I mentioned last month that I had taken a crochet class at TNNA. I figured it was high time I learned how to do it. (Besides, there are some really cute crochet patterns out there. I want to make this and this as soon as I get this under my belt a little bit more.) I enjoyed the class and am surprised at how quickly it feels like you’re making progress, when you crochet. I started some granny squares for a 9-square pillow out of The Loopy Ewe Line, and I also started this baby blanket out of Rowan’s new Amy Butler Belle Organic Aran line. I really love the feel of this yarn, and it’s crocheting up beautifully. I don’t have specific plans for the blanket. It was just a fun project to get my feet wet. So far, so good! So I’m wondering how many of you crochet? Is it something you learned way back when, but now you knit instead? Or do you do both? Or have you not yet learned to crochet? Or are you too backed up on the knitting you want to do, to ever be able to add crochet into your life? 🙂 Just curious.
We are welcoming lots of new Loopy Groupies today! We love sending out those Welcome Bags and feel honored that so many of you have become such great customers and friends. (You get to Loopy Groupie status when we’ve sent out 6 packages to you, although multiple Wollmeise orders in the same day all count as “one”. It gets complicated!) We’re happy to welcome these new Groupies in this latest batch: Cyrena in RI, Hikari in Japan, Robin in OH, Victoria in NC, Dana in TN, Juliet in AZ, Jeanne in CA, Christina in OH, Caryn in CT, Jane in NY, Monet in VA, Kata in Canada, Dorothy in KS, Annie in IL, Rosemarie in Canada, Kim in MS, Ellen in MO, Michelle in MD, Kelly in IL, Abbe in NJ, Elizabeth in PA, Stella in MA, Grace in NJ, Sharilyn in NY, Kittie in Switzerland, Lisa in IL, Lois in LA, Julie in DE, Mary in TX, Heather in TX, Vickie in MO, Aimee in NV, Jenny in MO, Christy in TN, Louise in Denmark, Kristie in MN, Linda in CA, Shelley in IL, Amy in PA, Ilona in Australia, Denese in MO, Helen in CO, Cynthia in OH, Kelly in AK, Nicole in Canada, Amanda in CO, Robin in OK, Kimberly in FL, Lael in WI, Loretta in MO, Christie in MD, Robin in WI, Megan in WV, Debbie in OH, Lauren in NY, Nancy in TN, Krystal in AZ, Lisa in WA, Karen in CA, Emily in PA, Andrea in CT, Beth in NY, Susan in VA, Joan in NY, Marianne in Norway, Amy in MI, Barbara in New Zealand, Sandy in IL, Linda in MN, Sharon in PA, Lisa in OK, Molinda in OH, Tami in WA, Kate in NC, Linda in IL, Lilie in AZ, Maartje in OH, Anna in Australia, Erin in IN, Rachel in IL, Shannon in CA, Julie in NV, Kyoko in Japan, Cathy in MO, Elizabeth in Norway, Barbara in NY, Andrea in WA, Megan in IL, Suzanne in TX, Elizabeth in OH, Lee in CA, Linda in MO, Carl in NC, Aliya in Canada, Ann in MA, Nathan in CA, Betty in Canada, Dee in TX, Alisa in WY, Jasmine in VA, Christine in MT, Lani in MI, Maria in CA, Elizabeth in NY, Brandy in PA, Sheri in AK, Ines in CA, Laural in MA, Sarah in MN, Cheryl in the U.K., Christine in MI, Andrea in OK, Paulette in WI, Debra in CA, Elisabeth in NM, Janna in CA, Cindy in WA, Bonnie in OR, Sherry in TX, Lana in IN, Kathleen in NY, Andrea in NJ, Katherine in Canada, Kathy in GA, Jennifer in NV, Monique in OR, Janis in IL, Lynnea in VA, Alicia in MD, Kim in SD, Lara in IN, Kirsten in MN, Sonya in IN, Maggie in MN, Kim in WA, Luann in MA, Cathy in VA, Ange in MN, Diana in IL, Jani in CA, Anyssa in MI, Debra in MA, Whitney in NY, Peggy in OH, Lynnette in CA, Jerrica in Canada, Melissa in OK, Lynda in NJ, Kristine in TX, Nancy in TX, Monica in IL, Lucy in NV, Melissa in CA, Kathy in ND, Andrea in Germany, Mona in NY, Erin in PA, Janet in WI, Melissa in CA, Krista