My First Crocheted Sweater - Nearly finished

United States
January 31, 2007 11:03pm CST
I taught myself to crochet from watching others and by instructional books or video clips. Even so it is frustrating to read a pattern. Just when you think you know what you are doing they toss in some abbreviated term that you can't figure out and no search on the internet comes up with the answer. A few weeks ago I started a crocheted hooded jacket for my granddaughter. Her birthday is next month. If I had more experience in crochet this would have been done within the first week of starting the project. I can't tell you how many times I have had to rip out the entire thing and start over again. There was a little cussing involved too. The front and back of the sweater are completed. Now I am working on the sleeves (which I have ripped out 3x already). Once those are complete I need to do the hood and the pocket. I am determined to get it completed within the next 2 weeks.
23 people like this
52 responses
• United States
1 Feb 07
I taught myself to crochet about a month ago from just a booklet and online instructions. It's a little confusing at times. I've only made 2 scarfs so far. I'm going to start on a baby blanket soon for a friend of mine. I still find it hard to get the tension quite right. It doesn't help that I have rheumatoid arthritis on my hands and they ache after awhile. But I really do enjoy crocheting and so glad that I picked it up!
5 people like this
• United States
1 Feb 07
My daughter has RA and I have taught her to crochet using a larger needle and thicker yarn. This helps make it easier on the joints.
2 people like this
@dhouston (417)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Wonderful! I love to crochet. Hope you can post a picture of the finished project here.
4 people like this
• United States
1 Feb 07
I will have my granddaughter pose in it. She loves the colors. She thinks I am making it for my niece!
2 people like this
• Philippines
2 Feb 07
Wow. How nice. I learned crocehting in grade school and now i forgot about it.
1 person likes this
• United States
1 Feb 07
That's so awesome!! I crochet blankets and hats, but that's really all I know how to do. My stitching isn't very even still, which kind of sucks. But I'm getting better at it. I made my fiance a blanket when he was in Iraq, and I made myself a scrap blanket. Now I'm working on another one that I just started today. It should turn out nicely. A sweater sounds really hard though!
3 people like this
• United States
5 Feb 07
Yeah no kidding!! I don't think I'm talented enough to make a sweater.
• United States
2 Feb 07
The pattern had "easy" printed on it. Ya, easy for who?
@Willowlady (10658)
• United States
1 Feb 07
OOOh, how I remember those days. I too have crocheted and working on projects can be so maddening. Yet fun enough to keep us hooked. :) Glad that you have undertaken this project and hope all I can that you will finish it and it be the treasure that it is meant to be. If you can find 1 crocheting book, they should have the abbreviations in there. Email me with one too and I will search my books, library, internet also for the answer for you! Good luck!!
3 people like this
@ILANEDRI (1921)
• Israel
1 Feb 07
Oh it's nice. Crochet is great when you want to spend time. I think that the jacket that my grandmother made me is the best jacket I have ever had. It is so warm, and I enjoyed to wear it. My sister is croching too. She doesn't do clothes yet, but maybe in the future she could make one for me.
3 people like this
@AskAlly (3625)
• Canada
1 Feb 07
Once again you put me to shame. I tried the self taught route to learning chrochete (I can't even spell it) and I am still on the first project I stared 10 years ago. My mother taught me to knit so at least when I am stuck I can hoof it over to her place.
• United States
1 Feb 07
I taught myself to crochet in the summer of 2005. I didn't have much trouble. I learned the basic stitches from a magazine and just played around with them for a week making long straight rows of single and double crochets. Then I made some placemats using both stitches. I had a little hard time learning to do the round items (like making a circle and crocheting into it. But after working on an afghan the whole time I was pregnant I'm pretty good at it now. I then crocheted the baby a cute striped sweater that she wore all the time after she was born. I'm working on knitting her a bigger sweater now. There are times I get frustrated because the instructions on a project aren't real clear or don't make sense but I usually just wing it. When I was knitting someone said if you don't understand what is written try it like you think it should be done instead of just staring at it. You can always frog it later (rip it out). It is hard to do that sometime but sometimes you have to just to get anywhere on a project.
