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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 3:23:01 GMT
All those recent posts about crocheting gave me itchy fingers to get my hands into some wool again! I haven't crocheted anything since I was a kid, but I have knitted a lot in the past. I decided I'd make a granny square throw/afghan to hang over my couch. A really bright one won't go in my lounge as the colours are mainly white, grey/silver and accents of lilac, and as I'm in an apartment if the door is open you can see into the bedroom which is a sage green. Therefore I decided on those colours as a basis.
I looked online for some patterns and decided on the "circle inside a square" pattern like the Happy Flower Block Tutorial from this blog. I've done the inside circles for 120 squares: 
and these were my tests for the progress and to get the sizes etc. I'm doing 3 rounds of circles, then 3 rounds of squares: 
The same dark grey will go around the final edge of each one.
...and of course Angelique has been "helping":
I'm also seriously considering one of those Attic 24 wavy afghans for the bed once I finish this one. So who else has been sucked in to the hooking vortex? and what are you working on?
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ellen
Pearl Clutcher
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Post by ellen on Feb 17, 2016 3:31:01 GMT
I am working on my fifth afghan of the winter. I have made two of the Attic 24 ripple afghans using three colors - they were easy and looked great. This weekend I started one that will have about a dozen colors. I'm currently adding the 7th color. It's going to be gorgeous.
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Post by Delta Dawn on Feb 17, 2016 3:37:22 GMT
All those recent posts about crocheting gave me itchy fingers to get my hands into some wool again! I haven't crocheted anything since I was a kid, but I have knitted a lot in the past. I decided I'd make a granny square throw/afghan to hang over my couch. A really bright one won't go in my lounge as the colours are mainly white, grey/silver and accents of lilac, and as I'm in an apartment if the door is open you can see into the bedroom which is a sage green. Therefore I decided on those colours as a basis.
I looked online for some patterns and decided on the "circle inside a square" pattern like the Happy Flower Block Tutorial from this blog. I've done the inside circles for 120 squares:
and these were my tests for the progress and to get the sizes etc. I'm doing 3 rounds of circles, then 3 rounds of squares:
The same dark grey will go around the final edge of each one.
...and of course Angelique has been "helping":
I'm also seriously considering one of those Attic 24 wavy afghans for the bed once I finish this one. So who else has been sucked in to the hooking vortex? and what are you working on?
You are very determined! That is a lot of circles to make squares! I need someone to show me how to hold the wool without it getting too tight. My tension sucks. You are awesome! My granny showed me how to do this when I was about 8 years old. That was a while ago and I was making a square thing rather than circles. She must have shown me how to add another colour. I had a serious knitter and crocheter in the store last weekend and she suggested I find a seniors' rec centre and take a crochet class there. Or join a group as she thought that a crocheter might like a project to take on (aka me). I learn a new skill and she has a new purpose-teaching. I will see. My life is a bit crazy right now. But it is on my bucket list of things to learn. |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 3:43:50 GMT
Someone here posted about the website and YouTube videos for "crochet crowd" so I looked that up.
The guy there Mikey had some good videos on the basics which were enough to remind me about how it all works.
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Post by kat on Feb 17, 2016 3:44:49 GMT
Your throw is going to be beautiful
I took up knitting last year, which led to spinning and weaving with a RHL. After seeing the afghans the refupeas have been sharing, crochet is the next thing I want to try.
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Post by Flowergirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:00:14 GMT
I love the color combination you chose. Can't wait to see your finished piece.
I taught myself to crochet a couple years ago, practicing the different stitches by making washcloths. I mostly make scarves and branched out to hats this year. My work has come a long way! I'd like to also make a good size throw, but I haven't decided on a pattern or color scheme yet.
I'm actually teaching myself to knit, once again by making washcloths. I just started after the holidays and can do knit, purl and ribbing stitches. I've made DD yet another infinity scarf! The girl has quite a collection as a result of my interest in yarn over the last two years! I think I am going to try to do some more complicated projects to learn to read the patterns and learn more difficult stitches. I'd like to work my way up to a sweater I won't be embarrassed to wear!
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Post by jesq on Feb 17, 2016 4:02:17 GMT
I tried to teach myself with YouTube videos, but had trouble stitching into the back of the first row. I think I need someone to show me in person.
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Post by angieh1996 on Feb 17, 2016 4:04:21 GMT
Your afghan is going to look amazing. I've been crocheting for years  I see you have a kitty that likes to be helpful too. |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:09:33 GMT
I'd like to work my way up to a sweater I won't be embarrassed to wear! My problem with knitting, I loved to knit but I really don't like wearing wool, so I'd knit the sweaters and then not wear them. I finally sold off everything I'd made. Once you've mastered the basic stitches everything else is just various combinations of them...and a lot of counting! |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:16:40 GMT
I tried to teach myself with YouTube videos Did you try the Mikey one? How to Crochet for Beginners He breaks it down pretty well I thought. Although I wasn't learning totally from the beginning as I had done it before. |
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Post by SweetieBugs on Feb 17, 2016 4:17:31 GMT
All those recent posts about crocheting gave me itchy fingers to get my hands into some wool again! I haven't crocheted anything since I was a kid, but I have knitted a lot in the past. I decided I'd make a granny square throw/afghan to hang over my couch. A really bright one won't go in my lounge as the colours are mainly white, grey/silver and accents of lilac, and as I'm in an apartment if the door is open you can see into the bedroom which is a sage green. Therefore I decided on those colours as a basis.
