So, I am teaching myself to crochet this week and I could do with some help!

[FantasticFestiveBeasts]

I am a fair knitter and spin my own yarn but can't crochet. Am now happy with my tension on a simple chain after about 10m of the stuff, am doing double and triple stitches that look passable (finding it harder than knitting). Have got a Craftsy class and the DK crochet book.

The Craftsy woman is using a metal hook with an ergonomic handle. I bought a knit pro wooden hook because I love my knitting needles but I think hers looks easier - leaving the obvious skill difference aside .

Do people think that sort of hook is better/easier for a beginner? Or is it just personal preference?

Has anyone got the DK book? Would the tweed (seed?) stitch cowl on page 204 be a good first project, labelled easy? I don't really want to do squares/blankets as I make those on my loom.

I have got a few balls of the Rowan felted tweed that cowl is in if people who know more than me don't think it is mad. Does crochet use more wool than knitting generally (or is that a stupid question)? That cowl suggests 4 balls which seems a lot.

I don't do YouTube very well, very slow broadband so has to be a written pattern and or video I can download.

Thanks 😀

Fantastic idea, thanks, I will do that, would never have thought of that even though I buy linen on cones for weaving.

Oh gosh, I really wouldn't start with mohair! The fab thing about crochet is its really easy to undo if you make a mistake as you only have one current stitch so you can rip it back without the worry of dropping any stitches. Mohair though will get caught as you undo and will knot. I adore crochet though. I'm currently doing a Sue Pinner mini crochet along called Angel wings shawl. Sue Pinner has been releasing the pattern parts over the Christmas holidays. It's fun as it has a good variety of stitches. The link is here
shropshirescrappersuz.blogspot.co.uk/2016/12/angel-wings-shawl-mini-cal-pattern-part.html

It is going really well . I would post a photo but my iPad has decided that it hasn't got any space left despite everything going to the cloud.

I will post a photo of progress in due course but am temporarily distracted by the arrival of a piece of Harris Tweed in a glorious purple to make a skirt to match a tiny bit of purple in a recently finished fair isle sweater. Amazing, it only left Harris yesterday and is here today. Urgent sewing has taken over .

Ooh would love to see the fair isle sweater! And the Harris tweed skirt :) Glad it's going well. I can knit but crochet is my passion. I'd love to have a go at fair isle. I was inspired by that programme about living on Fair Isle and got a book out of the library. Finished my shawl yesterday :)