Crocheting is HARD (whine ahead)

[minkajane]

I've been trying for months to teach myself to crochet and I'm having a hard time with it. I think maybe I'm pulling the stitches too tight, so I'm going to try and make them looser. All I've managed to make is a couple of doll blankets for DS so I could practice the stitches. I tried to make a third, but it ended up tilting in strongly on one side (no idea why) so I tied a couple of pieces of yarn onto it and made it a cape for DS's teddy bear. When I try to do shells, it just ends up looking like a bundle of yarn. Rounds are way beyond me. I'm petrified to try a blanket (I want to make this one for my niece) for fear all the squares will be different sizes and it won't fit together.

How long does it usually take to get the hang of crocheting? Maybe I'd be better off trying to take a class somewhere. I'd have done it ages ago if not for the fact that I work evenings and that's usually when the classes are.

[notjustmamie]

First of all, please hang in there, it does get easier!

Most beginning crocheters work the yarn too tightly. I found that it helped to stop wrapping the yarn-to-be-worked around my finger because that kept it looser while I was learning to get the tension right. The other thing that helped was focusing on relaxation while I was working. Put on some soothing background music, settle into a comfortable chair or stretch out your legs on the couch, light a few candles or warm some scented oil--whatever it is that means relaxing to you.

Also, make sure you're using a big enough hook. I started out crocheting with an F hook on worsted weight yarn. Eek! I still use that, now, but only when I'm doing amigurumi! For a softer fabric, such as a blanket or a sweater, I am unlikely to use anything smaller than an I.

It can be helpful if there is someone who can take a look at your work and help you in person. Check into classes or local crafting groups at your LYS, community center, local churches, etc.

[minkajane]

I've been using a G. I lost the others I had, I'll have to go get some more. Maybe something bigger would be easier?

[katiemfree]

I feel your pain. I am a knitter and I can knit up a storm, but the few times I have tried to crochet, I stink at it. People assure me that I will get it, but I always just go back to knitting... Trouble is, I have found some really cute crochet shoes that I want to make. I am determined to try!

[Dabble]

OP, do you know how to knit?

Like the poster above, I am a knitter who has tried time and again to learn to crochet, to no avail. I even took a community ed class and was embarrassed to be the worst student! I just could not relax enough to loosen up those stitches. But I knit like a champ!

I've been told that crocheters can learn to knit, but knitters can't learn to crochet. That's probably not true, and I hope that others will chime in that they have been able to do it, but it's been true for me!

[minkajane]

Nope, I can't knit either. I got one of those "Teach Yourself to Knit!" kits from Michael's. You know, those kinds geared towards 12-year-old girls where you knit a purse. Couldn't figure it out. But I do own "Knitting for Dummies" (it's around here somewhere, I swear) and once I get the hang of crocheting I'll give it a shot again. Maybe I just don't have the hand-eye coordination necessary for this kind of thing.

[A Mom's Love]

Originally Posted by minkajane

I've been using a G. I lost the others I had, I'll have to go get some more. Maybe something bigger would be easier?

What kind of yarn are you using? That will determine the size of your hook.

[sonuptosondown]

I taught myself knitting and crocheting at the same time. I definitely found crocheting harder to get the hang of. Once I started counting my stitches carefully and figured out how to get the same number in every row, I was much better off, but it was pretty frustrating for a while and I stuck to things worked in the round--it was easier!
Your blanket-turned-cape sounds like maybe you were losing stitches as you went.

It really will get easier with practice!! And if you know anyone irl who crochets who can take a look at your work, I'm sure that would be helpful. My MIL helped me that way.

Good luck!!!

[cristeen]

I think some of the first things to do have been covered - relax, loosen your tension, and get a bigger hook.

Past that, when you were making those blankets, were you counting stitches? It really sounds like that's part of the problem here. Count the stitches in your first row, then crochet your second row and count again. If you came up with a different number, go back and figure out why. Then tear out that row and fix it. Every time you get to the end of the row, count. Every time the number is wrong, fix it before going on. That will help with the squareness. Ultimately it will help you recognize what you need to do to keep your crocheting even - and once you have it down you can move on to more complex projects.

Do you have a LYS where you can take it in and have someone help you out? How about posting in your tribe for a local mama to trade crochet lessons for childcare or something? Crochet really is easier to learn IMO if you have someone to show you. It may also be that you're going to be better off with knitting. I know many people can only do one or the other... I'm one of the few I know who can manage both.

[TCMoulton]

I was a tight crocheter at first too - I found that going up a hook size or two was helpful in keeping my stitches a bit looser. Also, when making a foundation chain go up another hook size then go down a size when beginning your first row. If you are using worsted weight yarn I would try an I hook it might make a big difference!