I looked online for some patterns and decided on the "circle inside a square" pattern like the Happy Flower Block Tutorial from this blog. I've done the inside circles for 120 squares:
and these were my tests for the progress and to get the sizes etc. I'm doing 3 rounds of circles, then 3 rounds of squares:
The same dark grey will go around the final edge of each one.
...and of course Angelique has been "helping":
View Attachment
I'm also seriously considering one of those Attic 24 wavy afghans for the bed once I finish this one. So who else has been sucked in to the hooking vortex? and what are you working on?
Your colors and work are gorgeous!!! I can only dream that I can get close to your skill someday. I just started and am still working on the yarn tension. Can't seem to get a good grip with the yarn yet but hope to find something that works. |
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Post by genealopea on Feb 17, 2016 4:18:35 GMT
I've never crocheted anything but a scarf, but I'm determined to start - that Attic24 post pushed me right over the edge. My yarn from England arrived today, so I'm going to attempt the Cozy Afghan. I'm excited! Your circles are gorgeous - I love your color selections. Please share pictures when you're all finished. |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:22:50 GMT
Yes... I've been bitten BAD . I just ordered yarn for this..... Ombré squares |
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Post by Flowergirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:24:13 GMT
I'd like to work my way up to a sweater I won't be embarrassed to wear! My problem with knitting, I loved to knit but I really don't like wearing wool, so I'd knit the sweaters and then not wear them. I finally sold off everything I'd made. Once you've mastered the basic stitches everything else is just various combinations of them...and a lot of counting! I have issues with wearing some wools, but I've found a few different yarns in a couple yarn shops here that feel good to me. I'll probably do a scarf as a test once I get skilled enough with the needles to even consider buying enough yarn for a sweater. Naturally, all the yarns I fall in love with are the pricey ones! And I know what you mean about the counting. My family has gotten the stink-eye from me many times over the last couple years for talking to me when I'm trying to count! |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:25:19 GMT
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:27:59 GMT
I can't wait for my yarn to get here. I ordered a new set of hooks too.
I'm an avid knitter, but never seem to wear my sweaters. I have at least 6 sweaters and several hats I made and never wore once this winter. I am wondering if I should just come to terms with the fact that making blankets and fingerless gloves make me happy and they are the most useful items.
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:29:30 GMT
Your squares look great Pjaye! What size hook are you using?
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:32:51 GMT
just started and am still working on the yarn tension I'm not that skilled, this is my first crochet project in about 35 years! However I do agree that being a knitter definitely helps with things like the tension, although I tend to have quite firm tension in knitting and it's a bit loose in crochet - there are still quite few of those circles I did twice. Don't be scared to unravel things and start a row or more again if the tension goes haywire. that Attic24 post pushed me right over the edge Yes! I've been to several wool shops here over the last few weeks, but I like the selection of colors they have in that particular brand much better. I found that if I liked a brand here, sometimes they'd only have at most 6 colors in the range, so I had to mix and match. That's fine in a granny square afghan as they are traditionally made from scraps and it kind of goes with the over all look, but I think those wavy ones look better in all the same wool. I can hear that wool calling my name all the way from the UK....lol |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:38:29 GMT
Yes... I've been bitten BAD . I just ordered yarn for this..... Ombré squaresoooh I LOVE the look of those squares! That's a great way of adding lots of color without it being overly 'bright'. I've saved that page. ETA and the other blanket, I really like that look with the grey in between each colour. I didn't even think of doing that and it looks so good. What size hook are you using? A size 4mm which according to online charts is a G/6 in USA terms and 8 in the UK. |
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Post by Flowergirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:42:01 GMT
I tried to teach myself with YouTube videos, but had trouble stitching into the back of the first row. I think I need someone to show me in person. Are you making your foundation chain too tight? That was my issue when I first started. I like things just so and tidy, so I would crochet everything too tight and then need a crowbar to get the hook in the stitches. Try loosening your stitches or move up one hook size than the yarn label recommends just to practice. Also, make sure you're not twisting your foundation chain. Are you getting past the foundation chain to work your first row? If you know anyone that is experienced and will watch what you're doing, that helps so much. I'm new to knitting and I was trying to practice knit/purl alternating stitches for like two weeks with all different yarns/needle sizes by watching videos, reading tutorials on blogs and in books and my stitches still looked wrong and awful and not like the video/pictures. My experienced-knitter friend was over for dinner Friday night and watched me make a few stitches, stopped me, explained what I was doing wrong and how to fix it while she demonstrated on one of my reject practice projects. It was a quick, simple fix and I practiced it after she left and was amazed that my stitches looked good and correct! |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:45:35 GMT
Yes... I've been bitten BAD . I just ordered yarn for this..... Ombré squaresoooh I LOVE the look of those squares! That's a great way of adding lots of color without it being overly 'bright'. I've saved that page. ETA and the other blanket, I really like that look with the grey in between each colour. I didn't even think of doing that and it looks so good. What size hook are you using? A size 4mm which according to online charts is a G/6 in USA terms and 8 in the UK. Are you on ravelry? Did you see the other link? It's amazing. So are all the other projects that lady makes. Looks like im going to be using a 4 hook also |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:48:26 GMT
I'd post pics but it's saying my iPad images are too big...!
