CheerBearSenior Contributor
Craft Corner
A place to chat and share all things crafty!
What's your favourite craft? Is there anything you're working on at the moment? What would you like to create/work on (I have heaps of "one day" project patterns and ideas that I know I will probably never get around to, but it's nice to imagine)? I'd love to hear!
I have absolutely no artistic side to me and stick figures are the extent of my drawing ability, but I really enjoy learning and trying out new crafts. I learnt crochet during a stay in a prevention and recovery centre and it's something I pick up often when I am feeling blue, I need a distraction or I'm just a little bored. I've tried paper crafts too, although I didn't really get far with anything. Sharpies are some of my best friends and when I find my hands need to move I have a collection of smooth rocks that I draw on (different coloured circles) which often relaxes me. Sometimes I dust off the sewing machine and sew as well. I walk around spotlight for a fun outing 😉
Looking forward to hearing from you all 🙂
shows valuable info that can be on a yarn label. useful to keep your labels so you 1. can get the same yarn again, & 2. know how many balls you used to make an item.
Palm of my hand - shows how I hold the end of the yarn between my thumb and forefinger, while the yarn travels over the back of hand, around little finger and back to the ball. 
Shows back of my hand, how yarn travels from thumb and forefinger over the back of fingers and around little finger. Fingers tighten and release as the yarn is needed. Takes practice to get your own hold on the yarn. 
Holding the first chain loop on the hook between thumb and forefinger. The thumb nail is really handy for helping hold and stretch the loop for ease of working it. I hold the hook the way you would your eating utensil that is not a fork or spoon (disallowed word) as it's more restful on my arthritic hands. You can also hold it like a pencil.
Stuff and things handy for crochet (yarn work). Here I have marked the beginning and end stitches of the starting chain with 1. a green locking stitch marker, and 2, a piece of differently coloured waste yarn. Doing this for however long you need to, will keep track of your end stitches so you don't miss, or add, stitches. The turning chain is not counted as a stitch. Mark your stitches before making the turning chain. Try to always make your turning chains in the same direction, that is, either before, or after, you turn your work. (I do the turning chain before turning my work, it's easier to remember and seems neater to my eye.)
The yarn marker id's the end stitch for us as the first row is worked. The green locking stitch marker id's the beginning stitch.
Shows hook through the two upper loops of the previous single crochet (sc). The loop on the hook is the turning chain made before I turned the piece to work the next row. See how the yarn is being held away from me, at the back of the work. 
Single crochet being formed in the first stitch of the second row. Green stitch marker id's the very first stitch. 
Stitch markers show the ends of the previous row. YOu might want to put new ones in this row, and then move the others up on the row that follows that, or you might be able to work with them staying in the first row. Whatever works for you. Make sure 1. that the marker won't accidently fall out as you work and 2. that you can actually get the market out when you've finished. 
See how it looks like this is the last stitch on the hook, but the yarn marker tells a different story. The stitch with the yarn marker is in fact the last stitch of the row and you need to work a single crochet into it. then do a turning stitch and turn your work to do the next row. 
