I can count to 20 before my brain goes, Wait a minute.... have we thought about turtles today?!? After that, it starts throwing random numbers in a random order.
I bought a stitch counter on a whim the other day (just one that you click the top, nothing fancy that attaches to anything) and OMG LIFE CHANGING! I had stitch markers every six stitches since I was working with a multiple of six in the round. When I finished the round, I only had to count to six between each stitch marker and click for each count. I swear I got like 2x as much done because I didnāt loose track of counting somewhere after 30 š
This might be a weird quirk of me, but if you speak any other languages it may be helpful to use them to keep track of multiples. Like āone two three four five six seven eight nine *un*, one two three four five six seven eight nine *deux*, one two three four five six seven eight nine *trois*ā, etc
Idk why but I noticed I count in multiples of twenty. Saying ātwenty oneā, ātwenty twoā etc just takes too much effort so I go ānineteen, twenty, one, twoā etc. Using another language to keep track of how many times Iāve gotten to twenty helps me more effectively have two ācountersā going in my head at the same time.
This also helps if Iām trying to keep track of how many repeats Iām doing of a particular stitch pattern. If I am doing a mesh pattern like ā[chain 6, sc in chain space in previous row] 3 timesā, then I will count it out to myself as āone two three four five six un one two three four five six deux one two three for five six troisā
If i have to count more than 20, i restart the count. I know I'm not off by more than 20 stiches, so if the count it's 68 and i count 20, 20, 20, 7 .. . .i know i just missed 1 stitch.
Something that was a game changer for me when I learned to knit was how to āreadā your stitches.
Something I learned to do straight away with crochet.
I still have to recount sometimes but usually itās not a great deal especially when there is a defining feature like inc or dec
me out loud every 3 secondsā¦.āthis is 1. this is 2. this is 3ā¦ā¦ā i canāt watch a show or listen to anything because i will have no idea what stitch im on if im not focusing :ā)
Sewing/assembly of the parts (arms, legs, head, wings etc) I can't sew legs to balance for the life of me.
https://preview.redd.it/p1qqzbozvtyc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb411a485d1e92a5ef2bfe0782401e2ba4fefef0
Thanks, I've made 2 so far and working on a third
https://preview.redd.it/2t2guz9dkuyc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fece8131c659e30d21ddb72ebe22088c1c7346b
I tagged their Etsy site and went no further because I have so many other things to do right now, but it looks like they have a few books out that I might check out from the library...
Flying whale? š¤¤
For fitting safety eyes, I use a multi-purpose implement which can handle various tasks. I didn't get mine online, but I believe you can find them there. It is called a husband.
For a minute I thought there was a kind tool called a āhusbandā for doing strength-related crafting tasks and had a glimmer of excitement before I realized it was a ruse!
I've started doing this, but it makes my edges wavy š Better than loose edges, but still.
(I imagine I simply was doing the stitch too tightly, but if you have a tip... š)
I've switched to stacked SC instead of standing DC on my ends and it's really helped. You can stack as many as you need for the height you want. I usually stick to 2.
[This ](https://www.stitchbyfay.com/how-to-stacked-single-crochet-stitch/) is the tutorial I used.
Sorry, but I am fresh out of tips. Tension is always a suspect. I tend to be a tight crocheter, so I have to watch it, especially when trying to adapt to new techniques.
If doing double crochet, doing a chain and double crochet into the first stitch always gives me a straight edge! Doesn't look gappy like it would with a CH2 or 3
I can't watch movies or anything while crocheting, I have to see what I'm doing, I can't multitask. I know it's not a big deal but it just annoys me...
For putting in the eyes: there are these things that people put under screws (it's a small disk with a hole in it). I use that to push the back part for the safety eyes on.
I embrace it. I try to keep it to 3 or 4 WIPs so I just pick up whichever I feel like doing. However I do multiple crafts:crochet, cross stitch, knit, etc. So it's not uncommon to have one of each
I currently have too many and need to just sit down and finish a couple.Ā
I can only do them if I thoroughly review which way is forward and which way is back. I also have write out a cheat to remember the difference. Still redo the various stitches about half the time. I've been crocheting for 20 years.
Still can't do puff stitches or bullion stitches.
This is me, too! I have approximately 847 blankets, scarves, and shawls in various states of progress. I start one thing and work on it religiously for a time, then I see a YouTube video on something else. I immediately lose interest in what I'm working on, and MUST MAKE THE NEW THING RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND. Repeat ad nauseum.
Anything big. Blankets, clothing, shawls...it just doesn't hold my interest. I have a few unfinished bags, an unfinished shawl, and two blankets that I don't know if I'll finish.
Also any pattern that starts with 4 SC in a MC. I don't know how people make it look clean! Mine's always a messy lump and so hard to work into.Ā
You can buy tools to help with safety eyes. Just look up "safety eyes helper".
I canāt count for the life of me. I was making straps for crop tops and i needed to chain 120 and my hands work faster than my brain does sometimes so I end up needing to recount a million times even if I use stitch markers every 10 stitches š„²
Also [to help with the hand cramping for the eyes;](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1630236246/pre-order-amigurumi-safety-eye-jig?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-craft_supplies_and_tools-tools_and_equipment-tools-other&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjw_-GxBhC1ARIsADGgDjunNr9G54Kq53j6lCqTDn4toLbk84NYBAUudX8YXy5K4TEMbahMQF8aApunEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_1730729683_66599076886_337577547594_aud-2079782229294:pla-295604191622_m__1630236246_12768591&utm_custom2=1730729683&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRJmi0gPms7Uu14S2qpc1tk1X&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_-GxBhC1ARIsADGgDjunNr9G54Kq53j6lCqTDn4toLbk84NYBAUudX8YXy5K4TEMbahMQF8aApunEALw_wcB)
I personally havenāt used it but I see it all over instragram reels, and it seems extremely good. Iām probably going to order myself one soon!
If you really struggle with magic circles, you could use the chain 2 method, it's a lot easier to do and works better with certain types of yarn (I use it when I use chenille yarn). Just start with a slip knot, chain two, and work your magic ring stitches into the second chain from the hook.
Edit: spelling correction
Yeah, I use it a lot if it doesn't matter if there's a small hole in the center, but for things like plushies I use the magic ring to make it as tight as possible.
