Soaker or pants

[twouglyducks]

:LOL Someday I really will learn this craft. I'm just wondering, if I bought a pattern to try and jump in, which would be easier... pants or a soaker? Seems like pants would be easier b/c it's just around and around and around. no decreases or cuffs... but there could be something I'm missing here.

[clothusingmama]

I just did the rolled edge soaker and it is pretty easy. I had to size it up and did it a little goofy but it fits. I just need to add on the top and leg cuffs. Just go for it :D You can do it. What pattern are you looking at buying? Which do you need more, pants or a soaker. . .that is what you should buy. You can do either one IMO :)

[Susan_WW]

Try the rolled edge soaker first. It is really easy and the crochet part takes less than 2 hours or so. And the only stitch you need to know is single crochet :thumb

[twouglyducks]

Yeah, I'm just scared of edges. :LOL Increases and decreases... I do both accidentally it seems. I'll try again though. When I have some free time (and dont log in here).

[Susan_WW]

Just practice making a plain old square so you can keep your stitch count the same. That is the hardest part for me too! :)

[CraftyMommaOf2]

i *still* have a problem with accidental increasing. :LOL patti's pattern is really good. it was really easy to understand and i liked the fit.

[mamapez]

Did you see my note on your blog about the accidental increasing & decreasing?

I had that problem, too. Patti always looked at me like I was crazy, but I would inevitably increase or decrease every row thinking I had figured it out. What finally did it for me? Stitch markers. I used them like they were going out of style. Eventually I got to the point where I recognized the stitches and could tell what was happening, so the markers were more of an annoyance than a help. At that point, I could go back to using them sparingly. I highly recommend the small plastic ones (since they are not too heavy) at first, while you are getting the hang of things. :) Even today, if there is any confusion at all, I will bust out the stitch markers to be sure I'm not constantly redoing things.

Examples of how I used them:

To mark the center of a ring I had to stitch into a bunch of times
To mark the first and last stitch of every row
To mark the first stitch of every round
Going into the back loop, or changing stitches, or doing a bunch of stuff over a few stitches, it was sometimes difficult to find the next stitch in the row/round, so I would either mark x stitch intervals, or the next stitch before doing all the stuff to the previous stitch. --Did that make any sense?
Any time I was the least bit confused, stitch markers were my best friends!!! (That and having Patti be able to see what I've done).

[twouglyducks]

yes amy, but i dont get how to use sts markers in crochet?? Where do you put them where they don't just become part of the project??? I meant to ask that but forgot.

[mamapez]

I used the little plastic ones that aren't a complete circle, you then slide the yarn into the ring....hmmmm....let me see if I can find a picture online so you can see what I mean (you definitely can *not* use standard knitting rings, it has to be open, or a clasp or something).

[mamapez]

I'm finding information about using safety pins, paper clips, and "My husband owns a men's clothing store and is bring home (in his pocket) those little plastic clips that holds shirts together/folded."

...so far... but no pics yet.

[mamapez]

Here is an example of some that are not a complete circle. You just slide the yarn into the loop and then pull it out later. http://www.silvergoosestore.biz/Hooks.htm

In this blog you can see what I was trying to describe as a split ring (the yellow one):
http://string-or-nothing.blog-city.com/gadgets__stupid_stitch_marker_tricks.htm

I highly recommend: http://www.funkybeaddesigns.com/Stickmarkers.html
Anna is really easy to work with, her stitch markers are inexpensive and cool, and she uses clasps, so the markers won't fall out of your work EVER! :sunshine

I HTH.

[twouglyducks]

Ahhh... okay. Thanks Amy. :) For a minute I thought you were talking about the key ring type ones and thinking about what a PITB that would be to use. lol

[mamapez]

Yeah, I did that once...once. :lol: