Craft Corner

Took some images of the other way I sometimes hold my yarn @Phoenix_Rising maybe @CheerBear holds hers differently too.

PR - I am also struggling to find the best way to hold the yarn. I still can't figure out how to hold it so that I can keep a consistent tension and it moves properly through my fingers.

This is something that changes over time too. It will take some time for a hold to feel comfortable and become second nature when you pick up a hook and some yarn. I changed the way I hold the hook and the yarn about 5 years ago because hand pain had stopped me from crocheting and I just wasnt' prepared to let that happen. Do rest your hands, and look up some exercises for crocheters so you can start the right way with knowing how to do the relief exercises right from the start.

Okey dokey here goes: FYI - the images have been filtered to better show the yarn (my hand isn't really that colour)

Yarn is held over pointer finger with end held between second finger and thumb. The direction of the winds on the finger is important to stop the yarn falling off. If the wind goes the other direction, it falls off too easily. Move pointer finger and hold and release ring and little finger to tension yarn as you work.

Image shows the inside of the hand holding the yarn between second finger and thumb where the work is done, and how the ring and little finger close gently over the yarn to tension it as work progresses. When more yarn is needed, the pointer finger moves away from the thumb and the ring and little fingers release slightly.
When enough yarn is available between the thumb and pointer finger, hold the ring and little finger over the yarn more tightly (no need to squeeze) again to stop it moving. As the yarn between the pointer finger and thumb is used up, the pointer finger closes the gap between itself and the thumb.

Shows the releasing of the ring and little finger and the pointer finger moving away from thumb to allow the yarn to flow through the hand.

View from under my hand showing the yarn hold from a different direction.

Will come back for the yarn specs. sorry that's probably the part you wanted most.

I'll try my best to help @Phoenix_Rising maybe @CheerBear will have some suggestions too. CheerBear???

PR Also, could you maybe tell me (using very small words) exactly what I should be looking for in a ball of yarn? My hook is 4.25mm (G/6). I went to spotlight today and after looking at a bazillion balls of yarn, I realised I really don't know what I'm looking at.

Hook information:
When finances allow, I'd suggest you see if you can get a few more hooks in different sizes, along with some stitch markers if you don't have any yet. They really, really help with keeping ones' place in all sorts of ways. + a bodkin or 2 for weaving in ends.

If you dream of making small creatures with thinner yarn than you have now, smaller hooks.
However, if you think you'd like to use some thicker yarn, H, I and J are good sizes to add to the collection. Be careful of prices though, you can get some full sets of hooks for the same price as buying 3 or 4 singly.

Hook sizes also help you adjust your tension, if you're a loose worker, a smaller hook can be helpful. If a tight worker, a larger hook size will be useful.

Hook size can be a limiter on the choices of yarn size. Following a pattern can also limit your hook and yarn size to the tension the pattern requires (one can go up or down a hook size to get the right tension but generally speaking).

Yarn
The yarn chosen will depend on the use it's going to be put to.
Cotton or cotton/acrylic blends are best for wet work like washing up/ shower cloths. Cotton can be hard to work with as it does not have the stretch of wool and wool blends. It doesn't bother me though.
Toys like @CheerBear makes usually require stretch, so wool or wool/ something blend.

Yarn Label

To identify yarn and the relevant hook size the label should tell you the details.

This page shows the details of this yarn Spotlight Moda Vera Information :

The needles size shown here indicates it would be suitable for your 4.25mm hook, exact matches sometimes don't happen with the fractional part (.25mm) and for our purposes we won't go into the when it does matter.

The yarn is a 50% cotton 50% acrylic blend as per the front of the label.

@Phoenix_Rising you can choose a project pattern to make something and get the yarn to fit the pattern, or you can go feel and squish all the balls of yarn and get something you fall in love with and then decide to make it into 'something'. (I confess to doing that quite a bit).

Do you have any inkling of what you'd like to make? That would help reducing choices I think.

Also, a wider choice of probably larger hook sizes will make those choices much easier for you too. *nods*

Gosh I hope I've helped - I'm not that good with short descriptions ...

Hi @Former-Member @CheerBear and anyone else interested in my crocheting adventure,

Here is my latest creation.

I am feeling quite proud of this effort! I only ended up with one extra stitch, and looking at it now, I think that may be because I made an oopsy in the very first row.

@Former-Member you are being so superly duperly helpful in this adventure!!! I'm going to read through your posts and make comments as I go, so this might all end up a bit disjointed...

