How Tos

I've been pondering what guides I was going to do next and here I will compose I list of guides I plan on doing.

How to Crochet

Single Crochet -in progress
Double Crochet -in progress
Treble Crochet -in progress
Zigzag pattern (my own) -in progress
Granny square -in progress
Solid Granny square -in progress
Variation Granny square -in progress
No turn granny square -in progress
Joining colors -in progress
Joining colors (granny square turn and no turn) -in progress
Tungsten Crochet -complete

That is all I can think of for now I will add posts as they come to me or if there is a demand for anything further.

I will also be adding links to each guide as they are finished and posted so this could also serve as a quick link guide.

My First How To! Tunisian Crochet (Afghan Stitch)

OK so when I first wanted to learn this stitch I had a HECK of a time finding something I could follow with easy and it was through trial and error that I finally figured it out myself.

I hope I can make this easy for those looking for help in learning this stitch as it can add a little something extra to your piece.

Now there are a few different kinds of hooks you can use. 

There is the Fixed Afghan Hook which is solid like a knitting needle. 

Fixed Afghan Hook
It's a little awkward to hold I have to admit

There is the Flexible Afghan Hook, like a regular crochet hook only this one is equipped with a long flexible (usually some type of plastic) tail.

Flexible Afghan Hook
This is my personal favorite as I have found a way to wrap it around my wrist to make it more comfortable

Lastly there is the Double Ended Crochet Hook or Cro-Hook for short, essentially it looks like a pair of circular knitting needles only the ends are hooks not points.

Double Ended Crochet Hook or Cro-Hook
As intimidating as these might look if you can use either of the above then this one is no trouble at all.

Basic Tunisian/Afghan Stitch

Abbreviations used

YO = Yarn Over

Chain stitch how many your pattern calls for or how ever many you want to do.

For this example I chained 10 since I am using a regular 'I' hook

Skipping the first chain on the hook insert your hook through the next chain (second from the hook) 

I always use the bottom of the chain, it seems to keep everything neat.

YO, pull through, leave the loop on the hook 

There should now be two loops on the hook

Repeat the previous to the last chain

Once again since I'm using a normal crochet hook for this I can only do so many, this
is where the specialty hooks come in handy.

Now this part is both easy and tricky
(If you happen to crochet tightly or are just clumsy like me)

 YO pull through one loop

YO pull though two loops

Repeat previous until end

From my experience no matter the number of stitches (odd or even) it always ends out even
at the end of the row.

To continue the stitch for how ever long your piece is going to be, insert hook in second little bar from the hook, yarn over pull through

This one here, NEVER the first one at the end, the loop on the hook always counts as your first

Insert hook
YO

Pull through repeat

Once you get the hang of it it goes quick

Repeat until end

Then again you will YO pull through one 

*YO pull though two

 repeat from * until end

Finishing Up/Fastening Off

Similar to the previous rows insert hook in second bar from first loop

YO

Pull through

Unlike the previous rows you will pull that new loop through the previous loop

Essentially it is like a single crochet without the second YO

So you make a new loop and pull the new through the old all the way to the end

So you continue this until your all the way at the end and...

TADA! All done

And this is what the back looks like, similar to a stockinette stitch

I really hope this guide wasn't too confusing it's my first how to, so be sure to leave me some feed back.

Busy Busy Worker Bee

Well to say that I have been busy is quite and understatement.

You see I work at a Drug Store as a front end associate so my job consists of running register, helping people, stocking shelves, etc. I am on almost any given work day the literal means of all over the place. By the time I get home I am usually to tired to do anything, sometimes I don't even have the energy to even pick up my needles or hooks gasp I know.

Probably my most tiresome days in a while was a truck day, last week to be specific, one of the other cashiers was forced to call off. Turns out she broke her shoulder. My manager calls me to ask if I could switch to a closing shift, and even though I HATE closing I said OK because it was out of my control. 30 mins later I get another call from one of the supervisors asking for me to switch again. That day I worked 10 am to 8 pm.

Well I was lucky enough to have a couple days off in a row after that horrid day so what did I do with all that free time, other then sleep that is.

Cotton yarn and crochet hook in hand (and some good compression gloves thanks to amazon.com)
I crafted two bags one in pink and white the other in blue and white.

Pink and White Bag

(CV Note: it is holding some of my hanks of wool yarn)

Alright this lovely has a double layered bottom

Where the bottom connects to the body (worked in the round) is a single crochet
The body was done up in a linked double crochet

And the handles were done in a single crochet that was made

purposefully too long so I could fold and sew them to make them double thick

The handles are quite sturdy to say the least

I am thinking of making this into a pattern
If I can get everything correct, haha

Blue and White Cross Body

(CV Note: this bag is still a work in progress so I still have a ton of loose ends to weave in)

Like the first bag this two was worked in the round

Unlike the fist bag the bottom is only single layer
Single crochet linking the bottom to the body
Body is also a linked double crochet
Top flap is double crochet worked back and forth until I was happy with it
The strap is done in Tungsten Crochet, or the Afghan stitch

This was also worked until I was happy.

I closer look at the handle's stitching

And this is the bag open

It is quite large compared to the other one
I'm thinking of possibly making a liner for it one of these days
If I ever feel adventurous enough to whip out the 'ole sewing machine

Personally though I think a liner in a contrasting color would look nice

Well those were my two big projects that are pretty much complete.

I am really debating on making one or both of these into patterns, Thoughts?

Welcome

Alrighty, since this is my first blog entry I will try to make this as painless (for me) as possible.

A little background

• My name is Jen
• I am currently 22 (as of this post)
• I am a very pale female (hence the vampire)
• Knitting: 4 years (self taught)
• Crochet: 5 years (self taught)
• Hand Sewing: Off and On since age 7 (many needle pricks later)
• Machine Sewing Off and On since age 9

The purpose of this blog is so maybe I will cease annoying my fiance by talking about yarn all the time. The poor guy already has to deal with my ever increasing hoard of yarn all the time, so I figured he needed a break. I doubt it will stop me from annoying him all together but any moment I'm typing and not talking his ear off is peace for him.

That's right it's all for the sake love.

Love for Him, and Love of yarn.

Well I really need to figure out what my first real post will be.