The Final Frontier

For a long time, I've wanted to learn how to crochet. Not necessarily because I like crochet (I like to live by the crafting motto "Just because you can make it doesn't mean you should," and a lot of crochet isn't what I'd call pretty, nor useful, nor aesthetically pleasing in any way), but because it's pretty much one of the only crafts I have never tried. However, there are some pretty cool crocheted things out there, and it does open up a whole new realm of possibilities of new things to make.

Saturday I picked up a crochet hook at Wal*Mart (the only place around here to pick up craft supplies of such type), and I knew I had all kinds of yarn in my knitting stash that I could use.

I checked out a whole bunch of "How to Crochet" videos online, and if you're looking to learn, this is the best first lesson that I found:


I don't tend to like crocheted dishcloths, so I didn't make what the video lady suggested... but I did like how she demonstrated each step leaps and bounds better than a lot of other videos I watched.

Here's the first thing I made, it's sort of hat shaped. I thought maybe I would be able to figure out how to make it into a closed ball... but that was a little too advanced for my first try so I ripped this out and re-wound the yarn. My second try was more of a straight line, but didn't turn out quite so straight. After a couple of attempts, I ended up free-handing a hair band. Now, I'm not someone who ever wears hairbands (unless you count grade 9 and grade 10), nor am I someone who really ever wears a rusty colour. However, this item is both of those things:



I don't imagine I will ever wear this in public, however, I have been wearing it around the house since I finished making it this afternoon. Now that I have mastered single crochet, I'll be looking for some videos on next steps and other stitches.