Knit, Crochet and Natter into 2021

[lazylinguist]

A thread for chat about woolly crafts. All welcome, including complete beginners.

Previous thread here

I often alternate knitting and crochet projects, because the hand that handles the yarn gets tired.

brufin, try knitting European style, with the yarn in the left hand. It's particularly good for ribbing.

lucysmam, have you found KnitPro? I love their interchangeable circular needles. And knitting on wood needles is so much more pleasant than on metal needles.

Dilbertian I hadn't, thanks for the link! I'll have a look round now while they're busy. I've just sent dd1 a link to some bamboo crochet hooks to try & see what they feel like.

Do any of you use a crochet loop? They came up on ebay but I can't decide whether they'd be useful or just annoy me 🤷‍♀️

Hi! Can I join please?

I started crocheting about 6 weeks ago during lockdown 2.0. I’ve made a few granny squares and did a few (slightly wonky) snowflakes before Christmas. I started a blanket but had to undo several rows (again) so I needed a break from it. So I’m now working on a very boring scarf for DH. I think I’m going to be a crocheter who needs multiple projects...

I always have multiple projects, sometimes I like using large yarn, sometimes fine, sometimes a simple pattern, sometimes a fiddly repeat... So I usually have three or four things going.

I have not heard of a crochet loop! Going to Google...

I don't know what to buy now I have some money to splash out 🙄🤣

This arrived today for my Norwegian sock patterns so plenty of projects in the pipeline. I’ve just resigned from my job (very long story!) and DH is worried that when I finish he’ll find the house yarn bombed!

Try Bella Coco on you tube for easy to follow tutorials Bacter.

@lucysmam my Mum bought me some of those crochet loop things for Christmas (you can buy a handful for less than that one you posted i think)
I haven't tried it yet but I'll give it a go later so I can report back to you before you buy one

@lucysmam

Dilbertian I hadn't, thanks for the link! I'll have a look round now while they're busy. I've just sent dd1 a link to some bamboo crochet hooks to try & see what they feel like.

Do any of you use a crochet loop? They came up on ebay but I can't decide whether they'd be useful or just annoy me 🤷‍♀️

I was looking at those rings for knitting to protect my finger. Im going to order one tonight

I hold my yarn in an unconventional way so those rings would be no use for me ( I've not seen them before). I have had to tape fingers up in the past to tackle crochet injuries!

@Bacter I second Bella Coco tutorials on YouTube. They're nice and simple to follow and there are loads of different things to make on there too.

@Bacter I learned to crochet in the first lockdown. I used Bella Coco and Blossom Crochet on Youtube.

@CrochetBug I'd appreciate that!

@tizwozliz I'm struggling not to just let the wool slide up my finger a bit so thought it might help with that & keeping my stitches more even. Either that or I need a different way to hold the yarn. Maybe I'll have a google & see what's suggested

It might just annoy me but I think it might be worth a try to keep it where I want it.

I still haven't decided what yarn to treat myself to. I'm resisting the urge to buy what I want to make the TS cardi for dd1 though!

Hey, anyone got any tips or tricks on how to straighten out wonky edges. I started a crochet bobble stitch baby blanket for my niece and I have one row to complete the blanket but I have completely gone off it as it's a bit wonky and I have missed a few stitches I feel it's too much to pull it all out so have set it aside. Any tips would be grateful so I can find the motivation to complete it. Thank you.x

@MindyMalik you could try blocking it, or my Mum said adding a border covers up mistakes.

@lucysmam I just need to remember where I put them

Ha, I put things "in a safe place" then forget all about them 🙄

I'm quite taken by these yarn cakes. I don't really need any more scarves...but I also rather like the idea of a scarfy wrap thing I saw on Pinterest where the sides became sleeves.

Uff...decisions are not my strong point

I'll have a look for it tomorrow and report back @lucysmam. I think it's in my sewing table, at least I asked DS to put a pile of (sewing) stuff in there and when I came back the pile of crochet stuff had also been moved
I was going to have a go this evening but apparently my trip to the local Post office and co-op earlier was more than my anxiety could manage and now I have "anxiety belly" so I'm in bed feeling sorry for myself

Oh and I forgot to say, I collect yarn cakes I buy them fully intending to use them. But they are so pretty I don't want to! So they just sit in my stash!

my Mum said adding a border covers up mistakes.

I agree - a border can cover a multitude of sins!

@CrochetBug

Oh and I forgot to say, I collect yarn cakes I buy them fully intending to use them. But they are so pretty I don't want to! So they just sit in my stash!

The things they make are so pretty too though!

Oooh SoupDragon the purple's lush! I was considering one of the rainbow ones probably the yarn for the cardi too but might have to go back for another look now.

What sort of pattern's that so I can have a mooch round t'interweb for similar?

Oh I agree. They make beautiful things. I really need to use some of my stash

The rainbow one is a Virus shawl I made at the start of the first lockdown... it seemed funny at the time 😂