Do you crochet or knit?

[Sunshine Flock]

A few years ago I bought some beautiful wool blend yarn and needles and intended to knit some nice winter hats. But I have dexterity problems and sometimes struggle with projects that involve small details. I'd love to learn how to knit, but for now I think crocheting would be a better option for me.

I have a beautiful crocheted afghan I got for ten cents in a local dime thrift shop. It's different than the chunky acrylic afghans my aunt used to make. The yarn is thinner (gauge?) and seems to be a blend of natural fibers, and the colors are muted and pretty.

So anyway, now I need to find a pattern to crochet a hat for my huge head.

If you crochet or knit or both, what are you currently working on? Do you have photos to share?

 

[igorsMistress]

Have you tried a knitting loom? You can make all kinds of stuff and you don't use two needles. Very good for those with arthritis or dexterity problems.

PS I crochet bags out of yarn I make with grocery bags. I also made a custom liner for my shopping cart. I don't knit, I don't have have the patience to learn.

 

[dunnmom]

I miss doing needlework. My life doesn't allow me the time or attention anymore. Cross-stitch, crochet, knitting, sewing, latch-hook, macrame, and weaving are all things I've dabbled in. Mastered absolutely none of them, but they're very soothing activities, as long as I don't get too perfectionist about it.

Don't have any pics of my stuff. Any project I've actually finished ended up being given as a gift. Never crocheted a hat, though. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've actually crocheted in the round before. Lol!

I second the suggestion of a knitting loom. Making hats is so much quicker and easier on those, and they help keep stitches more uniform, which satisfies my OCD tendencies.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I miss doing needlework. My life doesn't allow me the time or attention anymore. Cross-stitch, crochet, knitting, sewing, latch-hook, macrame, and weaving are all things I've dabbled in. Mastered absolutely none of them, but they're very soothing activities, as long as I don't get too perfectionist about it.

Don't have any pics of my stuff. Any project I've actually finished ended up being given as a gift. Never crocheted a hat, though. Come to think of it, I'm not sure I've actually crocheted in the round before. Lol!

I second the suggestion of a knitting loom. Making hats is so much quicker and easier on those, and they help keep stitches more uniform, which satisfies my OCD tendencies.

I suffer from anxiety and OCD, among a few other things, so I know what you're talking about. It can be very debilitating to say the least when working on craft projects.

I'd love to make some macrame plant hangers, and weaving fascinates me. I loved following along with this weaving residency project:

http://www.rebeccamezoff.com/blog/2016/12/1/leaving-the-desert

I'll photograph the afghan to share here. It's inspiring me to make one just like it.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

This is the hat I have in mind as my first for knitting:

http://www.redheart.com/files/patterns/pdf/LW2890.pdf

There's a video that accompanies the instructions. Reading the comments helped me understand where I could get confused. They say to follow the printed instructions when in doubt of the steps to take.

And for crochet I love this hat. But there aren't printed instructions.

I love Fair Isle patterns and knitted designs more than what I've seen of crochet. I don't wear accessories of any kind and am not fond of wearing lacy crocheted vests, although I do love the one my mother-in-law gave me.

I'm going to make both hats and see what the process is like.

 

[dunnmom]

You can mimic Fair Isle with crochet. There are YouTube videos on how to do it. Many use a chunky yarn for it. I went to the site that was on the video. Here's a link for the print instructions for the hat. https://crochettoys.weebly.com/crochet-hat--beanie.html
It's a little vague and without diagrams, but you might find it helpful. I like diagrams, personally.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

You can mimic Fair Isle with crochet. There are YouTube videos on how to do it. Many use a chunky yarn for it. I went to the site that was on the video. Here's a link for the print instructions for the hat. https://crochettoys.weebly.com/crochet-hat--beanie.html
It's a little vague and without diagrams, but you might find it helpful. I like diagrams, personally.

Oh, that's so great of you. Thank you!

I have a crochet hook. I'm not sure what size it is. I'll have to go take a look. Crochet uses about 30% more yarn than knitting, I've read, so I may have to dip into a second color I already have to crochet the hat. I'm not sure what's holding me back. I keep reading and browsing and watching videos, and I found a fun knitting book at Goodwill. But I'm not actually making anything yet!

 

[Sunshine Flock]

I'm practicing making a long crocheted chain. It's so awkward at first even with a single hook, versus needles for knitting. But it did get better, and then a cat tail got tangled in yarn and that was that.

I love knitted hats more than I do crocheted. This is my dream hat, the color and cable. Just beautiful.

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bchb0uTjFzW/?taken-by=teplaya_and_masha

I'm going to focus on knitting and see if my hands can gradually settle into working with two needles.

 

[dunnmom]

Motivation can be an elusive thing sometimes. You should see my massive Pinterest boards. So many things I could be trying out, but I've only actually done 3 projects. Lol!

I get intimidated sometimes, especially trying something new. It's the anxiety, I'm sure. My head just spins and I don't know where to start. I usually feel better about it once I can make myself get going and I can get out of my head, so to speak, when working with my hands.

 

[Sunshine Flock]

Motivation can be an elusive thing sometimes. You should see my massive Pinterest boards. So many things I could be trying out, but I've only actually done 3 projects. Lol!

I get intimidated sometimes, especially trying something new. It's the anxiety, I'm sure. My head just spins and I don't know where to start. I usually feel better about it once I can make myself get going and I can get out of my head, so to speak, when working with my hands.

Yes, this is me in a nutshell. It's so overwhelming. I spent years browsing photos of crocheted and knitted hats, waffling back and forth. I don't do well with multiple hobbies; I'm more relaxed when I find just one I can hyper focus on and live and breathe.

Tonight I finally settled on knitting just to rule it out if I find my hands aren't going to let me knit comfortably. Then I'll move on to crochet and just do that instead.

But cats and yarn!!