Genius Hour Blog Post #3

This week for Genius Hour, I started practicing the stitches that I will use to make my blanket.  Unfortunately, this was much more difficult than I was expecting which was incredibly frustrating.  As I mentioned in last week's blog post, the stitches used in the pattern that I chose, which can be found here are the chain stitch, the double crochet, and the slip stitch.  Since both the double crochet and the slip stitch are created off of a chain stitch, that was the first stitch that I worked on.  This is where my struggles began.  Just holding the crochet hook was so awkward that making a stitch took both hands - nothing like the instructions that made it look so easy.  Not ready to accept that this was as good as it would get, I looked up different ways to hold the hook and found some other methods here.  None of these methods were better, so I returned to the original instructions where I had an accidental breakthrough.  The instructions explained that the crochet hook should be held in the dominant hand, which is assumed to be the right hand.  Since I write with my right hand, I and these instructions were only for right-handed individuals, I followed the instructions without giving it much thought.  However, other than writing, I do everything with my left hand.  So, I went back to researching and found a video that showed how to crochet left-handed.  This was much more comfortable.  Learning that there are many different ways to crochet was my biggest lesson this week.  By persevering and being patient, I was able to find the way that worked best for me.
After switching to left-handed crochet, my tension was still uneven, meaning that my stitches were inconsistent.  The advice that I kept finding was to try holding the yarn different ways and to keep practicing.  While this was not as helpful as I was hoping for, it was better than nothing.
The next stitch that I worked on was the double crochet.  Knowing that the instructions included in my pattern would be for right-handed individuals, I went back to the YouTube channel where I found the previous video to look for instructions that would work for me.  I pretty quickly found a video that was relatively easy to folow.  I was surprised by how even my stitches looked and how much more quickly I learned this stitch than the chain stitch.
The last stitch to work on was the slip stitch.  This is a stitch that I doubt I would have been able to figure out using photos rather than a video because of the ways that it differs from the other two stitches.

Before next week's Genius Hour, I need to keep practicing the required stitches because I am still not entirely happy with the way that my stitches look.  I still wonder if there is anything else that I can do about my tension issue.  I want to keep researching to try to find this out.  The next step is to create my first two squares and learn how to join them.

References

Annie's Craft Store (2019).  Lesson 1: How to hold the crochet hook.  Retrieved from https://www.anniescatalog.com/crochet/content.html?content_id=591&type_id=S&scat_id=368

Sigoni Macaroni (2018).  How to hold your crochet hook and yarn: Tips on tension.  Retrieved from https://www.sigonimacaroni.com/how-to-hold-your-crochet-hook-and-yarn/

Solovay, A. (2019).  How to work the chain stitch in crochet.  Retrieved from https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/chain-stitch-crochet-photo-tutorial-979078

Thompson, B. [Crochet Guru].  (2012, August 7).  How to make a crochet chain - (left hand) beginner course: Lesson #5 [Video file].  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aOGv3f0sjJk

Thompson, B. [Crochet Guru].  (2012, October 23).  How to double crochet - (left hand) beginner course: Lesson #9 [Video file].  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmuCc9IkocY&t=183s

Thompson, B. [Crochet Guru].  (2013, April 8).  How to crochet a slip stitch - (left hand) beginner course: Lesson #12 [Video file].  Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAbtzTWfzNo

Vercillo, K. (2019).  How to crochet a classic granny square: Free pattern plus instructions, tips and hacks.  Retrieved from https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-crochet-classic-granny-square-3576784