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Post by Flowergirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:52:45 GMT
I can't wait for my yarn to get here. I ordered a new set of hooks too. I'm an avid knitter, but never seem to wear my sweaters. I have at least 6 sweaters and several hats I made and never wore once this winter. I am wondering if I should just come to terms with the fact that making blankets and fingerless gloves make me happy and they are the most useful items. Make what makes you happy! If blankets and gloves are what makes you happy and that's what you'll actually use, then do it! I follow a lot of knitters and crocheters on Instagram and Pinterest and the majority of them seem to specialize in one or two items of a signature style/color schemes. Many are selling what they're making, so that's probably why they specialize. But there are things that I admire that others make that I have absolutely no interest making (never going to knit a pair of socks!), wearing or having in my home. I think I am going to try to make fingerless gloves for when I'm on the computer for a long time and get frozen mouse hand! |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:54:01 GMT
Are you on ravelry? Did you see the other link? It's amazing I just signed up last week - so had to go and find my joining email as I'd forgotten my log in details already. I haven't spent much time there looking around as yet...not sure that I should, otherwise I'll end up with a pile of things I want to make and a whole new wool collection. I gave my previous one away to a friend whose mother was in a retirement home, her and the other ladies made baby hats, blankets etc for charity and I gave them to big garbage bags worth. I need to reign myself in before that happens again. I'm looking at the rest of Lucy's projects now...probably a bad idea! |
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Post by pjaye on Feb 17, 2016 4:58:03 GMT
The other project I really like is Sophie's Garden
Not sure where I'd put it, but I really like it. |
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Post by DinCA on Feb 17, 2016 4:58:15 GMT
I tried to teach myself with YouTube videos, but had trouble stitching into the back of the first row. I think I need someone to show me in person. Let me see if I can explain it. When making a regular stitch, you place the hook under the two top loops of the stitch, technically called the "v". If you are talking about your first stitches after making the chain, you place the hook into the "v" of each chain stitch. Look at the centers of the chain as holes in a chain link necklace. If you have crocheted your first row onto the chain and want to stitch into the back of the first row, instead of placing the hook under both loops of the stitch, you place the hook into the "v" (like you do in the chain) and pick up the back of the stitch only. That is called the back bump. I happen to be a front bump crocheter. I only pick up the front loop the majority of the time instead of placing my hook under both loops. I think this video does a great job of showing you how to do it. Hope this helps! single crochet into back loop only |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:59:03 GMT
Are you on ravelry? Did you see the other link? It's amazing I just signed up last week - so had to go and find my joining email as I'd forgotten my log in details already. I haven't spent much time there looking around as yet...not sure that I should, otherwise I'll end up with a pile of things I want to make and a whole new wool collection. I gave my previous one away to a friend whose mother was in a retirement home, her and the other ladies made baby hats, blankets etc for charity and I gave them to big garbage bags worth. I need to reign myself in before that happens again. I'm looking at the rest of Lucy's projects now...probably a bad idea! Yeah...it can be inspiring and overwhelming. I gave some yarn away when I moved...and I gave some away a few months ago. Same thing... Baby hats, charity etc. so I don't feel bad. Ravelry has a pretty good buy sell and trade , so I'll be selling some that I'm not using. I think my blankets should take several months to finish... |
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Post by spitfiregirl on Feb 17, 2016 4:59:34 GMT
The other project I really like is Sophie's Garden
Not sure where I'd put it, but I really like it. Love!!! |
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Post by stampinchick on Feb 17, 2016 5:00:29 GMT
I picked it up again for the first time in about 35 years. I started a scarf but I haven't finished it yet. I saw a photo of a rag rug recently and it made me want to make one for a throw for my kitchen. Want to finish my scarf first.
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Post by bc2ca on Feb 17, 2016 5:00:48 GMT
I'd like to work my way up to a sweater I won't be embarrassed to wear! My problem with knitting, I loved to knit but I really don't like wearing wool, so I'd knit the sweaters and then not wear them. I finally sold off everything I'd made. Once you've mastered the basic stitches everything else is just various combinations of them...and a lot of counting! I love to knit, but gave it up once we moved to CA and everyone in the family stopped wearing sweaters. Seeing the temperature afghan in this post by ginacivey and your pretty squares I'm very tempted to give crocheting a try. |
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I see you have a kitty that likes to be helpful too. 
