How did you learn how to crochet?

by bronze 1st January 2011, 3:37 pm

Or knit or weave?

by Adrian 1st January 2011, 3:53 pm

I have always taught myself new crafts, usually I buy a book to learn and understand the mechanics, once I understand how something works, then I can usually work out the practical.

by mr_sfstk8d 1st January 2011, 4:14 pm

Much like badger, I get the mechanics of the thing from a book, usually. Tried for years to learn crochet from others, mom, wife, etc. But, as I'm left handed, it just didn't really work. Then, some years ago, I found a book in a thrift shop, with a very good section on left handed method (forget the title now). Then I got it. Now I can do it right handed too! (???) Tought myself knit from a book "I taught myself to knit" (came with the starter kit). Used it to teach wife to knit, and she has absolutely run away with it now. (Her line tension is always better than mine) She uses English, Continental and Combined. I'm strictly English method.

by Aberlemno 1st January 2011, 4:25 pm

I'm one of those people who benefit most from being shown, though a clear book illustration does help (apart from Crochet, when I HAD to be shown). I'm just back on the crochet these past couple of days actually.

Knitting, my mum taught me. Spinning, I went on a course, although 25 years earlier I had been shown by a afriend and picked it up (though I spin left-handed for some reason, despite being right-handed otherwise).

Weaving - I have a little tiny loom for doing belts etc and am just trying to work out the "how to" of that . . .

by Dandelion 1st January 2011, 4:30 pm

My great aunt taught me to knit when I was six or seven, and my grandmother who lived nearer to us refreshed my memory when I got stuck! I learnt to crochet from a book with very clear line drawings, and I learnt to weave at art college. For me you can't beat a book with good illustrations, time to work it out yourself and make your own mistakes, then a patient friend to show you where you have gone wrong and how to do it better!!

by bronze 1st January 2011, 4:32 pm

DH has given me a loom for Christmas and I've having to leave it untried as I need to be shown. Oddly the midnorfolk branch of the weavers organisation is held at my village hall but I can't leave ds3 in the evenings yet.
In the meantime I was wondering how hard learning to crochet was considering I'm the kind of person who needs to be shown (kinetic) and I will have to learn by book or youtube

by Compostwoman 1st January 2011, 4:40 pm

I usually learn by reading/diagrams BUT can also learn by watching or listening..luckily for me I am a multi modal learner so any method works well.

I can also usually work out how to do things by deconstructing them....I did that by carefully un picking some corn dolly weaving once...and managed to re create it again.

Often taking things to bits is a good idea but only if it is not precious .... Shocked

Although I suspect that is an engineering trait, as only other engineers tend to agree that they can do this....?

I find YouTube is full of some very good tutorials.

by MrsC 1st January 2011, 6:59 pm

An old work colleague taught me how to knit and I did a one day crochet course at John Lewis.

Have to agree that if you're trying to learn any new skill then YouTube is fantastic for helpful videos.

Mrs C

by mr_sfstk8d 1st January 2011, 7:03 pm

I think you're right CW. That's something of a trait particular to us engineers. It's as though you can just see the "exploded view" assembly diagram when you take a thing apart. When I'm working on something, I don't often even have to draw my own pencil and paper diagrams unless it's REALLY complex. Mostly, I just have the diagram in my head.

But I totally know what you mean about not being able to beat a good, clear, explicit set of diagrams. And youtube has loads of great videos for teaching. Loads of crummy ones too though, I'm afraid.

by Compostwoman 1st January 2011, 8:36 pm

Mr S, am so glad its not just Compostman and I who can "see" things in terms of exploded view assembly diagrams....
Shocked

I think it must be a trait for those with a scientific /engineering bent, or maybe also 3-D artists? As I know a few ceramic artists who can think the same way...but painting artists seem not to??

would be fascinating to find out which bit of the braine and how it works....

