For Crochet Lovers

[loulizlee]

I have been reading a few comments about crocheting on the Forum, and I wondered is anyone is interested in commenting on the subject or trading patterns.  I learned to crochet from my mother-in-law over 40 years ago and still love it.  I have started back doing more since I retired a few years ago. 

[sdenimandlace1]

I have been crocheting for about 40 years also,  Learned from a lady when we lived in England. I do easy thing like afgans, and flowers for my scrapboodking.

[cloudsoup]

i would love to learn how! my mom loved to crochet
and she was teaching me how, but passed away in
2006. she made lots of baby blankets and booties,
scarves and hats for me and my friends, all sorts of
cool stuff... 

she bought me a sewing machine the christmas before
she passed and until recently, i haven't had the guts
to get it out and start teaching myself how to sew
because it reminds me of her, but slowly but surely
i've pulled it out of the closet

i would love to pick up learning how again... how long
did it take you to learn? i'm so impatient 

[robin1128]

I love to crochet, I have made quiet a few different things. But I use the tool niffty knitter to crochet on. I have made alot of things on them.

[loulizlee]

I feel your pain, Cloudsoup.  I lost my mother several years ago and I know how hard it is to recover.  We don't actually get over it, I think, but the pain will get better.  Ironically, I learned to crochet from my mother-in-law, with whom I did not have the best relationship.  It was so long ago, I don't remember exactly how long it took; however, I learned to crochet with thread, which is harder than crocheting with the larger yarns of today.  I think if you know someone who can get you started, and then practice, it would not be too hard.  Good luck and God bless.

[Annella]

With all the books out today with basic instructions, you can just about learn all by yourself.  Once you get the basic stitches down and the "lingo", it's pretty easy.  I've always wanted to learn how to knit myself.  I can kint simple scarves and such, but nothing advanced.

I love to sew and have made a lot of my clothes from high school to now.  Sewing is therapeutic to me.  I'll be making some drapes and curtains for a friend of mine who just bought a new house.  I use to sew professionally when I was younger.  I love taking the raw material, and making something useful and beautiful from it.

Sewing on the machine that your mom got you, would probably be more healing than you know.  It would be what she would want you to do.  You would always be reminded that your mom put a lot of thought into giving you something that would last a long time, and you could use for so much.  Everything you made would be a lasting legacy to her.  She would live on in the products so to speak, as she made it possible for you to produce such.

[loulizlee]

Beautifully written, Annella.  In addition to being talented with sewing and crafts, you have a great insight into human nature.

[mommagoes]

i would love to learn how! my mom loved to crochet
and she was teaching me how, but passed away in
2006. she made lots of baby blankets and booties,
scarves and hats for me and my friends, all sorts of
cool stuff... 

first and foremost, sorry about your mom. i too was in the middle of learning how to crochet when my grandmother passed away. that was in 2001 but have yet to find anyone that can teach me how. my mother in law knows how but her arthritis is bad so she can't really crochet or knit anymore. i really want to learn before my carpal tunnel gets so bad that i can't do it either

[bhm42004]

I learned to crochet about 20 years ago from a family friend. I stopped for a while, then picked it back up about 5 years ago when girls at work did it inbetween phone calls. I like to do baby blankets, afghans, and scarf. Would luv to get a good easy quick patterns for blankets & hats & scarf. I don't have alot of patience for long projects anymore. I get most of my patterns free from redheart website or just search for free patterns. If you would like to share patterns, send me a message through fc!

[loulizlee]

Here is a VERY easy pattern.  Will post more later.

Easy Afghan
Type: crochet
Difficulty: Easy
Yarn weight: Worsted Weight
Crochet hook size: US-Q
Gauge: Doesn't matter
You will need about 21oz of white and 21oz of blue. You can substitute any two colors you want for stripes. I used 7 oz *bleep* of red heart yarn. It took me 3 of each color.
To make this afghan, you need to double up the yarn.
Ch 71 using 2 different strands of white yarn. Turn work. Skip 1 ch and sc in second ch from hook. Work sc in each chain st. At the end of the row, ch 1, turn work and work a sc in each stitch across row. Work 6 more rows in sc. Now you have finished the first stripe of white.
Cut the white yarn and tie on the blue yarn. Remember to use two strands of yarn. Work 8 rows in sc in blue. Cut blue and tie on white. Alternate between 8 row stripes of white and blue. Work until you have 7 stripes of white and 7 stripes of blue.
Use a yarn needle to hide all loose ends.
Fringe: Cut 4, 10-12 in, pieces of yarn in blue. Do the same for white. Hold all 8 pieces of yarn together. use crochet hook to help pull the yarn though the loop in the corner of the afghan. Secure the fringe with a knot. Repeat for the other 3 corners.