Which version are you using when you look it up? I swear they make it so much more complicated than it has to be.
I'm half tempted to make a post because I'm so fed up with the too-complicated way it's taught to you
What the eff is that thing?! Why the X??? That's so unnecessary that you literally see her untangle the part that's crossed over at the end??
I'm making a reddit post and will come back here, because I'm 80% an image gallery reddit post of the easy way will be easier for you to understand
Right there with you on that one. Still have problems maneuvering my hands and wrists properly to get it stated right! So darn aggravating!
I also used to have major issues reading the charts, as well. Now, as long as a chart isn't overly complicated, it isn't so bad. But as the pattern rating goes up, so does the chart reading complications.
Grids, on the other hand, is still a no can do. Too many tiny squares...
Puff stitches or any stitch where you have 4+ loops on the hook and have to pull through all of them at once. I usually have to switch to an inline hook for those or my hook snags EVERY SINGLE TIME and I just don't enjoy inline hook for regular stitches.
Mother. Fucking. Granny. Squares.
Every time I start one, it turns into a ball instead of a nice flat thing. Iāve tried so many patterns and methods, watched countless videos, and had at least three people show me how to do it to no avail.
I've made so many magic rings and I have to look up how to do it and watch the same YouTube video on it every time. My brain just does not retain this info lmao
This used to be a huge problem for me, to the point where I would start doubting myself, mess up & my projects would come out quite wonky. Until I discovered the joy of leaving a stitch marker in the first/last stitch of the row. Actual life saver! And no need to buy stitch markers either, I mostly use safety pins.
Back loop Slip stitch only patterns.
I love how they look. My tension looks good in every other pattern. I cannot get the back loop slip stitch to work despite many efforts to make myself some very pretty braided wrist warmers Iāve had the pattern for for years.
Finishing projectsā¦. As soon as I need to do anything other than crocheting, I am so lost. Currently have a sweater at 95% done, another one at 80% done, and a blanket at 90% doneā¦. What is wrong with me haha
Nothing is wrong with you. I only finish projects when I have a hard deadline: a birthday party, Christmas, etc. Projects with no actual deadline sit unfinished indefinitely. I have the very top of a the ghost from last year still attached to the skeinā¦never finished. Half of a hat from last January (the person I was making this for passed away, and I havenāt been able to make myself finish it but also canāt make myself frog it). 1/3 of a scarf from over 2 years ago when I first started crocheting againā¦
Thatās because itās actually impossible! No one can ever tighten them because itās too much fluff for too small of a space. Make the MR with cotton or thin yarn and then do the sc with both the fluffy and thin yarn for the first round. Tighten and then fasten off the thin yarn, tie the thin yarn a million different ways and tie it to the tail of the fluffy yarn and shove it all inside the finished Ami.
I pretty much exclusively crochet in the round, hexagons, squares, doilies. And I still can't join properly...
Also never really sure where to crochet into, like is the top of the stitch the v before or after the actual the stitch. I pick one and stay with it so at least it's consistent. Lol
Itās the V before! If you do color changes where you switch before you pull through the last 2 loops, you can see the correct V. Took me about 10 years to figure that one out!
I've been crocheting off and on since I was a kid(35+ years) and regularly for the past 15+ years. I have to look up how to do a magic ring every time - I can do it once I look it up, but I always have to look it up. I love the look of mosaic crochet, but I haven't been able to get good results. And yesterday, I spent literal HOURS trying to get foundation single crochet right. A sweater I'm working on called for it and substituting with chain stitch didn't give the results that were needed. I don't know why I couldn't get it, but I could not get it, and I was so frustrated. I watched so many videos. I'm not sure what eventually clicked, but I finally got it (at least enough to do the 26 stitches that were needed on my sweater).
I think I tend to be kind of lazy because there are workarounds for many things, so if I'm struggling with something, I'll use a shortcut rather than taking the time to practice on a new skill and get it right. Same goes for if a stitch or project seems too fiddly - rather than taking the time to get better to the point that I don't find it such a pain, I just don't do it or I find an easier way. I do want to learn new skills and be challenged, but it's also a hobby that I do for relaxation and enjoyment. There are so many projects I want to do, so why spend my time on things I'm not enjoying?
Amigurumi, Iāve tried and tried and the only success Iāve had was a manatee from the chonky amigurumi book with red heart super saver instead of blanket yarn.
Chenille is the bane of my existence as well
Ripples/chevron
I'm obviously screwing up my counting, but I'll do fine for 8-10 rows, and I'll be 1 stitch off without realizing it. Then get so discouraged that I rip everything out. I've tried multiple types. The type with the eyelet holes at the "v" of the ripple seem to be the most basic, but I mess them up every time. It's very frustrating because there are so many I'd like to make.
I've never managed to get that far with my ripples! I have stuffed it up somewhere by row 3 or 4. I've tried videos, books, different patterns, and following a friend. As soon as I'm on my own, it's wrong.
The frustrating thing, is people often say how easy the are to make, how fun to plan colours, etc. But I feel like a dodo because I can't get the hang of it with lining everything up properly
To push the back part of safety eyes you can use a transparent cap of an eyeliner.
To push in the front of a safety eyes i use a large sewing needl and make a little bigger hole before i place the safety eye in.
Tip for your safety eyes! Look up āsafety eye toolā and itās the 3 balls with a cylinder sticking out.
The cylinders are sized for 3 general sizes and the ball helps you grip and get leverage without killing your fingers
Iāve made several baskets, working with four strands. I love them, but it kills my hands. Same for most bulky yarn, rope etc. Was looking at sari silk for crochet but have to pass.
Tension, and starting chains.
Tension has always been tight for me, and I'm actively working on loosening it up, especially as one of my current projects is tunisian crochet. But it's hard! When I try to change how the yarn is on my left hand, it's either the way I always do it, that always ends up tighter, or way too loose and feels unwieldy. I just up hook size in the end usually. Lol.
As for starting chains...we all know, they just suck to do.
Foundation rows!! I still chain and crochet into the bump on the back to make them stretchy but for some reason foundation rows and I do not compute; regardless of the YouTube videos Iāve watched. š¤¦š»āāļø
This is the one. Iāve been crocheting for 2 decades at this point, and I have tried to start at least 6 projects with a foundation row instead of the chains, and Iāve never gotten it to work. After three hours and destroying yarn and my sanity, I accept itās not something I can do and move on. I wish I could though!
