Friday 17 June 2011

What to do on a rainy day

It hasn't stopped raining here today so with my hyperactive 11 month old having an energy crash after lunch and subsequently having a 2 hour nap I decided to take the bull by the horns and learn to crochet (finally!). 

Armed with some cheap wool, my laptop, a pint glass of Pepsi max and a rather splendid and somewhat camp YouTube tutorial I got busy. I set my sights on completing my first granny square.  Cue lots of cursing and numerous attempts I finally did it...

Much like the seven stages of man, here is my 6 stages of crochet:


Yes the first five attempts at getting the crochet circle were a write off but I got there in the end:

Its not perfect but at least it somewhat resembles the granny square. Onwards and upwards now ;o) 

(I can now see what the granny blanket in the charity shop is marked at a tenner - i now understand the effort!)

Now no more rain please Mr Weather as I need to get my boot sale fix this Sunday.

Hope you all have a fabulous weekend :o)

Scarlett x

37 comments:

  1. Yey go you! I think crochet and learning how to do it is a lot harder then it looks. I taught myself from vintage patterns and somehow took to it like a duck to water! I just kept messing around and got there in the end hehe

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  2. Well done you! despite knitting from an early age I too struggled with crochet. Despite numerous attempts over the years I sucked at it. A few years ago I sat with a book and some yarn and hey presto it finally clicked. I now do a little hooking when I fancy a change.

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  3. Whoop! Great square - I think I've forgotten how to do all my stitches, must give it another go.

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  4. Hello, thank you popping by the other day.
    Your attempt at crochet is great! I learnt to do it from a video on youtube too.
    I hope you have a great weekend although I don't hold much hope for the weather.
    x

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  5. Aw its pretty! I've always been a knitter, never quite got along with crochet - altho I did only try it once! May have to have another go, keep seeing bloggers crocheting! :)

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  6. Yay, great job! Now by this time next year we expect to see a double sized crochet bed spread! :p xxx

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  7. Good job.All I can do is a chain and then I am like "Duh" Now what?lol.I would probably curse the whole time and make up some new bad words.lol.Maybe one day I will try again.But it looks good to me.love the blue.

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  8. WOW check you out!!! I soooo want to learn crochet!

    Victoria xxx

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  9. wow you go girl ;-)) Well done you i am going to have to go on utube i reckon i so want to be able to do a square and circle that does not curl up ;-)) Have fun at the carbot, dee x

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  10. I think your first crochet is great Scarlett!
    Especially as you chose quite a difficult pattern to learn for a first time :o)
    (Bet you didn't know that did ya my lovely?)

    It's hard to do a circle in a square...(especially for your first attempt!) the more basic granny square is a square in the middle..You picked a hard 'un :o)
    So I think it's brilliant!

    Have a lovely weekend my lovely-fingers crossed you your booties on Sunday.
    Donna xx

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  11. I am so impressed that you followed a tutorial and came out with such a great finished product, well done you. Weather looking OK for Sunday, good luck (actually, I think you have all seeing eyes so don't need luck).

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  12. Wow, fantastic. It is one thing that I regret not learning from my Gran.

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  13. Wow that looks fab. I got a couple of books out the library today on how to crochet so just need to buy some wool now. I'm hoping it's easier than knitting - at least it only uses one needle!

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  14. Scarlett that looks great! I am not good with any needlework at all but love those granny squares! Oh yes boot sales tomorrow so rain go away! hugs, Linda

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  15. Everyone seems to be doing granny squares at the moment, I think I need to learn how to do them.I do have a couple of blankets I've purchased from charity shops, I love them. Your,e squares look great to me xx

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  16. Hey, that looks awesome!! You are a very talented crocheter! I can make boring scarves and hats, but none with patterns or anything, so I think granny squares are so cute :)

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  17. You did all that in your first attempt (with a glass of Pepsi!) Amazing Scarlett! Crochet and me are like oil and water...not a good combination. I want to see a blanket next week please...cot-sized would be ok (ha-ha) x

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  18. Love the color! I never even got past the loop kind of loom thingy pot holders!

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  19. well done, i tried to teach myself crochet, did well, then didnt do for a while and now just cannot do anymore. how weird is that! i may try again now.. and because of you i am going to do a boot fair tomorrow. do you know of any good ones by me? south east london? .....x

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  20. I'm learning too! Although I haven't managed a circle yet, and your granny square is lovely. I have Mum teaching me whilst my DD has her little ballet lesson, actually I am finding it quite hard! I agree- stay away rain! Bx

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  21. Scarlett that is awesome! I did granny squares years ago in High School but have forgotten how. I'm loving all the crochet I have seen lately on blogs and keep thinking I must either teach myself or ask my daughter to teach me.From memory I think crochet works up a lot more quickly. I'm a hopeless knitter!

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  22. I'm the same as MissGinger - I learned how to do crochet and then didn't do it for a while and now when I try it's a total disaster. I am very impatient though, which is why I love sewing. Instant results and if I mess up it's easy to unpick and do it again.

    Your square is good - well done for persevering - I'd have given up after maybe the first 2 attempts. And yes I also understand why the CS price the granny blankets quite high. Totally worth it. Actually I saw two for sale the other day at £4.99 each but they were hideous - in grotty colours and thick acrylic wool - all scratchy and harsh - so I didn't buy them. Poor lady (or maybe a man? naah somehow I doubt that) who spent all that time making them. Someone should have a word about the yarn.

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  23. fabulous, and what a great colour! I have tried crochet many times, I can't believe you learnt online. Well done you!

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  24. very well done, Scarlett! i too learnt crochet from youtube hahaha though i still havent try how to use different yarn and make granny blanket, i find crochet is quite challenging hahahaha meaning tough! i can only make a flower now, but as u say onwards and upwards! you rock!! xx Susan

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  25. How cool, great joba amor!
    My Mama used to make those coasters back in the 80's, I did not inherit the crocheting though,lol

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  26. Rain rain go away and come back a sunny day...sorry I couldn't resist!
    they look lovely!

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  27. Hey, well done with the crochet, Scarlett. I've only attempted a foundation chain and then gave up!

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  28. Crochet is not as easy as all those booklets and old aunties promise it will be. Good for you!

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  29. Good for you! I've bought yarn and want to crochet again (it's been 30 years)- hope I can do as well as you!

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  30. hey! that looks cool scarlett, ample reward for persevering!

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  31. Yay, well done. The colours you've chosen are lovely, really fresh but cosy at the same time.

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  32. What a great job, Scarlett! Love the turquoise colour. Hope you got to go booting, the weather's been okay for me but I've stayed away, I think I'm all shopped out. xxx

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  33. Most impressive Scarlett. Can't wait to see the granny blanket (go on, you can do it!).

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  34. Oh you're so clever! I probably would have given up at about stage 2 and sulked. Well done you!!

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  35. Very impressed that you did all that during your baby's naptime! If it makes you feel better, that looks quite a complicated style of granny you've started with, having the circle bit in the middle and all... not that I'm an expert! x

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  36. OMG you are amazing!!! I'm so embarrassed,I've been meeping about learning,and haven't got any further than the slip stitch! MUST TRY HARDER.
    I adore granny squares.I guess it's all go now,huh?!xxx

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  37. Wow! And you'd never done it before? I'll have to check out youtube! I think you're doing great! Will you be making an afghan? Vanna

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