in VA, Christine in TX, Suzie in MD, Elizabeth in OH, Janna in IA, Judy in AZ, Katherine in TX, Julie in NM, Marjorie in MA, Brenda in CA, Sandy in MO, Tanya in VA, Robyn in MO, Jessica in NC, Traci in Australia, Jennifer in ND, Rebecca in OR, Ghislaine in Switzerland, Mindy in TX, Sharon in IN, Meghan in Canada, Cheri in WA, Paulina in the U.K., Geri in NY, Lana in IL, Terri in ID, Erica in IL, Liberty in MN, Beverly in IL, Jennifer in MA, Jodi in MI, Laura in NY, Sheryl in CA, Melissa in KY, Tina in MD, Elaine in NH, Sheryl in CO, Linda in MO, Lucia in MA, Irma in CT, Julie in CA, Donna in HI, Gavi in TX, Sharyl in IL, Meghan in NH, Joline in Canada, Stephanie in MI, Amy in NY, Kim in WI, Arlene in Canada, Bianca in VA, Beth in MT, Cheryl in MI, Kyrie in MD, Shawntaia in NY, LeeAnn in CT, Allison in NC, Jill in GA, Josephine in MD, Linda in IL, Shannon in OH, Jill in MI, Christine in MN, Patricia in NY, Dorothy in MN, Kathryn in AZ, Michelle in FL, Bwen in CA, Hilona in The Netherlands, Suzanne in CA, Ashley in the Military, Kristy in WA, Joni in TX, Joyce in MN, Vicki in KS, Crystal in WA, Jan in MN, Joan in NY, Amy in IL, Beth in MO, Jen in MD, Deborah in VA, Jennifer in KS, Marnie in Canada, Crystal in Canada, Sarah in TX, Elizabeth in NC, Cheryl in Canada, Elaine in MA, Paula in NY, Bonnie in NJ, Beatriz in FL, Rachael in WI, Kristen in TN, Marie in IL, Wendy in WA, Sarah in NH, Debra in CA, Mary Jane in MN, Stephanie in AK, Patricia in WA, Seanna Lea in MA, Daniele in France, Michelle in OH, Melissa in MI, Gail in MD, Elizabeth in TX, Heidi in OR, Doreen in NC, Kelly in HI, Janet in MA, Karen in OH, Christelle in NV, Emily in WI, Abby in IL, Teresa in CT, June in KY, Lisa in MA, Connie in IA, Stephanie in MD, Margaret in Australia, Judi in TX, Jennifer in Canada, Syd in AZ, Catherine in WI, Ralph in MO, Kathryn in TX, Cheryl in CA, Mary Ann in Canada, Kathy in VA, Susan in NY, Elaine in VA, Leslie in CA, Darinka in IL, Wendy in CA, Cristi in CA, Julie in VT, Cindy in MD, Nikki in KY, Holly in CO, Nancy in TX, Margaret in VA, Vicki in MO, Wanda in FL, Kathy in TN, Shelley in UT, Maureen in MI, Deborah in CA, Kathy in IA, Natalie in NC, Abi in NC, Karen in PA, Traci in NV, Marie in OH, Melissa in OK, Danielle in VA, Felicity in Canada, Carla in IL, Jayne in CA, Christina in WA, Michelle in Canada, Emily in KS, Ruby in NY, Genny in NV, Jennings in CA, Selma in NY, Heidi in NJ, Cheryl in IL, Susan in MA, Emma in Canada, Anne Sofie in Norway, Cate in Australia, Jana in MA, Heidi in NJ, Melissa in OK, Erica in CO, Rafidah in Singapore, Lillian in Canada, Michelle in IL, Dorothy in PA, Angela in CA, Maryann in CT, Jeri in TX, Dian in Canada, Amy in CO, Nobuko in Japan, Eleanor in NY, Brooke in CA, Shelane in FL, Elaine in WA, Katherine in WA, Ann in IL, Chanina in Israel, Darrell in MO, Kristin in IL, Cindy in SC, Constance in MD, Sidney in NC, Elizabeth in Canada, Anne in MA, Susan in IL, Patricia in VA, Sarah in NC, Lisa in VA, Valerie in UT, Victoria in MO, Jennifer in WA, Paulette in IN, Barbara in IL, Wendy in WI, Susan in NH, Eileen in CA, Megan in TX, Sonicka in OR, Dawn in ND, Chiho in NH, Sylvia in MO, Julia in TN, Jadqueline in NY, Kate in MA, Laura in Canada, Terry in NY, Carrie in CO, Mary in PA, Kim in TN, Denise in GA, Ellen in CO, Michael in CT, Cynthia in MN, Lani in AK, Charlene in CA, Kimberly in TX, Hildegunn in Norway, Barbara in CA, Marilyn in PA, Ingalill in Sweden, Tanya in Canada, Stacey in NY, Corie in MO, April in Canada, Michelle in WI, Renee in WA, Theresa in MD, Miriam in Canada, Deb in OH, Susan in AK, Amber in NM, Allison in CA, Benne in TN, Carol in PA, Stephanie in TX, Jessica