Crochet Help Please

[jenrose66]

I'm fairly new to crocheting and I've tought myself using the Debbie Stoller "Happy Hooker" book and You Tube. I've made a blanket I'm happy with and I've done a couple granny squares.

Anyway I'm working on a stuffed Bunny...the bedfellow project on page 251 if anyone is familiar with the book. I just can't get started. The directions are straight forward so I don't know what the problem is.

The directions say:

*work all slip stitches into back loops of stitches throughout*

Chain 3 and join with slip stitch in first chain.

Round one: 1 sl st in same ch, 2 sl st in each of the next 2 ch do not join, six slip stitches, work in a spiral.

I get the chain 3 and then I'm lost. I've seriously spent like 1 hour trying to get these six stitches. I'm not sure how the spiral should look. I'm also just having a really hard time making out the make up of the chains once I join them in the round.

Anyone have any words of wisdom?

 

[dare2dream]

OK jenrose here is my wisdom.

This item will be made in a spiral or kind of like a tube, it will not be flat like your blanket.

Do you understand what a slip stitch is? You place your needle into the loop of the chain you are working on and then draw a thread through the loop in the chain and through the loop on you hook.

Do you understand work all slip stitches into back loops of stitches throughout? This means when inserting your hook through the loop of your work you will just insert the hook through the back loop not the usual front loop and back loop.

Now here we go. Chain three. Circle around to the first chain you made and make a slip stitch in that chain (back loop only), then make another slip stitch in the same hole. Then move on to the next chain and made two slip stitches in that chain. Then do two slip stitches in the final chain. This will complete row 1 with 6 slip stitches.

When working in a round here is a helpful hint to keep track of the beginning of your rounds. You will need a separate piece of scrap yarn (or thread) as a marker. In this bunny project after you complete the 6th slip stitch place the end of the marker inside of the 'tube' you are making close to your needle. When you make your next stitch in the 'tube' let the loose marker hang to the outside of the 'tube' and draw your next stitch for row two. The marker will be 'caught' in your work but can be removed when you are finished or moved as your work continues.

When you complete row two you will move the marker from the front of your work to inside the 'tube'. After row three the marker will go back again outside the 'tube'.

It helps if the marker is a different color than what you are using for the bunny. The same color will work too if that is all you have. The marker can even be another type of thread. It really doesn't matter because the marker will be removed from the finished product. You can move it along the way.

This is very hard to explain without pictures but it is necessary to help you keep track of your rows as you go along. The marker will probably not stay in a straight line up the bunnys side it will probably spiral a bit but that is normal. If you get confused and the marker shifts a stitch or two it probably will not affect your finished bunny.

Hope this helps a little.
Good luck and happy crocheting.

 

[EthansMom]

Hi Jenrose!

I don't crochet so I can't help you. But I do knit... and I've found the folks over at http://www.ravelry.com to be an immense help with all fibery crafts (crochet, knitting, spinning, weaving, etc..).

Ravelry is still in it's beta version so you'll need to request to be invited, but you'll get an email inviting you within a day or two. It's a wonderful (free!) resource for help with instructions, discussing your hobby, access to a great database of patterns, getting information about events, etc...

My Ravelry id is teresajs in case you're looking for a familiar face!

Teresa

 

[jenrose66]

Thanks for the replies...I will try the ravelry website.

Thanks for discussing the purpose of the stitch marker. The directions do say to use a stitch marker while making rounds and I didn't really understand what the stitch marker would do for me. I have a hard time visualizing where the project is going, I find video and pix of works in progress the most helpful.

My problem is once i join the chains with the slip stich...everything is so small and I can't quite tell where to put my hook...not like there are that many options...yet I don't get anything that resembles a tube or spiral, I just get a big knot!

 

[Maridw]

Jenrose,
Here is a link to some more help:

http://crochet.about.com/library/blbackfrontloop.htm

The photo below shows crocheting in the back loop:

What size thread/yarn are you using and what size hook? What you might need to do is increase the hook size until you are comfortable with the stitches that you are doing and then go back to the correct hook size.

 

[jenrose66]

I'm using a pretty big hook; 8mm...thanks for the picture though, it's helpful for a visual. Also...that ravelry site is great, I've only been on it for a few minutes...that's all I've had time for and the site for some reason is blocked at my work but it has a lot of great info.

