Crochet Afghan Make Great Gifts

Crochet afghan cover patterns are one of the popular crochet projects enjoyed by both beginners and advanced crocheters. A crocheted afghan is a great gift for family and friends. It can serve as a wrap or shawl as well as a blanket during chilly nights. The term afghan was derived from the textiles that are produced in Afghanistan since they are comparable to the shawls and wraps used in the region.

Crocheted afghan covers can be used in various ways. There are numerous crochet patterns for afghan blankets. An afghan blanket can be used as a comforter and as a bedspread. It is important to select the appropriate pattern that will fit the size of the intended project.

Afghans also make great gifts during birthdays and holidays as different motifs can be incorporated into the design. A Christmas afghan can help warm cold winter nights while personalized baby afghan blankets can become family heirlooms.

Complimentary Crochet Afghan Patterns

Free crochet afghan patterns are a great way to put together a beautiful afghan for gifts or for personal use. Crochet afghan patterns can be very simple or complex depending on the preference of the crocheter.

A crocheter may opt to select a simple crochet afghan pattern that makes use of numerous granny squares that are put together to form the entire blanket. On the other hand, complex crochet afghan patterns may consist of geometric shapes that feature advanced crochet stitches.

Various resources like craft books, crocheting magazines and crafting websites offer complimentary crochet afghan patterns. These patterns provide complete instructions starting from what type of yarn and hook should be used for the project. In most cases, a crochet pattern may also include helpful tips on the differences between yarns.

Crochet afghan patterns can also serve as an inspiration for a crocheter to create their own unique design. Keep in mind that patterns can be adapted to suit the purpose of the project. Crocheters should not restrict themselves strictly to the instructions of the pattern. It is important to exercise some personal judgment that will help enhance the appearance of the project.

Creating an Afghan from Crochet Patterns

Creating an afghan based on crochet patterns is easy. There are numerous crochet patterns for afghan blankets that can be great as gifts or decorations at home. Simple afghan covers can even have a central theme. For example, an afghan pattern may feature a floral design as well as the national flag.

Popular crochet patterns for afghan covers often feature a stained glass design or can be part of a set of patterns. The afghan crochet pattern can be part of a collection that may include patterns for a crocheted pillowcase or coffee table doily. A striped crochet pattern for an afghan cover is another appealing project that both beginners and advanced crocheters will enjoy.

Creating an afghan from crochet patterns can also be the start of a wonderful tradition that a mother can pass on to their daughters. A free crochet pattern for an afghan cover is not only a great way to start, but it is also fun. A mother and daughter can learn how to crochet at the same time by following a simple afghan crochet pattern. Once completed the finished product can be given away to family and friends.

Mothers and especially grandmothers will appreciate a handcrafted afghan cover created by a young girl from a crochet pattern. When selecting a pattern for the afghan be sure to choose a pattern and color scheme that would suit the personality of the intended party. The type of yarn to be used should also be considered, as it will directly affect the weight of the finished product.

Afghan blankets also make great donations for retirement and nursing homes. The elderly will certainly cherish the effort that went into creating the afghan. At the same time, they will appreciate the warmth of an afghan.

Afghans are an ideal project for anyone interested in learning how to crochet. Afghans are relatively easy to put together and are a great way to learn the basic crochet stitches. At the same time, afghan covers make excellent gifts and keepsakes that last a lifetime.

Loves sharing crochet tips, patterns and other online crochet resources.

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Basic Crochet Stitches

The most basic of crochet stitches include the chain stitch, the slip stitch, the double crochet stitch and the treble stitch. It is important to be confident and capable about forming these stitches, as the majority of crochet patterns include all of them. However you can and will find patterns which omit either the treble or the double crochet stitch so it is essential that you learn at least one of these basic stitches. Nevertheless it will not be long before you find the need to have both in your crocheting skills repertoire.

To begin crocheting it is essential to start from the begin setup position. This is achieved by looping the yarn round itself into a looped ring, then inserting the hook into the loop and catching the yarn with your hook, and bringing it back up through the looped ring and lastly by tightening the slip knot onto your hook. The next task is to hold the crochet hook in your normal dominate hand in a style that suits you (either like a pen or as when holding a knife) whilst holding the yarn securely with your free hand just below the slip knot.