in VA, Leslie in NY, Deranda in AK, Anne in CA, Darcie in WV, Ruth in MO, Anna Marie in MO, Donna in MI, Sarah in TX, Tommye in GA, Leah in Australia, Megan in OH, Monica in OH, Lisa in CT, Amy in TX, Allison in NY, Danielle in NY, Natsu in Japan, Janet on OR, Aporanee in VA, Alicia in CT, Karen in CA, Evelyn in CA, Suzanne in MI, Emily in RI, Sheila in PA, Leanne in PA, Alisha in TX, Christina in NJ, Claudia in CA, Kay in IN, Barbara in PA, Lise in FL, Elaine in NY, Sam in CA, Christi in TX, Ashley in SC, Sue in MD, Dawn’l in MN, Erica in OK and Jamie in PA.
Have a great weekend and I hope you find time to knit and/or crochet at some point in the next few days!
Sheri readyforaweekend.You,too?
My mother taught me how to knit and crochet when I was very young, mainly to keep me out of her projects. I used to like to frog for her… whether she needed it or not. 🙂 I used to love to crochet more but now I mostly knit.
I learned to knit as a small child, and was about 25 when I taught myself how to crochet. I remember being amazed at how easy it was to do.
Love them both, but do more knitting now that I am addicted to socks. Crocheted socks aren’t as nice as the knit ones.
I like to alternate as crochet is easier on my hands and have a few projects lined up.
I don’t understand the stigma that some people put on crochet, love them both.
knitted since I was ~5, taught myself to crochet in college. I’m a knitter, crochet if I have to.
I think I learned to crochet really soon after I learned to knit…my mom crochets (she can’t learn to knit, even though I tried to teach her), so it was kind of natural that I learned at some point.
I actually just learned!! I had tried before, but couldn’t get it. Then last week at the beach my mom taught me again and it finally clicked. I’ve been working on a blanket for my cat http://www.flickr.com/photos/jadielady/4803001760/
Crocheting is more my thing…do love knitting though…but crocheting is more fun for me and have made hundreds of various things for different charities ..love to do for others
I think I learned to crochet the same year that I learned to knit over 35 years ago. Mom crocheted, grandma knitted and there was a summer break in grade school when I was constantly looking for something new to learn. I think knitting, crochet, embroidery and sewing were taught that year. I still crochet baby things especially blankets/afghans, but my primary love is knitting.
sadly no, not really. I try but am thinking of actually really learning soon. The one hand needle thing confuses me! 🙂
I learned to crochet first in 07′, then knitting in 08′, then spinning in 09′. I am just addicted to fiber in general! 😉
I just FINALLY learned to crochet today. I could do a single chain for casting on–no problem. But the rest befuddled me. Today, someone suggested tensioning the yarn with my left hand and lo and behold–I am a happy hooker!
Have you seen this quote before? Probably.
Take your needle, my child, and work at your pattern; it will come out a rose by and by.
Life is like that – one stitch at a time taken patiently and the pattern will come out all right like the embroidery.
~Oliver Wendell Holmes
I have been crocheting for over 30 years. A neighbor gave me my first hook and yarn, taught me to make a granny square, and I was on my way. Of course, it helped that I had two aunts who crocheted to help and encourage me. I always wanted to learn to knit, and three years ago a crochet friend taught me. I do both, plus I sew, embroider, cross stitch, and a few other things on occassion. Right now I’m designing some Christmas items in crochet while knitting iPod and cellphone pouches 🙂
Have a crafty day!
