I too miss having a full sized patern for our little hearts doiley project. Is there an easy way to mark the present row on the graphs while using them? I waste time going back to find my row. I read that a number have squares that are triangles. I have tried to make my dcs looser; but after 16 rows, my piece is 20 inches across and only 5 inches high. I did the practice squares and they did not seem this far off. Any help would be appreciated. I am using 10 thread and size 8 needle. Thanks and this is a wonderful way to learn a whole new crochet process.

Hi Annie,

The pattern is in lesson 6.

Hardy!

Thanks Hardy,

I found the complete pattern print later last night; when rereading all the instructions. My pattern is making rectangles not triangles. Sorry about that. I bought more needles and have restarted the first 5 rows of the Little Hearts learning project 4 different times with different size needles and try to keep DCs real long. This has all been since I wrote the first note.
I get all stitches looser with bigger needles; but still some trouble with porportion. I now have one large enough that it is 30 inches across; which is quite away from the stated 10" by 10"; but I am using 10 size thread and a #6 hook. I will go ahead and finish this one. Doubled it may make the mantle runner, if I put a edge around it, for the cabin we are building. That was what I was looking for when I found this site.

It would be very helpful on the learning piece to not refer back to earlier lessons. It prints out 27 pages of instructions. With the graph on one page, written instructions on another it gets pretty confusing trying to dig back thru previous lessons for a stitch that only takes part of a line to have typed in present instructions. I tried pulling the decrease, increase, lacet and big square pages and putting them with my current sheets; but then I have to go search for them when I want to reassemble lessons. Dealing with 3 pages of instructions, thread, needle and the large dog that is usually sitting beside me is simular to a one armed paper hanger situation. This is a great way to learn this technique; and I really do appreciate the free instructions. It does get easier with repetition; and by the next project, the special stiches will probably be commited to memory.

It is certainly a great way to spend a cold winter day; while anxiously awaiting spring.

JoAn, lakerat@Yahoo.com

Does anyone have any special methods that they have developed for marking the charts as they move along to make reference to the chart easier. I have thought of highlighting every other line with alternating highlighters. Are there any special aids for marking rows?

Our latest group offering of the introduction to filet crochet, the Little Hearts Doily Crochet-Along is now in session (Jan 27 - Feb 2).

I hope you enjoy it.

Hardy

I am so behind. I am very much a beginner. I have never worked with this thread before. Any suggestions?

I'm right there with you Karen, I'm a very beginner and I have no idea what we are doing. All I see are posts from last year. I feel the class are going to fast too. I might be better off learning on my own, which I feel like I'm doing all ready.
Karen

I signed up to learn in preparation for a gift I want to make my stepdaughter. I did the 2 practice pieces with large cotton yarn and a fat needle. Now I did the first Little Hearts Doily lesson today, too, what fun! I used the smaller cotton and crochet needle I'll be using. I'm so encouraged!

Dear Annie,

I congratulate you for coming back to "Thread Crochet", it's a beautiful craft for those of us who choose to carry on almost dying craft. Not too many people know how to do or I should say choose to do this type of crochet work these days. I for one prefer this type of crochet work over the more traditional bulkier yarns used with regular crochet work. I do still work in both crocheting worlds, but I do prefer the world of "Crochet Threads".

As for your problem, I too, had that problem quite often over the years. What I found worked best for me was to simply work with the ball in my lap and as I work the project I will constantly keep at least 3 feet of "thread" extended off the ball to my left. When I see that my supply is running low, I simply pull off more thread and make sure that it is always laying to my left over the arm of my chair. I have not had a problem since I have started doing it this way. The only time I do run into a problem, is when I need to get up for something and I have have all that thread laying there, then I "gently" rewind it back onto the ball until I come back to the project. *Plus, I also prefer to use the DMC Cebelia small balls of thread these days for all my projects, they are compact and fit right into the palm of your hand. Sometimes I will use their Baroque which is also in a small "skein" shape, (like the larger yarns, but in threads). I have used all brands and sizes, but if you want to minimize twisting I would suggest that you try the smaller size balls of Cebelia or the skeins of Baroque all from DMC, they come in various shades and they have a nice pearlescent quality to the thread. The treads are strong, guide beautifully through the fingers and also come in all the size threads for the projects on this site. I have used them for a few of the patterns and they look beautiful.

*Also, you could try to buy yourself one of those "Spool Holders" for threads. They make several types that you place your spool of thread on it and it's supposed to help prevent your thread from "Twisting" while you work. They have an upright one that holds all sizes, including the larger 1,200 yard spools and the side mount spool holders for the regular spools of thread. They both sit on the side of you on a table, I personally think it's a waste of money. But if they help others, why not.

Now there are the Metallic threads that I use every year for my holiday projects that I do have the same problem of twisting. That is because of the "metal thread" that is woven along side the regular thread, no matter what I do I always have a problem of "twisting" with these "threads". So, with the Metallic Threads, I just continue to muttle through and keep unwinding the thread as I work the projects. Some things I just haven't found a solution for, not yet any way. I'm still working on it however.

*I hope that my suggestions and tips may help you or anyone else. These are only my suggestions from the many years that I have discovered them to work for me. We each and and everyone of us have our own way of crocheting, we each have our own threads and yarns that we like from the years that we have all have been using them. So, I wish you good luck and continued success in your crocheting. I hope that you will find what will work best for you as we each have.

Hello,

We started our latest group offering of the introduction to filet crochet, the Little Hearts Doily Crochet-Along is now in session.

I hope you enjoy it and learn how to Filet Crochet, or simply brush up on your skills.

Hardy
Crochet Designer