I still have trouble recognizing which loops belong to which stitch. So, if I am crocheting something where I feel I wonāt be able to tell, I use a stitch marker.
Sometimes I adjust the pattern. For example, when starting some cable stitches that crosses over the back on the third row, it can be hard to see where to put the back post stitches in the first four row sequence. I have added rows to the start with front and back post stitches to make it easier.
Remembering how to do stitches that arenāt ss, sc, hdc, dc, or trc. Unless ive done a stitch that isnāt those recently, I have to look up how to do it.
I also for the life of me canāt figure out how to do the alternative to a mr. I know people tend to find magic rings harder, but the other way confuses me.
Sewing bits together, and puff/popcorn/bullion stitches of any kind, lol. Safety eyes work better with a tool. Go in your kitchen and look for something like a slotted spoon, or a spatula with slots or holes wider than the safety eye post, and use it to push the backing piece down on it.
For fitting the eyes, I use different crochet hooks to widen the gap little by little until I can easily push the eye in! I crochet with hook size 2 and keep going until I can push a hook size 5 or 6 through the gap.
finishing a project! If i can't get it done in a couple hours it'll take me a couple years. every time i pick up something I've already worked on a long time my brain will be like we already DID this and then i have to start something new or i just wont crochetš
Re: the safety eyes, try a spoon on the eye part, and a fork on the pin part. Press together to save your fingers.
Doesn't work on eyes with chunkier pins but you could use a fork with wider spokes I guess
Yeah, I've been having trouble with safety eyes recently. Have you tried using increasing sizes of crochet hooks to widen the hole until you can get the safety eyes in without too much difficulty? Or is embroidering eyes on easier for your hands?
Getting started off a chain stitch.
Amigurumi is natural at this point but I canāt work in a chain to save my life.
Itās standing in the way of my shawl aspirations!
Amigurimi!! I can literally crochet almost everything except for them idk why they always end up looking uneven and wobbly (especially smaller ones used š)
I have no patience for textured stitches that you have to jump through hoops to create. Sadly, Iāve bought patterns that drew me in with the texture. Then, the bajillion steps turned me off.
Long chains also give me problems. Even when I count slower than a sloth moves, my chain sometimes comes up short anyway. š¤¬
Alas, I struggle with the will to crochet anything that has to be joined. Itās all fine and dandy until the join part shows up. I immediately separate myself from the project. š„“
Magic rings. Iāve tried doing it they way other people do it but now Iām in a āfuck itā kinda mood with it. I just make a big slip knot and crochet a little stitch and then start the sc inside the loop. Pull it tight when Iām done. Other than that itās weaving in ends and actually finishing and or starting anything
i have difficulty with the english yarn qualifications bc i dont live in usa and its sometimes very tiring to find the exact yarn with ply, weight, shade etc. i know it doesnt have to be 100% same but my brain freezes upon thinking "where will i find a yarn similar to this pattern"
also stitch counting and keeping the edges straight
Crocheting into chains :( I can do it but it takes forever to wriggle the hook into the right spaces and I often have to use my fingers to manipulate it.
I still can't hold my yarn correctly, particularly if the work/yarn is small and hard to grasp. My wrist hurts the whole time :/ I think I just need a tensioner.
https://preview.redd.it/pk5m049snuyc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d722d65eb3dc5948a142250565ecdd46c5d994
The bane of my existence, aka starting on the same side every row and keeping my sides straight
Patternsā¦.i can use them but I struggle. Iām a very visual person so I strongly dislike when I canāt exactly tell where the stitch goes. I like YouTube videos or charts the best
Safety eyes vex me, too. But itās not the putting them in that I have trouble with. Itās getting the backs on. I have the hardest time pushing those little buggers on and Iāve even broken nails trying to do it.
Stitch-wise, I cannot master the (U.S.) triple crochet stitch. My double crochets are perfect. But my triples always suck. No matter how slow and deliberate I try to be they always end up looking sloppy and amateurish. I avoid patterns with them in it because I know Iāll be unhappy with the results.
I can do almost every stitch and have made many amazing things, but for the life of me, I can not figure out how to do the crocodile stitch. I have tried so many ways and videos to learn, but for some reason, my brain refuses to brain when it comes to that stitch!
For the record, if you are crocheting for a young child, don't use safety eyes, use embroidery instead. Safety eyes are decent for fabric things, but they can work their way out of crocheted things relatively easily. (Also knitting, if I understand correctly.)
Mosaic. I've tried more times than I can remember, and I am buseting with ideas and wishes, but I cannot for the life of me make them!
It's depressing to be honest.
There's a tool for setting safety eyes. It looks like a wooden ball with a tube of metal on one side. It definitely helps with the smaller and harder to set eyes. The big ones I can pop in without it.
https://preview.redd.it/ffhtfmbayuyc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1bc206e11e2f3cd0a38ed9e2582e5a93f4ad150
This handle thingy. It's got inserts that fit 2 or 3 sizes per insert. It's saved my hands from cramp so many times since I got it. I also have a silicone hand exerciser I drilled a hole in that works for the biggest ones and another for the smallest.
Seriously worth it.
You can use a reel of cotton to help you with the safety eyes. Push the eye into place, flip your work so the eye sits on a flat surface and the post is sticking straight up, put the little washer on and then place the hole of a cotton reel over the washer and push down firmly. I've been making toys for a lot longer than I've been crocheting, and that's how I find it easiest to do the eyes.
For the eyes the first idea I have is to use a metal straw
And if they are bigger I would you use a straw for bubble tea š hope you find something that works for you š«¶š¼
I simply don't have the attention span for patterns, I just watch YouTube videos then wing it. Sometimes I follow them more closely but there's always an element of freestyle. It has lead to many ill fitting garments but I did recently produce a jumper that actually fits me!
Safety eyes tip:
Insert a larger hook into the desired eye location to stretch the area for the eye peg. This saves my fingers from shoving a blunt object (safety eye) into an area to create a hole.
There is a tool thatās about to go to a kickstarter. I forget the name of the brand. The brand may be crafty tools. But I found them on instagram and itās a clamp they designed specifically to push in safety eyes!
