M A asked:


If some1 could guide me, i have the stix & the yarn. but i need to practice on knitting & have some guidance i guess. im having a hard time finding knitting lovers in my city (Dubai, United arab Emirates). is there international knitting community that could help me. or you could share your first knitting or crocheting experience.

CLYDE

Andy Palmer asked:


There is some conjecture over the origins of Crochet. Some believe that is was started in the Far East, The Middle East or countries in South America. The reason for this belief is only down to historians believing this to be the case.

After all there doesn’t seem to be any physical evidence of Crochet for example in the form of a Crochet hook. The historians try to explain this away by saying that early forms of Crochet were fashioned using just a bent finger! I’m not sure you could keep that up for any length of time.

Crochet became more popular in 1800 in countries like America and Britain. This was due to the fact that cotton prices were dropping and it was easier to produce crochet products as opposed to their lace counterparts.

Obviously with prices dropping, factory owners looked at other ways to make money and this would result in the crochet workers earning very little. This in turn led some of the workers to a life of prostitution.

In Ireland and France the crochet industry was thriving. Families made and sold products for money, mainly to the more affluent middle class. Unfortunately a crochet product became synonymous with common folk as it was viewed as a cheap cousin compared to lace. However some members of the higher classes bucked this idea. Even Queen Victoria learnt how to crochet.

Now we fast forward to the 1900s where the hooks were now being made of more durable materials and arts and crafts were becoming more main stream. Mothers and daughters would spend their free time designing and making a whole array of crochet items. From blankets to place mats.

Nowadays there exists a whole range of different coloured threads, cottons and hooks to help any would-be crochet expert learn how to do it.

It is generally agreed that the first technique anyone should learn is how to make a pattern row and to be able to perform single stitch crocheting.

1) The equipment you need to start with may consist of:

a. Size G Crochet Hook

b. Small scissors

c. Worsted-weight yarn in what colour you choose

d. Large eyed yarn needle

2) Create a slipped knot on the hook.

3) Now slide the hooked yarn to the slipknot of the hook. This will create a chain of stitches. Now bring back the yarn to the top of the hook and make the thread go into the hook and then grab the slip knot of the hook.

4) By passing on the first chain stitch allows the knot to be hooked securely on the knot of the thread. By doing this will hold the thread in place and it will not become loose. The tighter the knot the easier it is to create a chain stitch.

5) Insert the hook in the hole of the next chain stitch and pass the yarn through the centre of the 2nd chain stitch going to the upper part of the hook. You should have created 2 loops on the hook now.

6) Bring the yarn from back to front and slide the knot between the loops.

7) From the second loop create another chain stitch to make an anti clockwise loop. This keeps the hook in the chain stitches and allows you to create rows using the loops from previous rows.

You have to create a single crochet stitch in the first loop. Make sure it is tight before moving to the following loop and it is imperative to create the hook on the last stitch or the stitches won’t hold their places.

Your job is nearly finished. Now cut off the excess but make sure you have 6 inches of thread on the last chain stitch. This allows you to slide the hook up to the upper parts of the loops to bring it down to the last loops.

This may seem really hard when you first try, but as they say; practice makes perfect!



DEVIN

poisonberries asked:


i’ve just started crocheting again, and i’m looking for an easy pattern for beginning crochet. just the plain stitch. doesn’t matter what its for, i’m open to anything. thanks.

LEE

Linda asked:


All of the directions I’ve ever read keep saying “single crochet on the single crochet” which just confuses me to no end.

SALVATORE

SIXella asked:


Is it just the type of needles and stitches?

Which one do you like better? Is one easier then the other?

LINWOOD

Missy Beckett asked:


Crochet is a craft that has really taken off in recent years and has become more ‘hip’ these days. Perhaps it is because of people like Martha Stewart and some of the other celebrities who have talked about their passion for various craft activities such as knitting and crochet.

Something that many people may not know with regard to crochet is that there are a lot more things you can make than just blankets and sweaters. There is an amazing variety of items that you can create with just a crochet hook and a supply of yarn. For example, would you have guessed that there are crochet patterns for things like teddy bears, pillows, home decor items and jewelry?

Beyond the style of crochet that most people are familiar with, there are also other styles as well, For example, filet crochet uses thread to create much more delicate and intricate items than other methods. Filet crochet is often used to create items like place mats, doilies or table runners.

Tunisian or afghan crochet is quite different since it uses a much larger hook than traditional crochet, and is a good method for creating large items like afghans and rugs.

Bead crochet can really add some eye-grabbing bling to a project by incorporating beads into the project. This can be done with items like purses, jewelry and clothing.

Someone looking for a relaxing passtime which also has the benefit of creating useful items may find that crochet is the perfect choice for them. It is very inexpensive to get started and many find in quite addicting after they have been doing it for a while.

 

For me, the perfect relaxing evening is sitting on my couch working on a crochet project with a good movie on the television and a glass of wine. It really helps melt away the stress of a hard day at work.



GRAHAM

expertvillage asked:

Crocheting a hat consists of several rows that are simple to do but a bit tricky. Watch this free video clip with a crochet expert to show you how to finish the fifth row of a hat. Expert: Axis Knox Bio: Axis is a young artist artist who has been braiding hair for many years. She has no professional training, but has been taught various techniques by family and friends. Filmmaker: MAKE | MEDIA

TERENCE