[vegasgrl]

Originally Posted by cristeen

Count the stitches in your first row, then crochet your second row and count again. If you came up with a different number, go back and figure out why. Then tear out that row and fix it. Every time you get to the end of the row, count. Every time the number is wrong, fix it before going on.

I take a piece of yarn a couple inches long and actually stick it into every 10th stitch while I'm counting, i.e., when I get to 20, I pull it out of the 10th and put it into the 20th; when I get to 30, I pull it out of the 20th and put it into the 30th. Something about counting to 312 (or whatever) without screwing up left ALL my rows off until I had some sort of marker to go by...

[MamaWolfe]

Can I whine along with you??? I am a great knitter. I picked it up in about a month or so, and it makes perfect sense to me. Crocheting does not. I tried to learn to crochet before knitting, and I still don't get it! I get how to do the individual stitches, but like you, must stuff comes out lopsided. The few things I've successfully made, I had to tear out several times before actually getting it right. Crochet is very hard! I'm working on my first hat now. I've had to rip it out 4 times and start over, so far. It's an "easy" pattern, whatever that means. The patterns are really hard to interpret, unlike knitting patterns, which actually make sense. Someday, I will be able to call myself a crocheter because I won't give up! Also, I think it's odd that people say that new crocheters crochet tightly because my stuff is too loose! I have to use a smaller hook to get it remotely tight. Anyway, try some amigurumi. Look for an easy pattern. If you have to rip it out and start over it's not too much work. It's also satisfying to have something actually completed.

My advice, learn how to knit instead!!! I love knitting ;-)

[notjustmamie]

Mandy, I just read your post in the Birth Professionals forum. I bet you could find somebody at The Farm who can work with you on your crochet!

And, congrats!

[flapjack]

MamaWolfe, can you already knit continental? That helped crochet make more sense to me...
I've been knitting for four years, and crochet has only really "clicked" for me recently. It will come, and it will just slot into place. Spend a lot of time looking at stitch construction- in all textiles, all the different ways that you can bend a bit of string to make it take form-and eventually it will just fall into place, in your mind, your eyes and your hand. I promise.

[minkajane]

OK, so I bought some bigger crochet hooks and it's definitely helped. I'm still having a hard time figuring out where I'm supposed to make the stitches on subsequent rows. I got 2 1/2 rows done on that blanket (which took me an hour!) before I figured out I was doing it wrong and had to take it all out. Guess I just need to keep practicing and look at different example pictures online. I tried to find a class around here and I couldn't find one.

ETA: Unfortunately, I'm not going to The Farm until August, so no help there!

[feest]

i'm of no help, i just wanted to say your title made me lol.

[trauerweidchen]

Originally Posted by Chimpmandee

I've been told that crocheters can learn to knit, but knitters can't learn to crochet. That's probably not true, and I hope that others will chime in that they have been able to do it, but it's been true for me!

I'd never heard this, but it's funny... I learned how to crochet first and knitting came quite a bit later for me, so I always assumed knitting was harder. Once I got the hang of it, though, I much prefer knitting and rarely crochet now.

I'm sorry, but I don't have any other helpful suggestions for you; I learned how to crochet when I was probably 10 or 12 so it's been a very long time. Practice different techniques and don't stress too much... you'll get the hang of it!

[sonuptosondown]

Originally Posted by minkajane

OK, so I bought some bigger crochet hooks and it's definitely helped. I'm still having a hard time figuring out where I'm supposed to make the stitches on subsequent rows. I got 2 1/2 rows done on that blanket (which took me an hour!) before I figured out I was doing it wrong and had to take it all out. Guess I just need to keep practicing and look at different example pictures online. I tried to find a class around here and I couldn't find one.

ETA: Unfortunately, I'm not going to The Farm until August, so no help there!

Is there anything you could work on that doesn't have such looonnnggg rows? Since it's the edges that are the trickiest in keeping the right count, it's a shame to have to rip out so much work once you find you've made a mistake. Maybe a blanket made of smaller squares?

I knit continental as well and am kind of ambidextrous, so I do think that helps me switch easily back and forth between knit and crochet. The continental motion and the crochet motion seem very similar.

[minkajane]

The rows aren't that long (it's the blanket I linked earlier), I'm just that slow! I think I'm going to give up on the blanket for now and just practice making squares of the various stitches. Maybe I can stitch all of those together later to make a funky eclectic throw!

[mamasthree]

I'm a knitter that has learned to crochet (though not very well )....these videos helped me immensely (as did knittinghelp.com for knitting). Maybe they'll help you as well!