Back many years ago, when in high school, I learned to crochet. How times have changed, huh? Several of us would bring our crochet projects to lunch, hurry up and eat and then sit and crochet. About all I could do was single and double crochet and that’s still about all I think I know how to do but this morning, while looking for something else on Ravelry, I came across Vicky Chan’s designs, and I do believe I’m going to have to try some of these. She suggests a cotton fingering weight for both of these, which would be so much cooler than most wools, and would probably be real nice for our extreme heat.
The first one that caught my eye is Jamie. Isn’t it gorgeous? I wonder if it’s hard to make.
Jamie
The second one that I love, probably even more, is Ada.
Ada
Are any of you do both crochet and knit? If so, is crocheting a design such as this harder than knitting? If all I know how to do are single and double crochet stitches, can I do these? I don’t mind looking up instructions . . and I don’t think crochet is any harder than knitting . . I guess my question for myself is: Can I teach this old dog a new trick? 🙂
Linda Mincher says
I’m pretty certain you can teach yourself to crochet again :). When I was a kid my mom taught me to crochet and I could crochet the longest chain in the world. But I couldn’t ever get that second row going! I never touched it again until a few years ago when I decided to teach myself to crochet again – and I did and I enjoy it. I also taught myself to knit a few years ago – though I took a class 25 years ago, that’s all the knitting I had done. I enjoy doing both, but crochet is so much quicker for me and it doesn’t hurt my hands like knitting does. I think I hold my knitting needles too tight. I picked up simple how to books at Joann’s to help me figure out the stitches, along with looking on YouTube, since watching things being done helps me grasp them better. Go for it…you’ll do great!
Sherry V. says
I have crocheted for more than 40 years. I have limited knitting experience (it seems to take me forever to knit anything ) so I stick w/crochet. These designs look intricate but it is just a matter of counting and putting the stitches in the right place. IMHO I think mistakes can be caught quicker in crochet. . . . you don’t have to rip out as much if your count goes astray.
Good luck!
Joyce says
I learned to crochet when I was a child. I made crocheted sleeping bags for my Barbie! 🙂 If you can do single and double crochet, you can easily pick up the other stitches you need. Everything is pretty much based on the same concept. I don’t know how hard it is to get gauge, but you should be able to test it and see. I think crochet rips out much easier than knitting, so it isn’t as bad to take something out and try again…
Cathy says
I do both, although more knitting than crochet these days. I find that crochet goes faster than knitting. It isn’t difficult, at all. If you can do the chains, and the single and double crochet stitches, you’ll easily be able to do the rest, which are variations on those two. You can do it!
Judy D in WA says
Yes, you can teach an old dog. 😉 Start with something simple to get your groove back. Those are both great designs!
Julie says
I have done both knitting and crocheting for years. I think knitting makes a lighter weight project and its easier to spot mistakes. I think for lace such as these patterns that crocheting would be easier than knitting. You have absolutely nothing to lose. Go for it!!! You ‘ll be glad you did.
Vickie in nh says
I’m sure you can do both, my personal difficulty w/crochet is what is the end of the row? this is why I would end up w/a really cute vest but the edges went in and out 🙂 If you figure this out, please share 😉 !!!
Linda Mincher says
Vickie…I have that same problem, so I use stitch markers at the end of each row. It’s the only way I can figure it out, otherwise the sides of my projects end up wonky.
Karen says
I’m in the same boat – I can single & double crochet as long as I don’t have to increase or decrease! I’m sure there are a gazillion utube videos out there to teach a novice crocheter. Love the two patterns you picked – anxious to hear how you do.
Stacey says
I’ve tried both. I’m able to have a more uniform tension with knitting than I am with crocheting.
Someday, though, I would love to crochet snowflakes, bedspreads and luncheon sets. I have collected old crochet patterns for the last two items.
Mary Jo says
I have never seen you try something that you are not successful with. Or maybe you just don’t tell us! Go for trying the crochet. Start with something simple and go from there. Old dogs can learn new tricks…they just need to want to!
PegD says
Judy: Here’s my story. I started out reading your blog for the quilting. Saw how much you loved knitting so decided to try it. I couldn’t get it, so took an online “How to crochet” class because wielding one hook was way easier than two for me. It took me about 6 months to be able to crank out stitches good enough for Christmas gifts. Then I took a knitting class (because after all that what I really wanted to do) and it seemed so much easier after all the practice with crocheting. the moral of this story? I think crocheting is easier than knitting so since you are such a knitting whiz…crocheting should be a piece of cake for you.:-) PS the crochet class I took was Vickie Howell’s class on Craftsy.
