sparrow Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I can do very, very basic crochet and knitting. I am looking for a simple pattern that works up quickly, so I can feel a sense of accomplishment :001_smile:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Granny Squares! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cinder Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 If you go to the Lion Brand website they have a few patterns for very quick throws like this one. I haven't tried one, but I did hear on their podcast one of the hosts saying she did one of the quick afghans (not sure if it was this particular one) and it did go very quickly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avila Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I can do very, very basic crochet and knitting. I am looking for a simple pattern that works up quickly, so I can feel a sense of accomplishment :001_smile:. Crochet generally goes faster than knitting, and taller stitches go faster than shorter ones. So look for a crochet pattern with at least double crochet for a quick afghan. You could even just do rows of double crochet for a simple afghan. Do you have a Ravelry.com membership? They have a lot of nice patterns. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
seraphina Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have been wanting to learn to knit or crochet for years but alas no one ever seemed to want to teach a lefty. I tried books and videos but no luck. But yay on thursday a friend is going to finally teach me. She is going to show me how to crochet and also how to use a knifty knitter. I am so excited and this seemed like a good thread to share my excitement. Not sure if I'll ever be able to make an afghan though but I really hope someday I can. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 OMG *IS* there any such thing as a QUICK afghan?! :001_smile: I'm a very prolific knitter and I"ve never done a blanket or afghan. They always seem like such a huge undertaking! (well that, and the fact that in my house it would end up on the floor and covered with Corgi hair!) astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gingersmom Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Granny Squares! Then you have to sew them together. Uggh. I have a stack of squares several years old that are still waiting to be sewn together. I would start with a baby blanket. Then you can donate it to project linus (http://www.projectlinus.org) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astrid Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have been wanting to learn to knit or crochet for years but alas no one ever seemed to want to teach a lefty. I tried books and videos but no luck. But yay on thursday a friend is going to finally teach me. She is going to show me how to crochet and also how to use a knifty knitter. I am so excited and this seemed like a good thread to share my excitement. Not sure if I'll ever be able to make an afghan though but I really hope someday I can. That's wonderful!!! Have you looked on youtube for lefty videos? There are a ton of knitting videos parked there. I taught a lefty once. She just did what I did, and learned to knit righty. Since she didn't know how to knit at all, it really didn't matter to her which action she did with her dominant hand. Plus, in the long run, it's really easier to learn to knit right-handed if you want to take other classes, learn new techniques, etc. Maybe give it a try righty? In any case, good luck and have fun! Oh, and don't forget to join Ravelry!!! I'm sure you'll find lefty-support there! astrid Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pretty in Pink Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Google 'Linus Blanket + crochet' and it should pull up a pattern for you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Twigs Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Then you have to sew them together. Uggh. I have a stack of squares several years old that are still waiting to be sewn together… Check this out for a no sew granny square afghan. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amey311 Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 If you're willing to use FAT needles, Lion Brand has a "6 hour afghan" - you use 4 strands of yarn held together and size 50 needles (25mm). I wouldn't want to knit with needles that big, but I also like knitting socks :) If I were going to do that, I might use TWO strands and a US 17 (13mm), and cast on double the number of stitches (so 68 rather than 34). It could be a twelve hour afghan instead, but the needles would be easier on my hands. A guideline when choosing a needle when you're working with multiple yarns is to add the recommended needle size for the yarn and then looking for a needle with that size. Homespun (in that blanket) recommends a 6mm needle. 6x4=24, hence the 25mm needle for the original pattern. 6x2= 12, so I'd pick a 13mm needle if I did it double stranded. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 3, 2011 Author Share Posted October 3, 2011 I have been wanting to learn to knit or crochet for years but alas no one ever seemed to want to teach a lefty. I tried books and videos but no luck. But yay on thursday a friend is going to finally teach me. She is going to show me how to crochet and also how to use a knifty knitter. I am so excited and this seemed like a good thread to share my excitement. Not sure if I'll ever be able to make an afghan though but I really hope someday I can. It took me years to learn! Youtube was a godsend. I could watch it over and over (and over and over and over :D). The Knifty Knitter is fun! My very non-crafty son is actually making himself a scarf with the KK right now. Have fun! OMG *IS* there any such thing as a QUICK afghan?! :001_smile: I'm a very prolific knitter and I"ve never done a blanket or afghan. They always seem like such a huge undertaking! (well that, and the fact that in my house it would end up on the floor and covered with Corgi hair!) astrid :lol: I know. *Someone* must be doing it, though! Heaven knows there are enough afghans in the world. You see them everywhere! I'm fixated on the afghan idea because we're being gifted a leather couch from a friend that is moving. It's screaming for a lovely afghan to make it cozy. I'm also in fall nesting mode :001_smile:. Thanks so much, everyone, for all the ideas! Keep 'em coming, if you have them, and I'll choose something. I should be held accountable for my choice and post pictures. