How hard is it to learn how to crochet?

I have always wanted to learn and there's nobody here to teach. What do you recommend? I would like to learn to make lightweight blankets for our family, small dolls, hats, etc. Is youtube a good place for instructional video or do you have a favorite website? How expensive is it (this hobby needs to be cheap). Thanks!

Maybe all those smarmy young wippersnappers correcting my spelling pushed me along a bit

The battle cry of crotchety people.

:hi:

That's the first place I go when I want to learn or brush up on skills.

And as far as materials go, you can always pick up yarn and hooks at thrift stores. However, you can start for just a couple of bucks. One medium sized hook and one ball of yarn.

Kids in middle schools crochet like crazy. It's not hard, and there are really really cool instructions available for free on the Internets.

She learned when she was in 1st grade and doesn't even watch while she's doing it. The rows come out like machine stitching.

Start out here: http://knitandcrochetnow.com/fly.aspx

It's the web page related to the PBS show "Knit and Crochet Today", which you'll find on one of the digital subchannels if your local PBS carries the Create channel. Not only can you learn the basics here, but they also have a "square of the week", if you want to put together a sampler type quilt. The patterns for them, and an variety of other items, are free.

Another thing you might want to do is wander the yarn aisles in your local Hobby Lobby or Michael's. The Red Heart yarn company puts out tear pads with free patterns for all sorts of knitted and crocheted items. I have also found instructions for basic knit and crochet stitches on the tear pads.

Had a 50% off coupon and used that to get a kit which had different needle sizes and a few basic patterns. Our youngest daughter is going to learn with me so she's excited.

That site looks really good!

thanks for posting. :)

dg

instead of watching them, so I would personally look for written instructions. If watching doesn't help you, try reading some. It is really easy. Basically, insert hook, pull yarn through, insert hook... You can get complicated, but that is all there is to it. Start with a scarf, or a lap throw, until you get the hang of it.

I remember my first afghan and all the problems I had. Looking back on that, I will suggest that you start with a really sturdy yarn, not a thin one. My first try was with a thin yarn, and I still have problems with thin. My favorite stitch is a double crochet and I can do that in my sleep.

The yarn we bought is fairly thick and fuzzy, so hopefully it will be forgiving. Do stitches in your sleep--let's hope I don't get that good. ;)

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But really, I have this adorable Alice in Wonderland doll pattern that I want to do for our oldest daughter.

Your monkey is scary. The lipstick is unnerving as well.

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...because the monkey originally had an "O-face" that made it
look SO phallic that I was sure Phucking Puritanical Photobucket
would've deleted it for sure... so I added a few "de-phallusizing",
um... you know... touches.
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BTW, I'm impressed. You're the first person I've seen use that
"disappoint" phrase properly in a long, long time. Folks usually
include the word "fail" in there... which makes me either insecure
or defensive.
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:rofl:
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That's how I learned to knit. You can do it!

Hopefully that will happen some day. :)

Get a hook size F, G, or H and a skein of worsted acrylic, then find a good instructional video or book (thrift stores are great resources for books and balls of yarn on the cheap.) Learn how to make single, double, and treble stitches plus how to turn and bind off.

Start out by making granny squares and assembling them into afghans. After a little practice you're ready to try more challenging patterns that require attention to gauge.

Good luck!

Those sizes did come in the kit we found at Michael's. Granny squares are great because I can throw them into a bag and pull them out whenever. ;)

But I have too many other things going on at the moment.

Get some sturdy cotton yarn and make some dish clothes. The ladies at work make them, and I have several. I love them because they scrub without scratching and you can just throw them in the wash.

Good luck to you! Let us know how it goes, take some pics of what you do. :hi:

for knitting and crocheting called ravelry.com

You have to register to view it but it's chock-full of information about patterns, yarns, needles, etc., as well as lots of different forums. There are tons of patterns available, too, and many of them are free. You can even use the search function to find patterns for a certain type of yarn.

don't forget, you can get some nice wool and more pricey yarns at thrift shops buy buying sweaters and taking them apart. If they are too "curly" use steam.

I've never learned to knit though. You can make nicer, softer things with knitting.

I bought all the books, watched the videos, etc, didn't really catch it. Something kept turning out wrong. I volunteered one day at a local senior center and saw someone doing it. I made a comment about wanting to learn. She sat me down and less than five minutes later I was crocheting.

I loved learning it this way. I learned the basics of knitting the same way and am going to learn to tat soon. I've also been invited to join in an old fashioned quilting bee this spring-all because I asked a woman at the senior center how to crochet. And it was free.

Look around and you will see videos that teach every thing you need and some really nice people that will help with all your questions. It's not just for knitting help. Ravelry.com is another great place.