even my Dunelm Mill only has a very small selection of Patons Fab DK - and it's dearer than deramores!

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StopEatingThatMud · 02/06/2013 23:53

Same here Couthy. we do have a small independent place in town I've recently discovered but she mainly stocks stylecraft and rico, neither of which Woolly Hugs use. Our local garden centre also stocks Rico but it costs a fortune there and other than that it's Wilkinson or Dunelm with their selection of Patons and other less well known cheap DK.

I've had donor wool for the squares I've done up til now but ordered one ball of Debbie Bliss Cashmerino off an Ebay shop that was recommended this time. It's amazing how much nicer it is to work with, wish my budget stretched to it for my own use!

EllenJanesthickerknickers · 02/06/2013 23:54

No, I live in a big town and the only wool shop is called 'Budget Wools' which sells a very small selection. Not like when I was a child in the 70s, we had a wool shop in my village! And one in the next village, too. T'internet is the way forward and ask on here or Ravelry for recommendations. Stylecraft special DK is a good, washable, colourful acrylic.

MiaowTheCat · 03/06/2013 07:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

alemci · 03/06/2013 09:14

Rico is usually quite reasonably priced. I have bought balls of the cotton arran online for £1.50 with reasonable postage. does split a bit though but the colours are lovely.

I would rather buy from the high street though as it is a pain if you run out and only need the odd ball and have to pay postage again.

tragbag · 03/06/2013 13:54

Hello! Where are you? I run beginners knitting and crochet workshops at the Wendy House café in Malmesbury, Wiltshire. I can give you more details if you are interested :)

CouthyMow · 03/06/2013 18:07

I'm in North East Essex. Nit quite Wiltshire!

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CouthyMow · 03/06/2013 18:08

Nit? NOT!

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SallyBear · 04/06/2013 08:17

After dazzling myself with a variety of multi-coloured granny squares I thought I'd best do some plain ones..... Quite relaxing not having to hide ends every time you change colours! Not looking forward to the joining up though.

JollyShortGiant · 04/06/2013 15:15

Sally, I'm working my way through a blanket made with 40 filled in granny squares. Each square has three colours. I've done 26 so far and I need to get it finished in time for DC2's arrival in August. Getting started on joining it together fills me with dread!

SallyBear · 04/06/2013 16:23

I'm really enjoying it as the results seem to be quicker than knitting! Can you tell that I'm impatient! I'm only up to 15 squares Jolly, and genuinely have no idea how many to do so I will carry on until it looks single bed blanket sized!

HorsesDogsNails · 04/06/2013 16:54

TragBag - Malmesbury you say, I am in Swindon - just down the road!!! I am a crochet novice and am also making granny squares for a blanket, am on square 25, made from Sirdar Calico in cream, pink, lilac and green.... Individual single colour squares to be joined in a random stylie eventually!

Love crochet, best thing I've learnt for years!!

JollyShortGiant · 04/06/2013 18:29

Mine are Sirdar Snuggly Baby Bamboo. Worth every penny of the £££££s the yarn cost. I have 10 colours for the squares and 1 for joining.

Mine are 5.5 inches each so finished blanket (8 squares by 5) should be 3ft 7 x 2 ft 5 ish. Don't know if I will do a border or not yet. I might have to to hide the ends!

I also did a spreadsheet to ensure that all 40 squares have different colour combinations and that all colours are used an equal amount

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CouthyMow · 04/06/2013 18:56

Jolly, that sounds like the kind of thing I would do, the spreadsheet...

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CouthyMow · 04/06/2013 18:56

I have some wool to attempt a wave stitch blanket with - a grey marl and a denim marl Aran.

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CouthyMow · 04/06/2013 18:57

And am up to 10 squares in the orange/brown one now.

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