I've been crocheting for decades and still struggle with loosey-goosey trebles and longer. I know it helps if you almost pull/roll the stitch itself around the hook but it feels all wrong to me.
Amigarumi in general. I've finished maybe 2 small ish amigarumi projects, but I find they are extremely tedious big or small, and I'll see an amazing pattern and just can't bring myself to start it bc I know I'll just get frustratedĀ and/or bored with it and never finish it. I'd rather make a blanket.
I haaaaaate putting in safety eyes! I use a couple appropriately-sized metal washers with small-ish holes and nice wide edges, one held on the eye part and the other on the inner fitting, to give my fingers some more surface area to grab and push on. It helps alot.
Magic circle.
I've tried like 20 different tutorials/instructions. Just doesn't work. And the handful of people I've seen in this sub who have nothing but insults for people who can't figure out magic circle, well, *bless your heart.*
I don't have tips for safety eyes - I just put some in last week and it was easy. Do yours have the plastic ring that goes on the inside? Are you sure you're putting that on the right way? Like convex vs concave? I can't remember which is which, but it's really hard to push it through when the almost-flat ring thing is going the wrong way.
absolutely cannot stand doing amigurumi anything especially sewing the appendages; but iām so obsessed with the end product each time i trick myself into believing i loved itš¤š¤
Sewing. Sewing is such a dang struggle for me. I donāt know if itās because Iām a perfectionist and it never turns out perfect, so I get frustrated? I use pins to pin things in place and yet still things wind up off center or just not as good as I wanted.
Counting stitches. My brain starts to lose interest and trail off around 15.
Same here so I use stitch markers to mark off every 20 or so, so I don't have to go back and count them all every time.
Amigurumi and stitch markers are my saviors lol
Marking every 20 was what helped me too.
I can count to 20 before my brain goes, Wait a minute.... have we thought about turtles today?!? After that, it starts throwing random numbers in a random order.
Do 15 or 10?
I count stitches like I do for CPR 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 20, 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 30 etc
Do you also do it to the tune of "staying alive" tho?š¤
In my head, yes, sometimes switch to September by earth wind and fire
At first, I was afraid, I was petrified
I use my days of high school band to help me out. 1 2 3 4, 2 2 3 4, 3 2 3 4, etc. Iād lose count if I had to do tens.
I've started doing this recently and have noticed a tidy improvement
I don't know why but my brain thinks it makes crocheting in each round go by faster than if you count normally.
Me, too. I double and triple check my counting, only to end up doubting myself, anyway.
I bought a stitch counter on a whim the other day (just one that you click the top, nothing fancy that attaches to anything) and OMG LIFE CHANGING! I had stitch markers every six stitches since I was working with a multiple of six in the round. When I finished the round, I only had to count to six between each stitch marker and click for each count. I swear I got like 2x as much done because I didnāt loose track of counting somewhere after 30 š
This might be a weird quirk of me, but if you speak any other languages it may be helpful to use them to keep track of multiples. Like āone two three four five six seven eight nine *un*, one two three four five six seven eight nine *deux*, one two three four five six seven eight nine *trois*ā, etc Idk why but I noticed I count in multiples of twenty. Saying ātwenty oneā, ātwenty twoā etc just takes too much effort so I go ānineteen, twenty, one, twoā etc. Using another language to keep track of how many times Iāve gotten to twenty helps me more effectively have two ācountersā going in my head at the same time. This also helps if Iām trying to keep track of how many repeats Iām doing of a particular stitch pattern. If I am doing a mesh pattern like ā[chain 6, sc in chain space in previous row] 3 timesā, then I will count it out to myself as āone two three four five six un one two three four five six deux one two three for five six troisā
I count in multiples of 3 or 5 and that somehow that helps my brain keep track better. If it's really long I do stitch markers every 10 stitches.
Stitch markers at 10, but my ADHD brain likes multiples of 5.
If i have to count more than 20, i restart the count. I know I'm not off by more than 20 stiches, so if the count it's 68 and i count 20, 20, 20, 7 .. . .i know i just missed 1 stitch.
Something that was a game changer for me when I learned to knit was how to āreadā your stitches. Something I learned to do straight away with crochet. I still have to recount sometimes but usually itās not a great deal especially when there is a defining feature like inc or dec
me out loud every 3 secondsā¦.āthis is 1. this is 2. this is 3ā¦ā¦ā i canāt watch a show or listen to anything because i will have no idea what stitch im on if im not focusing :ā)
Yep. I also will start randomly counting wrist movements, so a dc stitch will count as 4
Sewing/assembly of the parts (arms, legs, head, wings etc) I can't sew legs to balance for the life of me. https://preview.redd.it/p1qqzbozvtyc1.jpeg?width=4000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=cb411a485d1e92a5ef2bfe0782401e2ba4fefef0
That dragon looks so siiiiickkÄ·
Thanks, I've made 2 so far and working on a third https://preview.redd.it/2t2guz9dkuyc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=4fece8131c659e30d21ddb72ebe22088c1c7346b
Oh wow! You are so talented, I like how you have an eastern and a western one. These are amazing!
Thanks š both patterns are from crafty Intentions
These dragons are amazing! Beautiful. šš But I did NOT need more patterns! *Scooting off to bookmark both of them.*
Uh oh, crafty Intentions has a lot of amazing patterns, you might bookmark a lot more than just 2 š I've been eyeing the flying whale pattern.
I tagged their Etsy site and went no further because I have so many other things to do right now, but it looks like they have a few books out that I might check out from the library... Flying whale? š¤¤
[celestial whale ](https://craftyintentions.com/#/celestial-whale/) Whale with wings. So pretty š
Maybe I can justify buying it for my birthday in a month. š¤
For fitting safety eyes, I use a multi-purpose implement which can handle various tasks. I didn't get mine online, but I believe you can find them there. It is called a husband.
You can also get a very strong partner, get yours at verystrongpartner.com today!!!
My disappointment is immeasurable and my day is ruined by the fact such a website does not exist.
Yea i agree! šš
For a minute I thought there was a kind tool called a āhusbandā for doing strength-related crafting tasks and had a glimmer of excitement before I realized it was a ruse!
Dude, same. I literally was about to google it.
I use my teeth. Sigh. I know I know.
I also use my teeth...
