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YarnAddict

(1,850 posts)
Wed Feb 4, 2015, 01:16 PM Feb 2015

Crochet questions

I am most definitely a knitter; but every once in awhile, I find a crochet pattern that is sooooo cute that I have to tru it! Like this:

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This is a simple enough pattern, and I think I could do it. Trouble is, the crochet hook I started with (2.75 mm) was too small. The next size I tried is a G because it was the first one I could find. It is working better, even though it seems like it should be much too big. But I don't think my "posts" are turning out long enough. Any way I can lengthen them, other than by using a really, really huge hook? Would it be better to do triple crochets, rather than double?

Also, I can read the diagram, but I really don't know what to do about that oval! It's showing as many as 6 dc in just that one spot, while the rest of the diagram is just 4.

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It doesn't help that the written instructions are not in English, and the translation is faulty. Can anyone help me out?

9 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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Crochet questions (Original Post) YarnAddict Feb 2015 OP
I can help some. SheilaT Feb 2015 #1
Thanks, Sheila YarnAddict Feb 2015 #2
Oh, I'm sorry. I should have read your question more carefully. SheilaT Feb 2015 #3
It looks like it might be the beginning of the round Warpy Feb 2015 #4
The oval on the right looks to be just an enlargement of the stitches LoisB Apr 2015 #5
like it 2478shilpi Apr 2015 #6
like it 2478shilpi Apr 2015 #7
I love to crochet but find chrochet instructions to be incredibly confusing Marrah_G Jul 2015 #8
I find the ones that are in diagram form SheilaT Jul 2015 #9
 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
1. I can help some.
Wed Feb 4, 2015, 07:09 PM
Feb 2015

The sideways ovals are a chain stitch. A line with one cross-hatch is a single crochet, two cross-hatches is a double crochet. X means skip the stitch below and crochet in the next stitch.

This kind of pattern is the modern way to show crochet instructions, and it is vastly better than the old way. If your local yarn store has any books on learning to crochet, pick one up as it will show you what you need.

That oval in the center is where you start. You'll want to chain four or five, then join the chain with a slip stitch, and proceed to make all those double crochets into the hole. It will give you a VERY round shape to start with.

You might also want to go to Ravelry for more help. It's possible someone there will have this pattern with some English instructions.

Good luck. It's an adorable hat.

 

YarnAddict

(1,850 posts)
2. Thanks, Sheila
Wed Feb 4, 2015, 07:54 PM
Feb 2015

I have looked up the symbols, so I understand the diagram, but what I am wondering about is that big oval on the right, next to the words which I can't read because the print is to small, it is in a language I can't read, and I suspect it's printed backwards anyway!! It looks like several rows in that one spot shoul have 5, then 6 consecutive double crochets, but that makes no sense at all.

I will check on Ravelry. That's a great idea!

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
3. Oh, I'm sorry. I should have read your question more carefully.
Thu Feb 5, 2015, 12:35 AM
Feb 2015

Looking at it, I'm not sure. It's almost like an enlarged version of that part of the pattern. I do hope Ravelry is helpful.

Warpy

(110,900 posts)
4. It looks like it might be the beginning of the round
Wed Feb 25, 2015, 01:59 AM
Feb 2015

as you work outward from the center. It shows you where to put the increases and where to connect the chain stitch to get to the next row of increases and so forth.

Ravelry is a super source. I know I've learned a lot and gotten rid of a lot of dumb habits because of them.

 

SheilaT

(23,156 posts)
9. I find the ones that are in diagram form
Sat Jul 11, 2015, 01:09 AM
Jul 2015

to be vastly easier to understand. If I see a long, long paragraph with "row 1 ... row 77" or some such, forget it.

In the 1970's I bought a book I call The Hippie Dippie Book of Crochet. It's real title is "Contemporary Crochet", copyright 1972. It starts with very clear line drawings of how to crochet, starting with how to hold the hook, how to make the slip not, how to chain, and so on. Back then crochet books did not have such good drawings. Anyway, it goes on and in plain language explains how to make shapes, then how to combine them to make various things. There's even a section on how to make garments. Again, everything is in plain, easy-to-understand language.

After I'd read this book and made a few things from it, I discovered I could look at various crocheted items and figure out how to reproduce them on my own. It was wonderfully liberating.

I'm sure it's no longer in print, but if you could possibly find it in a used book store or on line, it would be worth getting. It's extremely dated, no surprise, but would still be a useful resource.

One of these years I'm going to once again make some hand puppets they have in the book.

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