Simple shoulder bag - really new crocheter!

[littlebiskit]

So I took a crochet class at Joann's last month.  Basically the lady taught us a chain stitch, single, double, and half double.  I still don't know how to read patterns.  

But even after just learning that much, I knew I was in love.

I made a couple small things immediately for a swap I was in.  There are pictures at the bottom of those items.

This shoulder was my reward for finishing those.  Keep in mind, this is only the fourth thing I've made, and I had to make this up since I don't read patterns.  It's not perfect, there are a few holes on the edges, but for being brand new to this and really having no face-to-face help, I thought it turned out pretty good.






Comments welcome!  Thanks for looking!

ETA:
This is a picture my partner took of the bags I sent her.  It's a camera case (literally the second thing I tried to make) and a shoulder book bag (the third thing I made).

[Elensule]

WOW. For something you 'made up'... That's awesome!!

Also, the whole reading patterns thing? Not so hard. If you can make that up off your head, you can read a pattern. Just look for a site that explains the abbreviations (or pick up the Stitch N Bitch The Happy Hooker book; her instructions are GREAT).

But great job!

[dcowherd]

I think you did a great job!  Pattern reading isn't hard.  There's a nice tutorial on it at Annie's Attic that should help you out with that. 

But coming up with your own is a great way to do it, too. 

[littlebiskit]

Wow, you guys are fast!  Thank you so much!

And actually, what's throwing me off is more that I'm trying to read patterns for crocheting in a round, rather than squares, which is what I know how to do.  The round kind of throws me off, and I think maybe I just need to find a good easy pattern and work at it until I've got it.  A granny square or something.  We'll see.

But like I said, I already love to crochet, so I'll work on it! 

Thanks again!

[Elensule]

Tip for working in the round: get some stitch markers (I've even been known to use earrings, the kind with the long back piece, not posts). Even if it looks fairly 'obvious', it can get confusing quickly if you can't see which piece was your first stitch. You can use contrasting yarn and just work over it (like, an inch long piece), then pull it out and work over it again when you've joined. It helps IMMENSELY to know where you start and stop. Heh.

[PinFish]

You could always get together with me and I can show you how to do crochet in the round. 

Anyway, it looks awesome! Most people, starting out, have problems with squares/rectangles due to tension problems and missing stitches, but your tension looks perfect already. Impressive.

[panul]

Wow! You made that cute bag with no pattern? I am impressed! I'm sure you'll pick up working in the round with no problem.

[ZellaBella]

great job

[littlebiskit]

You could always get together with me and I can show you how to do crochet in the round. 

Anyway, it looks awesome! Most people, starting out, have problems with squares/rectangles due to tension problems and missing stitches, but your tension looks perfect already. Impressive.

I'd love to get together, I was just waiting for your life to settle down again a little.  I figure you haven't had much time to breathe lately.   

My biggest problem in working with the rectangle/square is that I get holes on the edges sometimes when I'm finishing them off in a single stitch.  But I think I'm just using the wrong spaces sometimes.  I'm sure it'll get better as I get more comfortable building things.  (Grandma wants a bag like this, so I may be making her one for her birthday.  We'll see how it goes.)

[llisaredd]

That's awesome work for someone who is so new to crochet! You should be really proud of yourself And, as others have said, reading patterns isn't that difficult. If you pick up one of those "Learn to Crochet" or "20 Crochet Stitches" (names are just examples) books available at any craft store, they have a guide in the beginning for how to read patterns.

Welcome to the wonderful world of crochet!