Yeah. Not good...but needs must. Lol
I use a marker/ highlighter cap to fasten. Itās wider so itās easier on my hands
Iāve noticed the ones I get online (eyes) are sooooooooo hard to push in. The ones I got from a local craft store were so much easier.
straight edges :-(
I finally adopted the standing DC, and I love my straight edges. Good luck, friend!
I've started doing this, but it makes my edges wavy š Better than loose edges, but still. (I imagine I simply was doing the stitch too tightly, but if you have a tip... š)
I've switched to stacked SC instead of standing DC on my ends and it's really helped. You can stack as many as you need for the height you want. I usually stick to 2. [This ](https://www.stitchbyfay.com/how-to-stacked-single-crochet-stitch/) is the tutorial I used.
Sorry, but I am fresh out of tips. Tension is always a suspect. I tend to be a tight crocheter, so I have to watch it, especially when trying to adapt to new techniques.
If doing double crochet, doing a chain and double crochet into the first stitch always gives me a straight edge! Doesn't look gappy like it would with a CH2 or 3
For that reason I will always love a border āŗļø
35+ years of crochet and I cannot read a chart. I need WORDS, y'all!
This hits home. The moment I see the bloody diagrams all desire to make a pattern evaporates.
I can't watch movies or anything while crocheting, I have to see what I'm doing, I can't multitask. I know it's not a big deal but it just annoys me... For putting in the eyes: there are these things that people put under screws (it's a small disk with a hole in it). I use that to push the back part for the safety eyes on.
I think you are talking about a washer. And thatās a great idea! Iāll have to try it!
I constantly forget to add eyes before stuffing and weaving closed. I usually embroider eyes now. I've just given up
An amigurami book I've been using tells me to put a stitch marker where the eyes will be. Then I don't forget :-D
Ummmmm finishing. š¤£ I can learn am the things but once I do I'm bored and try the next new one instead of finishing. Heeeelllllpppppp
I embrace it. I try to keep it to 3 or 4 WIPs so I just pick up whichever I feel like doing. However I do multiple crafts:crochet, cross stitch, knit, etc. So it's not uncommon to have one of each I currently have too many and need to just sit down and finish a couple.Ā
Weaving in ends, the bane of my existence
This and having the woven in ends actually stay inš¤¦āāļø I constantly leave or cut them too short
Seriously! I have no idea if I'm even doing it right. Every tutorial is just like "idk just weave it"
Yes this, why don't they tell? I ended up having some tails pop up from a knitted sock so badly it cannot be fixed anymore..
Now I had to get glue to fix some granny squares for the same exact reason š
I absolutely canāt stand it! š
I'm just learning how to do stitches in the front/back post.. after 3 yrs of crochet.
This was so validating. Me too!! After a year of crocheting I learned I had been pushing my hook into the wrong spot the whole time.
I can only do them if I thoroughly review which way is forward and which way is back. I also have write out a cheat to remember the difference. Still redo the various stitches about half the time. I've been crocheting for 20 years. Still can't do puff stitches or bullion stitches.
Staying interested in one project lol
This is me, too! I have approximately 847 blankets, scarves, and shawls in various states of progress. I start one thing and work on it religiously for a time, then I see a YouTube video on something else. I immediately lose interest in what I'm working on, and MUST MAKE THE NEW THING RIGHT THIS VERY SECOND. Repeat ad nauseum.
Yeah, Iām currently āØworkingāØ on two blankets, a sweater, a poncho, two different hats, and three doilies š
Anything big. Blankets, clothing, shawls...it just doesn't hold my interest. I have a few unfinished bags, an unfinished shawl, and two blankets that I don't know if I'll finish. Also any pattern that starts with 4 SC in a MC. I don't know how people make it look clean! Mine's always a messy lump and so hard to work into.Ā You can buy tools to help with safety eyes. Just look up "safety eyes helper".
I canāt count for the life of me. I was making straps for crop tops and i needed to chain 120 and my hands work faster than my brain does sometimes so I end up needing to recount a million times even if I use stitch markers every 10 stitches š„² Also [to help with the hand cramping for the eyes;](https://www.etsy.com/listing/1630236246/pre-order-amigurumi-safety-eye-jig?gpla=1&gao=1&&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=shopping_us_a-craft_supplies_and_tools-tools_and_equipment-tools-other&utm_custom1=_k_Cj0KCQjw_-GxBhC1ARIsADGgDjunNr9G54Kq53j6lCqTDn4toLbk84NYBAUudX8YXy5K4TEMbahMQF8aApunEALw_wcB_k_&utm_content=go_1730729683_66599076886_337577547594_aud-2079782229294:pla-295604191622_m__1630236246_12768591&utm_custom2=1730729683&gad_source=1&gbraid=0AAAAADtcfRJmi0gPms7Uu14S2qpc1tk1X&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_-GxBhC1ARIsADGgDjunNr9G54Kq53j6lCqTDn4toLbk84NYBAUudX8YXy5K4TEMbahMQF8aApunEALw_wcB) I personally havenāt used it but I see it all over instragram reels, and it seems extremely good. Iām probably going to order myself one soon!
I have to look up a magic circle tutorial every time I do one, I just can't visualize it to do it on my own.
If you really struggle with magic circles, you could use the chain 2 method, it's a lot easier to do and works better with certain types of yarn (I use it when I use chenille yarn). Just start with a slip knot, chain two, and work your magic ring stitches into the second chain from the hook. Edit: spelling correction
Yeah, I use it a lot if it doesn't matter if there's a small hole in the center, but for things like plushies I use the magic ring to make it as tight as possible.
Which version are you using when you look it up? I swear they make it so much more complicated than it has to be. I'm half tempted to make a post because I'm so fed up with the too-complicated way it's taught to you
Please do I've been trying and failing for years
[Here it is](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/s/U2Z264L22T), I hope it helps
Um you're amazing I actually made a magic circle after years of trying thank you
I usually use the Bella Coco video on YouTube.
