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 start the eighth 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

PABLO

Lorie Grant DeWorken asked:


I decided to learn to crochet in college. Crazy way for a college student to spend free time? Definitely. I assure you that I was not as big a loser as it might make me sound though. One night, for some strange reason, I found myself on a creative kick. My mom had taught me to cross-stitch as a child but that wouldn’t do anymore. I was ready for something new and exciting.

I ended up at Wal-mart late at night (best time to go for a college student!) browsing through the craft aisles and inevitably drawn to all the cool yarns. Ok, so what to do with them? Knitting or crocheting? At the time, knitting seemed over my head and maybe even a bit “granny-ish”. Crocheting was so much… cooler. Yeah, that’s it.

So for whatever reason, I picked crocheting. I envisioned super trendy afghans and throws adorning my dorm room and great gifts to impress my fiancé’s parents. It was something that I could learn to do that could be useful in the future. I could decorate an apartment or house, clothe the children I’d one day have, and even give great cheap gifts to all my friends.

Good in theory, but I never finished my first project — an afghan. What can I say? I was an easily distracted college student. And my reason for not having finished it since college? Let’s just say I’m an equally distracted adult. But despite my early failure, I did learn to crochet and, later, I even learned to knit.
Overall, there are two big things that I’ve taken away from my experiences in learning to crochet and knit:

First – you CAN be “self-taught” with the help of a good how-to book. There are quite a few out there. Just take a trip to any store that carries craft materials and patterns. Browse through the books to find one that is most user-friendly for you. One note — don’t be alarmed if some of the books with great instructions have patterns and pictures that take you back to the 70s or 80s. (My first how-to book had some real winners — cheesy vests and sweaters with terrible color schemes — but then again, 80s fashions are back aren’t they?)

Also keep an eye out for how-to kits. I started with a kit that included several crochet hooks and tools plus additional patterns — which were much needed! Except for yarn, these kits should provide you with the basics but don’t walk away from the store yet. It’s a good idea to go ahead and buy some additional crochet hooks or knitting needles since not all sizes are included in your kit. Other tools that could come in handy are: counters, markers, stitch holders, point protectors (knitting only).

Second — it’s good to have someone who can help you. This person does not have to be a full-fledged teacher, just a “consultant” — someone you can turn to when you have questions — because, let’s face it, even the best how to knit or how to crochet book can confuse you at one time or another. In my early attempts to learn to crochet I got stuck on a particular type of stitch. No matter how many times I read the explanation I just could not make it work. It just didn’t look right.

Lucky for me, I happened to be home from college on my winter break. I also happened to have what I was working on with me at a friend’s house (not sure why — again, I promise you I wasn’t a loser!). Her mother had been crocheting for years and I took the opportunity to ask for her help. She was able to show me exactly what I needed to do. That set me straight and I’ve been crocheting just fine on my own ever since.

My knitting “consultant” was (and is) my mother. After I got my first knitting how-to book, I knew I’d have some questions. I found out that some friends wanted to learn to knit too. So we set up a “knitting night” and all learned from my mom. A good social hour and quite educational! If you’re able to find some people to do this with, I highly recommend it.

Knitting and crocheting are great pastimes. I’m no expert, but I have learned how to do both. There are some great resources out there for anyone else to do the same. Find yourself a good how-to book, and that “consultant” you can turn to when you get stuck, and you’ll be well on your way. I never did finish that college afghan but since then I have crocheted several dish clothes, a baby blanket, a girl’s sweater, and now I’m knitting another girl’s sweater. If I could pull off these projects, anyone can! So go get started! Learn to crochet, learn to knit today!



DEWEY

Kris Perry asked:


is known of crochet’s early history. It seems likely that the earliest crochet was made using fingers, rather than the hooks used today. There are theories that crochet could have existed as early as 1500 BC, as part of nun’s work, which included needlepoint lace and bobbin lace.

There are three main theories for the origin of crochet. Some believe that it originated in Arabia and spread eastward to Tibet and then westward to Spain, finally following the Arab trade routes to other Mediterranean countries. Alternatively, it’s thought to have originated in South America, where a primitive tribe used crochet adornments in puberty rites. Another alternative stems from the fact that in China, early examples were known of dolls worked in crochet.

However, there is no solid evidence as to how old crochet is or where it originated. The evidence of it appearing in the sixteenth century is slight, and hotly disputed. There are references to a type of “chained trimming” made around 1580. However this appears to have been a type of cord, sewn onto fabric like an ornamental braid.

During the Renaissance, women crocheted several strands of thread producing fabrics similar to lace.

The earliest evidence of crochet, as we know it, is first commonly seen in the second half of the eighteenth century. Crochet may have developed from Chinese needlework, an ancient form of embroidery known in Turkey, India, Persia and North Africa, which reached Europe in the eighteenth century, and was referred to as tambouring. The main theory behind the origin of crochet seems to be that it began when it was realized that chains worked in a pattern would hang together without background fabric. At the end of the eighteenth century, tambour evolved into what the French called crochet in the air, when the background fabric was discarded and the stitch worked on its own. Tambour hooks were as thin as sewing needles, and therefore the work must have been done with very fine thread.

Crochet began to emerge in Europe in the early nineteenth century, boosted by Mlle Riego de la Branchardiere, well known for her ability to take needle and bobbin lace designs and turn them into crochet patterns that could be duplicated. She published numerous patterns and also claimed to have invented lace-like crochet, today called Irish crochet.

A type of lace called cheyne lace was made with a hook from the late eighteenth century and a primitive form of crochet called pjonting can be found from about 1820.

