The thing about following a pattern as opposed to knitting whatever I feel like is that occasionally there are new techniques that I don’t know. The glass half full perspective is that I get to learn something new. The glass half empty perspective finds me stomping away shouting, “As if I have time to find a video and learn something new! I wanted to KNIT, not LEARN!” I am sure I can pause Army Wives and find the time to do this, since I am incapable of learning through written or drawn instructions, and I finally did.
Did I mention that I don’t even know how to crochet? So technically I will have to learn two new things. Not that I’m bitter.
I checked out the three YouTube videos that came up with my google search. My favorite was from Lucy Neatby. You can also check out her useful knitting website: http://www.lucyneatby.com/
My second favorite was this one, which offers some good tips.
So, in the theory of see one, do one, teach one, now that I’ve learned how to do a crochet cast on, however awkwardly, here are my instructions for those of you blessed with the ability to learn from written instructions (for those of you who aren’t, like me, check out the videos above):
1) Do a slip knot on the crochet hook.
2) Hold the crochet hook to the right of the knitting needle parallel with the needle. Hold the yarn in your left hand behind the needle.
3) Crochet a loop over the needle (bring the hook over the top of the needle).
4) You now have a loop on the needle and the yarn over the needle. Bring the yarn to the back of the needle.
5) Repeat steps 3 & 4 until you have the number of stitches needed.
6) Crochet a few more stitches off the needle. Tie a knot in your leading edge so you know not to unravel your cast on from that side.
Knit into your cast on and you are off the the races. See, learning is fun! (Said without a hint of sarcasm. No. Really. I mean it.)
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