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?

Ok - so I might not be that slow but getting up and down, settling children, setting up rows/new colours, making lunches, bringing children to toilet, changing wet beds etc means that am not as efficient as I could be. I guess it'll take about 40 hours and I'll get through 2 colours (4 rows a night).

I think quick projects suit me better so I'll stick with hats and baby booties/blankets in future. I was hoping to do a blanket for each child but I just don't see that I'll be able to make 5 without getting too frustrated.

whothefuckissimon good luck with the hats. It does get easier. I start each hat at the crown rather the at the brim do you end up increasing rather than decreasing.

I find the clover soft touch hooks best, the addi and ergonomic ones too big to use quickly.

I think you're doing well, the attic 24 blanket took me about 15mins a row. The first half of any blanket always takes a long time - the second half flies as you start to look forward to edging finishing

That's the hook I currently have. I bought one in 4mm and my lovely MIL is buying me a set for Christmas (once they come back into stock). I have knit pro in 5.5 and 6mm and am not as happy with those.

slug I think that's the solution alright. I need to make a pair of booties for the baby and if I wait until the blanket is go shed then it'll be too hot to wear them .

I'll give the blanket a rest tonight and start on the booties ... Or slippers for myself ... Or a hat for DS1 ... Or a baby blanket ... So exciting starting a new project

I really need to read over my responses before posting 'go shed' = finished

Relax and enjoy the process! I made the same blanket as you OP as my first project last year and it took 3 months, just doing it in front of the tv in the evenings. Next I made a much more complicated blanket on notyouraveragecrochet.com and it was a massive learning curve. In all that one took 6 months but I did not do it continually. Happy crocheting!

That blanket took me about 6 months. I did chain over 300 to start with though. I won't make one that big again.

Hillbilly I am now enjoying the process! I think that it's helped by the fact that am 78 rows into it - as pp said the first bit seems so slow but then it seems to go much quicker all of a sudden. Only 100 rows and edging to go now

U2 I don't think that I would've made it through that. I have 200 on my hook - couldn't cope with the extra 100. On the plus side it must be lovely and cosy

I made the single ripple one..
Took me 8 months. It's washable and lovely though, so worth the effort.

I'm quickest with my Clover Amour hook. It really makes a difference.

That's really quite fast - each stripe (so 2 rows) takes me 40 minutes and I've made quite a few blankets including the ripple. This one is a single size granny stripe - much faster and less prone to mistakes. Think I need to look at the hook I'm using as I'm getting pain in my wrist at the base of my thumb.

not I've taken a rest for a little while. I've also developed base of thumb pain a few months ago - I think due to pregnancy/ breast feeding and loose ligaments. I'm stopping breastfeeding shortly so am going to resume crochet again. Am a tiny bit over half way through the blanket.

By the way I got it diagnosed as De Quervins tendinitis and it's fairly clearly diagnosed by putting your thumb into the palm of your hand, wrapping your fingers around it and bending your hand down - if it's the same then expect a high level of pain. If it's not then you'll just feel a stretch. More info here
en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finkelstein%27s_test

Came looking for tips too, I'm making the same blanket! I've got quicker but my tension has got a bit slacker -the blankets a bit wider at one end but I'm buggered if I'm unpicking it! I started mine last Friday and have done 40 rows. My problem is I get friction burns on my right index finger, I'm contemplating wearing a plaster!

Callme maybe when you put the edging on and block the blanket it will all even out?
I guess the skin on your finger will toughen up over time.

My new hooks have arrived from my lovely MIL. I'm due to stop breastfeeding soon so hopefully my thumbs will heal shortly after that and I can resume my blanket.

Thanks to this thread I bought clover hooks. They are lovely and it's made a huge difference.

I've just finished row 60, it looks really good.

Well done callme. My half made blanket is staring at me. I will restart it soon.

I am on the home strait -the edging, but I've had to order more wool which is a different dye lot. Hopefully it won't be too different, the sunny cal fell into my basket just to get free postage! I'm having a rest before I start it though and catching up on housework

I've realised that I've been counting colours not rows so my last post was actually 120 rows.

no fair! Haven't stopped breastfeeding yet so it's unlikely I'll be able to finish for a while

Seriously though that's really great news!

I'm impressed you've done as much as you have. I finished it yesterday but it took some marathon crocheting. The house is very neglected. I love it though.

Well done!!
How long do you get to crochet for each day? You seemed to work it up really quickly!

(Love the bed)

Thank-you. I do have lots of time, Dc's are at school and I only work part- I could manage 10 rows a day.