I want the challenge of making one myself. My friend Sonja "wanted to be able to teach me something for a change" as she put it. This summer, she brought me a gift of a ball of burgundy red cotton and a crochet hook. We made the men wash the dishes after we had dinner at Cranberry Cottage while she and I practiced doing some crochet stitches. We were quite a picture in my two recliner chairs.
I then emailed a friend of mine, Susan, who had recently made some dishclothes. I use crochet and knitted dishclothes and love them. My aunt used to make them for me and thankfully they last forever so I still have some even though she is no longer with us. Susan sent me some easy patterns but suggested that I simply make rows of double crochet to size just to practice and get the feeling before I move on to a granny square.
I did it! Yeah! It is simple but I made it myself and it feels wonderful to learn something new after years of showing others how to do things. 
It will really be fun to use this. Yes bloggers, I not only like ironing but also cooking and working in the kitchen. 
I used a crab stitch (reverse crochet) to edge it. I found a great deal (I think) at the Lidl last week for light weight brown yarn and decided to buy that to try some more crochet stitches and make a scarf. I will keep you tuned about what I end up working on as I am off to look through a crochet book that Sonja also gave me this summer. 
In the meantime, I will continue to be inspired each time I walk by this basket of soft yarn for my granny square afghan. I already bought the yarn because I found it at Action for such a great price. It is dark gray, light gray, purple and pink. Will I have enough to make the afghan? Or should I buy more? They say around 300 meter/100gram. And the last question that comes to mind...Did I really need to start myself on yet another hobby???
30 comments:
Oh oh - Heidi you are in for it now! If you thought cross stitch was an addiction you are about to learn about a worse one.
When I was a student, three friends and I made granny square afghans for one another. I still have mine - and I still remember all the love and laughter worked into those squares more than 35 years ago.
I had no doubt you could do this, and also that it would be perfect. It is, very straight edges of course. I always told you, you can do anything if you try.
Love the yarn you bought so far too.
Love you, Mom
I've always wanted to learn how to crochet, Heidi but I've just taken up rug hooking, something else I've always longed to do. Just seeing your dishcloths is making me yearn all over.
There just aren't enough hours in a day! Darn!
OOoooooooh Heidi!!! I think you have caught the same bug as me!! xx
Hi Heidi...Yes...you can learn another project...one life time do it all!!
Hugs dearest friend.
Yes!, you have to try every hobby witch include thread, yarn, needles, fabrics. I have a whole workbook from my creative school still in the attic, so if you need more new hobby's.... let me know.
And we can bring some yarn and a hook too,on our holiday?..
A new hobby won't hurt a thing. Go for it!
Your crocheted dishcloth looks fantastic. I find the most difficult thing about crochet is to end up with squares that are actually squares. Yours is perfect!
Hi Heidi, I love the dishcloth and so pleased you have mastered the art of crocheting. I made 4 dishcloths last week for the sales table at W.I. and one lady brought them all.
Hugs and crosses,
Hazel (UK)
How fun that you are starting to crochet Heidi.
I know your mom does the most beautiful work so I am confident that you will be following in her footsteps.
It looks as though you already made a great start with the dishcloths.
I love the colours you have chosen for your granny afghan.
I've just started a ripple afghan in ocean colours.
Cross stitching is still my first love but I do love to work on different crafts as well.
Happy crocheting :)
Margaret
You can never have too many hobbies! Pretty colours you've chosen for your blanket
You learned yourself something new! Very good! I can't tell you about having enough or not. Even though I do know how to crochet and did lots of different stitches when I was younger, I don't have a clue about how much you need for what project..
Oh, my, you can really be proud of yourself! These dishcloths look perfect. Even the edges look great. You are a talented girl.
The amount of thread for your afghan... I am not so sure if it is enough..it depends on the size you plan to crochet ofcourse. If you make one (or better: some) squares, you might be able to make a guess by calculating. And doesn't your mother has the answer to this question?..
Congratulations Heidi on your new hobby. Your dishcloth looks lovely and I love the colors you chose for your afghan. Crochet and knitting were the first two crafts my grandmother taught me and I still love doing them. Right now I am making a granny square afghan for my dad who just had surgery. It is different shades of rose and green with black as the main color. My grandma made one a long time ago, and I remember as a child seeing it on the foot of her guest bed. Welcome to the addiction of yarn and needles....I am so proud of you ....another hobby to bring you joy! I also love the afghan your mom made, it is just beautiful. I remember seeing it in your other blog. She does beautiful work. Hugs from CA.