2 people like this
• United States
2 Feb 07
My knitting projects take me less time, but that is because I have been doing them for years. The crocheted ones are a bit more challenging. But, you are right, if you can't understand the pattern, just wing it.
@cikedo (3483)
• United States
1 Feb 07
I like to crochet, but unfortunately all I know how to make are blankets.
2 people like this
@Khokhonut (702)
• United States
1 Feb 07
That is awesome !! Especially since you taught yourself, I'm impressed !! My sister showed me how to crochet a scarf, I got a couple inches done and decided it was going to be a potholder instead so I could be done LOL
2 people like this
@venshida (4836)
• United States
13 Feb 07
That's great, I have being crocheting for years, and I have no clue how to make a sweater. I crochet bags, hats, scarfs and blankets. You should be proud.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Wow! That is exciting. No, you surely did not cuss! LOL LOL only 3 times you ripped them out well that is not too bad. I bet it will be perfectly beautiful when you are finished. good luck
3 people like this
@lifeiseasy (2292)
• United States
1 Feb 07
You go girl ...crocheting is a great hobby and can be very rewarding ...you can make some awesome christmas and birthady gifts too ...and everyone knows that handmade is much better than store bought gifts ... Once you get it all finished your will have to post a picture for us all to see... I have crocheted since a young girl and I hardly ever follow a pattern ...I make my own as I go ...The directions are sometimes more frusterating than if you just figured out a pattern yourself ...good luck and I am sure your granddaughter will love it ... :)
3 people like this
• United States
1 Feb 07
Nothing means as much as a home made item. You are making me want to pick up my crochet needles and start again.
2 people like this
@ladyjava (1184)
• Malaysia
1 Feb 07
My friend taught me to crochet 8 years back. With her help i was able to finish one sweater which i am still very proud off.. Unfortunately though, since then i simply dont have time to crochet anymore.. you have inspired me.. now where are those thread and needles??
@sunrisekn (1466)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Good for you! My mother crochets all the time. She has taught my 11 year old niece. She tried to teach me, but I don't remember. You can get it done. I have faith in you. :)
@alchemistrx (2547)
• Philippines
1 Feb 07
I love crocheting because I have been taught at it during my first year in high school and that skill is irreplaceable. I also like cross-stitching too.But I never knitting yet but I want to learn that art too.
2 people like this
• United States
5 Feb 07
That's great elusive butterfly. I think that is really great. I learned on my own, but never got past the stage of a scarf or a blanket. Hehhee. Nothing as hard as what you are doing. Bet it will look great when you are done. What color and what kind of yarn are you using?
1 person likes this
• United States
5 Feb 07
I am using worsted weight and a larger needle. I had to try using different sized hooks to achieve the gauge. The pattern called for a thicker yarn. The arms are challenging to me. I have one nearly completed. After I get the second one finished I will make the hood. Hopefully the hood is aimple. Then sew it together. My granddaughter's birthday is the 18th so I have plenty of time to complete the sweater.
@TerryZ (22076)
• United States
1 Feb 07
Thats great I am impressed. I have no doubt you will get it all done in time for her birthday. I have only crochet blankets. One day I will attempt what you are doing. Keep the good work up.
@patootie (3592)
1 Feb 07
Good for you .. I never could get to grips with chocheting other than to do a few little lacy edges .. and I have tried garments and you are right .. they seem to assume that you know everything there is to know about chochet .. I think I need a kiddies book to get me started again .. Good luck .. maybe when it's done you will treat us to a pic of you wearing the sweater .. and to save your modesty you can 'cut your head' off is you see what I mean heheh!!!
2 people like this
@samraf (725)
• India
1 Feb 07
well this is really great to know that you have done so much for your grandchild... its really respected.. regards, sam