I'm laughing and nodding at this moment, and I'll keep this piece close by as a reminder of all things good about making and trying stuff just for the sake of it, and of howcand why we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. Reading this was the highlight of my day (and it would've been one of the higlights even if the day had been positively noteworthy, btw! 😅)
As a crocheter I had to laugh out loud when you wrote: "And any crochet novice will confirm that decreasing and increasing is actually easier than not increasing or decreasing. So, so true. A very loveley cat blanket! Unique in every way!
Bless you! I'm getting better at getting straight edges, but they still sometimes veer off. Doesn't help that USA and UK and Russian and Turkish crochet sites (I've tried so many in the hunt for a clear simple instructor) often have different teaching methods .... Add that extra "it doesn't really count" stitch at the end of the row - or not? And where on earth is the actual first stitch we go into, then? Anyways, here's the YouTuber who has helped me most - I have made so many of these socks now 🤣🤣🤣https://youtu.be/dwy-UWVsR48?si=CMYtQMi5yPM-Nkp4
If you follow a pattern someone else wrote of course you need to follow the instructions to get the same results. For your cat blanket, if you want (kind of) straight edges, just turn the same way every time. No magic to it. Just be consistent.
Since I design my own patterns, I get to deside. For me a turning chain never, never has to pretend to be a stitch. Way too confusing.
Oh boy, I'm getting technical again. Ah, well. Thank you for the link. I was just thinking about making myself some slippers.
Yes, I think I'm learning that there's these turning chains that actually are not stitches. These are the kinds of soooo simple things that people often don't explain to newbies. Like - "chain two, but they don't count" Whaaaaaaat? They don't count? It's taking me ages to understand why we do some of the things we do. Thanks for your post and the comment! I'm glad to know that an experienced person tells me that *a turning chain doesn't have to pretend to be a stitch*.
I know. They should tell newbies those very important things. Or be very clear on how they do it.
There are 2 youtube channels I like. One is Bonnie Bay Crochet. I find her explanations quite clear. I believe she even has videos about basic stitches etc. The other channel is Just Vintage Crochet. I love, love her mystery crochet videos. They are fun (anyway I think so) and by trying to solve the mystery pattern she shows how to read patterns of all kinds.
Thanks so much! Yes, there's a lack of channels that go very very very slowly and explain things, with explanation of reasons why we have to do those things. I like that mechanical nuts and bolts break it down approach.
Me too. The mechanical nuts and bolts make it fun for me. Knowing them gives me the freedom to play and experiment. Thank you for the link to the slippers video. I just finished watching. It seems easy enough and I learned a new way to close the end of the slipper. Thank you!
Shitty collage was my pandemic sanity-saver. I have kept it up, because it makes me happy. So hard to remember not to let self-judgment and perfectionism creep in. I save that for writing my novels, haha.
I'm half way through reading a novel I picked up yesterday here from a recommendation you gave. Loving it. Catholic -Jewish tormented love. Now I'm curious about your novel - tell me more!
Awesome! FYI for your subscribers, the book is "The Evil Inclination" by Daniel Victor. It is one of the best books I have encountered in a decade of judging our self-published and hybrid-published book contest at Winning Writers. Find out more here:
My forthcoming second novel, "Origin Story", is set in the queer community of 1990s NYC and features the author of a gay superhero comic book who uncovers traumatic memories through his art. Pre-orders, blurbs, reviews, etc., are deeply appreciated!
The Evil Inclination has me very deeply in its grip. So to speak. :-) Yay, will look for your work too. And oh my goodness, an anthro. We're bloody everywhere, aren't we? Thanks for all these fab links!
Oh I loved this. And as a fellow novice crocheter I definitely have my share of wibbly-edged blankets
Feels good to know I'm not alone around here!
I'm laughing and nodding at this moment, and I'll keep this piece close by as a reminder of all things good about making and trying stuff just for the sake of it, and of howcand why we shouldn't take ourselves too seriously. Reading this was the highlight of my day (and it would've been one of the higlights even if the day had been positively noteworthy, btw! 😅)
As a crocheter I had to laugh out loud when you wrote: "And any crochet novice will confirm that decreasing and increasing is actually easier than not increasing or decreasing. So, so true. A very loveley cat blanket! Unique in every way!
