Can i teach myself to crochet?

[LaTrucha]

When I look at crafty things I always like the crochet things the best. I want to make big gauzy scarves and suchlike.

I have a book from the library and i think i understand the pictures. I am not terribly patient and tend to give up easily. How likely am I to even complete a chain? I bought a crochet hook.

YouTube tutorials taught me. Make sure you choose UK or US terms and stick to them though :)

Yes, I did. I am also really impatient and there was a lot of swearing going on at first! I had a book and used you tube when I couldn't understand the diagrams. Just be aware of the differences. Eat wee. UK and US terminology, it caught me out at first.

Ahem...between not eat wee

You should be able to - I'd suggest making the chain quite loosely for your first attempt as the trickiest bit ime is doing the first row of stitches into a tight chain.

Another vote for Youtube - look up Knitwitch.

Attic24 tutorials are really good once you can make a chain, she has lots of little items you can do quickly and then also lovely big blankets.

I am trying to teach myself from YouTube. I can chain stitch for miles but my single crochet looks like the cat's mangled it.

I must buy some thicker wool, I only have beautiful cotton at the moment which is fairly thin and too thin for the size crochet hook I have. I'm also left handed which makes it worse.

Def YouTube videos or newstitchaday. The latter has loads of more complex stitches but also the basics.

Dd did at New Year. She now has nearly 4 feet of her first scarf. Can you tell she's supposed to be revising?

I love craftsy, it's an app with step by step tutorial videos, not too expensive and I found it easier than you tube as the production standards are really high.

Worth spending a bit of time getting your non-hook hand sorted with holding the wool - makes a big difference.

MrsP think with the correct wool/hook combo you will see instant improvements - what you are currently using sounds incredibly difficult!

I just have taught myself :). I have made a bear, tardis tree decorations, and now I am making iPod cases from afghan squares. I got loads of crochet books from the library, used YouTube sometimes, and go to a craft group where I've had some help from other more experienced women. One of the crochet books I bought explains both uk and American stitch terminology but the patterns use American so I have to rewrite them which is a bit annoying.

Learnt by YouTube tutorial around 6 months ago. Now have far too many projects half-finished. African flower blanket coming along nicely.

My Mum had been trying to teach me since I was 7. It took me until 32...

yes I learnt by watching the same YouTube video over and over..it took about 2 weeks and was massively frustrating but then it sort of clicked. That was in September and since then I've made blankets, scarf's, gloves etc and am fully addicted

Yup, I used YouTube and then trial and error on simple patterns in magazines. I found it easier to try and make something rather than just practicing stitches.

I also love attic24, everytime I did a Google search to work something out she had a clear and easy tutorial for it!

Well tht's all very positive! I am trying to make my New Year's resolutions a goal for the end of the year rather than something I start and give up by the end of January. One of them is to stop lusting after lovely crocheted thigs and make some. Sund like i should be able to do that by 2015!

Does it take hours and hours and hours every night? (can you tell I am a commitment phobe when it comes to crafts? I embroidered the kids Christmas stockings this year, starting at the beginning of November. i was doing the last stitches on Christmas Eve!)

Once you become hooked you'll want to spend hours and hours!

I've become a lot faster. When I started crocheting 3 years ago it took me about six months to complete a blanket. Now I can complete a similar one in about three weeks if I really focus on it.

Th good thing about crochet is it does grow quite quickly. If you are making a blanket out of squares you don't have to do many before you can see it building up nicely.
You can also choose small projects to start with which aren't too daunting.

I'd recommend getting yourself a basic crochet book as well. I often refer to stitch diagrams in books as well as online guides.

Like what ya did there

This is all very hopeful!

It really does grow quite quickly. I'm not very good at getting round to sewing stuff together though so try to avoid projects based on squares Squares are good for beginners though.

Couldn't revisit the pun.

Just make sure you are using the right yarn and hook. I'd start with dk and a 4 hook.

I'm making something at the moment that is 4 ply on a 3.5 hook and I have to admit if I'd attempted this in my early crochet days I'd have given up quickly.

Grrrr. Resist. Not revisit.

It's quick to pick up and very calming (once you get the hang of it!), Oh and totally addictive

And you can do it watching telly without disturbing OH with the click of knitting needles!

I find I get on better with a 4.5 hook with dk, because my stitches are too tight otherwise.

If your stitches are too tight, go up a hook size, too loose, go down a hook size.

I got a set of hooks from amazon for under £8, with a nice case.

Thanks!