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorien Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Check this out for a no sew granny square afghan. My mom used to make afghans like these all the time (for my brothers, cousins, and nieces) and they are fairly quick and easy. I've made some ripple afghans that were fairly quick and a lot of fun to make. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lorien Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 Have you checked out this website for more ideas? I do knit, but enjoy crochet more because it's faster for me - I'm a slow knitter! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sassyscrapperinid Posted October 3, 2011 Share Posted October 3, 2011 I started a granny square blanket once. I liked doing it but then I got a little grumbly about having to sew all those squares together and stopped. Here is a pattern that I love and is super easy!! http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90317.html?noImages= It works up quickly and its cute. Its fun to see what kind of color combinations you can come up with. Have fun! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
theYoungerMrsWarde Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 Q size hook! I used a Q size hook, the fluffiest yarn I could find (which was the baby soft/cloud like yarn) and a double crochet stitch and have made several blankets. Recently I also made a blanket with the same stitch but with Lionheart (?) Homespun and a N size hook. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ellyndria Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 OMG *IS* there any such thing as a QUICK afghan?! :001_smile: I'm a very prolific knitter and I"ve never done a blanket or afghan. They always seem like such a huge undertaking! (well that, and the fact that in my house it would end up on the floor and covered with Corgi hair!) astrid Um, I just finished an afghan on Saturday (crochet). It took me 4 weeks. That is a "quick" afghan to me. It was a ripple afghan, and it had 42 rows, so I averaged 10 rows a week. I didn't time anything, but the earlier rows, while I was learning the pattern, took around 2 hours, but the later rows were more in the 1-1.5 hour range. I hadn't crocheted in about 7 or 8 years, but back then I made a bunch of afghans, and the average was about two months to complete one, but those were of the non-quick variety. This was the first time I made a ripple afghan, but it did seem to go by quickly (after the initial few rows which seemed to take forever). Others that seemed faster were the mile-a-minute kind, and of course any afghan that uses more than one strand of yarn at a time. I started another afghan on Sunday night, but this one is going to take a lot longer; it certainly requires a lot more yarn. Four squares down, 59 to go! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 I really like this one: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90255AD.html?noImages= I'm just worried I'll make half the squares and never finish :glare:. Maybe after spending all that money on yarn, I'd feel too guilty not to finish! Gosh, I had no idea how many skeins went into an afghan :svengo:. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 8 hour afghan. Use 3 stands of yarn and a Q hook (big blue one) Make the chain as long as you want the afghan, then single or double crochet till it is a wide as you want it. Then make fringe for the sides. I think used 12 skeins....It has been too long.. If you want I'll dig mine out and tell exact measurements. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrganicAnn Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I hate Granny Squares - like like the look, just hate crocheting them and sewing them together. I've made 2 afghans in my life. Both use the big knitting needles and 3 strands of yarn. I knitted every row- so the edges don't roll. I usually use 2 colors and 2 textures - navy and marroon, normal texture and fuzzy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I have been wanting to learn to knit or crochet for years but alas no one ever seemed to want to teach a lefty. I tried books and videos but no luck. But yay on thursday a friend is going to finally teach me. She is going to show me how to crochet and also how to use a knifty knitter. I am so excited and this seemed like a good thread to share my excitement. Not sure if I'll ever be able to make an afghan though but I really hope someday I can. I'm a lefty and just knit right-handed. Granted, I'm not the most dominant lefty there is. :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sparrow Posted October 4, 2011 Author Share Posted October 4, 2011 I hate Granny Squares - like like the look, just hate crocheting them and sewing them together. I've made 2 afghans in my life. Both use the big knitting needles and 3 strands of yarn. I knitted every row- so the edges don't roll. I usually use 2 colors and 2 textures - navy and marroon, normal texture and fuzzy. Oh, but isn't it tempting to learn 365 different Granny Squares and put them together? http://craftyminx.typepad.com/a_granny_a_day/ She's on square #77 :svengo:. Her whole blog is adorable AND she started a "Crochet School" on 10/1. DD and I are brushing up on our skills. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WishboneDawn Posted October 4, 2011 Share Posted October 4, 2011 I really like this one: http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/90255AD.html?noImages= I'm just worried I'll make half the squares and never finish :glare:. Maybe after spending all that money on yarn, I'd feel too guilty not to finish! Gosh, I had no idea how many skeins went into an afghan :svengo:. Check out the Red Heart yarns like Super Saver and Comfort. They have HUGE balls of it for cheap. It gets a bad rap for being scratchy but the fact is that once you give it a trip through the washer and dryer it softens up considerably. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BamaTanya Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Is plastic the only choice for these? I'm afraid of trying to transition from my metal hooks . . . I'm tempted by the idea of something quick, but will plastic move smoothly? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Yes plastic works great. I use plastic, metal & love wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jennsmile Posted October 5, 2011 Share Posted October 5, 2011 Besides a metal Q hook would be very heavy. ;) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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