Just started learning to crochet - please help me accessorise my baby!

[EagleRay]

Hi - I've just started to to learn to crochet. First attempt was pretty dire (wonky square), but tried again (using a fab tutorial on youtube) and have now managed a fairly neat reasonably sized square (the size of a small dishcloth)

I'm desperate to get on and make some things for my baby (silly me learning now that my maternity leave is nearly at an end!) and thought I would start with some little legwarmers (then maybe progress to hat and boots)

Do I need to practice more first? And how do I adapt patterns to her little legs? I've got a ball of wool from the local market (bonus DK extra value) - quite cheap but it's in a colour I really love. Can I use that?

Sorry for my overexcitement and urgency - you would think I had discovered the meaning of life rather than a simple handicraft - I just got so excited yesterday when I realised I had learnt to do something new for the first time in ages

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I would recommend joining Ravelry (Ravelry.com). You can then browse for patterns and the website lets you choose parameters for your patterns - for example "crochet", "free", "has a photo". You can also restrict your choice so that it only shows items for baby/toddler that are made in DK yarn and then choose patterns that are good for a beginner.

Good luck - keep posting, there are loads of MN crocheters that will always help out if you are stuck.

Crochet is brilliant as you can make some fantastic items with just the basic stitches.

[drinkyourmilk]

I can't help you in the slightest, but can share your enthusiasm! I've just learnt too. Can do double, half treble and treble. Making a cushion cover in squares.
It's addictive isn't it?!

[SinisterSal]

If you can do a square you a can do a few extra rounds and make a buggy blanket. Or sew loads of smaller squares together. Have fun picking the colours!

[TheWoollybacksWife]

I meant to say jump right in and make stuff! If it goes wrong - just undo it. Apart from getting a bit cheesed off with yourself there is no harm done

Attic24 is a lovely crochet blog with loads of inspiration. Nothing in baby wear if I recall correctly but plenty of home stuff that is absolutely gorgeous.

If you are based in North Northamptonshire or around Market Harborough then I am happy to help in person.

[EagleRay]

I'm on Ravelry now! Thank you Woolly - it had actually been mentioned to me by someone else but had promptly forgotten. Managed to find just the hat I want to make as well! But must start with legwarmers...

Yes Drinkyourmilk totally addictive. In fact, I think I may cancel going back to work so that I can sit on the sofa all day waving a hook while DD destroys the house

SinisterSal buggy blanket sounds like a great idea - maybe in chunkier yarn with a bigger hook as otherwise it may take me a year!

I'm going to make a start tonight - I shall post photos if I manage to produce anything photo-worthy. Thanks again

[EagleRay]

Hi - me again... There was some amazing stuff on Ravelry and was able to find some simple patterns that I really liked, but when I actually read what I had to do, I realised I didn't understand any of it - even the ones that were allegedly really, really simple...

So I went back to Youtube and found a video for crocheting baby leggings. It was fairly horrendous to follow (despite being described as - you guessed it - 'simple') but I went a bit crazy and stayed up til the early hours until I had figured out how to do it. The cuff was done in single crochet, then stitched together and then half double crochet along the edge to make the main leg part (I think)

So what I have constructed so far is the bottom third of a legwarmer! There seems to be some merit in the even-ness of the stitches but clearly should be a lot looser/chunkier (bigger yarn and hook probably given that the hook in the video was 8mm compared to my 4mm). I also guessed how wide it should be and think DD may have to grow into it in the next 10 years maybe

I've uploaded a pic of said item on poor DD's leg - please somebody say something encouraging (you are allowed to snigger too if you like) and suggest how I go on from here. Try again with same pattern but with more suitable yarn/hook? Or should I stick to dishcloths/blankets?

[whatdoesittake48]

One of the good and bad things about crocheting is the tension/wool thickness/crochet hook size combo. the fact is that most of the time you cans simply add a few more rounds and get the size you want regardless of the size hook and wool.

However...when you are working on something quite small (like baby stuff) the sizing are more important and there is less leeway. if you try your project again with the correct wool and hook, you will be amazed at how well the pattern works out.

My advice is to use the drop down menus on the left hand side of the ravelry pages to select the wool you have and search out patterns for that wool. That way you are using up your wool and hook, rather than having to buy new.

As you get more advanced, you will easily be able to change and adapt patterns to make them fit.

[whatdoesittake48]

Oh and do't worry about feeling overwhelmed by ravelry patterns. I find it handy to have the pattern and a book open on stitch explanations alongside. that way when you come across a stitch which is new to you, just look it up.

Don't forget that ravelry has loads of American patterns and these are different to UK. So check the stitches before you get going.