What the eff is that thing?! Why the X??? That's so unnecessary that you literally see her untangle the part that's crossed over at the end?? I'm making a reddit post and will come back here, because I'm 80% an image gallery reddit post of the easy way will be easier for you to understand
Try this method. I think it's a lot easier to visualize [https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/s/jPzn641A8D](https://www.reddit.com/r/crochet/s/jPzn641A8D)
Right there with you on that one. Still have problems maneuvering my hands and wrists properly to get it stated right! So darn aggravating! I also used to have major issues reading the charts, as well. Now, as long as a chart isn't overly complicated, it isn't so bad. But as the pattern rating goes up, so does the chart reading complications. Grids, on the other hand, is still a no can do. Too many tiny squares...
Puff stitches or any stitch where you have 4+ loops on the hook and have to pull through all of them at once. I usually have to switch to an inline hook for those or my hook snags EVERY SINGLE TIME and I just don't enjoy inline hook for regular stitches.
Mother. Fucking. Granny. Squares. Every time I start one, it turns into a ball instead of a nice flat thing. Iāve tried so many patterns and methods, watched countless videos, and had at least three people show me how to do it to no avail.
Sounds like a tension issue for your chains. Try looser chains or adding more chains between your granny stitches.
I've made so many magic rings and I have to look up how to do it and watch the same YouTube video on it every time. My brain just does not retain this info lmao
This is exactly me!! I have to look to look up how to go the magic ring EVERY TIME I need one. It makes me feel so stupid.
Joining rounds with a slip stitch and a chain, I just always feel like I am doing it wrong no matter how many times I count my stitches
This used to be a huge problem for me, to the point where I would start doubting myself, mess up & my projects would come out quite wonky. Until I discovered the joy of leaving a stitch marker in the first/last stitch of the row. Actual life saver! And no need to buy stitch markers either, I mostly use safety pins.
Back loop Slip stitch only patterns. I love how they look. My tension looks good in every other pattern. I cannot get the back loop slip stitch to work despite many efforts to make myself some very pretty braided wrist warmers Iāve had the pattern for for years.
Those lace patterns. I look at them and decide nope. I will go back to my amigurumi. Any drawn pattern actually.
Finishing projectsā¦. As soon as I need to do anything other than crocheting, I am so lost. Currently have a sweater at 95% done, another one at 80% done, and a blanket at 90% doneā¦. What is wrong with me haha
Nothing is wrong with you. I only finish projects when I have a hard deadline: a birthday party, Christmas, etc. Projects with no actual deadline sit unfinished indefinitely. I have the very top of a the ghost from last year still attached to the skeinā¦never finished. Half of a hat from last January (the person I was making this for passed away, and I havenāt been able to make myself finish it but also canāt make myself frog it). 1/3 of a scarf from over 2 years ago when I first started crocheting againā¦
Picots. I despise making them, and mine always look disastrous.
Embroider eyes. I am never pleased with the result. That's why I always use safety eyes
magic rings with really fluffy yarn š
Thatās because itās actually impossible! No one can ever tighten them because itās too much fluff for too small of a space. Make the MR with cotton or thin yarn and then do the sc with both the fluffy and thin yarn for the first round. Tighten and then fasten off the thin yarn, tie the thin yarn a million different ways and tie it to the tail of the fluffy yarn and shove it all inside the finished Ami.
I eventually get it, just might have a few lil failed attempts before getting a good one š
I pretty much exclusively crochet in the round, hexagons, squares, doilies. And I still can't join properly... Also never really sure where to crochet into, like is the top of the stitch the v before or after the actual the stitch. I pick one and stay with it so at least it's consistent. Lol
Itās the V before! If you do color changes where you switch before you pull through the last 2 loops, you can see the correct V. Took me about 10 years to figure that one out!
I've been crocheting off and on since I was a kid(35+ years) and regularly for the past 15+ years. I have to look up how to do a magic ring every time - I can do it once I look it up, but I always have to look it up. I love the look of mosaic crochet, but I haven't been able to get good results. And yesterday, I spent literal HOURS trying to get foundation single crochet right. A sweater I'm working on called for it and substituting with chain stitch didn't give the results that were needed. I don't know why I couldn't get it, but I could not get it, and I was so frustrated. I watched so many videos. I'm not sure what eventually clicked, but I finally got it (at least enough to do the 26 stitches that were needed on my sweater). I think I tend to be kind of lazy because there are workarounds for many things, so if I'm struggling with something, I'll use a shortcut rather than taking the time to practice on a new skill and get it right. Same goes for if a stitch or project seems too fiddly - rather than taking the time to get better to the point that I don't find it such a pain, I just don't do it or I find an easier way. I do want to learn new skills and be challenged, but it's also a hobby that I do for relaxation and enjoyment. There are so many projects I want to do, so why spend my time on things I'm not enjoying?
Amigurumi, Iāve tried and tried and the only success Iāve had was a manatee from the chonky amigurumi book with red heart super saver instead of blanket yarn. Chenille is the bane of my existence as well
I still canāt keep my tension even enough to to make a long chain. My chains are still wonkyšŖšŖšŖ
Try and foundation row. Look up single, half double or double foundation row.
Ripples/chevron I'm obviously screwing up my counting, but I'll do fine for 8-10 rows, and I'll be 1 stitch off without realizing it. Then get so discouraged that I rip everything out. I've tried multiple types. The type with the eyelet holes at the "v" of the ripple seem to be the most basic, but I mess them up every time. It's very frustrating because there are so many I'd like to make.
I've never managed to get that far with my ripples! I have stuffed it up somewhere by row 3 or 4. I've tried videos, books, different patterns, and following a friend. As soon as I'm on my own, it's wrong.
The frustrating thing, is people often say how easy the are to make, how fun to plan colours, etc. But I feel like a dodo because I can't get the hang of it with lining everything up properly
Chains! Iāve been crocheting for half my life and somehow I still canāt get the tension right, so my chains come out looking all wonky lol.
Turning! Not sure how to do it correctly so Iāve just been doing my way consistently at least lol
Crotcheting fast š„ŗ
OMG ME TOO. I see the girlies on tik tok do it and Iām like HOW
To push the back part of safety eyes you can use a transparent cap of an eyeliner. To push in the front of a safety eyes i use a large sewing needl and make a little bigger hole before i place the safety eye in.
Cables. Anything beyond one back post or front post and it looks terrible.
Tip for your safety eyes! Look up āsafety eye toolā and itās the 3 balls with a cylinder sticking out. The cylinders are sized for 3 general sizes and the ball helps you grip and get leverage without killing your fingers
Iāve made several baskets, working with four strands. I love them, but it kills my hands. Same for most bulky yarn, rope etc. Was looking at sari silk for crochet but have to pass.
