General Chat

Glad it isn't just me but I could swear I didn't miss a chain stitch, weird!

Ann
I do that. :-D :-D :-D
Last time I practiced every so often along the row I counted the stitches and if I didn't have enough left I undid it and started again.
Gradually I succeeded in ending up with the correct number of stitches.
Keep practicing. :-D :-D :-D :-D
Take care
Von

Well I did another foundation chain and made it a touch more loose. Then manged to do three rows of double crochet, so far so good. Now just have to work out why I end up with fewer chain links than I start with :-D

Goodness you are well organised Pammy. For goodness sake don't lose them now you have done them though :-D

Just made two cards this afternoon, one became a tent when I realised that I had put the toppers on the wrong way :-0 :-( :-D Looks OK though and is only a small one.

I'm fine thanks, just haven't been crafting much although I have done some Christmas cards ready for next year, I'd better write myself a note so that I can find them next December!

thanks Pammy, good to see you on here, not seen you around for a while. Hope you are OK. :-)

Hi Ann
You should find that as you do more crochet you will relax more and so your crochet will get looser (of course sometimes it gets too loose, but that's another story :-D )

Thank you Julia, I found it was not so much my forst row worked into the foundation but when I cam to do double crochet that I ahd a problem. And I was wrong my hook does have a number I am 'using' double knitting and a size 4 hook so the corrct materials therefore it is the user that is 'wrong'. Shall try again to make it a looser foundation chain then maybe the secod row will be looser too.

thank you for the blog info as well will take a look sometime. :-)

Morning Ann. One thing about crocheting, is that you can do it whilst watching new threads come up on the board, hence my quick response.
Yes, cocheting works in the same way as knitting, in that certain size hooks are for certain ply yarn/wool/cotton.
I work mostly in double knit, so I use a size 4.00mm hook, as you would use 4.00mm needles with double knit. Some patterns, because of the pattern would recommend either 3.50mm or 4.50. But you are always told which size hook to use.
If you are still getting a tight foundation row, make it abit looser, so that you can easily get your hook in, for the next row.
Athough I would not normally recommend a crochet blog site at this juncture in your tuition, if you would like to click onto Attic 24, you will find a very nice lady who gives tutorials, and explains things really, really well, and it is not me. LOL
Once on her site, click onto where she indicates a tutorial, and just read through it and look at the pictures. She even shows you how to hold your work properley.
Hope this is of some help to you.

Back to my own crochet

Julia in Derbyshire

Thinking about I think I need to sort out the tension of my foundation chain.

Thanks Von, common sense really I suppose. Nite then. :-)

Yes Ann I think so.
Obviously a pattern will give you a hook size but I think for practising it's not so crucial.
Perhaps if the yarn you are using is too thick for the hook then try a thinner yarn.

Julia can probably advise you when she comes on tomorrow.

Good night
Von

How do you determine what hook to use with which wool/yarn? Is it like knitting, are there hooks to suit wool thickness? Sounds a daft question but I can't see a number on my hook.

Ann - I'm pleased it helped.
I thought it was rather a good CD. I learnt a lot from it even though I knew how to crochet.
Take care
Von

Just to say Von I have started to watch the CD and it is very good very clear. So I am a bit further along. Having trouble with the wool I am using though, it was a free ball on a crochet mag and I wonder if it is too thick for the hook. Or maybe I haven't quite got the tension right. Anyway I have managed a couple of rows of double. May pull it out and start again though another day. But the cd helped with how to hold the hook and wool so many thanks. :-D

Thanks Von and Julia for that. I think the problem is that I followed the pattern (which was for the correct wool I used) instructions and it said to block/press it after sewn. I haven't pressed it yet but it is ok just not as good as it could be.

Julia, been a bit naughty with the crochet, Von sent me a CD which I really haven't had time to sit down and watch and I haven't done any more because I was knitting, the problem is I have to watch the CD upstairs on my pc and I don't come up here after dinner while I knit while watching TV downstairs. But I will get around to it I promise. :-)

Morning Ann, I would go along with exactly what Von has said. It doesn't matter if it is a babies cardigan or an adults, I would sew it just the same.
Remember to keep it neat. There is nothing worse than having spent hours on a lovely little garment, than to spoil it with bad finishing off. But I am sure I don't really have to tell you that.
How is your crocheting coming along.????

Good Luck

Julia in Derbyshire

Ann
Personally I used to do a back stitch as then the stitches didn't show on the right side.
I think the secret is to block the pieces before you sew then up.
Follow the instructions on the band on the yarn.

If you can use an iron then all well and good. If it says do not iron then lay the garment pieces out, put a damp cloth over the top and allow to dry thoroughly.
This is especially useful if the yarn is acrylic.
Hope this helps
Von

I am hoping that Julia will look in sometime as our champion knitter.

It is a long time since I knitted anything but I have just made a baby's little sweater/top. Not unpleased with the knitting it is something you don't forget. However I always had trouble with the sewing up. Can somebody tell me how they dew the seams etc? Do you use a flat stitch (back stitch) or do you somehom sew the seam flat with an overstitch? This is a question really particularly for baby clothes. :-S

Sounds lovely Ann
Look forward to seeing pictures on the blog.

I'm struggling with art work at present. Lots of printing and dyeing going on but at the early stages at the moment.

Take care
Von