Easy Christmas presents to make.

[boosmummy]

Come on Helen a bit of Skype later? ;)

Mrs boodles, I try to do things right handed, but it does take me sometime. Richard good idea that about the mirror x

[p.penn]

Hahaha - oddly, Richard has it right! A mirror is certainly one answer, although another is to learn the same as right handed people.

I would be happy to skype boosmum - but I don't think it would be very helpful! If you are really struggling, you either need someone to actually be with you to show you, or to follow a tutorial at your own pace. I found books the best for learning the actual stitches and once I had a vague idea of the chain stitch, double and treble, I tried many tutorials, with only partial success. In the end the one that finally 'clicked' with me was THIS

Even now, I do not crochet how you are supposed to - I have a very weird way of holding my wool, but then I hold a pen oddly too!

[boosmummy]

Hahaha - oddly, Richard has it right! A mirror is certainly one answer, although another is to learn the same as right handed people.

I would be happy to skype boosmum - but I don't think it would be very helpful! If you are really struggling, you either need someone to actually be with you to show you, or to follow a tutorial at your own pace. I found books the best for learning the actual stitches and once I had a vague idea of the chain stitch, double and treble, I tried many tutorials, with only partial success. In the end the one that finally 'clicked' with me was THIS

Even now, I do not crochet how you are supposed to - I have a very weird way of holding my wool, but then I hold a pen oddly too!

See the problem is helen, i am learning right handed, happily. i too hold my wool properly and ive watched and watched the tutorials and still not only does my double crochet not look right where i start with 20 stitches it end up being a lot shorter than it orginally started :(

[p.penn]

If you can do a chain and a double crochet (even if it is not working out right) you are on the way to success. One of the things I found really hard was knowing where to do the stitch and it sounds as if you have the same problem. These are a couple of my very much improved learning attempts! You should have seen the earlier ones! Int he back one, you can see I have put far too many stitches in and it has gone ridiculously floppy and weird.



If you can do a double crochet stitch, you can do a treble. Before you insert the hook, wrap yarn around hook once. Then insert hook, yarn over, hook back through work (3 sts on hook). yarn over, pull through first 2 stitches, then yarn over again and pull thru remaining 2 stitches.

Eventually I really improved by doing the little tin bird granny square (link in my previous post) and continuing. Making it bigger and bigger and bigger! I should have stopped at cushion cover size really, but went on to make it a little bigger.



I actually found doing a line of crochet harder than a granny square.

[boosmummy]

If you can do a chain and a double crochet (even if it is not working out right) you are on the way to success. One of the things I found really hard was knowing where to do the stitch and it sounds as if you have the same problem. These are a couple of my very much improved learning attempts! You should have seen the earlier ones! Int he back one, you can see I have put far too many stitches in and it has gone ridiculously floppy and weird.



If you can do a double crochet stitch, you can do a treble. Before you insert the hook, wrap yarn around hook once. Then insert hook, yarn over, hook back through work (3 sts on hook). yarn over, pull through first 2 stitches, then yarn over again and pull thru remaining 2 stitches.

Eventually I really improved by doing the little tin bird granny square (link in my previous post) and continuing. Making it bigger and bigger and bigger! I should have stopped at cushion cover size really, but went on to make it a little bigger.



I actually found doing a line of crochet harder than a granny square.

you make it sound so easy!! :(

[p.penn]

Ha ha ha! Well, once you 'get it' it is easy. It's just the 'getting it' that I found really tricky!

I found this post of mine from an earlier thread when I was just starting ....in fact 15th March 2012

I have been busy all day learning how to crochet, and am absolutely thrilled to have made some wonderful bunting.

[Clucky Carol]

Helen,
I haven't laughed so much for ages, your bunting is clearly something to treasure! I can do most crafts except crochet and my wonderful Husband bought me a book called Crochet step by step this week, so whilst on call this weekend for a busy Hospital, I might get a moment to sit and have a play. I hope I can match the bunting!
Lovely getting to read all the ideas . . .we have just finished a batch of blackcurrant gin, our first attempt and some blackcurrant wine. Will let you know in three months . . If it lasts that long! Xx

[p.penn]

Oooh - how exciting! Another crocheter in the making!

[aishakali]

That's got to be THE best little bunting I have ever seen!!!

[p.penn]

It was meant to be a granny square