Just typing in the heading has me leaning in two directions but I will stick with my first thought.
I love crosswords but have never been able to crack cryptic ones. Even when I see the solutions, I can’t even begin to understand how they were arrived at.
I have no doubt that some of you wordy people can whizz through a cryptic crossword like you were singing the alphabet.
What’s the thought process involved and how did you get the hang of it?
One of my many New Year’s hopes or ‘Revolutions’ is to master these.
On such Revolutions, I am also hoping to return to knitting which isn’t entirely different to crosswords, in my view. Just think crossstitch, unravelling and satisfaction.
Thing is I have forgotten how to – and I thought knitting was like riding a bike.
I’ve been scouring the internet for an idiot’s pattern for a colourful hat knitted on straight needles but nothing is idiotic enough. So any help welcome!
SOCIAL BRIDGE ~ Jean Tubridy connecting with you from Ireland 
I have never thought about the thought process per se. I grew up working crosswords with my Papa, and we did them a lot in my grammar school, as a way to teach vocabulary or history I suppose. As an adult, I have many memories of sitting at the kitchen table with my former father-in-law, reading out the clues and he would answer almost instantly while I penciled the answer. I still work them, and if I am stumped, often I set it aside and pick it up again the next day and see what I did not see before. And, a good dictionary helps, because if you have never ever heard of whatever it is, the thinking process will not help much. 🙂
Best wishes for happy crosswording and happy knitting!
Yeah, I did a lot of them as a youngster with my mother. We had great fun but she wasn’t great on the cryptic ones so I certainly didn’t have a great teacher in relation to them. Some people seem to find them a doddle. Definitely making me more determined now.
Happy knitting! On crosswords, I so enjoy them, but I’m not terribly good at them, either. My brother-in-law actually creates them and has written extensively about them. Apparently, there are a few tricks – the longer words are the theme words, there are short words that get used often because they’re vowel-heavy, etc. – but I’ve never been able to use any of that to my advantage. He created a lovely puzzle for my wedding, and I’ve still not solved it seven years later, even though most of the clues have to do with me or my husband. So, you know, embarrassing. 🙂
You’ve made me feel way better on the crossword front.
Seven years isn’t that long really. No doubt you’ll crack another few this year.
Glad I could help! 😉 Here are a couple of links from the brother-in-law, if you’re interested. (I have not even started to attempt the Ubercross puzzle…)
https://twilliamcampbell.medium.com/the-year-in-crosswords-2020-7406b7a381d6
https://www.ubercross.com/
Thanks so much for the links, Katie. Very interesting.
oy! that was a really cool read! thanks..glad i read through the comments!
Glad you enjoyed the article!
I think the thought process is different for all of us. When I was a merchandiser I hated “Planograms” how to construct a box into an attractive display…I hate reading directions and have to really force myself to do this. I would look at the finish product and make it on what I perceived it to be..They seemed to hold up well and none collapsed…But in knitting one has to follow directions and gauge so it will come out like it should..I would use the yarn that is self striping and cast on the desired amount of stitches that you need a simple knit row will give a stockinette stitch where a knit row/purl row will give a garter stitch with stretch…It depends what type of hat you want to knit a beanie/ a beret…I’m sure you’ll be able to master it again as it will start to come back to you…You can always tear it out and begin again..If you first don’t succeed try..try again..ha…
Joni, I totally agree about our differing thought processes.
Many thanks for your encouragement. Knowing one can begin again makes it all very relaxed.
Here are two patterns I have used. https://sheepandstitch.com/pattern/how-to-knit-a-hat-on-straight-needles-tutorial/ and https://projectknitwell.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/Knitwell-SS-Hat.pdf
Greatly appreciated. Thanks a million.
https://www.allfreeknitting.com/Knit-Hats/Easy-Hat-Knitting-Patterns
And
https://yayforyarn.com/easiest-knitted-hat/
Willow, thanks very much for the patterns. Who knows I might get to the stage where I am churning out hats without even needing to glance at a pattern.
Excellent you can then send one my way 😜💜☺️☺️
Never really been into crosswords or knitting. My Mum used to knit furiously for hours in times past and I used to be sent on regular missions to the wool shop to call off a few balls of a colour put aside. I’d say knitting was more of a thrifty occupation back then but more of a hobby since imported clothes became affordable.
You should try knitting. It’s addictive and keeps hands out of tempting tins!