Any tips for getting really fast at crochet?

[whothefuckhas5children]

Currently making attic24 cosy blanket. Have gotten 40+ row through it in just less than 2 weeks. I have 130+ to go and then the edging. It's going to take nearly 10 weeks more . I only have an hour (max 2) in the evenings once I get the children to bed so I can't spend more time at it in order to finish earlier.

I normally crochet 'in the round' and so by the time each row is taking 30-60 mins you're fairly committed to it and you've got a fair amount to show for it.

I thought I was a fast enough crocheter but I think I need to get much faster - I've no idea where to start. Does anyone have any tips please?

A lot of practice!

Sorry, that's all I have to offer but I would be interested in tips on how I can get faster too. So many blankets to make but so little time!

Definitely practice, which after 120 more rows you will most certainly have!

You will find you get faster as you go, I promise.

I'm currently making a blanket that is a pixilated image comprised of 650 squares... I feel your pain.

Total concentration rather than trying to watch TV at the same time in my case!

Also I found I am considerably faster using an ergonomic hook as my hand has to grip it less, but you might have to try a few to see if they work for you. I tried one called Easy Grip from Hobby Craft and it's amazing, but another popular one, the Addi Swing was useless for me.

If it's any consolation I'm 3.5 years into my first Attic 24 Granny Stripe blanket, I often put it aside for months at a time.

I've crocheted for a good few years now but I guess a few more and I'll be faster again

I've changed hook recently to a more ergonomic one and after a short while getting used to it I'm back up at full speed again

Gah - as you say - so little time so many blankets.

3.5 years! It bloody well better not take me that long

I have done a lot of smaller projects during that time I should add! I do a lot of mine outside the house, hanging around at swimming lessons etc and the blanket just got too bulky to carry with its 17 balls of wool.

You're great to persevere for that long. I'd have given up!

Super Chunky yarn
Maybe you need to adjust your technique? I don't really know how to describe it, but I found I was making it more work than it needed to be by moving the yarn around a lot rather than the hook. Once I changed the way I crocheted I got a lot quicker - I'm still not a particularly fast hooker though!

Snap whothe!
I'm on row 36, and started a couple of weeks ago- it was supposed to be the attic24 Ripple blanket but as a crocheting novice I kept messing it up so unpicked it and started again.

I'm using an Addi hook, and am definitely not a fast hooker 😳

Is it a double? I'd say three months is pretty realistic for a blanket that size, although the border always seems to take ages so more like four months in my case :-) disclaimer: I did the ripple, not the cosy, blanket.

No, mine's a single - I'd have lost the will to live if it was any bigger.
I just couldn't crack the Ripple pattern at all, no idea why because I'd made did a different ripple pattern blanket last year.

I daren't look to see how many more rows (then the border too), I guess it might get finished sometime this year!

(Mine's a single too!)

I'm watching for tips. Learnt to crochet last week and im shit and slow.

I made a dodgy hat. Not in the round, didn't follow a pattern. I did a chain stitch circle and then carried on making slightly decreasing circles going up until it met together at the top.

Then someone told me I need to start at the top and work down. She started me off, I had no clue what she was doing. But she showed me about putting trebles in the holes??? I'm kind of doing it but I must keep missing holes as it looks a bit shit.

I,m no good at granny squares or these round circles.

Next plan is a chain stitch blanket. Is the idea you do one row of chain stitch, turn it over, put a slip stitch in to kind of go up and then stitch along the top of the previous row?? I don't understand patterns at all.

1st hat. It's a baby hat.

Now this is confusing, I might need to change my name to WhoTheFuckKnowsWhereTheTimeGoes...

I only just noticed!

Make sure you have the comfiest hook going I like ones with chunky handles. I like to pull enough wool free from the ball so enough for a row without having to keep stopping and unwinding more.

Radio is good or audio books or tv programmes where you don't need to keep looking up to see what's happening. I've made few attic blankets currently do a ripple double. Takes me about 20min per row do don't know how that compares but I think that's quite advanced after seeing how slow my beginner friend does it.

You be suprised though doing it odd 10min here and there really does add up. It will be worth it in the end!

The right hook makes a big difference.

My favourite are addi swing, but clover are good for me too.

Right - am exactly half way through a row. Will time myself to see how long the rest of it will take and check back ...

Done

So the means that each row takes a little over 10 mins.

For a single blanket? That's really good going. So 160 rows @10min is 26 hours pretty good! Takes me about 70h to finish a big double blanket.

I just did another row and it took 12 mins. There's 180 rows (which I suspect I'll cut down by 10 or so rows) - 36 hours plus edging so maybe 38 hours in total from start to finish.

So more than 26 hours. But is that still good going? Am beginning to think I but off more than I can chew and should stick to smaller blankets (just couldn't resist the colour combination!)

bit not but!