Crochet

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Does Anyone Else…..

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Find it frustrating to try to navigate around Pinterest?  There are lots of great pictures – but I often find it difficult to find the original pattern source for something that intrigues me!  There is a section entitled ‘People’ – but the people there are in no order, so it’s very difficult to find he same person twice, especially if I don’t remember the exact name.

I also find it to be a huge time waster!  Initially, I thought Pinterest would be a great source of crochet inspiration.  But, I find that I spend more time there just trying to source a pattern or find a crocheter than actually getting any kind of inspiration!  That’s a problem for me.

I think Pinterest could be a great resource.  But, the way it’s organized (or should I say disorganized), I have to spend too much time wandering sort of aimlessly there rather than being able to go directly to a person or pattern or project.  I have heard some rumblings of these same feelings from some other crocheters.  What about you?

Comments

  2. I love Pinterest as a way to keep track of things that I’ve stumbled across on the internet, but I rarely spend time surfing through other people’s pins. Not only is it annoying to not be able to find the original source, but it drives me crazy when you search for something as generic as “crochet” you tend to end up with the same image 14 times.

  3. Its not necessarily a pinterest problem, it’s a problem with the pinners not sourcing the photos properly. It’s actually easy to do, but for some I guess they can’t figure it out. Google also has a way of searching for image sources that works pretty well. I’ll also try the link above as well.

  5. Once you find someone you like, or a board you like, follow it, and you’ll always be able to find it.

    I know what you mean with trying to find the source, though. That’s why I generally do not simply re-pin an item–I’ll open the link and pin it from the original site just to make sure it isn’t spam or a site that is copying from another site. I prefer the original creators! ^_^

    Also, http://thedailydigi.com/pinterest-101-a-tutorial/

  6. I look at it more as an stumble upon inspiration board type of experience. I’m sometimes disappointed when I can’t find the source, but I find that instead of following explicit instructions, I enjoy it more when I try to figure it out myself or talk with my friends about ways to do it.

    It’s become a really fun way to learn and try new things I haven’t thought of before.

  7. I have the same problem. I use pinterest a LOT, but usually just pinning things myself from the blogs I read, then the pins go directly to where I pinned them from.

  9. So happy. I thought it was only me. Pinterest gets me so confused. When I do find something I want, it turns out to be completely by accident. Do they have a page that explains all this stuff. Obviously not. Had a funny experience with ‘Pinterest’ that wasn’t.Kept asking to join. P.S. What is that about. Kept doing it for months (literally) then got an email from a blogI subscibe to saying that in Russia was a fake Pinterest (that appeared to have pirated the real Pinterest & that the only way to get to the real one was http://www.pinterest.com. Did that & received an invitation to become a member within 12 hours. Weird. Keep an eye out for this.

  10. My deal with the site is that when someone “pins” something and then you go to find it, you have to search and search for the original item pinned whether it be a craft item, recipe, or something else. It is not the easiest place to navigate and sometimes it is very frustrating BUT most of the time I eventually find what I am looking for.

  11. I don’t search it the way you do, which is maybe why I like it better :). I follow people who seem to have pins I like, and then I just periodically look at “Pinners You Folow” or search for crochet boards to find more people to follow!

  12. I never saw the advantages of Pinterest and it was a great time waster to me also. It never really piqued my interest. I was granted an account (that kind of irked me too) and just never logged in after that. I’d rather browse blogs and their blogrolls.

  13. Yes, it’s terrible. My followers get updates of a new pin I make, and it starts at the top, pushing everything else down. My pins of crochet/craft items is so long that it takes 4 min to scroll down to the first one I ever posted. I am now “creating” new boards to btrakit down a bit. “Crochet Blouses, L.S.”, (L.S.= Lang Sleves), S.S., Tank Tops, Doilies, Bags/Purses, Toys, Appliques/Frigies.
    All w/ Crochet in front. Same goes for recipes.

  14. Hum… There were some typos there. That’s Long Sleeves, and Short Sleeves. And “btrakit” was ontended to be “break it”.

  16. I have enough time consuming things now…..crochet, groups, blogs I follow, that I don’t need another so I never bothered with it. From what you’ve said, I’m glad I didn’t.

  17. I love pinterest. For me it’s a great way of using it to keep my bookmarks organised, bookmarks with pictures are easier to locate than bookmarks without. I never have a problem locating the source of the pattern or item that i want to see and if i repin, i always repin from the original page.

  18. I used to go down the bunny trails to get to the original website then my daughter told me how she does it. So simple 😛 Just tap or click on the picture and presto you are at the original post.
    Happy pinning! 🙂

  20. This is all very good for me to hear! I pin all the crochet patterns I write. Now after reading this, I think I need to go back into Pinterest and create more specific boards so it’ll be easier for people to navigate.

    In all honesty, I don’t have time to surf around on Pinterest much. The few times, I’ve had the whole “going down a rabbit trail” experience too.

  21. I get frustrated with pinterest. I don’t have the patience or time to wast trying to find what I am looking for.

  22. I don’t surf around to find stuff on Pinterest, because people (including myself) often don’t tag the pictures with good keywords.
    Instead I follow people’s boards, where they collect crochet stuff or other things I am interested in. It works great for me: When I open Pinterest, I see all the recent pins from many different crochet boards.

  23. I use it for myself as a bookmark with pictures. My frustration is when certain sites won’t let me pin a picture.

  24. Pinterest was taking up way to much of my CRAFTY TIME!! I would spend way to many hours looking and not crafting,so I deleted my account and I am so glad I did!!