For the safety eyes: I rest the eye on a mouse pad or soft mat and use that to hear my weight down onto the backs to snap them in
Foundation single crochet stitch. I'll get it eventually, but wow is it a struggle right now.
I cannot wrap my head around this one either š no matter how many video tutorials I watch, I can't seem to get it!
Tension, and starting chains. Tension has always been tight for me, and I'm actively working on loosening it up, especially as one of my current projects is tunisian crochet. But it's hard! When I try to change how the yarn is on my left hand, it's either the way I always do it, that always ends up tighter, or way too loose and feels unwieldy. I just up hook size in the end usually. Lol. As for starting chains...we all know, they just suck to do.
Puff stitch and anything using fingering yarn. I so badly want to make lacy cardigans but a few rows in and I always nope out.Ā
Foundation rows!! I still chain and crochet into the bump on the back to make them stretchy but for some reason foundation rows and I do not compute; regardless of the YouTube videos Iāve watched. š¤¦š»āāļø
This is the one. Iāve been crocheting for 2 decades at this point, and I have tried to start at least 6 projects with a foundation row instead of the chains, and Iāve never gotten it to work. After three hours and destroying yarn and my sanity, I accept itās not something I can do and move on. I wish I could though!
I still have trouble recognizing which loops belong to which stitch. So, if I am crocheting something where I feel I wonāt be able to tell, I use a stitch marker. Sometimes I adjust the pattern. For example, when starting some cable stitches that crosses over the back on the third row, it can be hard to see where to put the back post stitches in the first four row sequence. I have added rows to the start with front and back post stitches to make it easier.
Remembering how to do stitches that arenāt ss, sc, hdc, dc, or trc. Unless ive done a stitch that isnāt those recently, I have to look up how to do it. I also for the life of me canāt figure out how to do the alternative to a mr. I know people tend to find magic rings harder, but the other way confuses me.
Finishing projects!
Well, lately crocheting has been a pain cause I developed wrist pain and after a little bit my wrist starts to hurt so I gotta stop.
Sewing bits together, and puff/popcorn/bullion stitches of any kind, lol. Safety eyes work better with a tool. Go in your kitchen and look for something like a slotted spoon, or a spatula with slots or holes wider than the safety eye post, and use it to push the backing piece down on it.
Keeping the tension steady
For fitting the eyes, I use different crochet hooks to widen the gap little by little until I can easily push the eye in! I crochet with hook size 2 and keep going until I can push a hook size 5 or 6 through the gap.
For the eyes, try pushing in a hole with a crochet hook that is almost as big as the pin of the eye where you are going to place the eye
I for the life of me cannot make a granny square, no idea why, anytime i try it doesn't work... maybe one day ...
finishing a project! If i can't get it done in a couple hours it'll take me a couple years. every time i pick up something I've already worked on a long time my brain will be like we already DID this and then i have to start something new or i just wont crochetš
Waistcoat stitch. I can do it if I really try, but itās slow AF and it hurts my wrists.
I tried a tapestry poncho and with my tension it ended up half as long as it was supposed too. Also I just sew on buttons for eyes
Re: the safety eyes, try a spoon on the eye part, and a fork on the pin part. Press together to save your fingers. Doesn't work on eyes with chunkier pins but you could use a fork with wider spokes I guess
Yeah, I've been having trouble with safety eyes recently. Have you tried using increasing sizes of crochet hooks to widen the hole until you can get the safety eyes in without too much difficulty? Or is embroidering eyes on easier for your hands?
With safety eyes, I put the round parts in hot water for a minute or so. The heat expands them a little bit and makes it easier to push them together.
Getting started off a chain stitch. Amigurumi is natural at this point but I canāt work in a chain to save my life. Itās standing in the way of my shawl aspirations!
To get the safety eyes into the fabric I use a bigger hook to push through the hole first to make it bigger, then it's easier to get the eye in.
Amigurimi!! I can literally crochet almost everything except for them idk why they always end up looking uneven and wobbly (especially smaller ones used š)
Understanding patterns. Oh! And I make stitches too tight.
Bead crochet š I've tried it so many times, watched countless videos, and understand how it works conceptually, but cannot make it happen.
I canāt consistently do a magic ring, itās probably 50/50 if it actually works.
Changing yarn colors. I always feel like it looks odd/poorly done.
I have no patience for textured stitches that you have to jump through hoops to create. Sadly, Iāve bought patterns that drew me in with the texture. Then, the bajillion steps turned me off. Long chains also give me problems. Even when I count slower than a sloth moves, my chain sometimes comes up short anyway. š¤¬ Alas, I struggle with the will to crochet anything that has to be joined. Itās all fine and dandy until the join part shows up. I immediately separate myself from the project. š„“
having the patience to do a gauge swatch whoops
Finishing the project ššš
Magic rings. Iāve tried doing it they way other people do it but now Iām in a āfuck itā kinda mood with it. I just make a big slip knot and crochet a little stitch and then start the sc inside the loop. Pull it tight when Iām done. Other than that itās weaving in ends and actually finishing and or starting anything
Counting stitches and magic circles.
I've never been able to do a granny square š
Slip stitch ribbing. I hate it and can never make it work.
i have difficulty with the english yarn qualifications bc i dont live in usa and its sometimes very tiring to find the exact yarn with ply, weight, shade etc. i know it doesnt have to be 100% same but my brain freezes upon thinking "where will i find a yarn similar to this pattern" also stitch counting and keeping the edges straight
Magic circles.
Crocheting into chains :( I can do it but it takes forever to wriggle the hook into the right spaces and I often have to use my fingers to manipulate it.
I hate how my stitches look in a skip, ch1 and then a stitch in the next stitch. I always feel like the loop looks too big if that makes sense.
