Crocheter on a Holiday

Last school holiday, my daughter, Sofia wanted to learn to crochet. I found a pink, 8 ply cotton yarn from www.cottonhousestore.com and I gave her one of my 5 mm hook. I taught her how to hold the hook and yarn. Of course the first stitch anyone has to learn is the chain. Initially her chains were loose but as time goes by it got better. She got better at it real fast. She got quite bored by making chains only.

The chain is a simple stitch but you have to master this stitch before you move on. I wanted to instill her love in the craft. So, she has to learn to be better than good (not just at crochet though), she has to master even the simplest stitch like the chain.

Time passed, just a day or so, as well as her interest. The longest chain she created was about two metres which now adorned around her teddy bear's neck. I'm left thinking that the window of opportunity to teach her the next stitch will appear in the next school holiday or not.

I have an ongoing project for this holiday too but being me, I forgot to bring an extra ball of yarn. So that's that. I can't imagine going through the next five days without a hook and yarn in my hands. But than of course, Sofia's yarn is available. Yeah! Now all I need is a pattern. Mental check. Before you go on a holiday, always bring:

1. Your crochet project
2. Extra ball of hook and yarn
3. Pattern book
4. A pair of scissors
5. Measuring tape

I found this pattern book at www.cottonhousestore.com. It's a Japanese book translated to Mandarin. I don't read both languages. When I first started to crochet, I looked for pattern books at the bookstore to satisfy my hunger for the craft. There were plenty of crochet books from Japan by Ondori Publication. The Japanese made reading patterns so easy using symbols. It was awesome for someone who is just starting out. I made table runners, doilies, cushion covers which are still being used at my mom's house. I created those some 15-20 years ago.

This pattern book features dresses for babies and toddlers.

I don't even know what the title is but you can check it out at www.cottonhousestore.com. Anyone who cannot read Mandarin should be able to follow instructions from this book. The symbols are universal. But I suppose you have to develop some skills first before embarking on this book. 

The pattern I ventured in making ia a cardigan. I called it the Pink Cardigan (since the name is in Mandarin - so I made one up). This is my first cardigan and it turned out to be fabulous!!

My first cardigan

Button holes made easy.

I tried making cardigans before but the end result was an eye sore. I always have a problem with my stitches. They're not even. I don't know why this pattern worked for me. Maybe this time I used the right yarn weight. I didn't try to cheat the number of stitches. Maybe....... I have mastered crochet! Hah! But whatever it is you have to try out patterns from this book. Even a novice like me can produce a masterpiece like this.

Borders made from same basic treble clusters.

Border goes all around the neck of cardigan.