  25. I don’t typically browse Pinterest for ideas. I just use it for pinning things I find on my own. So I can keep track of things I find. 🙂

  26. i find it such hard work to find or pin anything, I have 1 pin and then have been blocked everytime from pinning anything else, it’s a great idea, but a bit of a mess.

  27. I agree. I have never been able to get into pintrest because once I find an idea I like I expect to be able to quickly get to the instructions and get inspired! Instead I spend 5 min looking for the original and more often than not give up and decide to figure it out myself. While I don’t have a problem figuring things out myself, that was hardly why I was browsing pintrest.

  28. I am very disappointed in pinterest & I don’t know how to unsubscribe from them. I thought it was a place to keep my pictures of my crochet projects or whatever. Unfortunately, I find that something w/ the little icon can only be “pinned”. Otherwise, I have no time or use for this site. I’m very busy in other words. Anyway, it was later that my daughter pointed out Picasa to me. Like a personal photo album. Thanks! Sheri *c*

Have you read?

How to Crochet the Suzette Stitch: An Easy Textured Crochet Stitch for Beginners

Learning a crochet stitch is much more satisfying when you have an actual project waiting at the end of it. The Suzette stitch is especially versatile because its dense, softly textured fabric works for everything from practical cotton washcloths to cosy scarves, hats and blankets.

Here are some Suzette stitch crochet patterns worth adding to your project list.

Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket

The free Suzette Stitch Baby Blanket pattern from Premier Yarns uses the stitch to create a softly textured crochet blanket with a subtle tweed-like appearance.

This would make a lovely handmade baby shower gift, particularly when worked in a washable baby yarn. The stitch creates more visual interest than plain single crochet without introducing large holes that may catch tiny fingers.

Easy Suzette Stitch Blanket

The Suzette Stitch Blanket pattern by Stitching Together is another approachable blanket project for crocheters who enjoy a relaxing stitch repeat.

This is the sort of project you can keep beside the sofa and work on a few rows at a time. Just keep an eye on those skipped stitches—television crochet is wonderful until an extra stitch quietly sneaks in three episodes earlier.

Casey Suzette Stitch Scarf

The free Casey Scarf crochet pattern uses the Suzette stitch through most of the design, producing a cosy scarf with a softly scalloped, zigzag-like texture.

It is a good first wearable project for beginners because scarves do not require complicated shaping. You can also adjust the length fairly easily or use a self-striping yarn and let the colour changes do the decorative work for you.

Quick Suzette Crochet Scarf

For another scarf option, try this free Suzette Stitch Scarf pattern from Hooked by Robin.

The designer includes written instructions and a video tutorial, making it helpful for visual learners who prefer watching the stitch placement before beginning. It is designed as a quick project and would make a practical last-minute handmade gift.

Suzette Colour Block Scarf

The free Suzette Colour Block Scarf pattern is a cheerful option for using several coordinating yarn colours.

Colour blocking also makes this a handy stash-busting crochet project. You can use leftover yarn from other makes, although it is worth choosing yarns of the same weight and similar fibre content so the sections behave themselves after washing.

Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie

The free Chunky Suzette Stitch Beanie crochet pattern turns the textured stitch into a warm winter hat.

Chunky yarn helps the pattern work up quickly and makes the raised texture especially noticeable. This would be a useful project for craft stalls, charity donations or quick handmade Christmas gifts.

Hazel Textured Crochet Beanie

The free Hazel Beanie crochet pattern combines simple ribbing with the Suzette stitch.

The ribbed brim gives the hat a neat, finished appearance while the Suzette stitch adds texture to the main body. It looks more complicated than a basic crochet beanie but is still built from familiar beginner stitches.

Suzette Stitch Washcloth

For a small practice project, try the free Suzette Stitch Wash Cloth pattern from The Purple Poncho.

A washcloth is one of the best ways to practise a new crochet stitch because it is small, useful and not terribly demanding. Even if the first one is slightly wonky, it will still wash perfectly well.

Use a smooth cotton yarn so the cloth is absorbent and the stitch texture remains clearly visible.

Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth

The free Suzette Ridge Crochet Washcloth pattern adds another layer of texture to this familiar stitch combination.

Make several in coordinating colours and pair them with handmade soap for an easy spa-style gift. They are also useful little projects for testing unfamiliar cotton yarn before committing to a larger set.

Corner-to-Corner Suzette Stitch Washcloth

The free C2C Suzette Stitch Washcloth pattern gives the stitch a slightly different construction by working it from corner to corner.

This is a good next project after you have mastered ordinary flat rows. It lets you explore increasing and decreasing while still using the familiar Suzette stitch combination.

Suzette Stitch Afghan Square

The Suzette Stitch Afghan Square pattern turns the textured stitch into a smaller crochet block.

Afghan squares are useful for charity blankets, sampler blankets and portable crochet projects. You can make the squares individually, use up leftover yarn and join everything together once you have enough—although “enough” has been known to become a surprisingly flexible number in my craft room.

More Suzette Stitch Crochet Pattern Ideas

Once you are comfortable with the basic stitch, you can also use it to make:

  • Crochet mug cosies
  • Ear warmers and headbands
  • Fingerless gloves
  • Cushion covers
  • Tote bags
  • Baby rompers
  • Crochet cardigans
  • Lap blankets
  • Double-thick potholders

You can browse additional Suzette stitch crochet patterns on Etsy, including sweaters, baby blankets, beanies, mug cosies and accessories from independent crochet designers.

When choosing a pattern, check whether it uses US or UK crochet terminology. Also check whether it uses the traditional Suzette stitch—one single crochet and one double crochet worked into the same stitch—or a designer’s variation of it. That quick check can prevent a great deal of confused unraveling later.