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?!

[alemci]

i find also i get a hard pad of skin on my thumb. does anyone else?

[CouthyMow]

Nope, not yet. But I do use industrial strength hand moisturiser loads each day (Norwegian formula extra strength, not the normal one...) because my hands are forever needing washed due to DS3's allergies, so maybe that's why?

Or maybe I've just not been addicted to crochet for long enough...

[CouthyMow]

Maybe NOT the bunting yet. I just CANNOT get the hang of dc2tog. Watched 101 YouTube vids, but my brain steadfastly refuses to understand how to do it.

I mean, I 'get' it, in theory. In practice, not so much...

[Cheesed off emoticon]

Could be that cheap wool I guess. Might have a try tomorrow with some Fab. If it works with that when I can't get it to go right with this cheap wool, then the cheap wool is being left WELL alone!

It's a shame, as the colours are lovely and 'zingy'.

I could easily do granny bunting, but goddamn it I want dc bunting, in stripes!

[CouthyMow]

It's the wool. Tried doing a granny triangle in it, taken me ages to do just two rounds.

I would normally have finished a 5 round hexagon in that Aran that I don't like in that time. It just untwists while you try to poke your hook through, so you catch a bit and it takes aaaages.

If that had been the first wool I used, I'd have given up I think. I'm just gals I used something semi-decent to try to get started.

[waltergal1]

Agreed, YouTube vidoes can be a lifesaver while you're learning. I wanted to share one video that helped me -

[ArbitraryUsername]

Would changing GPs or demanding a referral to a paediatrician help? The latter would almost certainly cost more than a prescription.

[CouthyMow]

Have PM'd you, Miaow. You CAN insist on an out if area referral through choose and book, for a second opinion, and they aren't ALLOWED to refuse you that...

[TheNinjaGooseIsOnAMission]

that's crap miaow! Sounds like you need to change gp, have you rang PALS?

deramores has 15% off all stylecraft yarn for a week, enter code SCWK at the checkout

[JollyShortGiant]

I'm attempting to make a lorry for DS. I've already had two false starts. Not using a pattern, just making it up, so I reckon there'll be a few more problems before I get something I like!

[RippingYarns]

i can make flowers



lawks, my fingers ache

[SallyBear]

Oooh! Very impressed. I want to do that, are they ones with individual 3D petals? My NEW local wool shop offers coffee mornings three times a week. I think I will go along next week and meet some fellow hookers!

[CouthyMow]

Sorry I vanished, I was busy with the DC's... And someone pointed me towards Ravelry!!

My rainbow bunting is coming along great, now have 7 rainbow granny triangles and 2 plain.

[pantshavenames]

I am full of trepidation about posting here because I have yet to crochet a single thing but succumbed to a book club deal on a nikki trench book that had loads of lush things. I covet making a lovely bag made out of squares but am at the price of the wool she recommends. Am I ok with any dk yarn if she talks about dk yarn and is there a nice but cheapish natural yArn I can use rather than acrylic (disclaimer- I only remember really cheap synthetic yarns that made your hair stand on end which is why I reluctant to go synthetic)

[SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius]

Any dk yarn is fine, as far as I know. To be honest, I am using very cheap yarn at the moment, and it is fine to work with, comes in brilliant colours and feels good too.

Deramores and Black Sheep Wools are good for a wide variety of yarns at pretty good prices, and if you have a Hobbycraft near you, they do a good range too.

It is worth looking at the tutorials on YouTube, as well as using the book - the two can complement each other. Good luck and happy hooking.

[JollyShortGiant]

Stylecraft Special DK really is worth trying, even if you dislike acrylic. It's so cheap that you could pick up a ball and try it out then just get rid if you don't like it :)

[marissab]

Ooo pants, def substitute the yarn. Honestly the price of some of the luxury yarns is insane! If its dk, i always substitute. I usually go for an acrylic with say 20% wool for clothing items. So its washable, and quite warm. Best of both worlds. I think now a days, acrylic is alot better than it used to be. If ordering online, i'd go for 100g balls that cost around £3.50. Eg not the cheapie £1.50 balls. They squeek sometimes they're so plasticy! You should be ok then :D

[pantshavenames]

Ok so what I did, I found a beginner pattern which took only 2 balls ( a curtain tie back) in the book which I thought I would do for DD's room as we are redecorating do

[pantshavenames]

Aargh new ph

[pantshavenames]

Oh for goodness sake. Yes will use remainder to trial square and if crochet and me suit will buy more cost efficient wool after fondle in shop as want bag but don't want to pay £60 plus for it. Bit scared now.

[ComtessedeFrouFrou]

Can I jump in and ask a question? I'm a total beginner and reading blogs about how Nikki Trench's Springtime Throw has destroyed peoples' lives, I've decided to start with something simpler.

This

But I'm stuck the very first instruction What do the brackets mean? Ch 105 (121, 145)

Elsewhere in that explanation thingy it says that the brackets signify a repetition, but that can't be right, can it?