• I think I will invest in a set of hooks. I was contemplating this at the start, but I thought I'd better just get one to begin with in case I discovered that crocheting wasn't my thing. I will also get some stitch markers and a bobkin (right after I find out what a bobkin is ).
• I plan on making toys...lots of toys...all sorts of toys. I super want to make a baby dragon. @CheerBear am I ready to make a baby dragon yet??? Am I ready to make ANY toys yet???
• Ok, so with yarn, the pictures on the labels I was looking at had knitting needles and I wasn't sure if there was some secret crocheting thing I needed to know when figuring out what yarn goes with what sized hook.
• I am going to study your pictures of how you hold the yarn - super big thank you for those! I can already see that you seem to be wrapping it around your pointer finger differently to how I've been doing. I do find that my left hand gets a bit tired so I do want to make sure I get a good technique happening. It's a bit like my violin playing - bad technique can cause injury so it's worth putting the effort into getting it right.
• I super love all the positive feedback you give me @Former-Member - you are super encouraging of a little wonky turtle's efforts with her little wonky crochet sort-of-square.
• I think I have solved the mystery of my too-many stitches. I think I was getting confused about where the top of my work was and where the side was, and I was making a new stitch or two on the side instead of turning to begin the next row. I know, I know, you all wish you were as clever as I so obviously am! Oh well, I've been saying for a long time that my brain is so puddled these days, I don't really know which way is up.

Um...I THINK that just about covers everything. I've used up all the blue yarn now, so I'm planning to take a trip to spotlight tomorrow. Oh yeah...I'm not sure whether using a single colour makes much difference to me, but the fact that the blue yarn was thicker definitely helped a lot! Superly duperly big thank you again for your help @Former-Member.

Well done @Phoenix_Rising that is truly awesome work. It's almost perfect!

What an amazingly speedy progression. I am very proud for you, please be very very proud of yourself. I admit I had a wee tear in my eye at your success when I saw that image. I have all your swatch images on my desktop and compared them, awesome, just awesome work.

The Oopsey - yes, it appears you added an extra stitch on the side, which you have identified, but you then included it all the way to the end without missing or adding any other stitches. Fabulous!

I am so, so glad to have been useful in helping you get into this crochet adventure Phoenix_Rising. A skill like this will be of enormous value to you for so many reasons. Mastery - you're mastering new techniques!

Hooks - yes, it was indeed wise to see how the adventure went before jumping in and purchasing items you may never use again. I have a thing for stitch markers, the pretty colours, I need them all !!! LOL

The bodkin is a shortish, fatish needle with a big eye, for sewing yarny things up. You can see some on the right hand side of @CheerBear's tool kit beside that awesome dragon. They come in various shapes and sizes and made out of plastic or metal.

Toys sounds like a wonderful idea. A dragon huh, I shall go looky at the possibles while I await CB's wisdoms on thoy patterns. Because CheerBear will know more about toy patterns than I do, so I'd like to hear from her if she's got time. Can you do some internet searching for something that appeals to you PR? Free crochet toy patterns abound.

I found quite a few, discarded all but this one for various reasons - see what you think about the appearance Ravelry Baby Dragon Pattern

This one is made by working in the round, which is a new technique for you. Would you like to learn a new technique or would you prefer to make a larger something using the skills you've just mastered? Which would be more comfortable for you?

Knitting needles sizes and crochet hook sizes:
You are correct, they are not precisely the same, but for most purposes, they are close enough. Because I know my tension and how I like a piece to look and feel when it's done, I will often go a bit bigger with the hook size compared to the needle size, but with thinner yarn, it's good to stay close to what it says.

Australian labels do not tend to give the full extend of information that UK, US and EU labels do, unfortunately. Australia (Spotlight & LIncraft) are really behind the times with their minimal information.

Holding the yarn
I also have another couple of images further back in the thread with the way I currently hold the yarn, so do try both and see how it works for you. The direction the yarn winds around either the pointer, or the little finger is the same so it stays on better. Also, it's needs adjusting often, so don't be concerned about it if you keep needing to readjust your hold.

How I envy you your violin playing, and how glad I am that you have it. I began playing the viola years ago. The stress placed on a neck injury meant it was impossible for me hold the viola and I had to give it up. You are correct, and I like your analogy, good technique is iimportant right from the beginning. In the beginning, you will also be holding your hand quite stiffly, allow yourself to relax. Especially relax the shoulders so you are not raising them to raise your work to see it.

I'm also pleased that the thicker yarn helped you see and feel things better. YOu have achieved a great deal in a short time. Very proud of for you. (if I may be allowed to be proud of what is your work)

You are so most welcome for the help PR. so welcome. Thank you for being an excellent student. You are a quick learner and attentive to detail, I like that in someone I'm helping learn a new craft.

So, it looks like it's circles next. Cool. You can make baskets and bags and all manner of useful things as well as toys, out of circles.

have a very pleasant night dreaming of the toys that you will soon be making and cuddling up to.