Bless you! I'm getting better at getting straight edges, but they still sometimes veer off. Doesn't help that USA and UK and Russian and Turkish crochet sites (I've tried so many in the hunt for a clear simple instructor) often have different teaching methods .... Add that extra "it doesn't really count" stitch at the end of the row - or not? And where on earth is the actual first stitch we go into, then? Anyways, here's the YouTuber who has helped me most - I have made so many of these socks now 🤣🤣🤣https://youtu.be/dwy-UWVsR48?si=CMYtQMi5yPM-Nkp4
In this guest post I tell a bit about the way I crochet. https://substack.com/home/post/p-144497656
If you follow a pattern someone else wrote of course you need to follow the instructions to get the same results. For your cat blanket, if you want (kind of) straight edges, just turn the same way every time. No magic to it. Just be consistent.
Since I design my own patterns, I get to deside. For me a turning chain never, never has to pretend to be a stitch. Way too confusing.
Oh boy, I'm getting technical again. Ah, well. Thank you for the link. I was just thinking about making myself some slippers.
Yes, I think I'm learning that there's these turning chains that actually are not stitches. These are the kinds of soooo simple things that people often don't explain to newbies. Like - "chain two, but they don't count" Whaaaaaaat? They don't count? It's taking me ages to understand why we do some of the things we do. Thanks for your post and the comment! I'm glad to know that an experienced person tells me that *a turning chain doesn't have to pretend to be a stitch*.
I know. They should tell newbies those very important things. Or be very clear on how they do it.
There are 2 youtube channels I like. One is Bonnie Bay Crochet. I find her explanations quite clear. I believe she even has videos about basic stitches etc. The other channel is Just Vintage Crochet. I love, love her mystery crochet videos. They are fun (anyway I think so) and by trying to solve the mystery pattern she shows how to read patterns of all kinds.
Thanks so much! Yes, there's a lack of channels that go very very very slowly and explain things, with explanation of reasons why we have to do those things. I like that mechanical nuts and bolts break it down approach.
Me too. The mechanical nuts and bolts make it fun for me. Knowing them gives me the freedom to play and experiment. Thank you for the link to the slippers video. I just finished watching. It seems easy enough and I learned a new way to close the end of the slipper. Thank you!
Shitty collage was my pandemic sanity-saver. I have kept it up, because it makes me happy. So hard to remember not to let self-judgment and perfectionism creep in. I save that for writing my novels, haha.
I'm half way through reading a novel I picked up yesterday here from a recommendation you gave. Loving it. Catholic -Jewish tormented love. Now I'm curious about your novel - tell me more!
Awesome! FYI for your subscribers, the book is "The Evil Inclination" by Daniel Victor. It is one of the best books I have encountered in a decade of judging our self-published and hybrid-published book contest at Winning Writers. Find out more here:
https://winningwriters.com/our-contests/contest-archives/north-street-book-prize-2023
My forthcoming second novel, "Origin Story", is set in the queer community of 1990s NYC and features the author of a gay superhero comic book who uncovers traumatic memories through his art. Pre-orders, blurbs, reviews, etc., are deeply appreciated!
https://bookshop.org/p/books/origin-story-jendi-reiter/21325977?ean=9798987954157
Coincidentally, my publisher is a retired anthropologist who's written stories about his work in the South Seas. Love ya, Don Mitchell!
https://saddleroadpress.com/don-mitchell.html
The Evil Inclination has me very deeply in its grip. So to speak. :-) Yay, will look for your work too. And oh my goodness, an anthro. We're bloody everywhere, aren't we? Thanks for all these fab links!
Keep me posted about your novel too!
For now at least, in Uk, looks like we can't pre-order Origin Story. They have Two Natures, tho'.
Just got Two Natures on Kindle! Starting tonight, excited.
🙌🏽 Yes. I love this exploration and how we’re noticing when outcome was getting in the way of the ultimate desire which was flow.