I have been teaching myself crochet for two years now but don’t speak the language so I struggle with patterns if I don’t have a vid tutorial. I keep reminding myself that knitting did not come easily to me, I’ve been knitting for 15 years and I’d say I’ve been a good knitter for 10 of those years and moderate to advanced for five. I’ve just now started designing my own simple patterns and it’s daunting.
See if there’s a local brick and mortar little yarn store (ma and pa type place) near you. They usually have knitting/hooking nights or lessons. Some are free others aren’t but always buy your yarn from the store because that’s just tacky if you don’t.
This is the youtube channel I watched to learn how to crochet.
Here is the little crochet set I bought.
And here's a bag of small, cheap yarn skeins to practice on!
It's definitely a fun way to pass the time. There are plenty of free patterns/tutorials available on youtube and stuff.
My local library has a crochet-and-knitting group, which is free to attend and very nice. I've been crocheting since I was a little kid and actually did couture piecework on contract for a while, but I still learned a lot in a hurry from some Russian ladies. They had so many tricks for making clothes that were long-wearing and practical. So that's another thing that might be worth checking out if you're just getting started.
(If you're writing your own patterns and want them to display as charts, there isn't any good software for it, though. It's one of those things that seems like it should be easy to write but then you start running into open problems and your relaxing hobby starts feeling a little too much like work.)
Japanese crochet patterns use symbols and graphs; if you're a visual thinker, these are a lot easier to follow than pages upon page of "ch 1, (work 4 dc down the post of the first v-st, ch 1, work 4 dc up the post of the next dc), *skip the next v-st, (work 4 dc down the post of the first v-st, ch 1, work 4 dc up the post of the next dc)** repeat from * to ** across to the last st, work 1 sl st in the last dc" or whatever. Sometimes the assembly instructions are written out in Japanese, but if you're experienced with knitwork assembly already, it's a pretty easy puzzle.
(If you're writing your own patterns and want them to display as charts, there isn't any good software for it, though. It's one of those things that seems like it should be easy to write but then you start running into open problems and your relaxing hobby starts feeling a little too much like work.)
Yeah I think crochet patterns will eventually reveal themselves to me with practice and use. I much prefer charted knitting patterns and when I’m working on designing my own I have a graph paper notebook at hand to work my charts. I loathe text patterns because they are so easy to get lost in.
I can only knit on straight needles, so I just do scarves and simple hats and stuff. The 'patterns' I've come up with (all stripes) are just a sheet of notebook paper with a name on it featuring the colors and then columns of hashmarks denoting the number of stitches, arranged in visible row groups.
It sounds stupid and looks cryptic as hell but it's easier than miles of k2 p2 etc.
Knitting with embroidery floss on kebab skewers to make doll scarves is a trip. I'd love to pick up macrame and maybe tatting one of these days.
It sounds stupid and looks cryptic as hell but it's easier than miles of k2 p2 etc.
Knitting with embroidery floss on kebab skewers to make doll scarves is a trip. I'd love to pick up macrame and maybe tatting one of these days.
Tatting is definitely on my list of wants. I’m learning to spin now and have been keeping an eye out for used looms.
I picked up a spinning wheel yesterday at a local fiber event. It was only $250 (to compare, the Schacht Ladybug I was drooling over was $715). This 90 year old man has been making spinning wheels for over 30 years to keep him busy in his retirement. It’s made from reclaimed wood he gets from cabinet makers and I’ll admit it’s a bit rough around the edges. I plan on refining it a bit from a cosmetic standpoint but it is fully functional and spins like a dream even though it is as basic and bare bones as wheels come.
I’ve named her Adele after Juliette Lewis’s white trash character in Kalifornia.
I’ve been spinning on a drop spindle for about two years and would consider myself meh at best. I had one wheel lesson last year and it didn’t really stick. I’ve most spun really chunky and uneven fiber on a wheel so far, but yesterday I think it finally clicked for me.
Now I need more bobbins and a lazy kate so I can work on plying two or more strands together to make a finished yarn product.
I’ve named her Adele after Juliette Lewis’s white trash character in Kalifornia.
I’ve been spinning on a drop spindle for about two years and would consider myself meh at best. I had one wheel lesson last year and it didn’t really stick. I’ve most spun really chunky and uneven fiber on a wheel so far, but yesterday I think it finally clicked for me.
Now I need more bobbins and a lazy kate so I can work on plying two or more strands together to make a finished yarn product.
When I get a hour or two I try n sew this is as far as I got for a table runner.
I made a necklace for a sweet guy in my life, the pendant is a piece of driftwood that I cut off of a larger chunk, sanded down, and woodburned with an Aztec deer glyph. The bones are gopher mandibles that I got from owl pellets.
He loved it and said it was very sweet of me- Good, since I was worried the dead animals would make it creepy!
It will look great on him though.
He loved it and said it was very sweet of me- Good, since I was worried the dead animals would make it creepy!
It will look great on him though. 
I decided to learn how to crochet, it was fun for a while, but a bit too tedious for me at the moment. Dropped it after 5 days.
However, I decided to try knitting since I didn't want my yarn to go to waste and I love it! I'm currently making my first scarf. It's way easier than crochet for me.
My next item is probably going to be another scarf, but using a chunkier and softer material yarn. I'm also going to use a purl technique to give it a nice texture.
However, I decided to try knitting since I didn't want my yarn to go to waste and I love it! I'm currently making my first scarf. It's way easier than crochet for me.
My next item is probably going to be another scarf, but using a chunkier and softer material yarn. I'm also going to use a purl technique to give it a nice texture.
I compulsively knit hats from good quality scrap I find in thrift stores. I don't do much besides knit, purl, add, reduce and pretty much improvise around established specs, but play a lot with color and fair isle/nordic designs. At the end of the year I give them out as x mas gifts to friends and co workers.
I love Knitting Fool for the comprehensive stitch guides and Istex.com for their lopi sweater generator...five fucking stars, that. Don't want to powerlevel, but have used it for professional projects and it works well, esp. for intermediate and above.
I recently bought one of those sets that allows you to change up needles and circular cords, I really like it, it's more versatile than either straight needles or circular ones
I love Knitting Fool for the comprehensive stitch guides and Istex.com for their lopi sweater generator...five fucking stars, that. Don't want to powerlevel, but have used it for professional projects and it works well, esp. for intermediate and above.
I recently bought one of those sets that allows you to change up needles and circular cords, I really like it, it's more versatile than either straight needles or circular ones
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Did some more paper-mache, this time an Uruk-Hai sword. I've made a few weapons before and this is the best looking paintjob I've done. I might go back and re paint the older ones.
that's awesome! how long did it take you to do, painting included?
I've been learning crocheting and made this cat for my husband's aunt.
Thank you! It's hard to say exactly how long since I wasn't able to work continuously, the weather wasn't on my side. (I work outside and there were some rainy days)The cardboard base and paper mache layers might have been 2 hours of actual work and twice that of drying. The painting was super quick, I did the chrome spraypainting before leaving for work and when I got back I was able to finish it off in one evening.
Improving cheap playscale furniture for funsies, because bilious pink has never been my color of choice.
Base coats, dark wash, simple dry brushing. Makes a nice difference!
Base coats, dark wash, simple dry brushing. Makes a nice difference!
I mean, why bother - but you know you really want them: https://www.etsy.com/listing/468087838/crochet-tank-slippers-tank-slippers
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