Hello! I'm new here and new to crocket and could use some basic tips!

sassysandy wrote

on Feb 14, 2009 4:01 PM

Hey! Sandy from Charleston SC! Don't like it but Mom won't move to the place I love, NC. I spent about $17 for two cd's, one on crocket and one for knitting. Trying to figure out which one I wanted to learn. I already knew how to make a loop chain but learned awhile back that you have to wrap the thread around the needle before pulling it though. I have almost finished a tan/multicolored striped cover from Mom. I had to tear it apart three times. One side was much wider than the other. Have to watch closer to make the same size loops! Wondering if someone can answer a little question that is embarrassing to ask. How do you add thread without the knot showing? one knot pulls apart so I double knot it and some of the knots show though, not that she'll notice but I want to learn and to make it better. Forget the directions, I can' even stand to look at them. I'm only interested in afghans and soon I hope a baby blanket or two! I really dread trying with a tiny needle, that will really take some patients and slow work. My 86 yr old Aunt just made a baby blanket. She's going to show me how to do the two color zig zag design but theres others that I like much better for a baby. I read that you can choket up and down on the same side or flip it. I tried up and down and it's like you are doing it backwards and I can't do it. Any help greatly appreciated. Thanks!!

sassysandy wrote

on Feb 14, 2009 4:02 PM

ps the cd's were a total waste of money. They show very little and I've already seen the same thing on line! do you know how much thread I could have bought with that money? LOL

PaulineL wrote

on Feb 14, 2009 9:41 PM

Hi Sandy,

Have you checked out the how-to crochet & knit videos, mostly on Youtube? There are even some on how to join yarns, lots of ways to do that. Most say don't knot for the reasons you've discovered.

One tip I read was to leave half inch tails on the wrong side after you do a join and then use a *small* drop of fabric glue to tack it down. I haven't tried this, yet, 'cause I'm out of the glue, but it sounds like a good idea.

Pauline

sassysandy wrote

on Feb 14, 2009 10:55 PM

I thought I'd watched everything I could find, quite a few on youtube. Wonder how in the world do you join yarn without tieing it together? you have me very curious now. Do you know how to do it? I did think about leaving enough to run it though so it does't show but I was thinking it will just end up sticking out. I have a small bottle of no sew from walmart. Used it sewing clothes sometimes, but seem like it would make a hard spot. I will try it! you never know? I can't believe I have two about 4 rows of beige and two rows of multicolor and I'm going to run out of thread! to run to the store to finish is crazy. But I need it for the fringe too! which I'm wondering how many pieces to cut for that? Learn as you go! Thanks for the reply!

Boupie2 wrote

on Feb 14, 2009 11:06 PM

Welcome. I am sorry the cd's were a waste but now you know. As for changing colors without tying you can do it but you have to pay attention and be careful with it. Here's what to do:

Start the last stitch of the old color but don't finish it (leave two loops on the hook) and finish the stitch with the new color (yarn over with the new color and then pull it through the two loops on the hook). You have just changed colors and you just need to continue through the pattern as you usually would. The hardest part with this is you need to hold the tail of the new color on the back until you have done a few stitches so you don't accidentally pull it all the way through and you have to drop the old color behind the work (however you can stitch over the tails as you go so you won't have so much to weave in later). This leaves no knots and is not really noticable in the work (if you look really closely you might notice but most people won't see the color change. This is how you do colorwork too.

I hope that helps (sorry it was so long). Good luck with the project!

PaulineL wrote

on Feb 15, 2009 12:01 AM

Boupie has good advice.

Google for "Russian join" for another technique, nifty if your're joining the same color, fussy if it's a new color. I don't know if there's a video, but I've seen an explanation with lots of photos.

sassysandy wrote

on Feb 15, 2009 7:18 AM

Sounds reasonable. I know with the colors I'm working with it would show though if I have to pull it though but whatever looks better is good for me! Thanks for taking the time to give me a great tip! I appreciate it so much!

sassysandy wrote

on Feb 15, 2009 7:19 AM

Thanks I'll google it!