Great job on your new hobby Heidi. Your granny afghan is a lovely idea .... but then so was my grandmother's flower garden quilt when I started it in ...... hmmmm - shall we say 2006. Must get at that again sometime. I'm no quilter but can't stand the idea of not finishing something. Good luck with your afghan.
groetjes van Margaret
Congratulations Heidi - crocheting can be just as addictive as any other craft you've tried.
As far as having enough yarn, it does depend on the weight of the yarn, the hook size your gauge and how you use each color - but here's a link that may help you guesstimate: http://cache.lionbrand.com/faq/96.html?language=
HTH!
of course you need another hobby... love the colours for your Afghan.
Crochet can be very relaxing when you get in the rhythm. I made a prayer shawl for church several years ago. I always meant to do more, but as someone else pointed out, there are not enough hours in the day! Looks like you have a great start on another fun activity.
Hmmm, I don't know the answer to the last two questions, lol. But I'M already looking forward to see your granny squares. I just love the colours you chose ...
Wat goed van je om te kunnen haken...tja, dat wil ik ook nog wel eens leren....en dan gelijk zo'n leuk lapje. Je kan nooit genoeg hobbies hebben ;-)
Groetjes Anita.
I think you have read that I have crocheted a lot these last weeks. When you have the rhytm, it takes less concentration than stitching, so: a new hobby for times you want to craft but can't concentrate...
It's lovely and I love the things you already made.
Heidi I have tried and tried to master this but I think I need to practise more , I love the colours and the finished products.
I seem to be seeing a lot of these knitted or crocheted dishcloths is it an american thing that has found its way over here.
What size hook did you use to start ?
Happy hooking and stitching girl.
hugs as always
Heidi, I hope you take up crochet, but you are right, it's another addiction, but a very nice one, and it is SO relaxing!
Well done Heidi on all the finished UFO's happening in your place!!!
Love each of them. Also well done on starting and learning a new hobby, crocheting. Like me I want to learn silk ribbon embroidery next, to use in CQ work!!!
The most recent crocheting I've done is the small crocheted hat pincushions.
I've just posted about another completed x-stitch project, you might like to read!!!
HOORAY...you did it, Heidi! The cloths are LOVELY! Look forward to seeing more of your crochet along with your other splendid needle work. I'm working on making some better sense of crochet at the moment too. I've got a LOT of yarn waiting to be crocheted into a ripple throw...yikes... LOL! Happy Days ((HUGS))
I think the 'not starting a new hobby' is the whole reason Niek won't teach me to knit. LOL. Is crocheting easier or harder than knitting, in your opinion? I have to say, the crochet hooks don't look as scary to me as the huge knitting needles. Anyway, your results are fabulous!!
I have been crocheting since I was about 13. I won't say how long ago that was! Once you get the hang of it, you'll be good at it, I'm sure. I haven't done much in recent years, but I have been making dishcloths from cotton yarn (Sugar & Cream). Only problem with dishcloths in this house is that they get smelly real fast, and I can't do anything to stop that. I try to put out a new one every evening after doing dishes, but my family hasn't yet gotten the memo, so if I don't do the dishes, well, you can imagine. Have fun.
Heidi! I am so proud of you!! Your dishcloth turned out lovely. Aren't you proud of yourself and learning a new craft? I love making these little dishcloths. They are so handy.
My friend, Linda, sent me over for a visit...I think you'll enjoy crochet...You can work on projects like the dishcloths without paying much attention, unlike stitchery which requires watching what you're doing closely. I like that burgundy color. It is hard to find anything other than Grays, beiges and whites in cotton yarn.
I've never made a Granny Square afghan. I have made the squares, though. I just don't like all the start and stop that it requires so most of my afghans are made as ripples.
Mama Bear
Heidi!!
I have found you at last!! After many unsuccessful searches, here you are!! Please let me know how you are, and your current contact info. After our last trip to Holland, our address book got lost (long story) then your email didn't work any longer. Your stitching work is just beautiful, but it always was. I would love to hear from you!!
leslie
I've heard that learning something new is the best way to stay young, so I'm all for a new hobby! I've done a bit of crochet for edges on knit garments, but I've always wanted to learn how to make the granny square afghans and those lovely Christmas angels and snowflakes. I can't wait to see more of your new crochet projects!
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