 

[EthansMom]

I'm using a pretty big hook; 8mm...thanks for the picture though, it's helpful for a visual. Also...that ravelry site is great, I've only been on it for a few minutes...that's all I've had time for and the site for some reason is blocked at my work but it has a lot of great info.

Ravelry is great. Under "Groups", two groups (message sub-boards) that may interest you are "Learn Crochet" for a message board dedicated to folks wanting support while they learn and "Crochet on Ravelry".

Also, check out the great search function under "Patterns". You can use the advanced search function to specify patterns that are only crochet and/or free, that use only certain yarns, etc... It's amazing!

Best of Luck!

 

[MichelleinMaine]

Thanks for the replies...I will try the ravelry website.

Thanks for discussing the purpose of the stitch marker. The directions do say to use a stitch marker while making rounds and I didn't really understand what the stitch marker would do for me.

My problem is once i join the chains with the slip stich...everything is so small and I can't quite tell where to put my hook...not like there are that many options...yet I don't get anything that resembles a tube or spiral, I just get a big knot!

Trying for a totally different visual for the stitch marker. (Or maybe this gets you more confused, lol)

Pretend you're walking in a spiral. The first time around, you are to just walk. Your next loop around, you're supposed to skip. Third time, go back to walking... all that going around in a circle, you kind of lose your place. How do you know when to switch? Conveniently, there is one big ol' tree along your walk. Everytime you go by that, you know you've started a new loop around and it's time to switch.

Your place marker is that tree. Your sign when to switch to the next row listed in the pattern. You can move it up the rows as you go along ( same place, just up closer to your stitching) just to make it easier to follow. (Make any sense?)

As for where to stitch in your chained loop, you may need to chain looser (or use a larger hook when you chain). My gram chains so tight, I don't know how she gets any more stitches in there! You could also just play around with a REALLY big hook (even use your fingers as a "hook" to see how it all goes together before tackling the spiral.

 

[Maridw]

I agree that you might need to chain looser/bigger. It takes practice, but when you pull through, don't pull too tight.

I am like MichelleinMaine's gram, I am a tight crocheter. But then I also crochet with #10 size cotton thread and make Barbie outfits from my own patterns.

 

[MichelleinMaine]

I am like MichelleinMaine's gram, I am a tight crocheter. But then I also crochet with #10 size cotton thread and make Barbie outfits from my own patterns.

Gram's a doilie maker- all thread and tiny hooks. When DS was born, she made DS a layette set- I think it probably would have fit a Barbie better, lol.

 

[Darsa]

Hmm, if from what it sounds like from your post you're making an amigirumi bunny (I have that book around here somewhere, can't remember where!), then it seems like an 8mm hook is WAY too big for that! Is that the size hook it calls for? And are you using worsted weight yarn, or something bulkier?

 

[flying_babyb]

anyone know how to make the amigirumi monkey? Ive been trying to trade for one FOREVER (since crocheting isnt somthing my simple mind can handle, I cant knit either (that made me mad!)). I would love to learn to crochet though.

 

[jenrose66]

Trying for a totally different visual for the stitch marker. (Or maybe this gets you more confused, lol)

Pretend you're walking in a spiral. The first time around, you are to just walk. Your next loop around, you're supposed to skip. Third time, go back to walking... all that going around in a circle, you kind of lose your place. How do you know when to switch? Conveniently, there is one big ol' tree along your walk. Everytime you go by that, you know you've started a new loop around and it's time to switch.

Your place marker is that tree. Your sign when to switch to the next row listed in the pattern. You can move it up the rows as you go along ( same place, just up closer to your stitching) just to make it easier to follow. (Make any sense?)

As for where to stitch in your chained loop, you may need to chain looser (or use a larger hook when you chain). My gram chains so tight, I don't know how she gets any more stitches in there! You could also just play around with a REALLY big hook (even use your fingers as a "hook" to see how it all goes together before tackling the spiral.

Thanks...that actually helps alot. I've been kind of busy the last couple days but now that i've taken a couple days off and gotten some good advice I'm going to give it another try after I put the kids to bed. I'll post pics if I make any progress