The chain stitch is the first crochet stitch used in all patterns; providing the foundation row or ring for either straight line or circular crochet. It is a very simple stitch abbreviated as ch in crochet patterns.

To work a series of chain stitches, wrap your yarn round your hook (two loops on hook) and then pull your hook through the first loop on its shaft. Now you have only one loop on your hook, and one chain stitch formed. Repeat this process for as many chain stitches as needed for your individual crochet pattern or project.

When crocheting in the round (circular garments like hats and doilies and squares are made this way) you need to join the chain stitches together with a slip stitch. A slip stitch is abbreviated to ss in crochet patterns. This is very simple. Just insert your hook into the middle of the first chain stitch crocheted, pick up the yarn and draw the hook back out again leaving two loops on the hook. Now just draw the hook through the first loop on the hook thus leaving only one loop on the hook and joining the work into a ring.

The double crochet stitch abbreviated to dc or in America the single crochet stitch is very similar to that of the slip stitch just described above. However the hook is placed into the next stitch to be worked. This will vary depending on what project you are making. After inserting the hook into the appropriate position, pick up the yarn and draw the hook back out of the stitch, leaving two loops on the hook. Now wrap the yarn again round the hook making three loops on the hook. Finally draw the hook through all the loops to leave just the one loop on the hook, with one double crochet stitch worked.

The last basic crochet stitch we are going to deal with is the treble stitch, abbreviated to tr in crochet patterns and also known as the double crochet in America. This is the hardest of the basic crochet stitches and is the meat and vegetables of crochet, as many advanced stitches and techniques are based around this stitch. Consequently it is a good idea to be proficient at performing this crochet stitch.

To crochet a treble stitch, first wrap the yarn round the hook before inserting your hook into the stitch where you wish your treble to be located. Catch the yarn as before and draw the hook out of the stitch. At this point you will have three loops on your hook. Again wrap the yarn round your hook, making four loops on the hook. Now draw the hook through the second and third loops on the hook, leaving you with two loops on your hook. Wrap the yarn round the hook again making three loops and draw the hook through these remaining loops, leaving you with just one loop on the hook and one treble formed.

You now have the basic techniques to crocheting, as we have covered the basic crochet stitches. You will be amazed at how many patterns and projects are now at your disposal with just this limited amount of crocheting knowledge. Please do not just take my word for it go and look for yourselves! And remember have fun!

Ana Smith is a highly skilled crocheter with over thirty years experience and author of http://beginners-crochet.blogspot.com/2009/03/crochet-stitches-how-to-crochet-slip.html

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Reading Crochet Patterns

I have to confess that not being able to read a crochet pattern kind of defies the whole concept of crocheting!

When I first learned to crochet, I wanted to know what these abbreviations meant. Maybe I was curious or wanted to learn everything at once - I honestly can't answer that at this point.

To my way of thinking, reading a crochet pattern is essential to the learning of easy crochet. You are very limited as to finished projects if you can't read crochet patterns!

If you can't read a crochet pattern, you are very limited in my opinion. What do you do, keep starting over till you think it's right and continue in that way?

If you can read a crochet pattern you have the world at your disposal. You are not afraid to venture on to try new things in my estimation!

But the number of people who can't read crochet patterns astounds me. It seems like a real pity that they don't learn how to better themselves and feel better about the projects they create!

If you can't read a crochet pattern, how do you make doilies or crochet home-made dishcloths? Remember, they look easy in the picture, but can you duplicate it that way?

When I learned to crochet (it seems like a life-time ago now), those patterns with those strange abbreviations were a challenge to me. At that point, I made up my mind to learn to read the patterns no matter what.

I did a lot of research and asked a multitude of questions and finally got results. The strange part of it was that then I was no longer limited to crocheting with wool alone.

Being able to read crochet patterns seems to give you the confidence to be able to move on to greater heights - by that I mean, I moved onto cotton and made doilies in a very short time of learning how to read crochet patterns.

The thing that amazes me is that people who aren't able to read crochet patterns don't seem to care that every part of every crochet stitch has to be explained and/or demonstrated to them on a one-to-one basis. This bothers me.

I was told at one time that not being able to read crochet patterns showed a lack of patience in whoever did home crocheting in that fashion. It showed no ambition!

Now, I don't agree with that statement, but I have one of my own - "Don't learn anything by halves, learn the whole thing, or don't waste my time!"

