Tuesday 14 May 2013

Crochet - my first attempt

 Yesterday evening, with some trepidation, I headed out for my first (of two) beginner's crochet class.  I had been told we would be making a hat and possibly a flower.  Here's how I got on.  It was undone quite a few times and I had the dubious pleasure of being the slowest crocheter there.  I have to say, at this stage, I am not sure my attempt will ever become a hat!
I am the sort of person who talks severely to inanimate objects if they fail to do what I insist they need to do (my work colleague, Leanne, can verify this as I am often to be found telling the computer/printer/other inanimate office equipment off).  The wool needed to be spoken to several times (much to the amusement of the other people in the class).  I know that my attempt is far from perfect and, to be honest, I am not sure that crochet and I will have a long-term relationship, but we shall see.  I would like to be able to make granny squares, ripple patterns and flowers...hmm...
I am also rather concerned because I have put my crochet down and haven't done any today, so when I do pick it up again, will I:
1.  Be able to find where I was in the pattern?
2.  Be able to remember how to do the stitches - tr 3, ch3, tr 3, or was that tr 3, ch 1, tr 3?  Or something else altogether?!
Wish me luck next week!

12 comments:

  1. I have had a few attempts at crochet, and I still haven't got the terms to stick in my head, but for some reason I really like it, I think I probably need to do what you have done and take a class or two or three....

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    1. Dear Shirley
      Thank you. I'll let you know how I get on next week. I would imagine everyone else will have finished and be onto something else, but I shall plod on with the hat/tea cosy/hand warmer (whatever it eventually turns into!)regardless. I may even have a try at something else!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  2. You'll be fine; slow and steady is good. I hope you start to enjoy it, it can be so relaxing and you have something at the end of it.

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    1. Dear Toffeeapple
      Thank you. I have to say that it wasn't that relaxing - in fact I had been hunching my shoulders so much, I had real neck ache when I finally stopped! I am sure that if I continue and perhaps even improve, I will find it more relaxing. The hours certainly flew past!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  3. Haha, I'm the same; blaming everything else for not doing what I want!
    I find that pattern much too difficult for a beginner, to be honest...
    A kind of blankety thing is much easier in my opinion....
    Looking forward to your follow up, love Mirjam.

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    1. Dear Mirjam
      Thank you. You are very encouraging! A kind of blanket thing sounds much more up my street - or even a cushiony things, or a flowery thing! I'll let you know whether I get the hat even partly finished!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  4. You'll have the hang of it in no time, Ellie! Anyway it's always fun to have a go at a new skill just to experiment! Enjoy! E x

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    1. Dear E
      Thank you. At the moment I don't feel as though I'll ever get the hang of it, but it is always tricky starting new things. I look at other people's lovely creations and wish I could do that, but I keep telling myself it takes time to become good at something. It also felt as though I was all fingers and thumbs too and my co-ordination seemed to have disappeared! At one point, I couldn't even tie a slip knot! Early days, and I shall keep going (for a while, anyway!)
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  5. Practice makes perfect Ellie! Keep at it and one day it will just click!

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    1. Dear Anne
      Thank you. I hope you are right - it is like learning a foreign language at the moment! I do want to be able to make things using crochet though, so will keep trying. I see so many lovely things on people's blogs and it is the thought of one day being able to make something like that that will keep me motivated.
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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  6. Goodness, for a first attempt this is amazing! You should be really proud. I'd go online to youtube for stitch tutorials if you're worried you've forgotten. x

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    1. Dear Gillian
      Thank you for your encouragement! I have done a bit more to it, with a few undoings along the way, but it still doesn't look as though it will ever be a hat! I may settle for it being coaster instead and then try a simple granny square or two!
      Best wishes
      Ellie

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