Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Patterns

Do you work with patterns or just make it up as you go along?

How long have you been crocheting, and what got you started?

If you use patterns, where do you find them?


I ask all these questions mainly because they are always running through my head. I just recently taught myself to crochet. Watching my grandmother produce some amazing pieces, I wanted to do that as well. I'm still beginning and learning but improving with each new project. Course, I still have a hard time making squareish type items but can do the hats - my grandma is the opposite - funny huh? And my mom and aunt are knitters verse crocheting - which neither my grandma or I can get the hang of. At this point I still need patterns, and understanding them is still a struggle sometimes. I have bought a few books, which are only ok and just too costly at this point. I need to check out ravelry. And I have found a couple online that I have printed off, but I have only been able to figure out one of them. I am determined to get the hang of this!

5 comments:

Yarn Geek said...

I've been crocheting for about 20 years now. My mother taught me when I was ten, so that previous sentence doesn't make me feel quite so old.

I find a lot of my patterns in books and then modify them to what I want. Most things I make anymore are not a carbon copy of the pattern I originally found.

Have you tried half.com for books? They sell all sorts of books for scandalously low prices. Most of them are used, but the info in them is still good. If it isn't what you want, well then just sell it back. Easy Peasy. If you want short videos, try You Tube, just try not to get distracted by all the other stuff on there. :-)

Just Be Happy said...

I also have been crocheting for about 20 years. My grandma taught me to make cozies for hangers, when I was around 9 years old.

I make up a lot of my patterns (because I am not very patient to follow directions!), but also find lots of them online (mostly for inspiration) or in magazines. I have a big pile of Brazilian ones (that is where I am from originally) and sometimes I get some books from the library, it's a great source for learning new stitches.

:o)

Mommy Galloway said...

I find and use patterns everywhere. I'm terrible about writing out patterns, so where I have designed something it is truly OOAK. I just started trying to look at a picture and reproduce in my crochet, and I haven't done too bad. I've become pretty good at changing a pattern and making it my own. My favorite spots to find patterns are
http://www.crochetpatterncentral.com
http://www.ravelry.com
http://www.crochetme.com

Anonymous said...

I have some free patterns on line and will be adding a few more soon. All are pretty easy for beginners. If you try one, feel free to contact me if you have any questions.
Carol

Simara Gifts said...

let's see, it's currently march so i've been crocheting for about 2 months! so, i haven't been designing my own patterns yet. i have a couple pattern books. and a few binders of vintage patterns that i inherited from my grandmother. but mostly i google what i want to make (ie crochet pig) and pick a pattern that way.

i love yarn, but hate knitting. I also love tatting, but hate that it takes so long to finish anything. learning to crochet seemed like a good middle ground.