i have undone this cap at least 5 or 6 times and spent 2 hours or more on it already wtih nothing to show but a tangle of mohair.

the blasted directions for crocheting a cut loop cap from little joys dolls make absolutely no sense!!! grrr...
I can't tell which end of the yarn is which, where it is coming or going and the directions only say really helpful things like "This stitch will be the loop" and show the inconprehensible diagram.

ok, i am probably beyond help here. just venting. hopefully dh can figure this out when he gets home tonight. I can't believe they can charge $ for something that is so poorly written and impossible to follow. :mad:

if you have yahoo im my username is bellesmomma...I could maybe walk you through it. Do you already know how to crochet and just aren't getting the loop stitch? Or I could call you if that would work better. It's not that hard really (especially if you already know how to single crochet) but I admit it took me reading the directions written in several different books to figure it out.

I bet you're overthinking it....when I finally figured it out it was so much simpler than I thought it would be.

ok, I've been trying to think of how to clearly explain the stitch...if this doesn't make sense I'm still happy to walk you through it.

so, when you go to make a single crochet you insert your hook...catch the yarn and pull through a loop....then yarn over and pull through to complete the stitch. After you insert the hook in the stitch but before you catch the yarn to pull though you raise your middle finger up in the air and lay the yarn on it...catch the yarn behind your finger...then pull through the stitch (keeping your finger raised and holding that loop it's made) and yarn over/pull through to complete the stitch. Once you've completed the stitch the loop is secure.

Thanks Danielle. I don't have yahoo. I do know how to do a very basic crochet. Well, at least enough to make a passable regular cap. The last time I needed a cut loop I had dh make it. He should be able to figure it out again. He's a waldorf graduate so he has years of crochet behind him LOL.
This time I will have him show me instead of do it for me. That is the mistake I made last time. Besides, I like getting him to help me w/ craft stuff and this is a doll for dd's birthday from "us" so he really should participate in it ;)

I think I am just excessively whiny today due to staying up too late last night working on the doll. Although she does have a cute belly button and butt crack :D

I took pics...will post in a sec...hopefully they turned out ok (hard to crochet and take pics at the same time!)

left handed pic 1:

insert hook into stitch...catch yarn behind raised middle finger

left handed pic2:

after yarn is pulled through the stitch yarn over and pull through stitch on hook. AFter stitch is complete loop is secure.

and in case you're not left handed like me...

right handed step 1

insert hook into stitch...catch yarn behind raised middle finger

right handed step 2


after yarn is pulled through the stitch yarn over and pull through stitch on hook. AFter stitch is complete loop is secure.

ok, i think i see it. will give it a try after i get dinner going.
Thanks so much!
LOL imagining you trying to take pics and crochet at the same time. Motherhood is good training grounds for learning to do things that require 3 or 4 hands with only 2!

Dannielle, in a few days try moving this thread to the FAQ section for crafty/sewing stuff.