Crocheting|
Nov
08
Filed Under (Hobbies & Crafts) by Kert
Connie T asked:
when I crochet an afghan my ends seem to come out uneven help me. If you don’t crochet please don’t answer thanks.
EMERY
___________________________________________________________________
when I crochet an afghan my ends seem to come out uneven help me. If you don’t crochet please don’t answer thanks.
EMERY
Oct
14
Filed Under (Hobbies) by Kert
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
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
Comments Off
Oct
13
Filed Under (Hobbies & Crafts) by Kert
?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
___________________________________________________________________
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
Comments Off
Sep
16
Filed Under (Needlework) by Kert
Amber Green asked:
All crochet enthusiasts,
It doesn’t take much time for a crocheter to have a collection of all those handmade crocheted items. There are only so many that can be used for gifting or for personal use. You can’t keep gifting crocheted articles to the same person again and again, unless what you crochet every time is really exquisite.
It’s not surprising then that in no time, crocheters’ cupboards, drawers, storage areas and homes start overflowing with crocheted items. Spouse and kids too start complaining of seeing everything crocheted all over the place. Why not put them up for sale, and make some money and name? Family members too will stop bickering and start appreciating your revenue generating abilities. But where do you begin?
Follow the guidelines below to find an outlet for your creations:
• Be excellent at what you crochet. Even if you crochet only placemats, avoid cutting corners. People prefer to buy quality products. Don’t you? So why offer poor quality stuff? Make sure, what you crochet is tasteful, sturdy, useful, durable and well finished without any frazzled yarn ends or frayed edges of the lining peeping out.
• Survey the market to determine the appropriate price for your goods. If you price your goods too low, they run the risk of being considered poor quality. Exorbitantly priced goods scare away many people. Know the price of similar goods available in the market. Work out the price based on money spent on supplies, time involved in crocheting and expenditure of other resources such as electricity.
Complexity of the pattern too is a deciding factor when working out the price. A simple afghan done in dc should be much more reasonably priced compared to a multicolored afghan crocheted in a flower motif.
Also factor in the type of platform when computing the price. A high-end store such as Macy’s will obviously call for a higher price tag, whereas selling the goods in a mall will require reasonable labeling.
Eventually, you should be comfortable with the price you associate with your crocheted products.
• Explore all avenues for “product placement”, just a fancy term for selling your goods. Contact your local yarn store, thrift store, needlecraft classes, craft fairs, crochet guilds, and any other similar associations. Start teaching the craft at community colleges or talk about it at the local radio station.
Guidelines about selling crocheted items in craft shows are given at http://www.ehow.com/how_2086529_sell-crochet-items-craft-show.html.
Make effective fliers (read marketing collateral or brochure) describing your skill, products and rates and use them to spread the word around through your family, relatives and friends. Never under estimate the power of word-of-mouth publicity.
Go online. Make your presence felt through a web page, which is just an online version of the flier. eBay is a great platform to sell goods online, especially if you want quick results without much fanfare. Those on a shoestring budget or just wanting to gauge the response without spending too many bucks on preparation should try doing the web page themselves. You can also take the help of someone known proficient in web hosting. Take professional help after getting established.
• Advertise aggressively. Remember, there are buyers of all kinds of products. All you have to do is find them. You have to take your products to prospective buyers. You have to inform them of the special features of your products. Do you promote green crochet by using 100% natural fiber yarn? May be you always deliver the goods on time? Or, you make custom patterns. Do you specialize in crocheting vintage patterns?
The point is to identify key features of your crocheted items and advertise about them. Exchange links with web sites such as:
http://www.amomswork.com/mompack
http://www.crochetnmore.com/123links3.htm
http://www.knitting-crochet.com/link/hanmadcraforsal.html
http://crochet.about.com
• Treat your customers with patience and utmost care.
• Be fair in your dealings and prompt in delivering the goods.
Selling crocheted items is akin to any other business. You will find way too many guidelines about running the business. Do what you feel is right and works for you. Perseverance, sincerity and dedication will help you establish a thriving business.
All the best.
LYNN
All crochet enthusiasts,
It doesn’t take much time for a crocheter to have a collection of all those handmade crocheted items. There are only so many that can be used for gifting or for personal use. You can’t keep gifting crocheted articles to the same person again and again, unless what you crochet every time is really exquisite.
It’s not surprising then that in no time, crocheters’ cupboards, drawers, storage areas and homes start overflowing with crocheted items. Spouse and kids too start complaining of seeing everything crocheted all over the place. Why not put them up for sale, and make some money and name? Family members too will stop bickering and start appreciating your revenue generating abilities. But where do you begin?
