I just don't see how all of you ladies make all of these beautiful creations. I have plenty of ideas/mental pics of items that I want to make, but have no idea where to start.

Do you draft a pic of it (FYI I can't draw worth diddly squat!) and go from there or what?? Anyone have any tips. I'm a crocheter btw.

I usually just get an idea in my head and then make it up as I go. I know that's not much help...sorry. :)

I have crocheted with my daughter playing on the floor nearby, and every few minutes I hold my work up to her to make sure it will cover her. :) It's not foolproof so I rip out a lot of stitches, but it helps me practice at least.

I have also made pre-made patterns then altered them. It is not an original work, but it helps me figure out how patterns work. Once I do that, I can start creating my own stitches and patterns.

Yeah-- I just kinda figure out what I want it to look like, take some basic measurements, pick a stitch or motif, and go for it. I did do purchased patterns for years or ones my mom or great-grandmother taught me in order to get the idea of how they worked. Now I just know what sort of thing i'll have to do to get the shapeing right and crochet as I go. If you know your gauge you can figure things out before hand though on graph paper-- I have a very obsessive friend who does that-- (I figured this out long ago when nothing worked up-- my gauge is about 2 hooks off of most standard patterns so I take that into account on everything and either change sizes, or go down 2 hook sizes)

Originally posted by KeepEmComing
I have crocheted with my daughter playing on the floor nearby, and every few minutes I hold my work up to her to make sure it will cover her. :)

I do basically the same thing. For my wraps (http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?p=999&gid=3863327&uid=1997118&members=1), I just used a litewrap as a guide b/c I liked the shape, and used double and single crochets to get the basic shape, then over the course of making several of them, I figured out how to put gathers along the legs that work like gussets -- but the first, and simplest, one I did is still my favorite.

For the black cherry pull on one (same link), I just converted the wrap by making the back and front flap measurements equal to milo's hip measurement. But after I finished the crochet part (before seaming), I realized that it wasn't quite big enough in rise or around the hips, so I just put a row or two of double crochet around the whole thing before seaming. That's something I really like about crochet -- you can always add on.

Jayne.