Irish Crochet

Show Guide...

Irish Crochet is a style of crochet that many people find extremely beautiful and extremely intimidating to attempt. Even experienced crocheters might shy away, although they sigh at the beauty of this heavy textured lace. Irish crochet is one of the oldest and most spectacular types of crochet, and looks a lot more difficult than it is. It emerged, along with other forms of crochet, in the first part of the 19th century. In the 1840's, schools of needlework were set up in Ireland to teach crochet during the Irish potato famine. In many familes, every member contributed to the work in order to make a living. Because of this extra income, lives were saved just through the use of a homemade crochet hook. There are two things that make Irish Crochet different from the crochet that emerged in other parts of Europe around the same time. First, Irish crochet uses padding cords to add texture to designs. For example, in making a very basic crocheted rose, the crocheter would crochet the foundation chain over a few strands of crochet thread to pad it. The rest of the rose would be made exactly as usual, and then more padding might be added to the edges of the petals. It's not that much more difficult than "regular" crochet, and the extra effort yields a luxurious, old-world effect. The other part of Irish crochet that makes it different, is that instead of working the entire project in rows, "motifs" are made first, then a background is filled in. For example, clusters of "grapes" can be made, then leaves and vines added. These motifs are put face down on a piece of muslin or paper (I just use cut-up brown paper grocery bags, it works fine) and the background, in some form of open net, is crocheted in around the motifs. Getting the background right is the most difficult part of Irish crochet, but even then your effort is repaid with a result of amazing beauty. If you love historical needlework, elaborate lace, or ...

International Crochet Standards

Show Guide...

International Crochet Standards

Crochet Hook Sizes
The Craft Yarn Council?s hook manufacturers have agree...

Crochet Thread Gains In Popularity

Show Guide...

Crochet thread has made a huge comeback the last few years. In times past it was much easier and faster to crochet or knit with worsted or sport weight yarn.

Crochet Difficulties, Tight Stiches, ect..

Show Guide...

•   When I was 9 or 10 years old, an eldery friend taught me many things about crochet, I began to learn the names of sthiches, and make small one day items.

• Sometimes my stiches would be to tight, other times they would be to loose, it does take time to find the right tenshion for your thread so don't give up.
• Suggestions:
•   Beginners might start with simple patterens such as small doilies, or using yarn threads and make scarves for around the neck.       
•  Buy a beginners book, and hopefully find a friend who crochets, to assist in understanding the instructions.
•  To get the best prices check out the auction section, there are needles, yarn and thread as well as patterns, and other tools for crochet to help you.                                                                
• One should make sure the thread and needle size agree with what the pattern suggest.
• find a place and time when there is no distrac...

  ---

  Proper tension for Crochet, Knit, Thread or Yarn Hint

  Show Guide...

  I have been crocheting for 50 years plus now since my mother and grandmother taught me when I was quite young.  I learned knitting many years later, but crochet is still my favorite. 

  I have graduated to more difficult patterns, such as Patricia Kristoffersen's patterns (my favorite) but one thing remains the same...tension or gauge and its importance.  A woman that I went to for knitting lessons taught me this trick and it was the best thing anyone has ever shown me.  It works for crocheting, knitting, with thread of any size or yarn of any size.

  When holding your work and having your thread over the first finger to guide it, simply weave it under the middle finger and back over the ring finger and let it hang down between the ring finger and pinkie.  This simply provides just enough "drag" on the thread or yarn to make it much easier to handle.

  This works for right- or left-handed people.  This has helped make all my stitches smoother and more uniform for a long time.  Hope it helps someone else as much as it has helped me.

   

  ---

  Learning the Craft of Crocheting

  Show Guide...

  Crocheting is not an activity made only for our grannies and for bitter spinsters. It can be done by everyone. Especially, now that clothing trends are now more inclined into the use of crocheted items, popular clothing designers are also smitten by crocheting.
  
  However, crocheting is not only for the plain Jane. One has to have the patience and, of course, the time to be able to do anything crocheted. So how does one actually get herself learn to crochet?
  
  It really is not a hard skill to learn. But it neither is an easy one. In order to get you going, all you need is a good crochet hook, yarns, measuring tape, yarn needle, some pins, and a lot of determination to finish a crocheting project.
  
  Here is a rundown of tips on how to easily learn crocheting:
  
  Hold the Yarn Like a Pro
  
  For newbies in crocheting, holding a yarn could be quite a tricky job. Even if it only takes some time of getting used to, knowing how hold it properly and skillfully is not to be overlooked.
  
  Here is how:
  
  1. Let the yarn pass through your fingers upon holding it. This is how it is done: the little finger, then, beneath the ring finger, then, above the forefinger and the middle finger.
  
  2. Another way to hold the yarn is to loop in the region of the little finger, and then, make it cross the forefinger.
  
  3. Upon holding the hook, imagine how you would hold a pencil or a spoon. That's how it should be held. In that position, it won't be hard for you to heave the yarn from your fingers down to the loop in the hook.
  
  As you go along the process of crocheting and you start to get the hang of it, you will learn your unique and most comfortable way of working with the yarn. Don't be afraid to adopt a new method of holding it. It will help you become more of an efficient crochet craftsperson in the long...

  ---