Is Crochet easy to master, have a dilemma

deisebibo

Hi All,

I'm trying to expand my crafting to include crochet and I'm stuck in a bind.

I was interested in doing a night course in crochet (can already knit and sew a little).

Heres the dilemma. The crochet course is on the same night as the "crafters circle" that I'm also planning on attending. The circle will cover all crafts (knitting, sewing, quilting, crochet), and the night class is just for crochet.

I'm wondering would I be better off going to the circle and trying to pick it up that way, or taking up the course. I haven't even looked up any youtube video's on crochet either, I'm just at the starting block.

I'm planning on studying craft/textiles/art in college this September, so I'm looking on getting all the experience I can get, which is why I wanted to really be part of the circle, as I need help with some of my knitting also.

I'm just confused as what to do, has anyone here any advice.

looksee

I don't think you really need a course to learn crochet. Once you have mastered sorting your fingers out its very easy and you can learn the stitches from diagrams. I have taught people to crochet and they either get the hang of holding the wool, sorting fingers, tension etc fairly quickly, or they give up in despair! The people who get the hang of the initial stage usually fly at it.

deisebibo

Thanks very much, I will talk to the girl in the craft circle today and see what she thinks (my mam crochet's as well so I could always ask her, if we didn't kill each other first lol). I'd really prefer to be part of the craft circle, and see if I can pick it up there.

cofy

Like you I wanted to learn to crochet. I already knit. Like Looksee said once you get the tension right - there will be no stopping you. I found youtube fantasitic. You can go at your own pace and you don't have to keep asking can you show me that again. I do mainly 1920's styled hats but for my next project I am hoping to have some crochet panelling mixed into a knit pattern.

deisebibo

cofy wrote: »

Like you I wanted to learn to crochet. I already knit. Like Looksee said once you get the tension right - there will be no stopping you. I found youtube fantasitic. You can go at your own pace and you don't have to keep asking can you show me that again. I do mainly 1920's styled hats but for my next project I am hoping to have some crochet panelling mixed into a knit pattern.

Would love to see your hats Cofy

cofy

deisebibo wrote: »

Would love to see your hats Cofy

When my daughter gets home I will get her to model one. Might take about an hour.;)

Touch Fuzzy Get Dizzy

cofy wrote: »

I found youtube fantasitic.

Any suggestions on videos? some I'd seen but to me it was like I was missing bits, like I couldn't see exactly what they were doing.

Mongarra

My better half crochets (if that's the right word!) a lot but she joined the local crafts group - on as we post - and has picked up tips on knitting, patchwork and needle-something from some of the more experienced ladies in the group. It is also a great social outing for many of the participants, some of them not native to the place, some widowed who otherwise would have no other ways of making friends.

So I would go with the craft group and someone there will, no doubt, be able to show you crochet skills.

cofy

deisebibo wrote: »

Would love to see your hats Cofy

We could not find the original hat which is way nicer than this one, without the brim the stitch in the main part leaves a beautiful scolloped edging. The original also had a band with a flower fixed to the side.

But this might give you an idea of the main stitches.

cofy

Sera wrote: »

Any suggestions on videos? some I'd seen but to me it was like I was missing bits, like I couldn't see exactly what they were doing.

I started something like with this one,

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mSzqZ3KrR5I

. If there is something you cannot see, search by the stitch name. There are lots of different people showing the same stitch/method.

deisebibo

Wow Cofy, that looks fantastic, hopefully I will be able to make something like that in the future (obviously not as nice :-) )

cofy wrote: »

We could not find the original hat which is way nicer than this one, without the brim the stitch in the main part leaves a beautiful scolloped edging. The original also had a band with a flower fixed to the side.

But this might give you an idea of the main stitches.

cofy

deisebibo wrote: »

Wow Cofy, that looks fantastic, hopefully I will be able to make something like that in the future (obviously not as nice :-) )

When I saw this first I thought it would be well beyond my capabilities (I am a learner) but I thought I would give it a go anyway.

WhatI like so much about crochet is that once you master the single crochet stitch most other stitches are just varations of this stitch (much the same as plain and purl in knitting) its the placing of the stitch that forms the pattern and creates some very nice designs.

Best of luck with your crochet.:)

looksee

That looks like a good video, I would wind the yarn round the little finger of my left hand just to control the tension, but otherwise its pretty standard.

One thing I find people do not notice is that you must keep the hook pointing down, don't twist it in your fingers. You will find that as you support the work with your left hand you create a tiny gap that, if the hook is pointing down, allows the hook to slip through with the picked up yarn.

Jellybaby1

My mum taught me to crochet many years ago, but only very basic stitches, chain, double crochet, slip stitch, treble. I learned other stitches from a 'teach yourself' book, the half treble, triple treble, quadruple treble, popcorn stitch, shell stitch, picot, etc., etc. Youtube is great to show you the movements and how it all flows, but occasionally you can't really see a movement or space so I think both Youtube and a little 'teach yourself' book at your elbow may be the best bet. I think American crochet stitches may have slightly different names to the UK ones.

sambuka41

I learned to crochet last year from youtube, like others have said it's mostly the tension that causes the problems. I've taught my friend to crochet (she walked my dog in exchange for lessons!!!:p) she picked it up no problem; I could see some of her habits from the knitting creep in, esp about how to hold the hook but once it was pointed out the right way, she was flying.
I'm sure once you've tried to go along with the videos you could double check with someone in craft circle, I'd say its likely that one (or more) will crochet.

I found one lady who was really good on youtube, Bethintx1 , I started with her granny square, took a few attempts but got it eventually.

US terminology is different to UK so watch out for that. I find most of the free patters online are US terminology.

Best of luck!!!

wmpdd3

As above, I learned to crochet from youtube and a book. I could knit alright but I had never seen anyone crochet. And sure you'll have us if you get stuck.

I'd stick to the craft circle as you'll be exposed to more. Can I ask where the textile course is?

looksee

That's very true about American crochet and English crochet, learn one or the other and make sure you always use the pattern to match, it can be quite difficult sometimes figuring out which is which as they mostly don't say. The same words are used but they have different meanings, so that both patterns will tell you to work, say, double crochet, but the results are completely different.

deisebibo

wmpdd3 wrote: »

As above, I learned to crochet from youtube and a book. I could knit alright but I had never seen anyone crochet. And sure you'll have us if you get stuck.

I'd stick to the craft circle as you'll be exposed to more. Can I ask where the textile course is?

It's actually 2 years I have to do, because I need a Fetac Level 5 in Art Craft and Design first before going on to do the Fetac Level 6 in Art with Textiles, and it's in Colaiste Stiofain Naofa in Cork.

deisebibo

I spoke with the girl doing the crafting circle and she thinks the same, that youtube with a combination of the circle will help me more, so thats what I'll do I think :-)

wmpdd3

Sounds like a great course, best of luck!

deisebibo

wmpdd3 wrote: »

Sounds like a great course, best of luck!

Ya I'm hopeful about it, hoping for a new direction in life :-)