Just the other day, it dawned on me that just about everyone starts a new venture wrong. It's understandable how that happens but it makes me wonder how many people get frustrated and walk away. Here's the "normal" thought process: "Today I think I would like to try my hand at cooking, sewing, baseball, skateboarding, knitting...." You get the picture. Most any of these ventures require the purchase of something(s) to start. Cooking? You need food, a pan, a knife, dishes. Even going to the gym requires the clothing or a bag to get it there...oh! and the gym.
This is where the train goes off the tracks though. "Will I like it? Hmmm. Maybe not. So let me invest the minimal amount of money in case I don't dig this." So you go to Target and buy a cheap set of knives and a non-stick frying pan. The knives chew up the tomato so much that it ends up in the blender for sauce. The pan gets scratched up in the dishwasher and is now useless. Or you go to Dots for a "sports bra", t-shirt and yoga shorts and sign up for the cheapest gym in town. There's no qualified trainers to show you the right to use the equipment and your cute little neon pink and green outfit falls apart in the wash. See where I'm going here?
Listen, even when my Gran' taught me to crochet she was kind of guilty of the same thing. Admittedly part of her problem was the very tiny allowance my grandfather gave her and he didn't allow her to work so she kept Grant's in business for years and had a stash full of Wintuk. Now I will say that the woman worked miracles with that acrylic nightmare but... Years later when I decided to buy a few hooks and some "yarn" and give crochet another chance, my budget was also very limited as was my knowledge of where to purchase these things other than Wal-Mart or the crap store...I mean craft store. I loaded up on Susan Bates hooks and Red Heart Super Saver. When I decided to try to take a stab at knitting again, I grabbed a couple of pairs of Boye needles probably at Frank's or Wally World.
I'm not saying that large chain craft stores are evil. I am saying that if you do start there keep some of these things in mind.
- If you have chosen crochet as your new endeavor move down the wall from the smooth aluminum hooks and take a look at Clover or even Crochet Dude . I know the latter is a division of Boye but these are a step up. Nice soft, easy to hold handles and the hooks have enough point to easily slide into a stitch and the metal is very smooth so they do actually slide. I learned that Susan Bates aluminum hooks have a weird shape to the hook that makes it difficult to work stitches and the metal has a finish that grabs the yarn.
- Knitting needles? Yes, I have a number of pairs of old Boye needles and have the same anti-slide issues with those that I had with Susan Bates hooks. I also cheaped out on my first set of interchangeable circulars and got the plastic Knitters Prides. The good thing is that, even though I'm out $35, I have extra cables, wrenches and caps. After my LYS sold me two sizes of the KP birch short tips, I just invested $60 in the full set of long tips with cables and love them. I also have two pairs of Nova Platina chrome-plated straight needles (10") and plan on purchasing more. (I admit I am currently using the size 4 acrylic tips as I can "bend" then a little. The birch tips don't and the points are blunter).
- Things you can skimp on? Stitch markers, tapestry needles, totes and stitch holders.
- FIBER!! Red Heart can hunt me down but I'm puttin' it out there...Super Saver sucks. It stiff, scratches and splits too easily. I am embarrassed to say that I have actually used it to make wearables. DON'T MAKE THAT MISTAKE! I have a floppy beanie I made a year ago. I have washed it at least 5 times and it still doesn't flop. This yarn is virtually impossible to learn with whether you are trying knit it or crochet it. Once you have an good hook or pair of needles, at least grab the Red Heart Soft or With Love. My preference would be Lion Brand Heartland or Vanna's Choice. Start with worsted weight (I'll blog about yarn weight another day. Just ask the clerk for help with that) and start with a light color.
Once you have one or two hooks/pairs of needles then find some easy patterns on Ravelry or Pinterest. This is where you can save money. There are thousands of legitimately free patterns out there. What finally got me to stick with knitting was a pattern I had found on Ravelry called "Emergency Hat". Initially I was going to ask my daughter to make me one but then I decided to see if I could make it (after doing a great YT tutorial for a simple dishcloth that included increases and decreases). I am now addicted to Emergency Hat and have made three so far with various methods of the drawstrings. If a pattern is frustrating...Stop!. Crochet Rookies - DO NOT START WITH GRANNY SQUARES! (I have a whole other post coming about those inventions of the crochet devil). Weaving in ends is the worst part of either of these crafts and Grannies will leave you with a million ends to weave and very few places to weave them.
In closing, try to put away a little extra money for a few more weeks before heading out to the crap store to arm yourself for yarn battle. Or, look for yard sales or online people who are destashing or selling off old tools. Be careful. There a tons of the hooks, needles and yarns that I have warned against up for sale. I've given in to the fact that I am stuck with this stuff and honestly, I don't want pawn it off on someone else. Just invest in even just a little higher quality so that you don't get easily disappointed and think you can't do this. I'm not saying everyone has a talent for either craft but how many still think they can't cook because they had bad tools and/or bad food to start with? And if you discover this is really not for you, back to the eBay/yard sale thing, you can sell good equipment and good fiber.
See you back here on Friday for the end of the week free-for-all.
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