'Crochet' is a lovely word

It sounds pretty and feminine.  And since women have been crocheting things for centuries, and I consider myself fair-to-middlin' in the 'making' department, I thought it was natural for me to step out of my comfort zone and take on a new handicraft this year.

I really, really, really want to be able to sit and have warm fuzzy blankets materialize on my lap while I watch shows we have DVR'ed that we finally get to enjoy on Saturday nights.  I realize afghans don't just happen.  They take some doing -- and counting and paying attention and time -- and I'm willing to learn!  Willing to try!  I'm a do-er!  Yes, yes I can!   

So my lovely mother in law --

:: And I mean it, she's wonderful.  She has legendary, mad chocolate-chip-cookie-baking skills.  She bakes a dozen 30 minutes before she is expecting you over, so her house smells good and you can eat the cookies while they're still warm.  She always cooks for 10, even if there are just four of us there.  And always, dessert.  Gets up super early every day and walks a couple miles before heading to the gym for spinning class.  And crochets.  Beautiful sweet afghans.  I mean it.  She's great.  A lot to live up to, but she's really terrific.  And she is, evidently, very patient. ::

-- agreed to take pity on my repeated cries for help.  She sat down with me for quite some time on December 30, before we left for our Cotton Bowl road trip, and showed me how.  We searched online for a good little afghan to keep my hands busy during our 6 hour trip south.  And she showed me the special stitches and how to work them, repeating, finishing, turning and all...

This is the pattern I'm using.  It got good reviews.  People said it was easy and the picture was close to what I wanted. I am using a good-quality medium weight yarn... It's just that MINE DOESN'T LOOK ANYTHING LIKE THE PICTURE.  My stitches aren't lining up.  There are no peaks and valleys.  There are pebbly-looking blobby things popping up randomly and it's starting to turn in on itself -- or ruffle outward, depending on how you look at it.

It's keeping my hands busy fun, but I'm torn between forging ahead to discover what I'm actually making (is it a skirt?  A ruffle?  A scarf?) and ripping it out and starting again.   I'm pretty sure my first chain was too tight and there is no going back to change that.  Or it could be ...there is ...definitely something really wrong with my (gulp) technique.  I hope that is not the case, because I've mastered this particular technique.  Anyone want a lesson???

Mr Pink is impressed that I haven't given up yet.  I'm not sure how to take that.   

Comments

[beki]

Oh no! I do think that your colors are pretty. It's been a while since I've crocheted. My problem is that I was never able to get my sides lined up. My projects either got fatter or skinnier.

[Cindy]

Very pretty colors. I hear your frustration though, I got the most basic hat pattern "anybody" can do and when I finished it was too big for a horse to wear.

[natalie]

you could make a nice lamp shade cover! I tried the "zig zag" and had the same problem as you. What the heck????

[laeroport]

Well you are 100% further along the crochet path than me. Aidin and I each have ripple afghans croched by my grandma. I love them. This one, beautiful colors, looks luscious, might make one heck of a scarf. And it's cold!
Hugs!

[Michelle]

That's your first crocheting attempt??? It's awesome. My grandmother taught me when I was in high school and for YEARS I made stuff that got smaller on the ends as I went. Now I've finally got it down. Just keep practicing and you'll be a pro in no time!

[Donita]

I think you are making a skirt...pretty colors. I would say maybe you aren't decreasing (making 2 stitches become 1), Pretty ruffles instead.