Genius Hour Blog Post #2

This week I began working on my Genius Hour project.  The first thing that I had to do was locate the pattern that I will learn how to crochet to make my blanket.  This proved to be more difficult than I had expected and was the biggest struggle that I had this week.  Although I very quickly found several sets of instructions explaining how to crochet granny squares, such as the ones located here and here, none of them listed the size of the crochet hook or the gauge (thickness) of the yarn that were to be used.  From my knitting background, I know that all yarn has a label that lists the size of knitting needle and crochet hook that it is meant to be used with.  However, I also know that some gauges of yarn are easier to work with than others.  As a beginner, I wanted to make sure to find the easiest possible combination of yarn and crochet hook that I could, so that I will have the best possible chance of success when I begin making my blanket.  Eventually, I was able to find a pattern here that included the crochet hook and yarn to use, as well as clear instructions with photographs.
Once I had chosen my pattern, the next thing that I had to do was purchase the crochet hook and yarn that I will need to make my blanket.  Fortunately, I already had a selection of yarn that was the correct gauge, so I only had to purchase the crochet hook.  The two stores that I knew would have crochet hooks and are relatively easily accessible by bus from where I live are Walmart and Michaels.  I went onto both stores' websites to see what they had available and at what price.  Walmart's website listed a metal hook (but no price information for the size that I needed), a bamboo hook at $2.97 for the size that I needed, and a soft-handled hook at $4.27 for the size that I needed.  From my knitting experience, I know that I prefer metal tools to bamboo ones, so I knew that I did not want the bamboo hook.  Michaels' website listed an aluminum hook at $2.99 and an ergonomic hook at $8.99.  Armed with this knowledge, I went shopping.
The first store that I went to was Walmart.  The metal hook was out of stock at this location and I found the soft-handled hook uncomfortable to hold.  Then I went to Michaels.  While the ergonomic hook was fine, it was not worth the price to me, especially since I do not know if I will use it after I complete my Genius Hour project.  As a result, I purchased the aluminum hook.

This week, I learned that less of my knitting knowledge was transferable than I had thought it would be.  This was most evident when looking for a pattern.  When I want to find a pattern to knit, I go onto ravelry.com and use the website's search functions to find exactly what I am looking for relatively quickly.  I was humbled by how much trouble I had trying to find a pattern that met my requirements, especially because what I was looking for was a fairly basic pattern.  However, this also gave me an opportunity to explore other pattern websites, such as thesprucecrafts.com where I found the pattern that I will be using.

At this point, I have done everything that I need to do before next session's Genius Hour.  The next step of my Genius Hour project is to learn and practice the stitches that I will need to use when making my blanket.  From the pattern that I have chosen, I know that these stitches are the chain stitch, the double crochet, and the slip stitch.  The pattern includes links to instructions for these stitches, so I will use those links as my starting point and do further research if necessary.

References

Anodized Aluminum Crochet Hook by Loops & Threads®. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://canada.michaels.com/en/anodized-aluminum-crochet-hook-by-loops-and-threads/M10248668.html?dwvar_M10248668_size=F%20%2F%203.75%20mm

Ergonomic Aluminum Crochet Hook by Loops & Threads®. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://canada.michaels.com/en/ergonomic-aluminum-crochet-hook-by-loops-and-threads/M10233547.html?dwvar_M10233547_size=G%20%2F%204%20mm

Love Knitting Crochet Hook. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/love-knitting-crochet-hook-10-mm-us-np-15/6000196737674

Love Knitting 6" Bamboo Crochet Hook. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/love-knitting-6-bamboo-crochet-hook-10-mm-us-np-15/6000196737696

Love Knitting Soft Handle 6" Crochet Hook. (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.walmart.ca/en/ip/love-knitting-soft-handle-6-crochet-hook-25-mm-us-na/6000196737650

Make it !  Basic Granny Square !!!. (2013).  Retrieved from http://homemadeatmyplace.blogspot.com/2013/04/make-it-basic-granny-square.html

McShane, M.L.M. (n.d.).  Classic granny squares - spelled out.  Retrieved from http://www.silisium.org/files/Classic_granny_squares.pdf

Ravelry (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.ravelry.com/

The Spruce Crafts (n.d.).  Retrieved from https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/

Vercillo, K. (2019).  How to crochet a classic granny square: Free pattern plus instructions, tips and hacks.  Retrieved from https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-crochet-classic-granny-square-3576784

Genius Hour Blog Post #1

Welcome to my Genius Hour blog!  Genius Hour is a project for exploring individual interests and learning something new.  For more information about Genius Hour, visit geniushour.com/.

My Genius Hour question: How can I learn to crochet a granny square blanket in 6 weeks?

Check out my Passion Cloud!  I made it using wordart.com/ to show some of the things that I am passionate about.


Check out my Pinterest page at pinterest.ca/ml14hk/all-about-me/!  On this page, you can learn more about me and some of my interests and hobbies.


Check out my TPACK Quest at sites.google.com/view/missleggettstpackquest/home!  You can learn more about the badges that I am working towards.

Check out this pep talk from Kid President on YouTube!