Crochet: What am I doing wrong?

[Marmiteandjamislush]

It is making me really angry! I consider myself fairly crafty, but I just can't get it. I can loom knit, sew, needle felt and bake beautiful things. Why oh why can't I do this?! I thought I'd got it a while ago, but what I was actually doing was pulling loops over each other ala loom knitting! I just can't get the 'knack' of grabbing the yarn with the hook. I know I shouldn't be so bothered, but I'm looking for something that I can do in between feeding DD1, without too much stuff, whilst DS 1 and 2 are HE by my Dad.

FYI I am using a 5mm metal hook with a rubber grip (have bamboo too though) and DK cheapie yarn.

TIA

Took me ages to learn too, I'm a leftie who'd never seen it done.
It's so easy now I've got it.

Don't try to learn with the sort of yarn that's free with a craft magazine. It's terrible stuff.

You neednt buy anything pricey to learn on, Stylecraft Special DK is a good value yarn, for a couple of quid a ball.,I'd use a 4mm hook with that personally.

I look for patterns that don't need a starting chain as I find it fiddly to do. The mitred square pattern is very easy to crochet, it works up from the corner. So does the Lattice pattern I've started in green.

www.innerchildcrochet.com/resources/how_to_design/mitered_square.html

If this link works, I think this is a nice easy starter. If you can chain 2, and do single crochet, you can do this. No starting chain.

Deladion, I agree the foundation DC row is a winner. The tutorial that I use to remind myself, is on You Tube by CrochetEverAfter and as it's American it is titled Foundation Single Crochet.

4 years ago I couldn't crochet a damn. Then I got a notion to learn and went along to a 6 week class where by the end I could make granny squares and now I'm going great guns. So I would recommend getting along to a class or some other real life help from a friendly crocheter.

Anyway I've made heaps of stuff since and just learned new techniques I needed as I went along via youtube/books/attic24.

Once you get a hang of the very basic premise of holding the wool and grabbing it with the hook it will be a lot easier. If it helps, when doing the chain you need to initially hold the tail end too (with whatever fingers are comfortable for you. I use my thumb and ring finger) to stop the chain swivelling around the hook. Then as the chain gets longer you can hold the actual chain itself, moving your grip along as it grows.

And yes the chain/foundation row is an arse so like previous posters have said a granny square might be the way to go initially. I am almost finished with a baby blanket that had an initial chain of about 124(!) a really enjoyable pattern after that early 'ugh!' though!

I've just started teaching a work colleague who wants to learn and I'm not moving onto stitches until I feel like they're happy holding the yarn & hook - even if it means making loads of long chains!

I'd say to watch your tension....it's soul destroying to have to pick and stretch each stitch to winkle the hook through

...i'd also recommend a smaller hook, it makes a chunkier (but less tight) stitch with a fatter yarn and is easier to get into the rhythm of wrapping and the in and out motion.

style craft/woolcraft dk is fine and I'd also not bother with learning the foundation double crochet...I've managed all these years without it!

UK and US stitches are the same, it's not a different technique, they are just called different things.

UK have slipstitch, chain, double crochet, half treble, treble, double treble
US have slipstitch, chain, single crochet, half double crochet, doublecrochet, treble (= to our double treble)

Also, really look at the stitches, they are similar to knitting, in that you have that little v shape, but in knitting it is two strands, and stacked vertically and in crochet there's three strands, and you sort of ignore one, and they are horizontal.

Might your local yarn shop (or dept store with craft section) do classes? I'm on my first piece, but luckily have a friend who got me started.

My granny taught me when I was little but I could nt get back into as an adult.

I went on a one day course at John Lewis in their haberdashery dept. it was fabulous. It was about £25.00 and worth it to be taught by a person.

I found after that it was much easier to follow video tutorials, books, patterns etc.

The videos I prefer are by Catherine Hirst on video jug. She is American but based in the UK and uses UK terminology.

I learnt to crochet this year
Found it easier to learn stitches using chunky wool and a large needle - think I tried 6 or 7 mm
Then just keep doing each stitch over and over
Some great suggestions for you tube tutorials
I've now made 3 cushions and s purse/bag
Working my way up to clothes