My 1st Crochet Project

[jbsegal]

A month or so ago, I got fed up about not knowing how to crochet - I'd know how to make a base chain for quite a while (it comes of having lots of rope that needs to be kept neatly when not in use. ;-) but I could NEVER figure out what came next.

As it happens, dancingdeer crochets so I asked her for a lesson or 2. After some work, my 1st Granny Square, random bits and pieces, and another lesson or 2, I had an idea for a project...something to make for kimberlogic...I went out, bought the yarn and hooks and a book, and started...working in secret, at nights, during the few quiet moments at work over the past month (while the office was moving), other random times...finally I finished it.

It's misshapen, funny looking, occasionally imperfect, and geeky as hell, but here it is:



Note: It's a sampler. From bottom to top: Herringbone Double, Singles and Doubles, Double Crochet Cluster Stitch I, Back And Front Loop Half Double, Crow's Foot Lattice, ..., Grit Stich 1, Forked Cluster and Catherine Wheel 1 (All from "The Harmony Guides Volume 6: 300 Crochet Stitches) and the heart is from http://members.aol.com/lffunt/chcoaster.htm


I'm really proud of it.

Comments

[forgotten-aria.livejournal.com]

I really like the white bit. I never could get the hang of even knitting, so I'm impressed.

[ex-misschili604.livejournal.com]

Awwww... That's really great! I also like the lacy look of the white bit. I'll bet that K just loves this!

[kathrynt.livejournal.com]

OK that right there is BEYOND sweet. Aww. When I'm next out there, will you show me how to crochet? Nobody near here seems to be able to tell me more than "Oh, it's EASY!"

In return, I can teach you how to knit if you don't already know how. I'm in the midst of a project to knit enough socks that I don't ever have to wear socks I haven't knit.

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

It's not specifically easy until you know how to do it. It is, however, practice. The hardest bit of crocheting is learning how to get the right tension going and how to hold everything in order to do so, and the only way to learn how to get the right tension is to just keep practicing until it starts making sense and working right. Once you get that bit down, though, the rest is pretty easy. :)

You can see JB's improvement (that was put together starting from the bottom and moving up), as the stitches progress.

[amberwood.livejournal.com]

That is wonderful! I love stuff that is made from the heart and nothing could say it better than this. To have gone out and learned how to do something just so you could make your love a gift.... well that is just too romantic.

[dglenn.livejournal.com]

That is so cool ... even before figuring in the extra-personal-crafty-bits.

[magid.livejournal.com]

Congrats! That is so cool.... I don't think I've ever used that many kinds of stitches in one piece (and don't think I know some of the ones you used; perhaps I can take a peek at your crochet book sometime?, and the heart is just perfect.

[klingonlandlady.livejournal.com]

that's so cute! It would make a fun throw pillow- if it were sewed onto a fabric pillow that would keep its shape and not let the stuffing out.

[tisiphone.livejournal.com]

It's lovely! Good job.

[pookfreak.livejournal.com]

JB that's awsome and you rock in the best way *hug* I'm really impressed. I've never done anything like that and certainly not as a first project.

[rmd.livejournal.com]

awww. adorable!

[mizarchivist]

You should ask Danny to show you the scarf I made him last year :)

[bluedaisy.livejournal.com]

I'm impressed. My most recent project was started as a wedding gift for a couple which is now separated, so I'm a bit behind.

[dancingdeer.livejournal.com]

I'm proud of you (and it) too. :) You picked everything up so quickly. But I've told you all this already.
*hugs*

[donnad.livejournal.com]

That's so neat, congratulations on learning a new craft.

[coraline]

so sweet!

i still need to learn to crochet...

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

there's an "idiots guide to knitting and crochet" that might be useful. i prefer the "dummies guide to knitting" for the knitting stuff though. orange vs yellow.

there's a few points that help to be shown in person, but i've successfully taught a few people over chat of all things.

give it a shot :>

[ceo]

That's pretty damned impressive. How did kimberlogic react (or has she seen it yet)?

[starphire.livejournal.com]

verra nice!
I'm at a loss for scale, though. Is it bigger than a breadbox?

[awfief.livejournal.com]

damn, that's good. And you're totally brave for tackling something so large as your first project. Go you!

and, yeah, tension is hard, but learnable. *hugs*

[akrissy.livejournal.com]

This rocks! great success on completing and keeping it a secret until now. So, what was kimberlogic's reaction?

[chhotii.livejournal.com]

It's beautiful!

ditto

[hawkegirl.livejournal.com]

I'll join the masses, that's awsome!

[angelovernh.livejournal.com]

Nice job! That's something I would like to learn sometime, along with knitting and embroidery. I like hands on crafts. I just don't know too many besider polymer clay dolls/art and origami.

[pers.livejournal.com]

Wow! Very nice, especially for a first project. I'm impressed. :)

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

hey jb, verah good job.

i actually found this first via the crochet group (go figure), but would have gotten to it via the friends list too i supppose.

and yay for more male fiber artists. go go go :)

[opadit.livejournal.com]

That's fantastic! Last winter I finished a scarf made entirely of small granny squares -- I was cursing myself since the work was so tedious when I was stitching all 90-odd squares together, but the end result is pretty and warm. Isn't it great to finish a project of samplers that's more interesting than just, you know, sixteen coasters of nearly-indistinguishable stitches?

(I'm a pal of merde's.)