Nostalgia

What seems like a gazillion years ago now, my Mum taught me how to make Granny squares. Now, knitting and crocheting were something of a challenge for me at a tender age as I was a left hander learning from right handed teachers. Things like starting off a row in knitting were a complete mystery and purling - well, that was just impossible! I did eventually crack the knitting thing and moved on from simple knitting and purling to making lacy patterns and aran designs with twists and bobbles and such. I loved all of that. Sadly, my children are no longer 'into' woolly clothing items so I don't knit so much now. 

I made less progress with crocheting than I did with knitting. I never progressed beyond the Granny Square...and even then, I had to have Mum start the thing off for me...that circle in the middle and whatnot - it was all Greek to me. I've been promising myself for quite a number of years that I'd get back into crochet...the worry of that circle has been putting me off though. This week I finally bit the bullet and entered the sewing shop in town and requested a crochet hook with which to make Granny Squares. Quite how I exited the shop with not only the hook but also a pattern and some yarn to crochet a bag I do not know. The lady in the shop is really nice and very helpful. Perhaps a little too nice and too helpful for my purse! Anyhow, I thought it best to revise what I already had learned many years ago...and teach myself how to make that darned circle in the middle! I am delighted to say that there was great success and I managed the circle and got the square going...that wool, it was just hanging around - ideal for practising with but it will never be made into a blanket or whatever...it was quite cheerful to look at on this rainy, rainy day though.

Feeling buoyed by the success with the circle making business I decided to have a little read of the bag pattern. You can hear it coming can't you? Yes, I made a huge gaff here because I have absolutely no idea how to get beyond the first row of the pattern :o It is beyond my skills, I do not understand the lingo at all. Here is what it says...

Make 33ch.

Round 1 : (RS) 2dc into 2nd ch from hook, 1 dc into each of next 30 ch, 4 dc into last ch. DO NOT TURN, but continue to work back along the other side of the chain as follows: 1 dc into each of the next 30 ch, 2 dc into next ch, ss to first dc. (68 sts)

Now I can read a knitting pattern and see in my head what's taking place - I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT'S GOING ON HERE. I am fine up to the point it tells me not to turn the work and then I've lost it completely - am I supposed to going backwards, is that the answer? I'll have to pay the lady in the shop a little visit tomorrow and own up to being a complete crocheting nitwit 

I thought I'd post a pretty picture of my Tail Feathers block...just to show how far behind I am :o I only do it in the evenings while listening to a spot of tele and even that tailed off somewhat during another recent dose of tooth problems. I am resolved to catch up with it though. I need to press on with the crocheting mind you - I've promised to teach Catherine how to make Granny Squares...thank goodness she didn't see the bag in the shop and want to make that :o

Comments

[Toni]

Not easy is it LOL perhaps the 'nice' lady in the shop can translate for you.

Toni :o)

[Natty]

You need Carole STAT - she is the crochet queen, I would love to be able to make granny squares so I can get a rug made, but the cost of the wool not to mention my inability to complete projects is saying NOOOOOOOO!!! hehe

[Helen]

I was hoping you'd be up to crochet flowers by now so you could teach me :o)
Another award on my blog for you.