 

[sdenimandlace1]

Thanks you for the pattern will enjoy making this. it looks real easy.

[Annella]

I learned to crochet about 20 years ago from a family friend. I stopped for a while, then picked it back up about 5 years ago when girls at work did it inbetween phone calls. I like to do baby blankets, afghans, and scarf. Would luv to get a good easy quick patterns for blankets & hats & scarf. I don't have alot of patience for long projects anymore. I get most of my patterns free from redheart website or just search for free patterns. If you would like to share patterns, send me a message through fc!

Thank you for the "Red Heart" website tip.  I had never visited it for some reason, and I use a lot of Red Heart products for projects.  It's packed full of patterns and stuff.  It also had a pattern I was looking for.

Help: I'm looking for a pattern of a Victorian style blouse that was featured in the Old McCalls magazine in the 70's (around 1970 to 1976).  The yoke, and long sleeves were a spider web stitch pattern, then was solid double crochets for the rest of the bodice.  I've looked everywhere for this pattern and can't find it.  It got lost in a move or something.  I've never found another pattern even close to it.  If anyone out there knows of this pattern or it rings a bell, let me know.  I will buy it from you.  I've looked all over the web.....no luck.

[loulizlee]

Here is another easy pattern.  I found it on Hooked on Crochet, a free website that has all sorts of patterns - from easy to difficult.

Crocheted Dorm Room Throw Rug
If you love to crochet or are eager to learn, add this easy project to your must-do list. Made with cotton/acrylic yarn, it's easy to wash.
Skill Level: Easy
Finished Size: Approximately 30 x 42 1/2 inches, excluding fringe.
 
What You Need
•   Lion Brand Yarn, Cotton-Ease, 50% cotton/50% acrylic yarn (207 yards per skein): 2 skeins each of Ice Blue (106) for A, Sugarplum (144) for B, Mint (156) for C, and Vanilla (100) for D.
•   Size 6/G (4 mm) aluminum crochet hook or size needed to obtain gauge
 Gauge
In Body Pattern, 15 sts and 10 rows = 4 inches/10 cm. TAKE TIME TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE!
Notes: Leave tails measuring approx 5 inches when beginning and ending rows. These tails will be incorporated into the fringe. This project is worked from side to side.
 
 
Instructions
Beginning at the side edge with A, ch 161. Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across -- 160 sts; turn.
Row 2: Ch 1, sc in each sc across. Fasten off.
Body Pattern
Row 1: With the RS facing, join B with a sl st in first sc. Ch 3 (counts as dc); * (skip next st, dc in next st, dc in skipped st-cross stitch made); rep from * across, ending dc in last st; turn.
Row 2: Ch 3 (counts as dc), dc in next dc; * cross stitch across to last 2 sts, dc in dc, dc in turning ch. Fasten off.
Row 3: With the RS facing, join C with a sl st in first dc. Rep Row 1.
Row 4: With C, rep Row 2.
Row 5: With the RS facing, join D with a sl st in first dc. Ch 1, sc in same dc as joining and in each dc across; turn.
Row 6: Ch 1, sc in each sc across; turn.
Rows 7-24: Rep Rows 1-6 three times in the following color sequence: (A, B, C); (D, A, B); (C, D, A ).
Rep Rows 1-24 twice more.
 
Finishing
Cut 5 strands of A measuring 9 inches each. Hold strands in a bundle; fold in half to form a loop. With the WS of throw facing, take loop through edge of first color A stripe. Take ends through loop and pull up to form a knot. Before tightening the knot, include any color A strands into the bundle. Adding one fringe to each sc stripe and 2 to each dc stripe, in color sequence add fringe across. Add fringe to the opposite edge. Trim fringe evenly.
 
 

[Annella]

oooh, I love crocheted rugs.  I made two...for the front of my sinks in the kitchen and bathroom.  They are easy to make, and you can throw them in the wash machine.  Dry them in the dryer till they are still a bit damp.  Shape out.  I dry mine all the way and then "stretch" them out.  They become nicely ruffled (somewhat) around the edges over time.  It only adds to the character of the product.  I use the heavy cotton thread to make them ("H" hook).  Good for pot holders also.

Thanks for the other website Loulizlee.

[golotomer]

I have been reading a few comments about crocheting on the Forum, and I wondered is anyone is interested in commenting on the subject or trading patterns.  I learned to crochet from my mother-in-law over 40 years ago and still love it.  I have started back doing more since I retired a few years ago. 

I just found this topic and haven't read through all of it.  I would be very interested in trading patterns with anyone.  I'll recheck the topic again and see if I have any responses.