Crochet "Chat"

[speckledhen]

I've been doing foundation paper piecing for a few recent projects and love it. Tried applique not as in love w/ it.

I'm with you on applique. I hate it.

 

[sewchick]

Applique is not too hard. I just use a glue stick to hold things and hand sew them on. Hey I bought some yarn today. Now what kind of afghan should I make. I have 2 pounds of yarn. I can buy more of the same if needed. It's not like things up here get sold out very often. I bought dark brown and cream colors. Goes with the living room.

 

[speckledhen]

Applique is not too hard. I just use a glue stick to hold things and hand sew them on. Hey I bought some yarn today. Now what kind of afghan should I make. I have 2 pounds of yarn. I can buy more of the same if needed. It's not like things up here get sold out very often. I bought dark brown and cream colors. Goes with the living room.

Well, I think it may be easier to make a one piece afghan so you don't have to put blocks together, but it can get boring. I like the giant granny squares, which can be all one color or every few rounds can be a different color. I also like giant shells like this one I made with gradations of color in greens and browns, though they did it in blues. I left off the fringe. I have the book the pattern is in, but it is available for purchase online.




Possibilities are endless! Can't wait to see what you do! Here is a directory of free afghan patterns. http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com/directory/afghans.php?ezpage=1

 

[sewchick]

That is a very pretty afghan but looks a little hard. I think I like this one for my first one.

Seems easy to follow and so far I have had no problems. I like the way the guy gives directions. Very clear and easy to follow. I will go with something harder next time. Maybe the one you suggested. My yarn is super heavy. It's caron one pound type. The cheap kind for my first attempt at yarn crochet. It looks almost like a basket weave. I keep looking at the afghan you suggested and I am really liking the look of it. I will have to buy better yarn for that.

 

[speckledhen]

Oh, yeah, Mikey from the Crochet Crowd is a good teacher.

The Caron One Pound yarn varies, depending on which color. Some of it is a "hard" yarn, not really scratchy, just hard for lack of a better word. I did this shawl in the Soft Sage color, which was not bad at all. It is a lot for the money, isn't it? And it washes up softer if you think your project isn't as soft as it should be.

What I did for that shell afghan was hold 2 strands of the cheap Red Heart Super Saver together at the same time all the way through. It's not a hard pattern at all, just looks more than it really is. So, it was cushier than with a single strand. And I used a large hook, too.

Here is my Caron One Pound project.

 

[sewchick]

OHHH Speckled Hen that is gorgeous. It looks so soft and pretty. I will "never" be able to get my yarn crochet to look like yours. I am using a size J hook and it's still tight. I am a threadie. This is extremely hard for me. My tension is tighter than zips a--. It's so tight...I have been doing a lot of frogging. It looks ok but it's extremely thick and heavy. I am going to make this if it takes me hundreds of dollars. It's will be good for winters when I play the nintendo on the couch while hubby watches crime shows. I am motivated to make something with yarn. I wish I had learned to crochet with yarn first. My knitting is very tight too. I even quilt tight. My stitches are tiny and tight. sighs....

 

[speckledhen]

OHHH Speckled Hen that is gorgeous. It looks so soft and pretty. I will "never" be able to get my yarn crochet to look like yours. I am using a size J hook and it's still tight. I am a threadie. This is extremely hard for me. My tension is tighter than zips a--. It's so tight...I have been doing a lot of frogging. It looks ok but it's extremely thick and heavy. I am going to make this if it takes me hundreds of dollars. It's will be good for winters when I play the nintendo on the couch while hubby watches crime shows. I am motivated to make something with yarn. I wish I had learned to crochet with yarn first. My knitting is very tight too. I even quilt tight. My stitches are tiny and tight. sighs....

My friend in KY crochets very tightly, too. She has to go up several hook sizes to do the same size item I do with a smaller hook. I use a J hook a lot. I just an N (10mm) hook for that shawl in the Soft Sage. I have trained myself to hold the hook loosely because of my tingling/numb fingers I get from the carpal tunnel and I use the padded hooks most of the time and sometimes, the gorgeous carved spruce hooks that my good pal, Terrie, sent to me.

Here is the pattern for that shawl. I saved it when I started crocheting until I understood how to read patterns, then just did it.
http://www.favecrafts.com/Crochet-Sweaters/Simple-One-Skein-Wrap-from-Caron


ETA: This lady has some pretty good patterns. I just used one to make the last striped lapghan, featuring the "no beginning chain" method, which is really cool for rippled ones, especially. She also has a youtube to explain that method. http://stitcheryprojects.com/my-patterns/crocheted/afghans/

Here is the direct link to her tutorial on the no beginning chain method. SO much easier than just chaining endlessly.

 

[sewchick]

Thanks for the link. She has some pretty patterns.

 

[Kassaundra]

OHHH Speckled Hen that is gorgeous. It looks so soft and pretty. I will "never" be able to get my yarn crochet to look like yours. I am using a size J hook and it's still tight. I am a threadie. This is extremely hard for me. My tension is tighter than zips a--. It's so tight...I have been doing a lot of frogging. It looks ok but it's extremely thick and heavy. I am going to make this if it takes me hundreds of dollars. It's will be good for winters when I play the nintendo on the couch while hubby watches crime shows. I am motivated to make something with yarn. I wish I had learned to crochet with yarn first. My knitting is very tight too. I even quilt tight. My stitches are tiny and tight. sighs....

I came to yarn after years of being a "threadie" too. When I first converted I had issues w/ tight crocheting, I would crochet w/ a bigger hook to help w/ it and actively worked on loosening my stitches, you'll get there.

 

[Kassaundra]

I have a friend whose daughter is getting married in May. I was thinking about making one of my fusion quilt / afghans, but the size of a sofa throw. I went to their registry to see what colors and style they like. Seems like modern / contemporary which wasn't a big surprise since they are early 20's, but the colors were all dark (wine, purple, brown and grey all dark versions) Nothing had a print of any kind. I've been researching ideas and patterns, don't know if I'm going to like this one at all.