When my oldest daughter was in hospital when she was five (5) months old, I was able to crochet a doily, thanks to being able to read crochet directions.

Here's another point to ponder: If you can't read crochet directions or patterns, how do you expand your own crocheting knowledge to include the extra stitches required? I am referring to the treble stitch, the half double stitch and so on - that could be daunting!

So if you are a home crocheter, learn how to read the patterns and don't be stuck in that rut that I call never-ending - read patterns, expand your horizons beyond your own expectations.

There is a wealth of information to be found at http://learningeasycrochet.com.

Not only is there information, but it supplies encouragement as well.

When you get stuck, as we all do sometimes, leave a question in the comment box and you will get an answer within 24 hours.

When you sign up for a membership, you will receive a crochet pattern of your choice along with the help you may need to complete that project!

In the members area, you will shown "how to" and much more along with tips and tricks to speed up your progress.

Check it out today!

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Crochet History 1900s - 21st Century

Lavish crochet emerged alongside other forms of elaborate needlework in the nineteenth century. When printed materials began to be mass-produced in the mid-nineteenth century, the popularity of crochet increased vastly.

Patterns for silk thread purses were the first to have been published, from about 1824 in Holland. Prior to this date, crochet was passed to future generations without written patterns but rather duplicated from small crocheted samples.

Victorian crochet hooks were made of materials such as ivory, brass, various woods, and other bone material. They were often ornately carved, the most impressive often being given as wedding gifts. Crocheted bags, clothing and décor were all popular. Crochet was considered a suitable activity for wealthy women, along with other forms of needlework. Bead crochet began to appear on the market in the 1830s. Knitting with beads was already in fashion at this time.

Crochet became a cottage industry in Ireland with a lace called Irish crochet or guipure lace. In the mid-nineteenth century, it became a large industry owing to a need for people to supplement their income due to the great potato famine of that time. It is still a cottage industry in some countries such as India, Greece, Italy, and some Asian countries.

Crochet samplers dating from the nineteenth century are shown in many museums. A variety of crochet and knitting books were published from the mid-nineteenth century through the 1920s. Filet crochet became very popular from the 1850s.

Crochet continued to be popular into the early twentieth century. The 1920s brought a flood of bead crocheted bags with piles of bead loops to complete the flapper look.

From 1937 through 1940's there were crochet contests for workmanship design and speed. The onset of World War II saw the craft halt, owing to shortages in available materials. Bead crochet bags were popular throughout the 1950's. Crochet became an accepted art form in the 1960s and more experimentation in textile art took place including international fiber shows. Crochet began to regain its popularity in the 1970s, when it became popular to wear crocheted items.

The 1980s and 1990s brought a renaissance of bead and thread crochet. In the early 1990s bead knitted bags gained popularity, which increased the demand for bead crocheted bags.

In 1994 thirty four million American women crocheted or knitted, in 2002 this figure had increased to thirty eight million.

Crochet today is mainly created by using soft yarns to produce garments and blankets. Although the crochet stitch can be made by machine, it continues to be a home craft.

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Providing Tips and Help with Crochet for the beginner and more experienced. Crochet History Part 1 [http://www.officialguidetocrochet.com/crochet-history-part1.html]

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Crochet - Seven Important Crocheting Tips to Remember

We all know the saying Practice makes Perfect. In crochet you will find that this is very true, however it does not take too much practice to make your stitches perfect. Enjoy your crochet and follow these easy tips for pure crocheting success.

Tip 1: When first learning to crochet the whole process will feel very strange, as you will have to hold the hook, yarn and work all at the same time as you try to create the various crochet stitches. But work at it, practice the stitch until it feels natural, this will not take long. A great idea for practicing the basic stitches is to start making up a load of individual Granny squares (or one huge square) to get use to naturally and easily moving the hook. Also at the end you can sew them together and have a cozy blanket.

Tip 2: As you crochet, the yarn is guided through your fingers, this is what actually creates the tension of your work and therefore determines how tight, or not, your crochet stitching is!

If you look at a crochet hook you will see that it tapers inwards as it gets closer to the actual hook, therefore it has differing thicknesses. The further away from the hook itself the thicker it becomes. Therefore if you allow your loops to go up the shaft of the hook then your loops will be larger, and hence work will be looser. If you work near the hook itself, your loops will be smaller; and the smaller the loops the tighter the stitches. So if you find yourself working along the hook shaft and not near the hook, bring the loops down towards the hook and give the yarn another pull to tighten the loops, so that they decrease in size.

