Crochet - Thereby Hangs The Difference!

Crochet, something I only delve into now and then.  It is something I would like to master.  I know I will one day.  I know I have a mental block about it, I am slowly challenging it.  At the moment I do not have the hours in the day (or evening, my me time, it would mean that I would have to put my knitting down and I really don't want to at the moment).  I know the mental block will be lifted at the right time.  I had a mental block about sock making for quite a few years, then the epiphany.  Now I knit socks.  I had a mental block about driving around Birmingham, especially The Tunnels.  I can now do this with the greatest of ease and Central Birmingham, the city itself and The Tunnels hold no fear for me.  When I worked in Brum, I used Spaghetti junction twice a day.  It not longer phases me.

Back to Crochet.  Between the UK and US there is no difference is terminology.  The same words are used.  But, and yes it is a big But, the words mean different things.  Bit of a Bugger really!  Something you would really have to watch when using crochet patterns from 'the other country'.

One of my biggest drawbacks with Crochet was my tension.  It was always loose, particularly when the yarn had to be wrapped around the hook before it went through the hole (I hope that makes sense).  That is why I always stuck to Granny Squares made up of double trebles (UK).  At least that is what I think they are called.  After a while, tension didn't seem to matter overly much and if I used a thickish yarn, it kind of forgave my loose stitches.

I put this dilemma to LA at the back end of last year (or some months ago anyhow).  My problem we very soon rectified, with an explanation of how tension is created when the yarn is held in certain ways.  I needed to hold my yarn differently.  It was as simple as that.  If I don't concentrate too much, I soon revert back to my old way of yarn holding.  But on the back of this new learning revelation, I crocheted a beanie hat, making up a simple pattern and started making another.

Apparantly another difficulty a knitter has when they learn to crochet is the way the stitches are formed and the fabric that is created, this is quite different.  Crochet has to be seen as crochet and knitting has to be seen as knitting.  I guess you may only understand that if you go from knitting to crochet - or even vice versa!

Crochet!

Tavish often sends me potholders that she has crocheted. I can only crochet basic stitches, although as a child I learnt to crochet lace - fine and intricate. All that is locked somewhere in the deeper rescesses of my mind! Looking at Tavishes potholders and coasters, I decided to have a go.

I started a couple of weeks ago with a coaster. The first attempt came out saddle shaped. The second one was flat but needed much tweeking and closer attention being paid to the amount of stitches and where they were placed. The third coaster was more successful. The picot edge was not quite evenly spaced, especially where I ran out of yarn with only two 'picots' to do!

So after recieving and being inspired by Tavish's Informal Spring Parcel, I thought I'd have another go at crochet. This is the inspirational Spring Potholder. Next to it is my first square.

Ta-da! This is my finished potholder, holding it's own flanked by Tavish's Spring Potholders. Just to the right is KnittyWittyCarina's potholder and to the left is a fish - one of the first things that Tavish sent to me.
A close up of my first Crochet Potholder! Thanks so much to Tavish for her potholders and for inspiring me to take up my hook!