Good morning all

My next suggestion once you're comfortable with single crochet and counting stitches, would be to practice increase and decrease which I am sure there will be a YouTube tutorial for and I don't think will take very long to get the hang of seeing as you've got those stitches now. Once you've got that covered I would move on to a round shape possibly by youtubing and following a tutorial. Like this awesome guy https://youtu.be/vvKseXd09u4 (who I had pinned as a potential pocket crew member). In saying that, SunShower may have another suggestion that might be better suited, so I don't want to overload or give you conflicting info. I too don't think you're very far away from making a baby dragon ☺

If you're interested in hooks, I picked up this seriously fab set from eBay for about $15. It has done everything I have needed it to (I got it for my second blanket and have used it for everything since). It came with needles, stitch markers (but I'm fussy with them so I replaced them with a brand I prefer), a tape measure, scissors, a stitch counter etc. It was so worth it and I think there are some floating around that are the same or very similar.

These hooks range in size from 2mm to 6mm in .5mm increments (from memory) and they can do everything from toys to blankets. I added some bits and took some others out but this is pretty much my can-make-almost-anything-with-it crochet tool kit.

I have a different approach with matching yarn and hooks. I go "ooooh that's shiny/soft/pretty/fluffy etc" and then "ummm, maybe that sized hook will work" and I see how I go adjusting as I need. Science is not my strong point 😉

I think I remember reading that you misplace your hook sometimes @Former-Member. Me too! It feels like I bought so many individual 3.5mm hooks while I was making my first blanket that I almost could have bought a set of clover hooks :face_with_rolling_eyes: This was my "am I responsible enough to not lose hooks and therefore be able to own fancy ones one day?" set. I've had them for more than 6 months now and they're all still there, which shocks me haha

You asked about my little container. I was given it by someone in a crafty group so I'm not sure where it came from. From memory I think she said it was a pill box from a $2 kind of shop. It's SO handy and it fits most of the little bits I use perfectly and it tucks away in the side of my hook case which is such a bonus. I wonder if a chemist may have one.

I love that you said you were slowly moving toward the idea of amigurumi (my plan to have the entire world overtaken by cute little yarn creatures is working 😆). I can very much understand the "what am I going to do with them" thing. What I do with mine is look at them and hold them and feel good inside for it, and that to me is one of the best doings 😊

I am really looking forward to seeing your project if you feel like sharing it. Persistence paying off is a great feeling 💗 Thank you for your encouragement and for the crafty-inspiration 😊

I have a day ahead and better run now I've finished writing this novel.

Happy crafting all ☺

@CheerBear Ooooh I'm super glad you are here (or were here a minute ago!). I want to go yarn shopping and I didn't know whether I should get another ball of just any cheap yarn to practice with, or start-toy-making yarn (which I'm kind-of hoping isn't too much more expensive than just-any-old-yarn). It sounds like I might get another random ball to practice increasing and decreasing and going around in circles (I think I have quite a lot of life experience of going around in circles ). I will check out your ebay suggestion when the picture appears. I was thinking of buying a set of hooks today too, but if I can get them cheaper from ebay, then I guess I will (and keep practicing my crocheting while also practicing waiting for hooks to arrive ). This is so superly duperly exciting!!!

Morning Crafters! I knew you'd know your stuff when it came to amigurumi @CheerBear!

That Narwhal tutorial is absolutely brilliant. Her method of doing a 'cinch circle' that most others call a 'magic circle' is so well and skillfully done. Isn't she so clear and precise with her instructions, and look at the way she holds the yarn in those 2 fingers, I don't know how she does that!

@Phoenix_Rising I think CheerBear's suggestions are awesome, as I knew they would be, and making that narwhal will give you the next set of skills, and some practice, to move you closer still to making a baby dragon. CheerBear, you, Phoenix_Rising and Jayda there have inspired me to try this today. I'm going to follow her instructions and make a whale, it may or may not end up as a narwhal with horn, 'cos - pieces.

That is a very cool kit you have there CheerBear, and an excellent price. All those tools are necessary inclusions. eBay is a good suggestion too. I used to get tools and weird craft objects from thrift stores too. Often the people don't know what they are, and you can get some extras at really good prices.

The first Tunisian hook I ever saw I found at a thrift shop, the ladies there had no idea what it was, and nor did I, they were going to throw it out when I asked if I could buy it. They gave it to me because they had no idea about it and I went home and researched it and found a new technique which I now love and use often.

I shall check when I am next at the chemist, they have all sorts of keepers. I shall keep my eyes open for such a thing in my travels now. Thank you CheerBear.
Hmmm now I understand about the amigurumi toys ... overtake the world ... ... I shall look at it as learning a new skill and take it from there and who knows where it might end up.

After another 15 more do and undos last night, I have completed another of the inserts for the side sections of my tabard. Now to sort the next side insert section. I'm making up the design as I go along, so it needs rethinking sometimes as each part is done. I have to put it on the model and work out how much more needs doing. I surely will share an image once I have done it and blocked it. It may turn out just awful, or it might be interestingly different. I'm good with interestingly different.

I do so enjoy that we can inspire each other to reach for our crafting tools of choice. A good feeling.

Wishes for a pleasant day with some crafting thoughts and maybe doings as well.