by Wigan Pixie 4th January 2011, 10:42 pm

I've known how to knit forever, so I can only presume that my mum taught me when I was very young or I learned at school. I could never get the hang of crochet, despite buying numerous books, but I was given a lesson by an old lady and I've not looked back since. I taught myself to spin on both a spindle and a wheel, although it's only within the last year that I've got to grips with the wheel.

by boobiejuicemama 14th January 2011, 2:29 pm

I recently learnt to crochet from watching a couple of YouTube videos! I am making Ruby a lovely big blanket for her bed, I have hand dyed the wool and can't wait now 'till it's finished Smile

by mr_sfstk8d 14th January 2011, 2:41 pm

That's coming along nicely. I love the colors. Are you working it in rounds, like a giant granny square?

by MrsC 14th January 2011, 7:04 pm

Oooh I do like that BJM - lovely colours.

Mrs C

by Dandelion 14th January 2011, 7:25 pm

BMJ - I'm really interested inthe way you dyed the wool. Is it dip-dyed to get the mixture of colours, or is it lots of different balls of wool?

by boobiejuicemama 14th January 2011, 11:47 pm

Mr_S - Yes it is going to be a GIANT granny square Smile

Dandelion - I buy plain wool ( 100% wool of course) and I soak it in vinegar, until it is thoroughly wet, squeeze out the excess, then I DRIP the colouring onto it, and squeeze it a little to get the colours to mix. no two balls are alike, which is what I love about it Smile

Dying wool has become a favourite hobby!

by Lottie 15th January 2011, 7:33 am

I was taught by my Gran, bless her, but I'm easily distracted... Embarassed

, so Ma steps in now when I turn up and hand her a ball of a mess... Laughing

by Dandelion 15th January 2011, 8:47 pm

Another question - how do you fix the dye you're using; is this what the vinegar's for? I occasionally do a bit of silk painting, and depending on which dye I use it either has to be ironed to fix it, or there's a kind of dye which you fix in the microwave.

I love the idea of dripping the dye....must be a good girl and finish knitting my socks first, but would love to try this.

by boobiejuicemama 16th January 2011, 9:09 am

Oh yes I forgot, I pop it in the microwave to fix it, although the vinegar is part of the fixing process as well. I only use Queen brand food colouring, I know there are other more expensive dyes you can use, but when that works so well why bother? I find it really hard to find plain wool though, I would love to get some wool and spin it too. knit

by Dandelion 16th January 2011, 9:43 am

Thanks for the info - it's a really exciting way of dyeing.

It's sad that you find it hard to get 100% wool in the land of the merino.....

by boobiejuicemama 16th January 2011, 10:02 am

Dandelion wrote:Thanks for the info - it's a really exciting way of dyeing.

It's sad that you find it hard to get 100% wool in the land of the merino.....

If I order it online I can get it, but hard to find the plain stuff in the stores, it's already all dyed.

by Becci 18th January 2011, 11:04 pm

I asked my Nanna to teach me to crochet when my eldest (now nearly 15) was about 2? I think. I only crocheted blankets for years. have recently been making doilies and flowers to sell though

by NaturallySimple 24th February 2011, 12:49 am

My grandma taught me to crochet many years ago but I only just recently picked it up again. My friend taught me to knit because I was the only one of our group of friends who couldn't and I felt left out on pub knit night.

by Daveswife 4th July 2011, 3:04 pm

I was taught by my Mum who was born in 1916. In turn she had been taught all the traditional home-crafts by her Mother.

Mum always made her own clothes, knitted, crocheted, mended stuff, embroidered, made rag rugs, could arrange flowers beautifully, and cooked/baked everything herself. So it was natural that I should do the same and I very rarely need to buy anything ready made.

It is so easy when someone shows you what to do, and hopefully everyone who has these "life skills" can pass them on to someone else.

I use the expression life skills because that is what they are. With these basics you and your family will always have something to wear and something wholesome to eat.

by JunaMoon 27th September 2011, 1:14 pm

I recently learned to crochet by watching YouTube videos. I was thrilled to find step-by-step instructional videos for lefties

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My Mum taught me everything

YouTube!

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