Do You Want To Learn To Crochet?

Have you been thinking about learning to crochet? Many

people have told me that they would just love to be able

to crochet, but they feel it would be too hard for them

to learn. They know nothing about yarn, hooks or

even how to begin.

Actually, crochet is not difficult at all. It's only hard if

you think it is, so you have to change your thinking by

looking at the basics of crochet.

Have you ever seen children (or perhaps you have done

this yourself) playing with a piece of yarn or string? They

make a slip knot in the yarn or string using their fingers,

then make a loop and pass it through the first loop, then

another loop through that loop and so on. This is the same

as the basic starting chain in crochet, except you are using

a crochet hook instead of your fingers.

How do you choose your yarn? In selecting your yarn,

there are five basic types: baby/fingering, sportweight/baby,

worsted weight, chunky and bulky. Worsted weight is a

good type for a beginner.

Fingering and baby yarns are very fine, sportweight

is usually 3 ply (ply means the number of strands that

are twisted together to form the yarn). Worsted

weight is a 4 ply yarn. Chunky and bulky are

heavier yarns.

Yarns can be made of synthetic or natural fibers.

Acrylics are popular and easy to work with and

wash. Cotton yarns are very easy to work with

and make great crocheted dishcloths, an easy

project for beginners.

For a beginner, you will want to stay away from

using the fuzzy and fur yarns. They are soft and

very pretty, but more difficult to work with as it

is hard to see your stitches. You can try them later

as your crocheting skills improve.

To choose your yarn, just look at the labels. They

will tell you what you need to know. Some yarns

even have free patterns inside the label. You will

want to save those in your pattern collection, even

if you are not interested in making the item right

now. It's always great to build a pattern collection

for later use.

Next you will choose your crochet hook. Hooks

can be made of aluminum, plastic, wood or steel.

Steel hooks are very small and used in fine work

such as doilies and lace.

As a beginner, you will be learning with the worsted

weight yarn so you will want a H (5.00mm), I (5.5mm)

or J (6.00mm) hook. As you learn to crochet, you

will want to build a collection of the many different

hook sizes.

The problem I have found that most beginners have is

getting the hook and yarn working together. But as

with anything, practice makes perfect. It doesn't take

long before you will get the hang of it and be in the

flow.

Before you actually make an item you should do some

practice pieces. Start out making a chain of about 15

to 20 chains. You do that by making a slip knot by wrapping

the yarn around your finger and pulling loop through, then

put the slip knot onto your crochet hook. Pull on both

ends of the yarn to tighten and adjust the slip knot. Then

bring your yarn over your hook from back to front, grab

the yarn with your hook and pull through the loop on your

hook. Repeat until you have 15 to 20 chain stitches.

Now you will use the single crochet (sc) to make your

practice piece. In the second chain from your hook

(just count two chains away from the hook) and insert

your hook into that chain. Put your yarn over the hook

and draw that yarn through the chain stitch. There are

now 2 loops on hook.

Bring your yarn over the hook from back to front, and

draw it through both loops on hook. One loop remains

on the hook. You have completed your first single

crochet stitch.

Keep repeating the single crochet stitch until the end

of the chain row. If you started with 20 chains, you

will 19 single crochet stitches in this row as you skipped

the first chain and began in the second chain from your

hook.

To do your next row of single crochet, first you make

a chain stitch by wrapping the yarn over your hook and

pulling it through the loop on your hook. Now you turn

your work so that the last sc you made on the previous

row is now at the beginning. Make one single crochet

stitch in that stitch and in each remaining stitch of the

previous row. Repeat this for every new row.

You will notice that there are two loops on the tops of the

completed single crochet stitches. You put your hook

through both those loops. I have noticed that a mistake

that some beginners make is by only going through one

loop of the single crochet. That is a variation that works

well in some patterns, but you will learn that later as your

skills improve.

Keep working your sample piece for practice until you

get the feel for crocheting. This will help you to learn

how to hold your hook in a way that makes it easy to

grab the yarn and it will also help you to get your tension

on. You may find that you are crocheting too loosely or

too tightly at first. As you practice, you will learn how

to keep your tension uniform throughout the whole

project.

Once you have practiced and feel you are ready to try

an easy pattern, you can do a search online for a scarf

pattern, which is what most beginners start out with.

Or, as mentioned before, dishcloths are easy patterns

for beginners.

By searching online you will find everything you need

to know about crochet. There are free patterns, charts

with crochet abbreviations used in patterns, charts for

hook sizes, etc.

I am sure that you will enjoy your crochet experience.

I find it very relaxing, a great stress reliever. It is also fun

to work with the different yarn colors and textures. It is

great to be able to make items for yourself and as gifts

for family and friends.

You can do it while you are watching TV, or while sitting

in a doctor's waiting room, or traveling as a passenger in

a vehicle. Just get yourself a crochet tote bag (or crochet

one yourself) and you are ready to go.

I hope this information has been helpful to you in making

your decision to take up crochet as a hobby.

By Sue Norrad of http://www.crochetandknitting.com where she offers her own original crochet pattern designs for free. You will also find many craft resources such as a Craft and Pattern Search Discussion Forum, craft supplies, charts, and much more.

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