CLAIR

?Infinity? asked:


I am working on a pattern that calls for a certain number of stitches around the afghan so I can work a ruffle like edging. The afghan has 98 rows of dc and there are roughly 122 stitches across the top and the bottom of the afghan. I have to work 119 sc across the top, 167 sc down one side, 119 sc across the bottom in the free loops, and 167 sc up the other side. Is there an easy way to do this since I haven’t done it before? What would be a good way to mark the spaces (like every ten or twenty) so I can make sure I counted correctly and I don’t have to keep recounting over and over? Any help or ideas to reduce the frustration would be appreciated.

ARCHIE

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 continue crocheting a border. 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

SIDNEY

Ling Tong asked:


You only need to know two or three basic stitches in order to complete a project using beginner crochet patterns. In order to do any crocheting, you always start with a chain stitch. First you make a loop around your finger and use the crochet hook to draw the thread or the wool through the loop. When you first start this craft, it is better to use wool and a larger crochet hook because it is easier to see what you are doing. You must always leave a length of the thread or wool and weave it in when you complete the project. This will prevent your work from ravelling out on you while you are still working.

 

In order to do any crocheting, you must first learn the chain stitch. This is called the foundation chain in most patterns, both for beginners and veterans. Once you make a loop with the thread, you insert the crochet hook into the loop and wrap the thread or wool around the hook part of the needle. Then you pull this through and pull the thread tight, but not too tight. Now put the yarn over the crochet hook and insert it in the previous loop and pull through. This is how you start any crochet project. In some projects, you have to chain a specific number of stitches and then turn the work and crochet back over the stitches you just made. If you want to make a table doily, you usually join the chain to form a circle and work within the circle making the rounds bigger each time.

 

The easiest crochet pattern to begin with is that of a dishcloth. You only need one ball of cotton yarn and a larger size hook ?G is the recommended size for this project. Chain 35 stitches to make your foundation row. Then you chain an extra stitch so that you can turn the work and still have the required number of stitches to keep the dishcloth square or rectangular in shape. You have to make an extra chain stitch at the end of each row so that you can turn the work.

 

Once you have this row in place and are ready to start working backwards over the stitches you made, the next stitch you have to use is the single crochet. To make a single crochet, insert the needle into the top loop of the second chain from the hook, put the yarn over the needle and then draw through the two loops you have on the hook. You repeat this right across the row and then you turn and continue with doing rows of single crochet for 38 rows. When you have 38 rows completed, break the yarn and draw the end of the yarn through the loop on the hook. Now you can weave in the dangling ends. Now you have your first project completes.

 

Another simple project for someone just getting started with crocheting is a blanket for a doll. You will need to have a longer foundation chain and you can complete it using single crochet stitches as well. If you want to use a different stitch, you can start using the double crochet stitch. To make this stitch, all you have to do is put the needle through the stitch you are working on and put the yarn over the needle. However, instead of drawing through all the loops on the hook, you only draw through two at a time. Then you put the yarn over the hook and draw through the remaining two loops.



SIMON

cheshire_cat_evicted asked:


Is that just common knowledge or does the pattern have to specify?

BURT

expertvillage asked:

Learn how to double crochet in a spiral to crochet beanies - free video.

WILMER

Imran ali asked:


Beaded and crochet necklaces are lovely articles of jewelry loved by women of all ages. The best thing about these articles is that they can be easily made at home by using some basic tools along with loose beads, crystals, gemstones and gold or silver wires. A crocheted macramé necklace looks beautiful and unique. You can find hundreds of other designs in this category which can be worn on different occasions. These jewelry articles are excellent to be given as gifts. Free crochet patterns are now widely available on the internet for those who want to try making these exquisite jewelry items at home.

You will need an artistic wire or metallic crochet thread for making a crochet choker or bracelet along with a variety of different colorful beads. Sworavski crystals and water crystals can also be utilized to make these chokers even more beautiful and alluring. Finally a toggle clasp is required for tying the choker around the neck. You can use a plastic or sterling silver clasp depending on your requirements. Also, choose an appropriate crochet hook to make this lovely jewelry article. Start by adding some beads to the thread and then make simple chain stitches with the help of your crochet hook.

In between stitches you need to introduce beads, one or several at a time. At the end some more plain stitches are required to complete the look. The finished article may be composed of several strands with different kinds of beads or gemstones in each strand. The strands can be joined at the ends to create a lovely and beautiful choker. If you use three strands you can make a braid by using them so that they are tightly tied together. Any other design can also be chosen according to your requirements.

You can choose any pattern which is easy to make and then try making this simple yet elegant necklace at home. The finished effect does not need to be perfect. Handcrafted items look best if they are composed of uneven stitches and random collection of beads and crystals. However, the size of your crochet stitches should not be too small particularly if you are using a metal wire.

If you don’t want to use metallic wire, you can also use simple crochet thread to make an elegant crochet necklace at home. Choose a length according to your requirements. Recommended length for simple chokers is 18”. Crochet bracelets can also be made in a similar manner by utilizing different thread colors and optional beads. Crochet patterns can be made by using a variety of stitches. A lot of information on these stitches along with step by step instructions is available on the internet for newbies.

A beautiful hand-woven crochet necklace can make an excellent gift for your loved one. Many different design patterns and a range of beautiful and colorful beads can be used to make these unique articles of jewelry. Crochet flower with a button, gold purse, Valentine heart, ice princess and lace patterns are popular and widely-used designs in this category.



TREVOR