2012 update: Crochet!

[mylittleredgirl]

I just really wanted to use my cheapie graphic again, OK?

I like how 2012 has stood for the apocalypse for so many years now and now it's just "the year we are currently in." Well, if we all fall off the end of the calendar in December, at least I will have spent a month learning to crochet.

I started, like you do, with a dishcloth. I've had these crochet dishcloths for ages in the gmail draft I use for craft links (because they didn't have pinterest in 2009 and I thought del.icio.us was only for fanfic and I'm not even on pinterest now because I'd like to live a little more before I never leave the internet again.)


Oh good, you can't see all the dog hair in the photo.

I'm still working on the sloppily slip stitched border to tidy up the edges a little (math tells me that with half-double-crochet I should slip stitch into two out of three rows, but it's hard for me to find which holey bit delineates a row). It's mostly error-free except for one missed stitch at an edge that made that part of it look a little chewed. Note to knitters: you miss a stitch and the project DOES NOT UNRAVEL! This also means if you're a newbie, you don't notice til way later.

Tonight I found some amazing, simple, oh-that's-how-you-do-it-okay-I'm-good-now resources:

Crochet 101: Chain Stitch, Single & Double Crochet - 6:42 of your life to watch a video, a minute or two of reading and picture-looking if you didn't understand all the terms, and DONE. They even throw in slip stitch free of charge.

OH GOD WHAT IS THIS, THIS IS WHAT CROCHET WAS MADE FOR. This Easy Peasy McPeasyPie crochet ripple pattern is obviously the spiritual reason why I wanted to learn to crochet, even though I never saw it before. I want to use this for afghans, pillows, covering my entire house, etc. Plus: Another teach for double-crochet (called treble crochet in the UK just to confuse you... and actually there are very good reasons for both names, so I can see the dilemma), with super tutorial pictures and text, and even if you don't care a bit about crochet just go look at the brightly colored afghan pictured so you can enable me to buy yarn in many colors.

I have a few ideas for Next Projects! Exciting!

(Meanwhile, in The Sims, all the time I'm spending crocheting and not micromanaging their electronic lives has resulted in everybody cheating on everybody and spontaneous fistfights breaking out! Whitby just got pregnant by the (male) maid, and then when she went to make him a sandwich, maid starts hitting on her sister Weylani! Then their mom came in and started yelling at him. Epic.)

FYI, if you have your livejournal settings so you overwrite other people's moodthemes, you're missing T'Pol proudly spearing a breadstick with a fork.

Comments

[naushika.livejournal.com]

Yay, dishcloth! Very pretty! :3 I will gladly enable you to buy yarn in many colors.. BUY IT. I just put in an order yesterday for several skeins of yarn for some knitting projects I want to do. YARN IS SO SQUISHY AND PRETTY AND IT MAKES WARM THINGS.

Haha speaking of T'Pol and the breadstick.. I suddenly remembered watching the gag reel for that season of Enterprise, and there were several clips from that scene with Jolene trying to cut the breadstick with the knife and failing horribly. And another one with, I think, Bakula trying to take a bite and a huge piece came off. Okay it sounds dumb just from describing it but it was funny I swear.

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

Yayy! It's ridiculous because I am not a dishcloth user, despite having knit them before. I don't have enough dishes usually to warrant putting gloves on, and I'd rather use a scrubby brush than get my fingers into the water. OMG YARN YES SQUISHY EEEEEE.

<3 <3 the breadstick is so silly! I have seen those clips. Awww, now I want to watch Enterprise.

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

I have the afghan. :) My mom made it for me. Red/Black/White.

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm thinking of making it in pink and pink and slightly different pink. Of course by the time it's done I will be like GAH NOW I HATE PINK.

[rosewildeirish.livejournal.com]

I DON'T BELIEVE IT THAT'S UNPOSSIBLE.

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

You're probably right about that. I mean I wear my pink halloween wig to brunch and stuff just BECAUSE.

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm really enjoying it! Because it's new, of course. NEW THINGSSSS YAY.

[loriel-eris.livejournal.com]

OMG, that set of instructions for the ripple blanket is perhaps the most awesome thing ever and totally why the internet was created!

I'm an ok knitter, nothing fantastic, but reasonably competent, so I decided to give crocheting a go. I made my foundation chain, but I could not, for love nor money make a second (first?) row. I gave up in disgust and have not gone back.

I suspect that I will go back. Once I've got over my completely inability to follow a set of instructions...

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's the worst part. I'm pretty sure even experienced crocheters hate it by the way instructions always talk about it. I'm in the habit from knitting of casting on loosely or on larger needles, so it's been OK for me because I just do the same in crochet. I also read that you can flip the chain stitch over and crochet into the one strand on the back instead of the two strands in the front and that sounds like it would be easier, mathematically speaking. Do eet! I want buddies and enable well!

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, the first row... yeah, that's always a monster. I use that trick you mentioned - going through the one loop underneath, then twisting the hook around so the stitch is made over the two loops on top. It really is faster and easier that way.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Nice job! :D

Note to knitters: you miss a stitch and the project DOES NOT UNRAVEL!

YES! And this is why I love it. :)

That ripple pattern is really similar to what I did in the afghan I made my mom for Christmas, except there were gaps between the stitches to make it look all lacey. Another thing I love about crochet - people stare at you like you're a genius if you make something cool-looking like that, but it was absurdly quick and easy to do. CROCHET 4EVA!!

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

I noticed that since you crochet stitch by stitch and knit row by row, it would be easier to freehand designs in crochet. I made little windows in a votive-holder-cozy (I'll post pics tonight!) by just making it up and it seemed to work out ok!

I still vote knitting for clothing, though, while crochet is better thank knitting for housewares and accent pieces like cuffs, jewelry, edging, toys, etc. Knitting is built-in stretchy so perfect for wearables but can be a downside for other things. I'm excited! :) If I can go two weeks walking to the train and not paying for parking, I will reward myself with the book Knitting Loves Crochet (http://www.amazon.com/Knitting-Loves-Crochet-Stylish-Designs/dp/1580178421/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1325875745&sr=8-1) that I've been eyeing for years and will be so perfect for my new January skills! I'm already envisioning great pattern design possibilities.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

Yes, knitting is definitely better for clothing. It's not so hole-y. Crochet is more for decorative stuff, and for things like vests or stylish hats that don't need to keep you warm. This is why it opens up the whole world of yarn crafts for you if you can do both, which is what I keep trying to tell my mom. She tried crochet but gave it up, saying she hated it. When I told her you were learning to crochet, it made her think about maybe trying it again!

Ohhh, that book looks awesome! It's true, a lot of projects can use both styles and end up really pretty and exotic-looking. :)

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

Maybe if you do the first row or two and then hand it to her she'll respond better? I've started doing that when teaching people to knit so they get the actual knitting part down before learning the one-off skills like casting on and off. And awww, I love your mom. <3

I've also been looking at lots of sewing/crochet combos like pillowcases with little lacy edgings and stuff. I really need to be my own housewife.

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

That's a great idea, I'll try that. :)

Wow, sewing/crochet? I would never even have thought of that. You're gonna be a lean, mean, crocheting machine in no time, I just know it. ;)

[mylittleredgirl.livejournal.com]

I'm making my first lopsided flower RIGHT NOW! :-D

[meg-tdj.livejournal.com]

You go, girl. :D