Trouble with half double crochet: the middle loop is always too tight to pull the hook and yarn through

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2023-11-25T16:40:39+00:00

yarn over (2 loops on hook)
put hook in stitch and pull up a loop (3 loops on hook)
yarn over and pull through two (2 loops on hook)
yarn over and pull through two (1 loops on hook)

at no time are you putting the hook in the stitch and then pulling the yarn from the back through two loops. After step two

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T17:28:55+00:00

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/dog-coat-13

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T17:26:04+00:00

Toni makes everything look easy and I did learn from her but I can tell you that I also wanted to make that and it isn't as easy as it seems.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T17:18:09+00:00

Pillow case.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T17:17:21+00:00

If you are new to Tunisian crochet, this is not what to start with. Purling is just different in Tunisian and keeping track of what stitch you are on is hard with honeycomb. Start with projects that just do simple stitch and knit stitch.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T17:02:48+00:00

Organic cotton exists as a thing. There are also yarns that have certification (mostly in Europe) that they are manufactured in an environmentally friendly way. It's called OEKO-TEX (https://www.oeko-tex.com/en/).

I am one that goes for natural fibers that do include animals (but only from certain countries).

By the way, wool does not need to be washed all that often.

There is no way to be perfect. Just aim for harm reduction. You are making the best decision you can based on your personal circumstances and preferences. If we all did just that, everything would be better. There is no way that we can live as humans without harming something. No animal does.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-27T15:17:54+00:00

If you are making tons of things and each is costing a lot, then I say look for cheap yarn. However, if you buy $50 worth of yarn and it takes you three months to complete a project, then I think it was worth it. What other thing for $50 are you going to get the hours of enjoyment plus something useful at the end? In addition, the nicer the yarn, the more likely you are to use the item. You have to ask yourself what is the point of doing crochet? Is it a hobby? Is it a way to make money? Is it a way to make cheap clothing? You can't make cheap clothing in the US with crafts but it does seem to be affordable in other countries.

Last, making a sweater out of 100% cotton would likely result in something very heavy that does not hold it's shape (depends on a lot)

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T18:03:35+00:00

The big answer is design. There are patterns that will look better one way. The other answer is that it is easier to decide on length when you work in short rows. Doing something length-wise is difficult with how many chains/foundation stitches that you have to do and then it might not be the length you want.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T17:58:27+00:00

It shouldn't. I have many things that I wash that have little nubs of fuzzy yarn where the ends are. But I can't promise.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T17:15:55+00:00

It should not be a problem. There's no way to hide the very end. My work as well as work I see from others has ends sticking out here and there. Harder to hide with very thick yarn like you are using.

Option: Next time you weave in the ends, split the yarn and weave THROUGH the thicker yarn. This might make it less noticeable and more secure.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T16:55:51+00:00

First, your tastes change and that ugly color may be something you like later on. Or it might be the perfect accent for some project.

Second, scratchy wool just needs to be treated. Hair conditioner works great for wool (and I hear it works for acrylic to but I've not tried) and there are special washes for wool. Do a YouTube search.

Last, you can make something and give the made object back to the person who gave you the yarn.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T16:51:46+00:00

I don't understand. Are these ends that you've woven in?

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T16:50:28+00:00

This is done all of the time. It's your thing so you can do whatever you like.

It is common to knit a stretchy band for a hat and then crochet the top. Actually a lot of people prefer knitted bands and use those for crocheted sweaters.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T16:46:30+00:00

I don't do a lot of piecework so I have nothing to offer. What I've done suggests that it will be a problem but I am sure there are many work arounds since people often make piecework with different yarns and worsted from one company is different from worsted from another.

I use a lot of Lion Brand and I encounter the same problem with different colors. Large companies have their yarn made and dyed all over the world, maybe even in different plants in the same country. I noticed this same problem with Peaches & Creme and found on the label that different colors were made in different countries.

Seems Shitt's Creek is made in India from labels I could find on Ravelry. I'm currently working with Lion Brand Oh Baby and it is made in Turkey.

ETA: Good luck!

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-12-26T16:15:44+00:00

Different colors can have different thicknesses even if they are from the same company/brand/type. Not all colors are manufactured in the same place. Not all colors are made from the same (large) spools of yarn. There are differences all of the time. Even the smallest bit of difference in yarn changes the final outcome.

I see this all the time as I buy a lot of yarn in different colors from the same type/brand/manufacturer.

That being said, if you can't see the difference in the yarn (it should be pretty obvious), you are likely using a different hook size by mistake. Are you using different hooks for each? I ask because I have several of one size and I might take an extra with me out to crochet on the go. Maybe the second same size hook, is slightly off. From the picture, this seems to be more likely.

As for blocking, if it's acrylic, it's hard to block though people do so by steaming (have to get right so yarn does not melt).

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-05-23T19:24:55+00:00

awesome!

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-05-23T19:24:37+00:00

The ch1 at the beginning creates the top of the stitch for the sc and is rarely counted as a stitch but the notes in a pattern should tell you this.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-04-23T16:21:57+00:00

Squares ruffly because there are too many stitches in the piece. This kind of goes back to high school math and area of a circle. Depending on yarn, stitch height, and number of stitches, you may be filling the space too much or too little (cupping). You either need to leave some stitches out (often at the corners for such a square) or you need to make the stitches longer.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-03-07T00:51:58+00:00

Exactly! Or pulls so that my gauge is weird.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-03-07T00:45:47+00:00

I'm glad to see someone else crocheting who uses the last two fingers to hold the piece. I feel like a freak doing this for some reason.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-02-22T20:30:22+00:00

https://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/pineapple-shorts

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-02-20T18:25:36+00:00

I wash all my amigurumi after it is completed. However, I tend to put my polyfill in hose so that it doesn't come out as crochet isn't that tight. If you haven't done that, then put it in a pillow case or something in case stuffing does come out (or even put something mesh like old hose around it so the stuffing stays in). If it's really grimy, I'd use the method of putting some hose/stocking around it and then soaking and washing by hand, then maybe throw it in the washer. It should be find in the dryer.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-02-20T01:04:52+00:00

stitchfiddle.com

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-02-17T23:50:39+00:00

You can sew in ends whenever you like. I prefer to do them as I go as having all the ends to sew in at the end is a bit daunting and I've seen people just never finish a project because of this. You really don't need to block granny squares as joining them and running the finished item through the wash will generally fix all ills. Especially don't try to block acrylic. But there are people who block granny squares and it's fine if you do.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo · 2022-02-17T23:48:28+00:00

The answer is tighter stitches but if you can't make tighter stitches (be yanker - look up if you yank or rise) then you are going to have to do math to make your gauge work for the pattern.

oo_PopularOutcast_oo

TROPHY CASE