HOW TO CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS
If you’re waiting for a sign to learn how to crochet, this is it!
Many people are curious about the skill of crocheting, but not enough people have the eagerness to try. So today, we’re teaching you the basics, with the hopes of getting rid of the stigma that crocheting is difficult to master.
First, let’s talk about yarn. You can crochet with any yarn. But for starters, we have a few recommendations which will make it easier for you to practice. The most beginner-friendly yarn choices are wool, cotton, and acrylic yarns. Wool yarns are perfect for practicing stitches because it can unravel easily. Cotton is lighter but is closest to the quality of wool, which can support many creative projects. Acrylic yarns have a wider range of color choices that are sold anywhere and relatively cheaper than others.
Second, let’s talk about hooks. You need to make sure you have the right size crochet hook when you get started. The best advice we can give to beginners is to use a worsted-weight yarn with a medium-sized 5.0mm aluminum hook. This hook size is large enough to see your individual stitches while an aluminum hook is durable and widely available. This combo will help you get used to the rhythm of your crochet stitches.
With the right materials in place, let’s make a slip knot. This is the first step in almost all crochet projects. Start by quickly twisting the yarn and loop it onto the hook, wrap the yarn under the hook and pull it through the loop to tighten. Don’t worry, practice makes perfect!
Finally, let’s make a chain stitch! To begin, make a slip knot. Then bring yarn over the hook. Draw hooked yarn through slip knot and onto the hook. This makes one chain stitch. Repeat this over again to achieve your desired number of stitches.
These are just a few of the things you need to learn about the art of crocheting. Hopefully, this will help give you an enjoyable yarn experience, ultimately leading to a happy hobby.
HOW TO DO A SINGLE CROCHET
Learning how to single crochet is the foundation of all crocheting adventures. It is likely the most-versatile pattern because it can be used to make nearly anything. From hair bows to clutches, to scarfs and blankets! It is the primary stitch you need to make all sorts of creative projects. Not to mention how easy it is to master.
For this activity, you will only need yarn and a hook.
1. To start, you need to make a chain of 11 stitches. This will serve as the foundation chain of your stitches. Remember, you will always need one more chain than the number of chains you plan putting in a row so that you can work your way up easily.
2. Make sure the chains are not too tight or too loose. Having it too tight may not get your hook through the yarns, while having it too loose may cause the chains to look uneven.
3. Once you have achieved 11 chains, you’ll have to skip the first chain (turning chain) from the hook. Then put your hook into the top loop of the next chain stitch.
4. After which, do a yarn-over. Then draw that yarn through the first loop. This will make 2 loops on the hook.
5. Yarn-over again, and this time, pull that yarn through the rest of the loops on the hook to make a single crochet stitch. One loop should remain in your hook.
6. Insert your hook into the next chain stitch and work the next single crochet stitch. Just keep going. Repeat steps 3 and 4 until you finish the row.
7. Once you reach the end of the row, make a chain stitch. Turn your work counterclockwise to begin the next row again.
HOW TO MAKE A DOUBLE CROCHET
The double crochet stitch is undeniably one of the most fundamental stitches to learn when crocheting. This is a tall stitch, about double the size of single crochet. It is another great way to give more height to stitches. Because of that, it is not commonly used for hats as light can come in. Neither is it used for stitching coin purses because the holes may be too big to hold the coins. However, it is the most common stitch used by crafters to make blankets.
For this project, you will need yarn, a hook, and a whole lot of concentration.
1. First, start by making a slip knot.
2. Next, make 10 chains. This will serve as your foundation chain. You can make as much chain as you require for a project, but don’t forget to add 3 more chains for this will count as your first double crochet.
3. Yarn over and insert the hook into the seventh chain you made or into the third chain from your hook. Go through the front loop and the one on the back.
4. Now yarn over again and pull up a loop through the seventh chain. When this is done, you will have three loops on your hook.
5. Then, yarn over again and pull through two loops. At the end of this step, there should be two loops remaining on the hook.
6. Finally, yarn over again and pull that yarn through the last two loops on the hook. By doing so, there should be one loop left on the hook. And then, voila! You have completed your first double crochet!
7. Keep it up! Then complete the row of double crochet stitches by repeating the steps above. In the next chain of your foundation chain, work 1 double crochet stitch in every consecutive chain stitch across the foundation chain.
8. To start another row, turn your work, so the backside is facing you. Again, don’t forget to do three more chain stitches to serve as your turning chain.
9. Skip the first stitch of the row directly below the turning chain, and insert your hook into the next stitch. Repeat steps 3-6 to achieve an additional row of double crochet.
There it is. You are doing great! Now always remember that practice makes perfect. So, keep stitching until you can achieve a neater execution of double crochet. If you need more help, our community offers classes and workshops for beginners. Make sure to follow us on our social media today!
HOW TO CROCHET LEFT HANDED
When every tutorial appears to be geared towards right-handed crocheters, lefties find it challenging to learn the basics and follow patterns. If you are just getting started or searching for a way to make left-hand crocheting easier for you, learning more techniques about left-handed crocheting can be helpful. In this guide, you’ll start by learning the fundamentals of left-handed crocheting and then learn how to follow patterns aimed at right-handed crocheters more easily.
Tip #1: To crochet left-handed, you must begin by holding the hook in your left hand and use your right hand to hold your yarn. Grip your left hand on the crochet hook so that your thumb and forefinger are grasping the hook’s flat part.
Tip #2: Check your direction. In left-handed crochet, you have to follow the same instructions for crochet patterns, but you will need to work in the opposite direction. This implies that when you work on rows, row one will be stitched into the foundation chain starting on the left side and working to the right. When you are working in rounds, rather than working counter-clockwise way that righties do, you will be crocheting clockwise.
Tip #3: Certain crochet patterns will need to be reversed for the results to end up in your favor. For example, if the style is not symmetrical, you will need to reverse the pattern. Otherwise, you would end up with a reverse picture, which will look backward.
Tip #4: Try making a chain stitch. Start with a slip knot. Then yarn over. To pick up the yarn, make sure to scoop it clockwise instead. Finally, proceed to pull the hook through the loop, still scoop the yarn in a clockwise direction. Each repetition of this will make one chain.
Tip #5: Do single crochet. With your left hand, stitch a foundation chain of any length. Insert a hook from the hook into the second chain. While the hook is held in your left hand, the chain is stretched out to the right, and the hook is inserted into the second chain to the right of the hook. Yarn over. Pull yarn through the loop. Yarn over again and draw through both loops on hook. This makes single crochet. To continue, insert the hook into the next chain. Repeat the steps and direction until you can complete an entire row.
These should get you going! Once you have made yourself familiar with these few things, comfort will come to you in crocheting. Just because you’re a lefty doesn’t mean you can’t!
