crochet

[layla]

Iam wanting to learn how to crochet and I've got a few questions if anyone does this.
How did you learn and do you think it's fairly easy?
Do you reckon you can learn from books?
How would I go about finding someone to teach me the basics?
And is it easier than knitting?My mum taught me how to knit but I've forgotten it all.

[Pruni]

I just learned from my MIL.
It is easy - much easier than I'd thought.
You can definitely learn from diagrams. My MIL has a book by ?Erika Knight which has some funky things to make, storage baskets, etc.
TBH I personally don't love it, but I do love knitting. I find knitting somehow more intuitive, but that's just me.

[NotQuiteCockney]

I think you can learn from books. I learned to knit from books, and keep meaning to pick up crochet.

You want bundle, anyway, I think she's the only crochet maniac here.

If you want to learn to knit again, there are loads of us though. (come on, you know you want to)

[tamum]

There's a new crochet book out called the Happy Hooker, which is the companion book to Stitch and Bitch. I would have thought it would be quite good. I find it harder than knitting but that's probably just because I hardly ever do it.

[tarantula]

I shouldnt think it would be too difficult to learn to crochet from a book or even check out somewebsites. My gran taught me at the age of 4, just the basics and it is quite easy to do wit wool. Using cotton is a bit tricker from what I remember as there is much less give in it.

[bundle]

maniac, moi?

where do you live layla?

crochet is easy peesy btw, and i meet with a group in london on a monthly-ish basis to show off/cast on/drink wine...

[layla]

Ooh thanks for those tips everyone.I keep thinking I should just put up a notice in a shop window asking for a tutor I'd be willing to pay someone to teach me.I can imagine it would take a few lessons.I haven't bought any hooks or wool yet but I did buy a pamphlet from Hobbycraft on it.Which explained how to hold it and do the first few stitches and so on,but without the hooks etc I kind of didn't get it.I really need to be shown quite a few times before i grasp something.It would be lovely if one of you lived close enough to teach me.There are plenty of courses for cardmaking etc but not crochet.I don't know about doing knitting I only ever learnt the basics of it.It looks so hard to do.

[layla]

Hi Bundle,our posts crossed.Unfortunately I'm in Cardiff.Do you think there'd be a group like yours near me it sounds fab.

[Pruni]

Knitting is really a lot easier than it looks and v intuitive. I think crochet is easier than it looks too. Honest.

[bundle]

layla i went to university in cardiff, so spiritually i am your crochet sister..

john lewis does courses i think, i can't remember if there's a dept store that sells wool over your way as I have only taken up the wool in the last few yrs. there are stitch n bitch grps everywhere and some of the members may be crochet enthusiasts, i would have loved to teach you, am going to have coffee with a mum from dd1's school soon to teach her

must fly - work to do..(have ordered happy hookers on amazon, thanks to tamum's reminder )

[NotQuiteCockney]

Sorry, bundle, is "maniac" not the right word? Do the crocheting sisters prefer "addict"? "weirdo"? Sorry I'm not up to date on the appropriate crochet terminology ...

[layla]

It sounds like you really enjoy it it makes me want to do it even more.I will google stitch and bitch to see if there are lessons near me.We are getting a John Lewis here but it#s not built yet.It would be great to have such a wonderful skill at your fingertips.I will also look out for the books.Thanks so much for your help and hope to chat to you all about it soon.

[ItalianJob]

ooooh must look at "Happy Hooker" on amazon now.

Layla - I taught myself to knit from diagrams. I found the Craft Guild of America's tutorial useful. If you look for crochet on about.com that should give you plenty of links for online info on learning to crochet.

Personally I find crocheting much easier than knitting, as you only have one hook rather than two needles to worry about.

Unfortunately I'm in Liverpool, so not really near enough Cardiff to have a stab at showing you how to crochet.