A crochet pattern caught my eye!
I loved it!
I had to have it!
Nuts!
I would have to crochet it!
But I have never been short on enthusiasm. I managed to entice a number of knitting friends to join me in making this lovely lacy-cardi-wrap-shawl thingy - featured on the cover of Interweave Crochet, Fall 2011 issue.
The fact that it is an advanced pattern, apparently not well written, and I had only rudimentary crochet skills didn't seem to be such a big mountain to climb! Pish-Tish! It was just a hook and some yarn! I certainly could manage this! How hard could it be?
(no laughing here, please)
So we launch a Crochet-A-long within my knitting group. I provided the pattern and the enthusiasm and everyone provided ... well, they provided everything else. As you would expect, all the crochet-ers, moved forward confidently and productively, many crochet discussions evolved filled with crochet jargon, various yarn comparisons were made, hooks sizes were discussed, gauge samples were shared, a luncheon was scheduled to launch the project and we were off and running!!
Well, most of us were off ... I was staggering way behind the pack - cheering folks on, of course, but displaying no idea whatever of what I was doing!
Yeah Team!!! Go, go, go ...
... ah ...
... excuse me ...
What exactly is a single crochet?
Oh yes, I remember now.
And how do you make a double crochet?
... hmmm ...
I think I can do that.
How do I "read" the stitches I have made in the first row
so I can do the second row?
Thankfully my knitting circle is made up of many generous folks ... talented knitters and crocheters who don't mind me sitting beside them each (and every) time I start another crochet row (questions, questions), who don't mind explaining to me for the umpteenth time were to put that first stitch in the row.
Friends are like that.
Now I am not relying totally on the kindness of my friends.
I have a book!
It has great illustrations.
I have yarn - great yarn!
I have brand new crochet hooks. Dig the fancy case.
And I have a gauge swatch - well it will be a swatch when it gets a little bigger.
And I have a magnificent helper!
He knows alllll about crocheting.
"Smells like good crochet to me, Grandma.
But you really can't tell anything until you lick it."
What I don't have is skill,
knowledge,
understanding,
confidence,
and experience ...
in crochet!
Now I know how it feels to be a beginning knitter.
Now I know how it feels to be in a foreign country,
and everyone speaks crochet
and you speak knitting.
Now I know.
6 comments:
"The Book" is how I learned to knit (sort of); that and the memory of my Gran trying her best to teach me so many years ago.
Ah, but when you finish this project you will speak crochet! Don't you just love learning new things.
Congratulations on trying something new! You'll do well, I know.
We had a new lady come to our crochet group last week, and three of us in turn tried teaching her how to make a slip knot to get started, and how to hold the yarn to have some tension on it, and how to make a chain. She decided to get a book and try to learn from it.
Some of us are "monkey see, monkey do" learners (my favorite way to teach) and some of us learn better from the printed page with illustrations.
I learned from a combination of the two methods...some 50 years ago.
That is a beautiful pattern! it looks like you are getting a good start with your swatch, and that you have all the help that you need. Confidence should soon follow!
I'm sure you will master it and make a beautiful
shawl.
I don't see that walker making much progress!! : )
I like the yarn you are using. You are brave to take on this crocheted shawl! :)
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