Ironic, Isn’t It?
Posted by KTC on 22 June, 2008
No sooner do I put myself toward the goal of learning how to Crochet then I get a sprain right between the thumb and first finger of the hand I’d be working with.
I’m not giving up. I’ll just keep looking at the videos to see if I can adapt to using my left hand. Either that, or whine to Aunti loud enough for her to hear me from Washington State.
I really don’t understand how you crocheters do it. Knitting, I get. It actually came (fairly) naturally to me once I understood the process. With Crochet, it seems like no matter what I do to look at the videos, people doing it, etc., I can’t even scratch the surface. I won’t say “I can’t” though. That’s bad language deserving of a hefty donation to the Watercooler Bank Bottle of Destruction. I will instead say “I will” or “I am” and work towards doing just that.
Now I away to do two things I am still capable of doing. Eating and Knitting.
Food wise, tonight is going to pretty much be a KISS situation. I’m making veggie soup. Yum. It’s going to be my special blend though.
Knitting wise, I’m still working on the scarf I’m making for my father. It’ll probably be done by the end of today since I’ve got nothing else better to do.
auntikrist said
I’ve got good ears and fast email. I heard ya.
Anywho, I have found that when crocheting, it is sometimes difficult for me to remember to relax my hands enough to let the yarn flow. Many a tightly stitched line was unraveled and redone many, many times so I could experiment. I also got/get finger cramps but that is because I crochet a bit oddly and it ends up making the muscles in the palm of my right had cramp up sometimes.
I have a friend who is a speedy (and good) crocheter and she uses/holds her hook almost like it is a pencil and she sort of runs the pencil into the work. I’m almost the opposite. I tend to hold my hook more like I might hold a teaspoon. I still get the hook through the loops, but I am more likely to have my hook much more still and make my left hand pass the yarn around and over. Karen tends to simply hold the yarn loosely in her left and “weaves” more with her right (pencil) hand.
I’m sure I sound nutz, but that is what she and I decided while checking out our stuff. Crocheting uses different muscle parts of the hands than knitting needles do, so it isn’t surprising to hear you have developed some soreness. I’d say just take it slowly and don’t push too hard for speed yet. Put on some soothing music, pick something simple and just watch the way the yarn moves through your hands and fingers. That’s another thing. There is more than one way to guide the yarn. Karen twirls it over and under her left fingers. I drape the yarn in my palm and barely use my left fingers in any way to guide the yarn. It keeps my fingers from making the yarn pull tight.
Since I am not very imaginative, I have stuck with simple things like scarves, blankets, and throws because it is harder for me to screw them up! I’ve actually become more fluid and have picked up a tiny bit of speed, but that’s okay if I’m not terribly fast. Crocheting is more like a meditative thing for me than a drive to “create”.
I’m glad you are going to persist in your efforts. You may even find that there are some patterns and things you can do with crocheting that can be melded with knitting……. it is all weaving.
Hope my comments may help summat.
KTC said
Believe me, I was screaming…LOL
As to being nutz, you should see the friend categoties I have you in on the Danga Styles. We’re all a little nutz; it’s how we stay so sane. :p
I’m at the NIH right now but, when I get back home to my laptop, I plan on studying those videos more. Sadly (mock tears) I only brought my knitting with me when I came down here from Baltimore.
Up until this point, the most I’ve used a crochet needle for is (as anyone who’s made a scarf can attest to) tassles. It’s going to be interesting learning this new skill. In honor of it, I’m going to throw something your way once I get the hang of it.
Be afraid…be veeeeeeeeeeeery afraid. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!