Wow! Lots of new followers. That’s great. I learned crochet as a young adult and have used it all through my knitting as edging, mostly. When I want to do an afghan I use crochet because it goes so much faster. Also have made a couple crocheted baby sweaters, but I’m a knitter and always will be, with an appreciation for crochet. Love the new granny squares that are showing up with a round pattern and also octogon shapes. Great for using leftovers for afghans.
I only crochet to finish knitted objects. Crocheting and I usually don’t get along, but I do like the way shrimp stitch looks on edgings for tank tops.
I was a crocheter before I learned how to knit. One day I figured out how to read a basic pattern and I made a vest, then a sweater. Kept going from there!
knitting first for me, from my high school days when the big mohair sweaters were in style, and, the only affordable way to get one was to knit. I crochet but rarely, now it is more to add a little row on a sweater edge. Now my grandmother was serious about crochet made afghans to sell to help support her family, along with the beaded bags. I have two of those, such tiny beads and stitches. I think one was from a kit that included the lining and purse frame. I have some of her doilies too. in my younger days, I lightly sewed them onto the hem of my jean skirt. My mother had told me that her mother (my grandmother) would go into a store, look closely at a sweater and remember the stitch and pattern, and then duplicate it at home. not a gift that I inherited .
Wow! How do you get all of that done. You must have some amazing fairy helpers in the shop.
My grandma taught me to crochet, but it never caught on. My item always began to either grow and shrink. It was the turning at the end of the row that I still can’t figure out. I do like to crochet in the round, like doilies. But guess what. No one uses them anymore. the ONE I made is under the fish bowl.
A crochet hook in my hand is a really ugly thing! LOL I’ve had a number of people try to teach me and to the person they walked away mumbling to themselves and shaking their heads. Must be my left-handedness. So, I stick to knitting. I would however, love to learn to crochet a simple edge to finish blankets. There is a young woman in our knitting group who started out crocheting, she has a lot of patience, maybe I can bribe her with yarn…..
My grandmother taught me to crochet granny squares when I was a young girl. I’m fine crocheting as long as there is no shaping! I like to knit more and I have more options.
I could crochet before I could read but learned to knit only 6 years ago. So over 45 years of a love affair with yarn.
I do both crafts. According to my mother, I taught myself to knit when I was five years old. I vaguely remember looking at one of her books and mimicking the illustrations. A year later, I taught myself to crochet by following an illustrated book as well. Naturally, being a little kid, I worked out my own way of doing things. I know I purl backwards now, but I don’t really care as long as the finished product comes out right. As a child, I preferred crochet to knitting. It was quicker, I could make cute toys, and it seemed to be easier for my little hands to wield a hook than two clumsy needles. These days I do both and I like each craft for its own inherent strengths and weaknesses. I still prefer crocheted toys over knitted ones though.
I do crochet, and take spells. I love it sometimes, find it too bulky and too much of a “yarn eater” at other times…
I can crochet but I think knitting is much easier. I can always see where I need to put my needle next.
I started out my fiber life with crochet, and I do still return to it once in a while — I find it’s faster than knitting, for me, but I like the look of a knitted fabric more than crocheted. Then again, there are some great new collections of crocheted motifs in bookstores now, and small squares/hexagons/rounds could be ideal commuting projects. My mother also crocheted a huge (full sized bed) granny square afghan in Red Heart years ago, and when the temperatures dip in mid-autumn, I love putting it on my bed — it’s happy and bright, and sleeping under it reminds me of all of the work and love she put into making it.
I actually started with crochet, but love knitting more! I’m a very tight crocheter, so use that when I crochet a potholder. It also works well for the hyperbolic crochet coral reef pieces, too!
I did make one fabulous piece for my brother, a ‘trip around the world’ modified granny pattern afghan. Each square had holes only in the corners, and there were 457 4″ squares. I sent it to the State Fair, and it won 1st prize!!! What a happy shock!
Yes I crochet also! I taught myself at the age of 7-It helped me make presents for relatives- furniture doilys were popular then. In the 60’s granny square vests, ponchos and hats were popular. It was a way to earn extra money in college. Now I mostly quilt and knit but crochet is helpful for finishing.
Yes, I know how to crochet. I taught myself years ago when I was about 9 or 10 . My aunt sent me a “learn to crochet” kit. I believe I made a lamb or kitten. I remember having lots of fun (and lots of frustration) crocheting.
My mother doesn’t crochet, but does knit (for years and years), but I didn’t learn to knit until I was in my later 20’s.
