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?!

I've just taught myself Tunisian crochet - last week as it happens. I'm rather taken with it. It is indeed the one with the long hook like a knitting needle.

Technically it's 4 blankets but I want to frog one and do it differently.

Plus I have the yarn for 2 more bought and allocated specifically to 2 blankets.

Can we rename this thread 'Crocheter's Anonymous'...

You need to check into the Hotel Crochetfornia

Hello. My name's Jolly and I'm currently working on 2 blankets, a baby hat and a baby romper suit. Only one of these is likely to be finished any time soon. I also have a rather small yarn stash which is too big for my house, so I can't buy any more until I finish some of my works in progress.

Now at 6 complete hexagons, and the centres of another 3 done.

I like how l can see it coming together.

This one I want to complete first, as it will be for my Ex, when he stays on the sofa. He moans that even with a duvet, he's too cold in the night. At his house, he always has a blanket on top of his duvet, so I'm doing this one do that he can chuck it over the top and stop effing moaning at me that he's coooooold...

In going to feed my addiction further, and check out both this Attic24 blog that everyone keeps going on about, AND ravelry.

If you don't see me again, send out a search party...

You are lost :(

I'm still here!

Finished the blue centres of the next round of hexagons on my blanket. Just need to match the 7 of them to their grey outside rows.

Ive just finished my first ever granny square.Hurrah!

It's got the odd mistake and for some reason my step up chain is in the middle of a row and not on a corner but it looks all right

Attic24's tutorial on steam blocking was excellent. Gave it a go, and it WORKS.

Mind you Mouthy, would you want to put in so much time and effort for your ex to have a nice blanket - only joking.

My dd wants the one I am making but it will only go on a bed which is in occasional use as I see how my DD's trash their rooms etc.

I know what you mean - but that's why I'm using HIS blanket as the ore tics one...

Ore tics?!

I typed practice...

Oooh look! I fancy having a go at these stripey wristwarmers for next winter!

uh-oh...i've just been into town and bought some hooks and yarn

it's more than 30 years since i picked up a hook, and i'm raring to go!

For a change, I'm doing a rainbow stripe scarf for DS3 for next winter. I aim to do a matching hat and mittens too!

DD has put in a scarf and fingerless mittens order too, no hat though as she's not keen on hats.

There's just do many things to DO with a ball of wool and a crochet hook! I wish I had cracked this years ago...

you're making up for it now couthy :D I have wristwarmer thingies on my to do list for dd2, I just need to finish the granny stripe blanket for ds2 first!

I've been making a stripey star blanket, which is surprisingly easy and looks very lovely. I've been using actual nice wool (well baby bamboo, as it will be for my new niece or nephew) which is so much nicer to crochet with than the really cheap stuff I started learning with.

I know what you mean about cheap stuff already...

I have some hideously expensive nice wool, for doing the blankets I'm doing.

I was attempting to do the scarf with the freebie wool I got with the magazine that started all this off, but urgh!

Once stitched, it's not at all fluffy, and quite solid.

Soooo...I'm looking for fluffy-ish soft wool, preferably DK, in the colours of the rainbow, to do a rainbow scarf set.

I have given up on the freebie wool as its a PITA to use!

I like Paton's Fab, and the Phildar DK stuff my Tesco sells - but they don't seem to come in 'zingy' enough colours.

Stylecraft Special DK is the acrylic of choice for lots of folk. I have a couple of blankets made from it and they are soft.

One problem with the Stylecraft Special is that there is not an orange suitable for anything other than crocheting traffic cones. If, however, neon is what you are after, Jaffa is your yarn :o

And don't be fooled by Bright Green for a rainbow - it is indeed both bright and green - thankfully DS2's favourite colour is luminous green!

However, in terms of fluffiness for your pound, it beats pretty much everything else I think.

Neon orange is fine - in fact it is DS3's favourite colour!

What shades would you advise for the brightest, zingiest rainbow?

Obviously Jaffa for the orange, but I need a red, yellow, green, blue, indigo and a purple.