Sometimes it is necessary to tighten your stitches even more. To do this just pull your crochet yarn again at the end of the stitch just formed.

Crochet tension is important in most crocheting projects especially for clothing. Tension dictates the size of the finished garment. The tighter you crochet, the thinner the yarn and the smaller the hook, the smaller the end project will be and vice versa. So always check your crocheting tension against the pattern to ensure that the finished item will be of the correct fit. Alternatively begin crocheting with something where tension is not so important such as a mat, shawl or Granny Square.

Tip 3: When making project items where tension is vital, always take the time to prepare a practice swatch. This added time at the beginning of a project will save you time and heartache later. (Practice swatch instructions are always included in the patterns where they are applicable.) Practice swatches are just practice pieces of crochet using the hook and yarn that the garment will be made from. Patterns tell you how many stitches and rows should equal a certain length and width.

Remember you do not have to use the same yarn or the same size hook as instructed in crochet patterns. Adjusting the sizes of your crochet hook when you tension is too tight or too loose for the individual crochet pattern, will alter the finished projects size. Just be wary that if you use a different thickness yarn or a different size hook, check tension by crocheting a practice swatch to double check sizes. This is only really important when making any crocheting clothing garments.

Tip 4: Relax and enjoy your crochet, it really will show in your work. Do not hold your hook or yarn too tightly, nor too loosely. Look back at your stitches and ensure that they are all of the same size. Try to allow your crochet hook to move freely and tighten the yarn automatically after you finish each crochet stitch.

Tip 5: Hold your work at all times. Your thumb and forefinger should be holding your crocheting just below where you are stitching.

Tip 6: When joining new balls of yarn always do so at a chain stitch and try to ensure if straight line crocheting that it is at the end of a row, as this makes it easier to weave in the yarn ends. This will also give a more professional finish.

Tip 7: Crocheting with fun fur is not easy, due to its many eyelashes. For a beginner this is not at all easy, as these eyelashes make it very difficult to actually see your crocheted stitches. If you cannot see your stitches, correctly positioning your hook into the back and front of stitches is extremely hard work and can be extremely frustrating. It is therefore very easy to go wrong.

By adding a second ball of yarn of a different type (any type without eyelashes) to the fun fur and crocheting with a strand of each yarn at the same time, you will make your stitches much more visible, making the work much easier to handle. This will make your yarn and therefore work much thicker, so ensure if making a clothing garment that this will still fit and adjust hook sizes appropriately.

Above all, have fun... Remember crochet is an enjoyable pastime even for a beginner. So pick up a hook and begin today.

Ana Smith is a highly skilled crocheter of over thirty years and author of http://www.beginners-crochet.blogspot.com

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10 Gift Ideas For Crochet Lovers

Being a crochet lover for both a hobby and a business, I have tried many crochet gadgets, books, patterns, and anything else associated with crochet.

My friends and family occasionally ask me what I want for Christmas or my birthday and I try to think of a new crochet gadget or a new crochet book that I would love to have. For the people that do not crochet, they have no idea what type of gift to buy for the person who loves to crochet. So, I put together a brief list of some of my favorite things related to crochet.

1. Storage Containers: If the person you are purchasing a gift for is anything like me, they have yarn overflowing all the containers in their house. Many of us crocheters can't walk into any type of craft store without browsing the yarn section. This means extra yarn which means we need extra storage. Good storage containers are wicker baskets lined with fabric, large plastic tubs, roomy totes, and floor caddies. There are floor caddies designed especially for yarn and accessories that can be found at craft stores and online at Herrschners.com.

2. Yarn: What crochet lover is not obsessed with yarn? There isn't a yarn made that I wouldn't love to have. Yarn comes in any color and texture imaginable. Yarn type examples are worsted weight, cotton, sport weight, baby yarn, sock yarn, afghan yarn, bulky or thick yarn, variegated yarn, etc. Find out what type of yarn is their favorite and head off to your local craft store.

3. Light Up Crochet Hooks: These hooks are really good to use for the crochet enthusiast that needs help seeing their stitches and when working with dark colored yarns. Light Up Crochet Hooks can be found in the bigger craft stores and online for about $7.95 each or $60.00 for a complete set.

