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this post was submitted on 15 Jun 2023
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Crochet
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A place for all who enjoy the art of crochet
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I’m just trying to get back into crochet and knitting. I used to do a lot of both before we had kids, but found it just didn’t work when they were small.
To avoid repetitive stress injuries, I alternate between knitting and crochet. They seem to use different parts of my brain.
Sometimes I feel my brain just wants one, sometimes the other. I also try to have a mix of finicky projects that take a lot of counting or with fine yarn and some with larger hooks and needles.
I find that cheap hooks are more stressful on my body. In the end, I have purchased high quality stainless steel hooks one by one over time as I need them.
As for wool in Canada, better prices are usually found at places carrying discontinued lines and colours. Wool-Tyme in Ottawa sells a lot online. If you’re visiting the region, the store has a large back area where they clear discontinued yarn. See https://wool-tyme.com/collections/sale
Thanks for all your help! Unfortunately I'm not near Ottawa and don't go there too often. I'll check out what my local yarn store has on sale. Unfortunately the online retailers don't seem to have the best deals (or maybe that's just the way I feel).
My hooks are mid quality, I think? I'll upgrade to something better after I get a bit more experience under my belt. I've been known to orphan hobbies so I don't want to drop too much cash up front.
I find crochet intimidating. It's funny because I think most people feel that way about knitting?
I knitted for many years before I was willing to seriously attempt crochet.
My grandmother taught me both, but knitting was something my mum and others could help me with later and crochet was not.
It was actually when I was really sick and need to lay up in bed for a time that I decided to give it a try. I didn’t want to wreck my knitting or needlework projects.
I sent my spouse out on a quest for some yarn, a hook and a ‘how to’ book.
I really found having a decent hook reduced my frustration. Buying one good quality one with a steel head and plastic handle in the size you need for a first project will really help.
Most of the less expensive ones aren’t smooth enough at the tip where you push into the work and some of them are too rounded. I find most of the American brands really bad. And you’ll want the metric sized ones anyway so you can have more precision. Don’t buy a whole set until you know what works for you ergonomically in terms of handles.
Just dropping in again to add that someone has created a yarn exchange community !canadianyarnexchange@lemmy.ca.
I don’t know how people would sort out selling and exchanging yarn, but there it is.