Collage

Collage
Hello and thanks for visiting my blog. I have been knitting on and off for 50 years and I recently learned to crochet. I love looking for wool bargains and making them into something useful. I mainly knit for charity. I occasionally knit for myself and family members if I find a really good pattern or if they ask nicely!!

Friday 4 September 2015

Ripple scarf


                                                               


In the spirit of lifelong learning and continuing with my aim to learn new skills in 2015, I was very happy to finally learn how to crochet a ripple.  I followed the excellent Gentle Ripple How To tutorial on Linda's Crafty Corner blog.

I am such a slow learner where crochet is concerned, that it took me a few attempts to master the decrease stitch.  But I persevered as I really wanted to make a ripple something.  

I must be a tight crocheter. This was starting to look more like a rug than a soft blanket!  In the end I decided to turn this into a baby scarf.  I think I am a tight crocheter, especially when I am concentrating on something new.  I broke the cardinal rule and didn't make a swatch.  If I make another blanket I will go up to size 5mm crochet hook and do two rows per colour.  

Thanks, Linda for the very clear phototutorial/
                                                      

                           

12 comments:

  1. Hi Una, wow what a cute scarf you made. You did a great job with the ripple stitch.
    Enjoy the weekend.
    Julie

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think it is wonderful. I always have to go up a size with knitting needles and crochet hooks. I must be tight with everything.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

    ReplyDelete
  3. Good for you for trying the ripple, Una! I am afraid of crochet, and have only ever done a single chain around the outside of a knitted hat.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Well done on your first ripple! It's great to do once you get into a rhythm.

    ReplyDelete
  5. That looks so sweet! I struggled with the ripple pattern at first - I made my first chain row too tight and everything puckered :-(
    However, I found that if I used a larger hook and worked that initial chain VERY loosely it allowed enough 'give' to accommodate the increases and decreases of the following rows.

    Well done, Una, for tackling something new and expanding your crochet repertoire! Bravo!! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  6. You are welcome Una I'm pleased you found it useful, your scarf is lovely. :) xx

    ReplyDelete
  7. Una-- your scarf is beautiful-- I think you have successfully mastered that awesome stitch! I envy people who can crochet so beautifully--- I can't even hold the needle correctly let alone make a stitch!
    Vicki

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keep trying! It took me a long time to even hold the yarn correctly. I was holding it in my knitting hand to begin with. I persevered and am now as comfortable with crochet as with knitting.

      Delete
  8. Congratulations on learning a new skill! The ripple looks great.

    I was always a tight crocheter too until I learned to consciously relax my tension. Here's a little tip - one way to loosen your crochet is to draw up a taller base loop than you normally do. (By "base loop" I mean the first loop you draw up after inserting your hook into the stitch below.) This gives a more willowy effect to the entire stitch.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks, I'll definitely try that next time.

      Delete
  9. I think people often begin with tight stitches when they're learning. It's the nerves, and a desire to hold the needles/hook securely. I was a horribly tight knitter at first -- could hardly get my needle into the stitch, they were so tight! You will loosen up as you relax and feel more secure in crocheting. It's very pretty!

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for leaving a comment on my blog. You are a star.