Learning to Crochet & Finishing a Long Forgotten Jumper

I realised over the weekend I learnt to crochet just over eight years ago now!
I used the book, "Good Housekeeping Crochet" which I had bought in a charity shop. It is still available second-hand from Amazon here and I've just noticed it's almost the same age as me (first published in 1981). I think it's great (as do both people who gave it 5* reviews on Amazon) and still regularly refer to it if I'm looking for a stitch. It doesn't contain patterns for items, it's more a directory of stitches and gives examples of things each stitch may be good for and suggested yarn, etc.

The first book I bought which contained patterns for finished items, just after I had mastered the basics, was "Chicks with Sticks Guide to Crochet" by Nancy Queen & Mary Ellen O'Connell. I bought it whilst in Ireland for my Grandma's 80th birthday party, she would have turned 88 last weekend so I know it's been eight years.
This book also has a good "how-to" section and discusses different yarn types etc. However, it is an American book and as such uses American terminology which I had to get my head around as I had only just got the hang of British terms.
I'm not a fan of every item in the book but there were a few items I really liked and it seemed like a good choice for a beginner especially from the options available in the general book shop I was in.
My favourite pattern is easily the shell stitch hat, Surfer Chick Quick Cap, on page 109. 

I have made this hat I don't know how many times, most female members of my family have received one at some point! I've made them in lots of sizes by changing the wool and hook size, right from newborn upwards. I also quite often add a accent such as a crocheted flower or a button. I also tend to make it a bit longer and not quite so tight as the one pictured in the book.
There's no scale in this picture but it's for a newborn and the yarn was a super soft mix.

The first item of clothing crochet item I attempted was the "No Sweat Hoodie" on page 91. This was just after the first hat I made. As I had found that nice and easy, I was buzzing with confidence. 
Unfortunately I never actually finished the hoodie though, I made all the sections but when it came to sewing it together I couldn't get it to work. So I folded it up, but it in a storage box and promptly forgot all about it. 

I decided now was the time to rescue the sections from the depths of my storage mountain and see if it's clear to me now that I have a good bit of experience behind me and I have to say I must have been a complete moron back then!!
I honestly don't know what was wrong with me but I can't have been thinking straight. The hoodie features raglan sleeves- I know full well what raglan sleeves are and did so long before I could crochet, so I don't know what my excuse is for completely missing an entire section of the pattern; this resulted in both my sleeves ending with straight tops without raglan shaping at all?!? 

Before

Like I said, moron. I'm going to put it down to the fact I was very inexperienced at reading patterns. Suffice to say it would be impossible to finish it as it was. Thankfully I've come a long way since then so decided to finish the jumper.

I looked up to see if there were any discussions online and found some comments on Ravelry. That made me feel a whole lot better as other people were struggling with the back and I managed that at least. Although, looking at the pencil notes I made all over the place I don't think I found it super straight forward.

I finished the arms to a nice raglan point (yay!) 

After- raglan style!

I sewed the front, back and arms together and tried it on. It was okay but not great, a big short and tighter than I would have liked. To be honest the yarn I chose may have been a factor but it is the correct weight suggested and after doing a tension square I used a 12mm hook instead of 11.5mm to obtain the gauge needed. I loosely attached the hood and decided against it altogether, it didn't look right at all only coming up to the top of my head. 
So to increase the length, I decided to add a waist band using three rows of half treble stitches (US= half double stitches) and a row of double stitches (US = single stitch). 
Once I had done this I decided to make it a polo neck jumper with 4 rows of half trebles and a row of doubles to match the bottom and I completely disposed of the hood altogether. 
(If the sleeves hadn't been plenty long enough as they were, I would have added wristbands to match also.)

That's the great thing about a bit of experience, it gives you the confidence to change the pattern up a bit and even make your own patterns. In many ways I actually prefer to make it up as I go along now rather than reading a pattern but you do have to allow for trial and error!

I used Patons' "Eco Wool Chunky" to make the jumper and while it is really nice to crochet with and the result is lovely and snuggly, I'm not very keen on the colours. I think my taste must have changed since then, although it looks better as a ball. It is ecological though and knowing me it was probably on offer? ;-)

What do you think? Thanks so much for reading this post!
Until next time craft in earnest, Craftin' Ernest x

A Day With My Dad

I spent yesterday with my Dad at "A Time To Knot", a macramé group (though there was knitting and kumihimo braiding going on too) who meet once a month in Cardiff Bay set up by Suzen Millidot, author of numerous macramé books. We had a really great day and the group were extremely friendly and welcoming. My Dad is the first man to attend the group and the rest of the ladies were really impressed that he'd spend the day with me at a craft group. I told them he was as keen as I was to go. He went even further into their good books by spending the day making my Mum a necklace to wear in the evening as they were going out for a meal. I guess as he's always been the same and for me it's "the norm" so I found it amusing that they raved about him when he left the room. I know I'm bias but it's true, he is great! My Mum loved her necklace which was an extra nice treat as she starting to feel unwell and my Mum is almost never ill. Today she sounds like a Barry White impersonator and aches all over but she has her necklace to cheer her up.
I spent the day experimenting with different techniques and started various items but never actually finished any of them such as this watch strap, the other half is yet to do.

I bought another of Suzen's books, "Mirco Macramé Jewellery" part of the "Twenty to Make" series, which contained the watch strap project. It's great for beginners like me as all the projects use varieties of the lark's head knot and the square knot. I just kept getting distracted by chatting and watching others. I do want to complete a grocery bag at some point but it may be a while before you see pictures of that.
The group meets in the conference room of the wonderful "Craft in the Bay", a co-operative gallery own by and run by "The Makers Guild in Wales". It was worth the trip alone to see the beautiful, handcrafted items on display and for sale. There is a lot of talent in Wales, you should definitely take a look: http://www.makersguildinwales.org.uk
There's also a really good cafe with a huge choice of cakes and delicious, healthy food called Kemi's, it was the cherry on the top of a wonderful day.
I also mentioned baby items in the last post but as almost broke my neck getting up this morning due to the build up of books, magazines and other paraphenalia on the floor by my side of the bed, I had to finally tidy it all up! Whilst I was at it I sorted the stuff under the bed too, I'm a glutton for punishment. It was not a quick job thanks to my inability to get rid of anything, therefore I have only had time to finish one item so far, a crocheted hat.

This is a slighted adapted version of a hat featured in the book, "The Chicks with Sticks' Guide to Crochet" (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Chicks-Sticks-Guide-Crochet-The/dp/082300676X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1362345137&sr=8-1) I also embellished it with a simple, little flower and, of course, a button.
I really like this book. Funnily enough my Dad bought it for me after I had just learnt to crochet, but as it uses American terms and I hadn't long learnt the British wording I had to be extra careful at first as I kept mixing the stitches up.
I will feature the other items in the midweek post along with a tutorial. Until then keep crafting in earnest! x