I much prefer knitting to crochet — I prefer the fabric that is produced by knitting. I agree with the previous post by Robin — crochet is very helpful for finishing techniques.
I learned to crochet as a small child of about 6 from my grandmother who was a constant in my life until she passed away at 93. I still miss her to this day – she loved seeing all my hand work. I don’t crochet much any more but I have seen some nice things being designed for crochet. Never enough time to do all we want to do but it’s fun to try ! Melody
I learned to crochet when I was 9. I tried to learn from my mom, but that didn’t work well. I borrowed one of her books that had directions and swiped some yarn and a needle and practiced. I thought it was very easy and I made my first project (a clown). A few years ago, I decided I really wanted to learn to knit, just for the difference. Again, I am self taught, I read a lot of books so that I could knit. Now, I like to knit more than crochet, but I still go back to crochet because there are some things I am just better at making with one needle and yarn (like toys and afghans – they go way faster it seems). Glad that you are enjoying your foray into crochet.
Let’s put it this way: I try not to crochet.
All kidding aside, I taught myself to crochet in college, but I don’t like it as much. Maybe I’m doing something wrong, but it makes my hand hurt. I like the look of knitted things better, too.
Gwen
A babysitter taught me the beginnings of crochet when my Grandfather passed away when I was 8. My great-aunt filled in some of the holes and then rest was experimentation. Didn’t learn to knit until I was 10!
I learned to knit when I was about 8 years old. I learned to crochet when I was in my early 20’s. I have done both for many years. 🙂
retaught myself to crochet this year, and I just love it. I knit and crochet, crochet definately goes faster. Love to crochet dishcloths and baby blankets and granny square blankets.
I was taught to do a double crochet granny square by a cousin of mine, and then a landlady taught me more. I prefer short, simple projects that I can get done in a day or two. Anything longer than that may take me years to finish up.
The same landlady who taught me more about crochet also offered to teach me to knit, but I refused because it looks like it takes way too long to finish anything. I learned the basics from an encyclopedia and pamphlets that taught crochet and knitting at the same time, but I didn’t start knitting seriously until a few years ago when a dear friend of mine saw a poncho that she absolutely loved.
Now, knitting still takes me a long time, but I enjoy it more. It’s usually relaxing and it’s made me many many friends.
I learned to crochet (left-handed) from my right-handed cousin. We sat facing each other on the school bus, and she taught me. I won blue ribbons on several of my projects which were entered in the local stock show and fair when I was in high school so I have been crocheting for a lot of years! Since I picked up knitting again a few years back, I haven’t done any crochet, but it is nice to know I can if I need to!
Belated congratulations to all the new Loopy Groupies! Yep, I crochet. I taught myself a few years ago after the woman who ran my LYS (sadly, now closed) started pointing out all the cute things she was crocheting. Since I’m a slow knitter and crochet is fast, I tend to use it when I’m in a hurry (last minute gifts), and I also appreciate that it’s not so scary when you have to rip back!
I crochet and knit 😉 I taught myself to crochet first, then to knit ~2 years later. I love to do both, but when I need to whip up a few quick gifts, crochet is the first thing I think of. I love to knit socks 😀
I was taught both knitting and crocheting by my Grandmother when I was eleven. I mostly knit, but now and then a project will catch my interest and I’ll pick up a crochet hook. I almost always crochet baby stuff if I need a gift. Those baby blankets go much faster with a crochet hook!
I taught myself to crochet in 1980 as a newlywed when I decided to crochet “Gifts in an Evening” bathmats for all my new in-laws for Christmas. Each one took me Days!
I’m left-handed and had as a reference that little Coats and Clark “Learn to Knit, Crochet, Embroider and Tat” booklet that sold for $.35 in the sixties. I sat down with that and started in 6 weeks before Christmas. Little did I know that the bathmat was a post double crochet magnum opus. I ended up driving in to town – 50 miles round trip – to an LYS to get a lesson that the poor woman just couldn’t explain on the phone. :0)
She saved my bacon that day. I made half a dozen bathmats before my hands gave out -Aunt Lydia’s Rug yarn got heavy!
I still use the pattern to this day and I teach my students to post DC using that pattern.
I now crochet left handed and right handed – the same with knitting.
I have taught crochet and knitting classes at UNM Continuing Education for at least 5 years. Love every minute of it.
Jeannie