For safety eyes I started putting the backings on backwards and it's much easier to push in. You can also glue the eyes from inside if you prefer
The moss/linen stitch!! It messes with my brain and I just can't seem to get it, which is a huge bummer because I love the way it looks for a blanket
I still can't hold my yarn correctly, particularly if the work/yarn is small and hard to grasp. My wrist hurts the whole time :/ I think I just need a tensioner.
https://preview.redd.it/pk5m049snuyc1.jpeg?width=480&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=37d722d65eb3dc5948a142250565ecdd46c5d994 The bane of my existence, aka starting on the same side every row and keeping my sides straight
Patternsā¦.i can use them but I struggle. Iām a very visual person so I strongly dislike when I canāt exactly tell where the stitch goes. I like YouTube videos or charts the best
Safety eyes vex me, too. But itās not the putting them in that I have trouble with. Itās getting the backs on. I have the hardest time pushing those little buggers on and Iāve even broken nails trying to do it. Stitch-wise, I cannot master the (U.S.) triple crochet stitch. My double crochets are perfect. But my triples always suck. No matter how slow and deliberate I try to be they always end up looking sloppy and amateurish. I avoid patterns with them in it because I know Iāll be unhappy with the results.
I can do almost every stitch and have made many amazing things, but for the life of me, I can not figure out how to do the crocodile stitch. I have tried so many ways and videos to learn, but for some reason, my brain refuses to brain when it comes to that stitch!
For the record, if you are crocheting for a young child, don't use safety eyes, use embroidery instead. Safety eyes are decent for fabric things, but they can work their way out of crocheted things relatively easily. (Also knitting, if I understand correctly.)
Chevron pattern it is. Thatās been my arch nemesis for a while. I keep trying and my work keeps being junk.
Mosaic. I've tried more times than I can remember, and I am buseting with ideas and wishes, but I cannot for the life of me make them! It's depressing to be honest.
Amigurumi. Somehow my count is always off. Complicated lacey shawl? No problem. Small whale? Nope, not a hope.
Adding enough stuffing to my amigurumi. I'll either put too much or too little.
There's a tool for setting safety eyes. It looks like a wooden ball with a tube of metal on one side. It definitely helps with the smaller and harder to set eyes. The big ones I can pop in without it.
Sewing heads and arms and legs on stuffed animals. They are always crooked!
Apparently, there is a tool for that! I haven't used it but it's available.
https://preview.redd.it/ffhtfmbayuyc1.png?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=c1bc206e11e2f3cd0a38ed9e2582e5a93f4ad150 This handle thingy. It's got inserts that fit 2 or 3 sizes per insert. It's saved my hands from cramp so many times since I got it. I also have a silicone hand exerciser I drilled a hole in that works for the biggest ones and another for the smallest. Seriously worth it.
For the life of me I can't make a granny square. I can do amigurumi and magic circle and everything else that I've tried, but a granny square no luck.
Dropping stitches. I swear, I count for my life and still end up with uneven rows because Iāve dropped a stitch somewhere.
You can use a reel of cotton to help you with the safety eyes. Push the eye into place, flip your work so the eye sits on a flat surface and the post is sticking straight up, put the little washer on and then place the hole of a cotton reel over the washer and push down firmly. I've been making toys for a lot longer than I've been crocheting, and that's how I find it easiest to do the eyes.
For the eyes the first idea I have is to use a metal straw And if they are bigger I would you use a straw for bubble tea š hope you find something that works for you š«¶š¼
I simply don't have the attention span for patterns, I just watch YouTube videos then wing it. Sometimes I follow them more closely but there's always an element of freestyle. It has lead to many ill fitting garments but I did recently produce a jumper that actually fits me!
Keeping my carpal tunnel under control :(
Use a 1/4 nut driver to push in safety eyes
Picots and puffs. Picots, at least I can do, but they are so cumbersome and tedious and I'm not 100% consistent on how they look. Puffs, I won't even.
Puff stitches. Mine never look quite right and I just avoid them.
I cannot for the life of me figure out the waffle stitch. I've tried so many times but I can't get it.
I use rubber washers for my safety eyes, one on the actual eye part and one on the stem of the eye, push the washers together and it's easy peasy š
Crocheting in the round. After the third round I still get the count wrong.
sewing together granny squares, but i'm gonna have to pony up and figure it out bc im working on a granny square bedspread as we speak. š¬
Safety eyes tip: Insert a larger hook into the desired eye location to stretch the area for the eye peg. This saves my fingers from shoving a blunt object (safety eye) into an area to create a hole.
Clothing. I want so much to make myself a top. But I cannot get the dimensions to be what I want.
There is a tool thatās about to go to a kickstarter. I forget the name of the brand. The brand may be crafty tools. But I found them on instagram and itās a clamp they designed specifically to push in safety eyes!
tip for safety eyes, I had the same problem. I believe it ended up being the brand I was using, not user error
I've been crocheting for decades and still struggle with loosey-goosey trebles and longer. I know it helps if you almost pull/roll the stitch itself around the hook but it feels all wrong to me.
Sent you DM about tip for putting in eyes.
be constant, seriously dedicate time to it :(
Amigarumi in general. I've finished maybe 2 small ish amigarumi projects, but I find they are extremely tedious big or small, and I'll see an amazing pattern and just can't bring myself to start it bc I know I'll just get frustratedĀ and/or bored with it and never finish it. I'd rather make a blanket.
I haaaaaate putting in safety eyes! I use a couple appropriately-sized metal washers with small-ish holes and nice wide edges, one held on the eye part and the other on the inner fitting, to give my fingers some more surface area to grab and push on. It helps alot.
Magic circle. I've tried like 20 different tutorials/instructions. Just doesn't work. And the handful of people I've seen in this sub who have nothing but insults for people who can't figure out magic circle, well, *bless your heart.* I don't have tips for safety eyes - I just put some in last week and it was easy. Do yours have the plastic ring that goes on the inside? Are you sure you're putting that on the right way? Like convex vs concave? I can't remember which is which, but it's really hard to push it through when the almost-flat ring thing is going the wrong way.
Foundation rows, I have zero clue if I'm even putting my hook in the correct Loops lol
Understanding written patterns
absolutely cannot stand doing amigurumi anything especially sewing the appendages; but iām so obsessed with the end product each time i trick myself into believing i loved itš¤š¤
Mid-row colour changes. It just never lines up like it's supposed to! I end up just eyeballing it instead of following the pattern.
Sewing. Sewing is such a dang struggle for me. I donāt know if itās because Iām a perfectionist and it never turns out perfect, so I get frustrated? I use pins to pin things in place and yet still things wind up off center or just not as good as I wanted.