Follow the guidelines below to find an outlet for your creations:
• Be excellent at what you crochet. Even if you crochet only placemats, avoid cutting corners. People prefer to buy quality products. Don’t you? So why offer poor quality stuff? Make sure, what you crochet is tasteful, sturdy, useful, durable and well finished without any frazzled yarn ends or frayed edges of the lining peeping out.
• Survey the market to determine the appropriate price for your goods. If you price your goods too low, they run the risk of being considered poor quality. Exorbitantly priced goods scare away many people. Know the price of similar goods available in the market. Work out the price based on money spent on supplies, time involved in crocheting and expenditure of other resources such as electricity.
Complexity of the pattern too is a deciding factor when working out the price. A simple afghan done in dc should be much more reasonably priced compared to a multicolored afghan crocheted in a flower motif.
Also factor in the type of platform when computing the price. A high-end store such as Macy’s will obviously call for a higher price tag, whereas selling the goods in a mall will require reasonable labeling.
Eventually, you should be comfortable with the price you associate with your crocheted products.
• Explore all avenues for “product placement”, just a fancy term for selling your goods. Contact your local yarn store, thrift store, needlecraft classes, craft fairs, crochet guilds, and any other similar associations. Start teaching the craft at community colleges or talk about it at the local radio station.
Guidelines about selling crocheted items in craft shows are given at http://www.ehow.com/how_2086529_sell-crochet-items-craft-show.html.
Make effective fliers (read marketing collateral or brochure) describing your skill, products and rates and use them to spread the word around through your family, relatives and friends. Never under estimate the power of word-of-mouth publicity.
Go online. Make your presence felt through a web page, which is just an online version of the flier. eBay is a great platform to sell goods online, especially if you want quick results without much fanfare. Those on a shoestring budget or just wanting to gauge the response without spending too many bucks on preparation should try doing the web page themselves. You can also take the help of someone known proficient in web hosting. Take professional help after getting established.
• Advertise aggressively. Remember, there are buyers of all kinds of products. All you have to do is find them. You have to take your products to prospective buyers. You have to inform them of the special features of your products. Do you promote green crochet by using 100% natural fiber yarn? May be you always deliver the goods on time? Or, you make custom patterns. Do you specialize in crocheting vintage patterns?
The point is to identify key features of your crocheted items and advertise about them. Exchange links with web sites such as:
http://www.amomswork.com/mompack
http://www.crochetnmore.com/123links3.htm
http://www.knitting-crochet.com/link/hanmadcraforsal.html
http://crochet.about.com
• Treat your customers with patience and utmost care.
• Be fair in your dealings and prompt in delivering the goods.
Selling crocheted items is akin to any other business. You will find way too many guidelines about running the business. Do what you feel is right and works for you. Perseverance, sincerity and dedication will help you establish a thriving business.
All the best.
LYNN
Comments Off
Mar
13
Filed Under (Hobbies & Crafts) by Kert
jensen.fan asked:
I want to try a diagonal afghan using shells, but I’ve never tried increasing/decreasing using shells and I can’t seem to find instructions for it. Can anyone tell me what to do or suggest a website with a pattern that uses shell increases?
Thanks!
JEAN
I want to try a diagonal afghan using shells, but I’ve never tried increasing/decreasing using shells and I can’t seem to find instructions for it. Can anyone tell me what to do or suggest a website with a pattern that uses shell increases?
Thanks!
JEAN
Mar
13
Filed Under (Hobbies & Crafts) by Kert
Jill asked:
I am crocheting an afghan for a wedding gift for my cousin and I am using a new pattern I found online.
The pattern says “ch any multiple of 5 to desired width of afghan.” There is no certain width or length on the pattern. I have determined that I need to make the afghan 250 stitches wide by 400 rows long.
But I am having trouble trying to determine how many yards of yarn I need to buy.
The gauge on the yarn I want to use, says that 12 stitches by 15 rows will be approximately 4″. How many yards of yarn will it take to make a square that it 12 stitches by 15 rows, using a J hook? That way I can figure out how many yards of yarn I will need to buy before I start. I want to make sure I buy enough to start with so that all the yarn will be from the same dye lot.
Thanks for your help!
MILES
I am crocheting an afghan for a wedding gift for my cousin and I am using a new pattern I found online.
The pattern says “ch any multiple of 5 to desired width of afghan.” There is no certain width or length on the pattern. I have determined that I need to make the afghan 250 stitches wide by 400 rows long.
But I am having trouble trying to determine how many yards of yarn I need to buy.
The gauge on the yarn I want to use, says that 12 stitches by 15 rows will be approximately 4″. How many yards of yarn will it take to make a square that it 12 stitches by 15 rows, using a J hook? That way I can figure out how many yards of yarn I will need to buy before I start. I want to make sure I buy enough to start with so that all the yarn will be from the same dye lot.
Thanks for your help!
MILES
