Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not have any rights to Harry Potter and I do not make any money from writing these fic's.
A/N: Harry's experiences on Crochet is based on my own as I just started learning how to crochet not long ago. For anyone who wants to know Crochet the definition of it I found online is, a handicraft in which yarn is looped into a patterned fabric with a hooked needle.
A/N 2: In this chapter the text, or at least most of it, in italics are what Harry reads out of his book.
Chapter Seven
Looking at the chain he had managed to make and the open book in his lap Harry took a deep breath and began to read through the chapter, even if it was going to take him all day Harry was determined to have something that he made to show, even if his relatives was not interested and it would only be for him.
Double Crochet!
When you have practiced your chain stitch and you can crochet a chain with nice even stitches you are finally ready to learn your very first crochet stitch!
Remember through to be careful of how you hold your crochet hook and wool, also remember to relax and have fun! If you are holding your wool to tightly then your stitches will be tight too and will be very difficult to crochet into!
Making an understanding sound Harry paused in his reading and double checked the chain he had made, he was still as proud as could be over the fact he had made his very first chain, only to let out a sigh of relief when he found enough space in it to put his crochet hook through it with the wool without any problem.
'I'm glad that I took that little bit of extra time and went slower' Harry thought with a smile, for some reason he just could not stop smiling even though he knew that later on he would be in big trouble with his relatives 'It looks like making a slightly loser chain and taking my time at the start worked out for me.'
Relived that he would not have to undone his first chain and redo it again Harry turned back to his book while ignoring the loud shouts of his aunt's voice ordering people about, the loud demands from Dudley and the back garden being set up for Dudley's birthday party. Harry did not know that his aunt Petunia was beyond rage as every time she thought of her nephew her vision turned red, it was Harry that was meant to be doing all of this work for her precious Duddie-kins, the freak would pay. Lost in his own world of safety given to him by his treasure that had been one of Dudley's unwanted birthday presents Harry allowed himself a small slice of happiness as he practiced his crochet while lost in his own world.
Looking down at the book Harry read the title out loud to himself, "Your very first row."
Your very first row.
First make a slip knot and slip it onto your hook. Then get your crochet hook and wool positioned and then make a chain of 11 stitches long. Then pick up your chain and hold it like it is shown in the picture underneath.
'I hope that 20 chain stitches will be okay' Harry thought as he looked at the picture which had the chain in a straight line with the crochet hook on the right hand side and the tail of the crochet on the left hand side 'Well...it is just for practice and I am not making anything...I should be alright this time.'
Feeling slightly silly at how proud he was of his first chain stitch Harry turned back to reading the book.
Step One - Miss the first chain stitch next to your hook, as that is what is holding the wool over your crochet in place on the hook, push your hook through the centre of the chain going from the side facing you.
Step Two - You should now have 2 loops on your crochet. Now push your hook underneath and around your wool just like you did with your chain stitch.
Step Three - Just like you did before with your chain stitch use the tip of your hook to pull your wool through the closest chain stitch nearest the top of your hook.
Step Four - If you look closely at your hook you should still have 2 loops on it, one loop which you have just made and the other loop is the last stitch from your long chain.
Step Five - Using the top of your hook like you have done before pull your wool carefully through both of the loops on your hook. If you find it easier to do one loop at a time then do so, do not worry as you will get it in time with some practice.
Step Six - Well Done! You have just finished doing your very first double crochet stitch!
Step Seven - Now finish the rest of your row by following steps 1 to 5 until you come to the end of your row but instead of doing it into the same stitch over and over keep doing it in the next one along until you reach the end.
Once you have finished your first row of double crochet take a very good look at it and you should be able to see the 'V' shape on top of each one of your double crochet's. By counting how many 'V' shapes you have you will be able to see if you have the right amount of stitches through if you find yourself one short do not worry as remember you skipped over the very first stitch in your chain so if you had 11 stitch's to begin with you should now have 10.
Frowning in confusion at the book's words Harry reread each step several times as his mind seemed to refuse to take in the information. Trying his best to ignore the frustration at the sight of the new and daunting looking stitch Harry turned his full attention to his crochet in front of him and slowly did what the book told him to do, one step at a time.
'Through the hole, hook the wool...' Harry thought to himself as he followed the book's instructions 'It is similar to the chain stitch and the slip knot with the loop's...you can do this...'
Nervously pulling the wool through the final loop like it said in step five a large smile broke out on Harry's face as he found himself looking at his second double crochet, even if it looked a bit overly lose. Feeling a burst of confidence Harry slowly, clumsily but determinedly began to make his way towards the other end of the line adding one double crochet at a time.
'You can do it Harry' Harry thought to himself as he made it across the half way point 'Your over halfway, you are on the home stretch now.'
As Harry came to the end of the row a large yet determined smile broke out on his face at his achievement, after living with the Dursley's even this little achievement meant the world to him and gave him a rare chance to truly be happy and to smile.
'I don't want to stop' Harry thought sadly as he slowly finished the last stitch 'I wonder if...you have got to be able to do more than this with crochet if you can make clothes and teddy bears with it!'
Fuelled by how far he had come while up in the apple tree Harry quickly once again turned back to his book wanting to learn more about crochet. As Harry turned his attention back to his book he became lost to the world, as the morning waved on into afternoon cries of excitement and happiness could be heard from the back garden while guests for Dudley's birthday party kept on arriving throughout the afternoon with different shaped brightly coloured items in their hands. Through Harry was for once unaware of everything going on around him, including the increasing anger that Vernon, Petunia and Marge held within them that grew with every second past.
"I wonder if the next page tells you how to do another row?" Harry asked as he flipped through the book with a thoughtful expression on his face, "Let's see...turning your crochet."
Turning Your Crochet!
By now you are ready to start your next row, to do this you first need to turn your crochet, this means that your tail will be on the right hand side while your hook will be on the left hand side through after you have finished this row you will find your hook to be on the right hand side.
Quickly Harry did as the book told him while excitement buzzed about inside him as he turned the page to find out how he could add another row.
'I wonder...maybe I could turn this into something like a pillow or a blanket or even something to lie on' Harry thought as he winced at the memory of his matters that had been shoved into the cupboard years ago 'I better check to see how I can finish my crochet to...just in case.'
Turning back to the book Harry turned the title and read the heading 'Second Row'.
To Be Continued...
