How to crochet a strong book bag?
To make a strong bag, I would choose single crochet or single and half-double stitches. You could go down a size or two from the hook size recommended for your yarn ( unless you crochet tightly already). You could double strand the yarn if you have enough. Another option for natural fiber yarns (wool) is to crochet it larger than finished size and then felt it. If you are making a handle or strap, chain the length and then work a few rows the length of the handle/strap rather than crocheting something like 6 or 10 stitches wide and 30 inches long (this stretches). You could also add a lining. I like the looks of this one the best. You will need to create an account. Ravelry has a huge pattern library. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/... To use your three colors, you could work stripes of the 3 colors alternating, work stripes of 2 colors and use the 3rd color for the straps (and accents like edging). I like the looks of this one the best. You will need to create an account. Ravelry has a huge pattern library. http://www.ravelry.com/patterns/library/... This bag looks very nice as well. You could vary the number of pockets.You will need to create an account to access patterns. Lots of free patterns. http://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/Hooked... http://www.ehow.com/how_4829418_crochet-laptop-bag.html http://www.crochetkitten.com/files/The_Crocheter_s_Messenger.pdf http://lauraslefthook.wordpress.com/2008/05/08/library-tote-pattern/ This bag uses the Afghan stitch which is tight and looks like knitting. http://www.learn-how-to-crochet.com/computer-bag.html The major yarn manufacturers- Lion Brand, Patons, Bernat, Red Heart - have websites with free patterns. Lion Brand also has specific stitch instructions.
What is the best crochet hook that I can use?
Crocheting is always something that is more of a personal experience. You pour out your heart in it. And with experience you can tell what Hook you need to use for a particular project. Every hand that crochets has a different tension and gauge changes accordingly. So every person might want to use a different size hook depending on the yarn type and how loose or tight your crochet tension is. For me I prefer metal hooks and currently using Kurtzy hooks set which come in a nice pouch with a zip. Plastic hooks are definitely not my choice. And usually I prefer 4 or 5mm hook so as to match my yarn type that I preferably use. Hope you find this helpful.
Why does Crochet hook size matter?
What matters if you want to duplicate a pattern is gauge. Gauge refers to the number of stitches per inch and the number of rows per inch. Each pattern is designed to come out the same every time if you crochet to the same gauge every time. There are three components of gauge: 1. The yarn or thread used. 2. The size of the shaft of the crochet hook used. 3. The individual tension of the crocheter. As a result of there being three components, you may have to adjust any one of them to get the correct gauge. Usually, you want to use the yarn or thread called for in the pattern, because that's what will provide the "look" and "texture" and "weight" of the example project. Usually, once a crocheter is experienced and competent, there's not much that can be done about tension--some people crochet loose, some tight, some medium. What can you change if you need to? The size of the crochet hook. A larger hook will result in fewer stitches per inch and a smaller hook will result in more stitches per inch (if the other two components remain the same). Not long ago, a friend and I sat side by side using the same yarn, the same hook size, and the same pattern for a baby blanket. Hers came out much smaller than mine, because she crochets tightly and I crochet loosely. We probably should have changed hook sizes (me--smaller; her--larger); then our finished blankets would have been closer to the same size.
Who taught you to crochet?
A mixture of people. A friend from a crochet group tried hard to teach me and I sort of got it. But then forgot when I didn't do it for a few weeks. And then another friend set up a you tube channel (Bert's Boutique) and I followed that and it clicked and stayed. And then another friend did a CAL (crochet along, where several of us did the same quite complicated pattern at the same time over a couple of weeks). This CAL had photos on how to do every single stitch and how to change colour, and although the work was a bit bedraggled and raggedy I learnt so much that it spurred me on to continue. I then taught myself to make hats and then design patterns using pre-printed patterns and alter stuff to make it my own.So in summary quite a lot of people taught me..I'm still learning but will have a go at anything now. Can't promise it will turn out ok all the time but hey it's an original then!
Crochet Pattern help?
I'm brand new to crochet, I just picked up some yarn and a crochet hook last night according to a pattern and started. I'm having the most trouble understanding the patterns directions. Ch. 141 Row 1 (right side): DC in fourth ch from hook and in each ch across. 139 dc. So I understand the first part. I crocheted 141 sc and then double chained 139 on that (skipped the first three ch). My question is, when do I turn? What do I do next? I'm confused on if I make more of the first row or if I start row 2? Here's the next row's directions. Row 2: Ch 2 (counts as first hdc, now and throughout), turn; hdc in next dc and in each school across. Please explain this to me in "dumbed down" terms, and very detailed. What is my next step after the initial double chain?
How can I learn chemistry without attending a school?
As J pointed out, you can get textbooks but they don’t get you into the lab. You can’t learn chemistry without actually doing some chemistry; it would be like learning to crochet by reading books but never picking up a crochet hook.I recommend that you look for books on “home chemistry experiments.” There’s a serious (high school AP or intro college level) textbook on Amazon in the “DIY Science” series, but there are also a lot of less intensive books available; all of them will walk you through experiments and discuss what you can learn from them.