RE: Knitting and Crocheting (Full Version)

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Elena1030 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (8/18/2009 11:35:27 PM)

Reebs,

The book The Happy Hooker, by Debbie Stoller, has excellent instructions and illustrations. Take your stuff w/ you to your local bookstore that has seating, grab the book off the shelf, and sit down with it and try it out.

It's worth purchasing, since it also has some really cute projects.


Another thing you could try is to see if anyone has posted a video tutorial on YouTube (or whatever other video sites there are).



rebakahblam -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (8/19/2009 7:10:28 AM)

*update*

I have watched so many videos on youtube and read so many articles on crocheting...

And I think I've got the single stitch figured out...I have a very tiny 10-stitch wide work going. It's about 2.5 feet long. [:)]

I'm just using it as practice...I am seeing where to put my hook in for the most part, a couple of the ends are a little crazy, but hey I'm making progress.

Thanks for the suggestion elena - I have her book for knitting and love it..so I'll look into the one for crochet too!

I'll keep y'all updated on my progress,
-reba.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (8/20/2009 1:18:05 AM)

quote:

where on earth do i put my hook in and why does it still feel so awkward holding the hook and yarn?


From you last post it sounds like you've figured this out, but--if you look at the top of each stitch, you will see that it consists of two strands that look something like a stockinette stitch. You put your hook (usually) so that it goes under both of those strands from front to back. Sometimes the instructions will say "work in back loop only" then you will put the hook between the two strands so that it goes under the loop farthest from you (at that time)--the "back loop". Work in the front loop only means hook goes under the loop in front only--this is not a usual instruction because this is harder to make happen.

As for holding the hook feeling awkward...most anything will feel awkward when you are first learning it. However my advice is hold the hook how you are most comfortable. I learned to crochet gripping the hook in my hand. Some 20 years later, a person who had been crocheting for 6 months tried to tell me that I was holding the hook wrong and that I should hold it like a pencil. My response was when they had been crocheting longer than I had they could tell me how to hold my hook, although I will admit most instructions suggest holding the hook like a pencil.



I finally got the craft table built (mostly) in my bedroom so now I can start using the knitting machine again. I made a sweater for my son and am working on one using the same yarn (different pattern) for me. I'm starting to piece together the afghan I'm making for a friend, though I still have some squares to make (putting the thing together as I work on the squares works well for me because I have a problem with completing the squares and feeling like I should be finished...


Knitters, I have a question:
The sweater that I'm making for me is designed to be reversible...how do I stitch the seams so that it can be worn either way?



rebakahblam -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (8/23/2009 9:50:22 PM)

*update*

Spent some time at the library today - picked up oh about 10 books on crocheting. Sadly, they did not have the happy hooker.

Now, I thought I had the hang of it but I think I may be doing it incorrectly.

I was putting my hook through the back (looking down in the middle of both loops picking up the top one) and after reading creationtalk's post and several books it sounds like I have to pick up both loops...is that correct?

If so, that seems so much more difficult than what I have been doing. I thought I figured out where to put my hook but now I can't tell which two loops to be picking up and when/where a stitch has been successfully made.

So I guess I'm a pro at working in the back loop but not so much just working normally? HAHA!

As for it feeling awkward well it wasn't after a while but now that I think I'm doing it wrong it feels very very awkward...

In other news, I did join the knitting and crochet club on campus (well I signed up for more info at the activity fair yada yada) so maybe I'll find someone to do teach me one-on-one.

Hopefully I can figure this out. [sm=sadquestion.gif]
-reba.



thedivabrat -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (8/23/2009 10:05:51 PM)

It will make more sense when you see someone actually doing the stitches. It is much harder to try to learn the basics with books. Once you have the basics the more intricate stitches can be learned from books without too much difficulty.



betterisoneday -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/10/2009 3:51:45 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk
Knitters, I have a question:
The sweater that I'm making for me is designed to be reversible...how do I stitch the seams so that it can be worn either way?

You've probably already finished it by now, but you might be able to use the Kitchener Stitch. That's about all I use if seams are required.
http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=50
Looked like the instructions are on YouTube also.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/10/2009 8:18:05 PM)

quote:

ORIGINAL: betterisoneday

quote:

ORIGINAL: creationtalk
Knitters, I have a question:
The sweater that I'm making for me is designed to be reversible...how do I stitch the seams so that it can be worn either way?

You've probably already finished it by now, but you might be able to use the Kitchener Stitch. That's about all I use if seams are required.
http://www.stitchdiva.com/custom.aspx?id=50
Looked like the instructions are on YouTube also.


Thanks for the suggestion. That will be a very useful stitch for things like shoulder seams, however I'm not sure it would work in this case. I need(ed) a stitch for the side seams and joining the upper part with the body--I worked the sleeves and yoke in a single piece from one sleeve to the next.

I did manage to get everything together. I knitted the body to the yoke, then sewed the sleeves and sides with something similar to a blanket stitch, except I picked up just one loop instead of a whole stitch.


Reba,

Have you had any more luck in finding someone in the clubs who can help you with crochet?


What types of projects are people working on now?

I just finished the sweaters I was talking about, am nearly finished with a crochet hooded jacket, made two knitted backpacks (to my son's specifications)--one for my son, the other for my nephew...to be precise, my son, with my help, made his own backpack, except for sewing it together, on the knitting machine.



rebakahblam -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/14/2009 9:30:10 PM)

quote:

Reba,

Have you had any more luck in finding someone in the clubs who can help you with crochet?

YES YES! I just got back from our second meeting..tonight I learned how to crochet fans...and I'm working on my first granny square! [:D][:D][:D]

I'll keep you posted because it seemed to be going well tonight but then again I had someone right there watching my every stitch..so we'll see when I try doing it on my own later in the week.
-reba.



cherish405 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/15/2009 11:52:50 PM)

I've just restarted a scarf. It was on really small needles, and was taking way too long. I've put it onto bigger needles. This will be the last bit of knitting that I do for a while. It's scarf number 52 for the schools.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/16/2009 12:03:33 AM)

Congratulations Reba! That's great. Pretty soon you will be making all kinds of things and the rest of us won't be able to keep up.

cherish405,

52 scarves...I am impressed. That is a huge amount.


I just finished a pair of "silly socks" for my son's AWANA program next week--every one is supposed to come in silly socks of some sort. My son wanted me to make some (actually, he wanted to make them, but after having to restart many times I said I'd do it). Took me three tries to get the size right. My son will still need to decorate the socks with the buttons he chose from the "collection"



cherish405 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/20/2009 11:28:24 AM)

I thought number 52 was the last. I counted up the ones I'd completed, only to find that I had more yarn hiding under the bag. I'm now finishing the last one, which is now number 56 for the schools.



Hope4Restoration -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/22/2009 10:25:38 PM)

Hey Y'all! [;)] I love to crochet. Although the past week I have found my slef unmotivated. I have been making hats lately. For children for adults. Been having trouble with the earpieces on a "helmet" style hat. I really like the videos on youtube. I like watching Alyssa from "expert village.com". You can find tutorials on how to crochet almost anything.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/22/2009 11:03:57 PM)

Welcome, Hope4Restoration.
[sm=wave.gif]



rebakahblam -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (9/22/2009 11:24:33 PM)

trying my first hexagon.

the directions aren't very clear on how to start the second round..but i chained three and then began a bobble stitch. i don't know if i'm hooking in the right place and part of me now thinks i was supposed to chain 3 in one color and then immediately chain 2 more in the new color before inserting through the yarn instead of through the hole between the posts...

but i'm bobble stitchin' now...so i think i'm getting it. we'll see how this next round turns out and if i like it i'll just keep doing what i'm doing and if not then hmm i'll have to try to figure out what the lady means...[:D]
-reba.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (10/9/2009 11:27:25 PM)

reba,

how is your project coming? Did you figure out what you needed to do?

Today I made a couple of little teddy bears (using the knitting machine) for a birthday party on Sunday. Bears were much quicker than I expected, and turned out pretty cute. I'm working on a blanket for one of them. Might make something for the other one as well if have time.



cherish405 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (10/14/2009 2:53:25 AM)

That's awesome! You could make all sorts of things for Christmas. Even if you had spare wool, you could make toys for disadvantaged kids, or scarves and beanies to keep people warm.



Rebirthinger -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (10/17/2009 12:32:59 AM)

Hey
Get a needle that has plastic string stuff that hooks the two needles together. You can make blankets and lots of stuff with it!



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (10/20/2009 9:01:06 PM)

I think that I need to stop trying to do everything. I took my son to a horse show this past Sunday. as we were planning for the show, we saw that one of the classes was a costume class--had to come in Native American or Frontier period clothing (horse show was sponsored by the Indian Horse Association)...originally my son wanted to go as a mountain man. We weren't able to get a coon-skin hat ordered in time. So he decided to go as a cowboy. And all cowboys have cows, right??? Anyway, I was called upon to solve the problem of a cowboy with no cow...

My son is now the proud owner of life-sized stuffed Hereford calf (still missing one ear and two eyes since I didn't get them sewed on before the class) courtesy of "Mom" and her trusty "Bond Ultimate Sweater" machine...



trinigirl722 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (10/23/2009 12:45:47 AM)

Way to go, Creationtalk!



cachingweds -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (11/2/2009 6:03:47 PM)

Does anybody here do loom knitting? got a set of Knifty Knitter round looms for my birthday, and though I have never knitted anything in my life, learned how to do the basic knit (stockinette) stitch in 5 minutes and completed my first project 2 hours later. It is saving my sanity while laid up w/an injury. Currently making hagt and scarf for DH. Found a lot of sites w/ patterns, and how to vids on YouTube. Still don't have the courage to try sock or mitten patterns yet though. Anybody know how to increase/decrease on a round loom?
Pls forgive typos.Cat attack.



creationtalk -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (11/2/2009 8:01:48 PM)

Welcome cachingweds!

I have a set of the round knitting looms as well. I don't use them much, they were purchased for my son who wanted to make stuff, but at the age of 6 wasn't able to use the crochet hook or knitting needles.

This is so far as I know--others may know another way: As far as increasing and decreasing on the knitting loom--it really depends if you are knitting in the round or if you are knitting a flat piece (not going all the way around and wrapping both directions). If you are knitting in the round, the only way to decrease or increase is to move the whole work to a smaller or larger loom... for a decrease this means you decrease the number of stitches to get to the smaller loom and this is done by putting loops from two pins on the first loom onto a single pin on the second loom, then when you knit the next row, make sure both loops are pulled over the new loop. For an increase, you would skip pins when rehanging the work on the larger loom. Then you would wrap these pins as you did for the start on successive rows. How well this will work when the piece is taken off, I'm not sure.... To move between looms, you would need to run a length of contrasting yarn through the loop on each pin to keep the work from pulling out in the transfer process.

If you are knitting flat using the loom, then you can increase as long as you have free pins, do this by wrapping the additional pins just as when starting, and you decrease by shifting loops to an occupied pin--if you decrease on the ends its easy, move the outside stitch to the adjacent stitch. If you want to decrease in the middle, it's a bit more complicated because you move the decrease stitch to the adjacent pin, then you have to shift the rest of the work on that side over so that there are no empty pins in the middle of the work.



cherish405 -> RE: Knitting and Crocheting (11/2/2009 8:10:41 PM)

Not me, sorry.



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