Theresa says
The problem isn’t relearning to crochet, it’s the actual old dog– with open, airy designs, I’ve found that interacting with my dogs and cat will destroy these lovely, lacy creations. Do I think you can relearn to crochet– absolutely, and I would guess pretty fast. Just don’t wear the work around pets and little children.
Vickie in nh says
Good point! I have some dropped stitch lace things that are just about trashed – from catching on things ;-(
Sharon in Michigan says
I do both crochet and knitting. And yes, Judy, you will have no problems. You can do anything you put your mind too 🙂 Me personally, I think knitting is harder to learn.
Jill of Apple Ave Quilts says
I can knit and crochet, but prefer to knit. My Mom taught me when I was ten. I think it helped make the summers more sane. In junior and high school I had an hour bus ride both ways so I filled the time knitting. I don’t know if kids still do this but I hope so. It’s such a great skill and you have something to show at the end.
patti says
i learned both as a child and because of your encouragement decided to make socks last year, and was successful! i’ve crocheted small christmas snowflakes, a ball, and pretty intricate angel over the years. between the two, i think crochet is the easier to do and to rip out — you only have one loop to find! love the top pattern, you can definitely crochet!
Diana in RR,TX says
I used to crochet a lot-doilies afghans, helped Mom crochet a bedspread. But for sweaters I was better with the knitting needles
Donna Williams says
I ,too, learned to crochet when I was no bigger than a gnat – now I both knit and crochet. You will have no problems at all. Go on and give it a try! THere are so many hooks on the market now. I prefer that mine be a bit sharper than blunt (I seem to be able to go faster) and not sure (they are not to hand) what brand that it. They can be gotten inexpensively at Wal Mart, Hobby Lobby, or Michaels. I would suggest you try out some to see what moves best for you. Other than that, those are really really pretty patterns, and I can’t wait to see how they do for you.
Linda W says
I frequently knit sweaters but haven’t crocheted in years. Looking at those sweaters inspires me to give crocheting a go once again–so I went down the rabbit hole of Ravelry (where times vanishes faster than the speed of light) checking out all of Vicky Chan’s patterns, project yarns, etc. Lovely!! Judy–thanks for inspiration!
Judy H says
Yes! You can learn! I crochet, and would love to teach you if we lived closer to each other. I agree that with crochet frogging a mistake is easier than with knitting. I’ve taught myself some basic knitting, but crochet is my go-to craft. So many people write it off because all they’re familiar with is the basic granny square stitch. But it has a lot more to offer! I’ll look forward to seeing your progress! 🙂
Dora, the quilter says
Of course you can crochet, even if you have to learn some new things! I used to do both, although I limit myself to knitting most of the time now. Crochet and knitting are different, but I’ve never found one to be easier than the other. I too like the white sweater best–you can do it!!!!
Pat (EagleKnits) says
I agree with you, I like Ada the best. It’s top-down, circular yoke — basically the same thing that you are doing with Lady Kina. Like others have said, I think crochet is easier than knitting (I do both), and much easier to rip back if you need to correct a mistake. You know the basic stitches, so just make a swatch and practice the pattern until you can “read” your stitches. You can do this, Judy!
Brandy M. says
You can do it, YOU CAN do it!
You SHOULD do it!
🙂
SANDIE says
Absolutely, you can do it. Just as in knitting, every thing is just a slight variation of one basic stitch.I f my grandma could teach me to crochet before I started kindergarten, you can learn it. The trick is finding a balance in your yarn tension. too tight and you won’t be able to slide your hook to make the stitch, and too loose will never look like anything resembling the right stitch, even though you mad it right.
Judy S says
You find THE BEST patterns, Judy! I don’t know whether I will be able to do this or not, but I just caved and bought Jamie. Not that I need another project or anything like that. BTW, you are such a quick study, I know you’ll be able to pick up crocheting right where you left off.
Vicky says
I was/am teaching myself to crochet. I went by a yarn shop one day and she sat me down and showed me the chain, single and double stitches. She said the next time she’d show me the triple and how to decrease. Because of that end of the row problem others have mentioned, I seem to have successfully mastered the decrease because everything I crochet seems to get narrower and narrower as I go! I really like doing it, though. I went to Joanne’s and bought the biggest and cheapest thing of yard. It’s on my bedside table and I do a row (which gets narrower each time!) every night. I need to look a that Craftsy class! Knitting I couldn’t get at all. I do better with one needle.