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Please note that this text is written in "chat format," although I've edited some of it out. Therefore, there are several conversational, rather than instructional, elements.
> You'll need two skeins of one color and one skein of another. They
don't have to be complete skeins.
> You'll need a hook and a scissor
> Did everyone print the graph?
> I'm going to be crocheting right along with you, so no need to get
nervous or anything while I look over your shoulders. Hee hee
> When you have a graph you'd like to crochet, you count the blocks
across the bottom
> That will be the number of stitches in your graph
> Your graph is read from bottom to top
> In this graph, there are 25 blocks....so 25+1 = your chain count
> Please make 26 chains and say K when ready
> This is with the color that you have two of
> I also wanted to say that this is just going to be a swatch....It's not any
particular pattern
> Just something to learn the technique
> Now, sc in the second chain and in each chain across....25 sc
> Ch 1, turn
> You see that you're following the graph
> Each sc is considered to be one block of the graph
> You'll need to make three rows of single crochet in this color
> When you're finished with the third row, say K
> And, remember.....there's no contest. :-) So, don't feel rushed
> Looking at the graph, we're now on Row 4
> Ch 1 and with Color A (the first color), you'll sc over 12 sc
> On the last sc, however, you leave it "open" so you can switch to Color
B
> To leave it open, you simply insert the hook in the stitch
> YO and pull a loop through
> You'll have two loops on your hook
> Say K when ready
> Now, you will drop Color A
> You'll pull up a loop with Color B through those 2 loops on your hook
> You have now changed colors
> But, you'll note that you've only got one stitch in Color B
> So, you'll have to leave it open
> Since you leave the last stitch open and there is only one stitch
> So, you should now have 2 loops of CB (Color B) on your hook
> And, if you ever have a problem, don't hesitate to tell me to stop and
explain something
> Now, you'll start using yarn from the "other" skein of CA (Color A)
> Drop your CB and pull up a loop with CA, closing your single crochet
> Then, following the graph, continue across with the "other skein of CA
to the end
> Ch 1 and turn
> Keep in mind when you're following the graph that most graphs will
require that you read them from left to right on one row and then right
to left on the next and so on
> The heart graph is perfect shaped to not cause this :-)
> Another tip is to turn your work a different way each time....it really
helps with the tangles
> Now, take a look at your graph and count the boxes of CA
> There are now 11 of CA, 3 of CB and 11 of CA
> So, we'll make 11 sc, leaving the last one open
> Then, we'll make 3 sc of CB, leaving the last one open
> Then, we'll make 11 sc of CA
> Ch 1, turn
> When you changed to CB, do you see that long strand
> hanging out there?
> When you make your first stitch of CB,
> insert your hook under not only the top two loops of your single crochet
> But, try to catch that long strand as well
> It really helps with neatness of your work
> julie: Should all the yarn ends be on the same side of the piece?
> julie: Then I must have done something wrong already:(
> All the "start" pieces should be on the same side....but the other
"working" pieces will be on
> different sides depending on where you're at
> But, once the piece is finished and you cut off, then you just pull all the
loose pieces to one side
> Now, those tangles are going to get annoying....but try to ignore them
> This is just for practice. :-)
> I wanted to make sure that everyone got the tip on crocheting over that
long strand of yarn when you changed to CB
> It definitely makes your work look neater
> Now, can everyone follow the graph now?
> I need you to start crocheting on your own following the graph until you
get to the dip in the heart
> If anyone needs me to explain the next row, please let me know
> If not, just start counting and crocheting!
> make sure you count your stitches because sometimes it's easy to
miss a stitch when you change colors
> When you get into the more extensive graphs, you'll have to make use
of bobbins for your yarn
> Instead of the big bulky skeins of yarn that get all tangled up
> dd: I thought that those stitches that were left open would be loose but
they are not.
> I think it's when you try to "carry" the dropped yarn that it can cause
problems
> I try not to carry unless there are only a few stitches because it really
does make a difference in the looks of the finished piece
> dd: Yes you are right, plus it makes the piece bulky and stiff
> I think I'm going to go ahead and get started on the typing of the top
part of the heart
> I'm starting with the row that has the "dip" in the heart
> First, you'll make 3 sc in CA, leaving the last one open
> Oops....that's 4, not 3
> Leaving the last one open
> Switching to CB, you'll make 8 sc, leaving the last one open
> Now is where the bobbins would come in handy
> But, you don't have a "lot" of sc to finish
> So, pull up about 2 yards from CB and cut it off.
> That will leave a LONG strand of CB
> hanging off the back
> And, that's exactly what you want
> Now, go back to the CA that you just dropped
> You'll want to do the same thing with it
> Pull up about 2 yards and cut it off
> You'll have one long strand of CB and one long strand of CA
> Ordinarilly, you'd wind them up on bobbins before continuing
> But, this is such a small graph, there's no need
> Now, take the CA that you just cut off....not the strand hanging from
your work
> The skein
> Pull up a loop and finish off that open sc you have in CB
> Now, you would make the one little sc in the dip, leaving it open, in CA
> Take the CB that you just cut off...not the strand hanging from your
work
> The skein....
> Pull up a loop of this CB and close that one little sc
> Work 8 sc in CB, leaving the last one open
> Switch to CA....it's still attached
> And, work 4 sc in CA
> Ch 1, turn.
> Now, you've got five different strands hanging from your work in
different places
> Although it may be hard to see some of them because you see the
start and the finish
> But, there are five "working" strands
> You just follow the graph at this point
> Until you've finished the heart
> Then, there'll be 3 rows of CA and that's it! :-)
