For me, it all begins with ....
Then, I search and I get
and the enjoyment of selecting
Then I spend the first hour
The days, the weeks, maybe into months
I get the enjoyment of taking my time and
and then I am excited and delighted with
I even feel a sense of accomplishment!
It wasn't so long ago that I would look at a pattern like this and be intimidated....telling myself that it is too complicated for me to understand.........but with the help of two good friends, one who showed me how to begin crochet with a simple chain stitch, and another friend who I could always call and she would explain a certain stitch to me..(this is before we had internet).....I managed to learn to make these types of doilies, bit by bit, over a long period of time and patience. One important thing I did learn and that really got me to understand how to crochet the things I wanted, was through the help of two lovely ladies who had a tiny little yarn shop in my town and showed me how to read the steps slowly.
Now, especially in the days of "you tube" tutorials there is no reason that anyone can not do this same crocheted piece. I promise! If you want to crochet a pretty piece, any piece, be ready to take your time........this is important.
On reading the steps, it was explained to me that just as we all learned in English grammar, periods mean to stop reading and pause. So read your first sentence in a step....or row and do that one thing before reading and going farther. Once you have done that, read the second sentence in the step and so on.
Which brings me back to the internet and "you tube". If you do not understand a term or you are struggling .......simply find a crochet video on you tube, type the sentence from your pattern onto the screen, and a video with the steps ,while also showing you how to work the stitch, will come up. The greatest thing about this is that you can pause the video, work your thread, and go back to understand it again and again.
You do not need to buy a lot of thread.....in fact I would advice to buy only what your pattern will tell you that you need. I was very lucky to find the box of crochet thread in the above photo at an estate sale .......the whole box was only two dollars. That would be a great place to look, but do make sure you will have enough thread to finish your piece.
You can find crochet patterns online, crochet books and booklets online and at craft stores as well as the hooks and thread.
The doily pattern for this doily came out of this booklet.
So....come on.......you can do it!...........go grab up some crochet hooks, some pattern booklets.......and some very pretty crochet thread for doilies, not yarn...and enjoy being creative!
I hope to hear about what you have chosen, what your struggles are, and hopefully get to see your finished piece!