4. Crochet Cushions: These are little cushions that slip on crochet hooks to help eliminate finger pain associated with using crochet hooks.

5. New Crochet Hook Case: Notice I added the word "new" to this one. My crochet hook case looks like my neighbor's dog, my cat and my 2 kids all played tug-of-war with it! For some reason, it is the one thing that I never purchase for myself. So, if your favorite crocheter's hook case has seen better days, buy them a new one!

6. Thera Glove: This glove is made of spandex and nylon and supports the hand and wrist helping to control soreness and fatigue associated with repetitious crocheting. They come in fun designs and cost about $20.00 a pair.

7. Crochet Stitch Books: I love looking at crochet stitch books. My favorite stitch book is titled "The Complete Book of Crochet Stitch Designs". This book contains 500 stitch patterns that include colored diagrams and pictures. This is a wonderful reference book for the beginner and the expert crocheter! There are more crochet stitch books available in craft stores, book stores, and online at Amazon.com.

8. Crochet Stitch Calendar: My favorite crochet calendar is called "365 Crochet Stitches a Year". It is a perpetual calendar that has beautiful stitch patterns and colored pictures. This calendar can be purchased at places like Barnes & Noble or online at Amazon.com

9. Crochet Patterns: This one, I highly recommend, because I am a crochet pattern designer! There are many talented crochet pattern designers in the world today. In your local craft store, you can purchase crochet pattern booklets and books. You can purchase crochet patterns online at eBay, Etsy, LuLu and designers' websites. Simply search on the internet for "crochet patterns" and you will have many to choose from.

10. Gift Card to Favorite Yarn or Craft Store: This might be obvious to many of you, but any crafter loves a gift card to their favorite craft store!

I hope I have helped you come up with an idea or two on what to buy the crochet lover in your life. If you are wondering where to purchase any of the items above, try shopping at your local craft store, Hobby Lobby, JoAnn Fabrics, Herrschners.com and AnniesAttic.com.

Lesley Dietschy is a crochet pattern designer and the founder of http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com - Visit the Home Decor Exchange website for all of your home decorating needs.

To view her crochet patterns visit: http://www.eCrochetPatterns.com

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Do You Know Your Crochet Terms?

When learning how to crochet, you will soon realize that the patterns use a lot of abbreviations. These are crochet terms that are shortened to make patterns shorter and easier to read. Anyone learning how to crochet needs to familiarize themselves with basic crochet terms in order to read the patterns properly. There are a number of standard crochet terms and abbreviations that are frequently used. Some of these crochet terms pertain to the various stitches used in a section of a pattern, while others refer to colors. MC is the crochet term for the main color that is used in a pattern. CC is the secondary or contrasting color used. YO means to wrap the yarn over the hook and CH is the crochet term for a chain stitch.

There are even more standard crochet terms, such as sc, which means single crochet and dc, meaning double crochet. Single crochet and double crochet are simply ways of stitching; all of the terms used are based on a single crochet stitch, which means inserting the crochet hook into a stitch, wrapping the yarn around the hook and drawing the hook back through the stitch, wrapping the yarn over the hook and lastly drawing through both loops. There are also half-double crochet stitches, which are abbreviated to hdc, and treble crochet, which is shortened to tr. Sl is the abbreviation for the crochet term slip stitch.

Differences between British and American Crochet Terms

Some of the crochet patterns that you may come across could be American but others could be from anywhere around the world. A number of countries use certain crochet terms that differ in other places. American and British patterns, for example, differ in a number of crochet terms. The main differences are important because they can completely alter a pattern if the contradictory meaning is used. The American crochet terminology for a slip stitch is called a single crochet in Britain. An American single crochet is a double crochet in Britain. Likewise, an American double crochet is considered a treble crochet and an American triple crochet is a British double-treble crochet. It is essential that people who are learning how to crochet and who are using different patterns realize exactly what country's terms are used. Using the American terms in a British pattern could ruin the whole project and vice versa. Most patterns should indicate where they are from or what crochet terminology they are using so, as long as care is taken, it should not get too confusing.

Terry Roberts is a professional translator and linguist, with a wide range of interests. To read more about crochet terms, and about crochet in general, please visit his website: Crochet for Novices

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