Look at me – I’m crocheting!
April 13th, 2007 by CandaceIt’s really hard for me to learn something by just reading instructions. If you show me, I will get it quickly and retain it forever. But teaching myself how to do certain crafts is nearly impossible. This is why I tend to stay away from how-to books b/c I feel it’s wasted time and money. However, I’ve recently been intrigued by crocheted items and wanted to move away from knitting and into the arms of crocheting. After flipping through Jen’s copy of Debbie Stoller’s Stitch ‘N Bitch Crochet
I’m a lefty, so naturally I’m already having difficulty as this book is written for righties. But after surfing the internet, I found a video tutorial that was very clear (still for righties, tho) and I was able to do everything backwards and produce a few rows of single crochet. A HUGE step of progress for me. It gave me so much confidence, I can’t wait to do more.
One thing tho: why is my UFO turning into a trapezoid? The ends are decreasing slightly – is this normal? And if anyone knows of any video tutorials for lefties, please let me know and you will be my new BFF.
ETA: For those interested, here is the website I found with the video tutorials. They’re short and to the point – hope you find them helpful!
April 13th, 2007 at 4:54 am
I would love the info for tutorials for lefties also. I have tried to teach myself and I blame the lefty issue for not ‘getting it’. Of course, that is probably my scapegoat…
April 13th, 2007 at 5:01 am
Looks like you are stopping one stitch too soon on each row. Unlike knitting the
stitches in crochet are not exactly on top of each other, each one sits sort of in between the two below it. So if you do not go all the way to the edge each row it slowly gets smaller…thus the trapezoid.
It might help as you practice to count the number of stitches each row to make sure you didn’t end too soon.
Your stitches look great! Very even…which can be tricky at first.
April 13th, 2007 at 5:05 am
No, it’s not what’s supposed to happen. You are missing a stitch either at the beginning or at the end of the row. Remember, if you are making single crochet stitches, you end OR start a row with a slip stitch. Then you put a single crochet in the SAME place. If you are already doing that, then you are missing that last one. It’s easy to miss, it tends to get kind of pulled down and out of shape. You have to pull it back up a little sometimes to stick your hook through there. I hope that made sense! Email me if you want any other help, I have been crocheting for years.
April 13th, 2007 at 6:32 am
Ummm, since you are pretty new to crocheting, might I suggest just learning to do it right-handedly? I’m a leftie too, but find that making things work for lefties is just too much work sometimes.
Also, from what I’ve heard from other lefties, sometimes they learn to just do everything backwards. Okay for things like blankets and scarves, not okay for some stuff like clothes, etc.
Good luck anyway! Crocheting is a blast and very relaxing.
April 13th, 2007 at 7:44 am
I’m a leftie too and have long wanted to learn crochet! I taught myself how to knit left-handed, but haven’t had luck yet with crochet!! Maybe Ill check out that book…
April 13th, 2007 at 7:47 am
Here’s a link for lefties
http://www.crochet.org/lessons/lessonl/lessonl.html
Hope that helps you, crocheting is so much fun and portable. You’re doing great, just count your stitches and make sure you’re not missing the last one on the end which can be a little harder to see sometimes. Isn’t it so exciting to learn something new? A whole new world is opening up!
April 13th, 2007 at 7:49 am
Sorry, forgot to mention to click on the links to the right for illustrated lefty diagrams.
Write me if you’ve got problems, I’ve got more links I can share with you. I’m a righty myself, but I have a feeling my 4 year old is going to have to learn the lefty way!
April 13th, 2007 at 8:29 am
I’m not a crochet guru but aren’t you supposed to chain one and turn? I know what you mean about learning on your own – it is difficult. I’ve taught myself to sew and quilt after my mom spent a half an hour with me 2 years ago when giving me her old sewing machine. It would be nice to be shown more but it sure has been fun learning on my own, too!
April 13th, 2007 at 8:36 am
I’m a lefty too and I know how hard it is to learn from standard books. But I learned crochet (self taughting) when I was a child and now I am revisiting this craft. The problem with your shape is that you are missing the last stitch. The afghan I’m doing now is made in single rows stitch as yours and you can see the ends of the rows in my pictures. Don’t give up. Happy crochet!
April 13th, 2007 at 9:26 am
I am in the same boat I just attempted knitting and I am left handed.
So I’ll be lurking today to read everyone’s suggestions.
April 13th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
would you mind sharing the video you found? i haven’t found one that’s super awesome and i really wanna learn how to crochet, too!
April 13th, 2007 at 11:05 pm
That is one of my all time books EVER! Have lots of fun with it & never give up, you’re doing great!
April 14th, 2007 at 6:54 am
I am a lefty too and I gave up doing crocheting because I can not get my stitches right! heheheheh.. thats my excuse. Knitting I am ok. but crocheting not so much
April 14th, 2007 at 8:26 am
I am a rightie but I am in your boat learning to crochet, You are making more progess which is going to make me work harder. Let’s go girl!
April 15th, 2007 at 8:49 am
It looks like you’ve got enough help, so I won’t add to it. I *do* want to say that I think it’s awesome you are crocheting. I found it VERY challenging at first. I, too, had to teach myself. But once you learn the geography and mechanics of the stitches, it becomes easy and fun. Plus, you don’t need to know a lot of fancy stitches to do awesome things – I make my handbags with just single crochet and slip stitches.
April 15th, 2007 at 12:29 pm
Here’s a tip for learning to crochet left-handed: look at the pics or watch the video in a mirror – that way it will look left-handed.
April 15th, 2007 at 8:50 pm
YES! At the end of the row of single crochet, CHAIN 1 before you turn your work. This will keep a square a square, I PROMISE! I have The Happy Hooker, too, and I’m pretty sure that tip is in there. : ) When you don’t like learning from reading, it’s WAY easy to skip over little things!
May 3rd, 2007 at 9:48 pm
That happened to me at first too. I was self taught (no books or internet–the horror–lol) and didn’t know you were supossed to chain at the end of the row to count as the first stitch of th next row.
Ch 1 = single crochet, ch 2= half double crochet, ch 3 = double crochet, ch 4 = triple crochet.
At the end of the row chain the appropriate amount to correspond with the type of stitch needed in the next row. Then turn your work and work the second crochet stitch in the second stitch of the previous row.
I hope this helps!