Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Back to school....

I have been running a fair few workshops over the last few months but on Saturday it was time to be the student. I went to a beginners crochet workshop taught by Sara Thornett at A Good Yarn as an early birthday present.

I've struggled with crochet for ages. Grandma taught me to make granny squares when I was younger but I learnt how to do it by rote rather than the individual stitches and why I was doing what I was doing so when I looked at any crochet patterns, even the fab tutorials by Attic 24, I still didn't have a clue what was going on. When I crocheted my Woolsack cushion together last month, I was that cack-handed with my hook that I ended up with pins and needles for the next 48 hrs so I was a little nervous about the workshop to say the least!

Sara was fab, really friendly and helpful and let everyone move at their own pace. No-one felt like they were being rushed and we all managed to make practise pieces during the day that weren't too wobbly!

Kate, and all of the other lovely ladies at A Good Yarn kept us topped up with cake and cups of tea and it was lovely to have a day off work and learn a new skill. 


My biggest worry of the day was that I would get home and still wouldn't be able to make any sense of patterns so when I got home I had a look at the pattern I have been wanting to make for years (I have maybe had the yarn for over a year!), the ripple blanket and was amazed when I understood exactly what I was supposed to be doing.  I made a little face cloth to practise.


Now my only problem is that I don't have enough time to do everything I wanted to do before I learnt to crochet. I don't stand a chance now that I can crochet too!

5 comments:

Unknown said...

looking good, love the ripple blanket, I'd love to be able to crochet...

Unknown said...

Aren't you clever! I am rubbish at crochet, I'm left handed but taught myself a very cack handed way of holding the hook in my right hand but using my left to move the fabric :-S One day I'll get round to learning left handedly.

My Mum recently taught herself to crochet, just so she could make a ripple blanket lol

GiddyStuff said...

I want to start a ripple blanket, perhaps we can buddy up!
I'm also a self-taught lefty, so my technique is rather bizzare!

Ali said...

Hi Nic,
I have been a fellow struggler of crochet for many years despite lots of help from friends and family. Finally this Feb something clicked and I got it..now I'm hooked (sorry bout the pun!)
Love your creations and fab idea to make a face cloth to try a pattern.
Just had to comment as I totally identify with your last sentence.....
Ali

SewIknit2 said...

I learned the basics on a course by Sarah Hazel and recommend her crochet book alongside the Rowan workshop book which has samples to practise each technique as you progress.
Happy crocheting! Sue x