What do you need crochet

No matter which way you choose to learn, it will take a little bit of time to get comfortable with it. You can so learn this! Just practice making chains and then work your way upward adding on to those stitches. Good projects to begin once you get the hang of it are: pots holders , washcloths , or even a small baby blanket.

Like any new skill, you just have to put time and effort into in and soon you will be enjoying the fruit of your labor. If you are more of a visual learner , here is a another great video to watch.

One final tip that I learned about the hard way….. My experience is that those type of ends do not last long term. Nothing is more frustrating than working on a large project only for it come unraveled…. Now that blanket might have taken more abuse than some things….. The true test of how well anything will stay nice has to be a toddler and pre-school child. Well loved. I used a cotton blend yarn to improve the odds that it would hold up to a growing baby. Darning needles come in a variety of sizes also.

Somehow, I have a whole collection of them, but any one of them is perfect. I just use the first one I can reach out of my jar of crochet hooks and darning needles. Scroll down to see what crochet tools you need to add to your kit now. Other than yarn, the crochet hook is ultimately the most essential tool in your crochet kit. Crochet hooks come in a myriad of colors, shapes, and materials but speaking from experience, we can tell you that the most comfortable hooks are the best.

We like the ones that have a smooth finish and soft grip ergonomic handles — this is especially handy for the smaller hooks. Goodbye cramping or tired achy hands, and say hello to comfort all day long!

These are perfect for making chunky scarves, cowls, and blankets. These hooks are particularly helpful when crocheting with dark yarn. A compact and lightweight double-loop handle that provides excellent control when cutting and a soft grip helps to reduce hand fatigue. Every crocheter needs to have a few tapestry needles in their kit. They are used to weave and hide yarn tails into your crochet project. Slip Knot from The Spruce Crafts.

Beginning crocheters usually start by learning the chain stitch first. The chain stitch is one of the most important basic stitches you'll need to know because they form the foundation of most crochet projects. In a pattern, the abbreviation for the chain stitch is "ch," or sometimes "chs" for the plural form. You'll usually see "ch" followed by a number. For example, ch means that you should crochet chain stitches. After you've learned the chain stitch, you'll learn the essential single crochet stitch.

The abbreviation in a pattern for the single crochet stitch is "sc," usually along with the number of stitches you'll need to make. Now that you know how to do a slip knot and basic stitches, you're ready to tackle a beginner project. You can start on a scarf or even a baby blanket designed for new crocheters.

Some beginner patterns may be written without abbreviations for simplification. When you begin your first project, take it slow, and be patient with yourself. It's okay if you have to start over from the beginning of the pattern if needed.

You can take your crochet skill to the next level by learning the double crochet stitch. You'll be able to create granny squares for afghans when you learn this stitch. Practice making little swatches until your double crochet stitches are even. The abbreviation in patterns for the double crochet stitch is "dc," plus the specified number of double crochet stitches.

Clusters of double crochet stitches create a granny square. The granny square is the foundation of a crocheted item, from blankets to pillow covers and you can even sew them together to create a warm and cozy doggie sweater. Make them one color or multicolored, but whatever color scheme you decide, just know you're becoming a better crocheter with every square you create.

Slip stitches serve multiple purposes in crocheting. The first thing you need to learn is to make a slip knot. This is the first loop of yarn on your hook. Next is crocheting a chain stitch. Shown below, it is the foundation for nearly all crochet designs. Click the play button to watch our video tutorial right below to see how to make a slip knot and a chain! Now, you will want to learn single crochet.

It's the most basic of stitches. Another basic stitch you will want to master is double crochet. Once you learn double crochet , you will be able to create lots of new patterns. Next, learn half double crochet. It's one of the most popular basic stitches. Another basic stitch you will want to know is the triple crochet. It's also known as treble crochet in certain regions.

Once you've gotten the hang of your stitches, you can start working through your first crochet pattern. It might seem a little daunting at first glance, to see all the rows and crochet abbreviations written out like that, but I promise it's not hard to follow along. There are a couple of key elements to a pattern that you should know in order to understand what you're doing.

Skill Level: This is where the pattern difficulty is gauged for you, from beginner patterns up to advanced. This rating is based on the entirety of the pattern and the difficulty of the individual stitches within, plus the complexity of any stitch patterns. Even if the pattern is rated as a level higher than you think you are, read through and try and understand the pattern.

You might be more advanced than you think! If you're interested in browsing patterns by level, check out some of our beginning patterns, then move on to easy , then intermediate , and finally advanced patterns by clicking each level. Patterns worked flat are listed in rows and those worked in the round are listed as rounds. Check out our page, How to Read Crochet Patterns to learn more.

Gauge: Gauge is important - save time in the end and check it! The gauge information will tell you how tightly or loosely to keep your stitches to produce the desired effect. To check your gauge, use the yarn and hook size that the pattern recommends and work a 4x4 square and then compare the number of stitches in your work to what's listed. Abbreviations: The abbreviations make it so the pattern is written as concisely as possible.

Check the abbreviations list so you know that your "2 dcs" are simply two double crochet stitches, and soon you'll be translating these abbreviations without even thinking of it. Symbols: Crochet patterns have symbols throughout, and while it may look a little weird, they're pretty standard and highly useful. They typically set off a section when dealing with repeats, so you can say to simply repeat the section in parenthesis instead of listing everything over again.

Inside our popular free eBook, you will find a wonderful collection of free, easy crochet patterns for beginners to work up. Once you've practiced your stitches and understand how to read a crochet pattern, it's time to start working on your own crochet projects.

Below is a list of the top ten beginner tips and tricks for you to follow to help you out in your crochet endeavors. Keep your hands clean: You want to avoid getting dirt and grease on your yarn, so wash your hands before sitting down to work.

Stopping to stretch will let you relax your fingers and your back and will help to prevent tired and achy muscles. Keep your crochet necessities in one spot: Keeping all of your yarn, patterns and notions in one place will save you valuable time. You don't want to get tired or annoyed looking for your tools before you even get started, do you? Read through the pattern: Give the pattern you're planning to work on a once-over to make sure you understand what it says and how to do everything.

This is also the best time to pop over to YouTube or to check out various crochet video tutorials as needed to brush up on your skills. Check your gauge: Save time and frustration later by taking the time to work up a crochet swatch and check your gauge.

Otherwise, your work might end up smaller or larger than intended. Keep your tension consistent: This is a tie-in to the above tip, but try and focus on keeping your tension consistent. This will help you keep your gauge right and steady as well. Don't be afraid to try a different brand of hooks: Crochet hooks are made of different materials and there are even some that are specifically made to be as ergonomic as possible.

Look around! Save a small bit of scrap from your project: Once you're done, it might be helpful to save a bit of the yarn you used in case you need to make any repairs down the road, or in case you want to replicate your project. Stitch markers are your friends: When working on a project, whether in rows or in rounds, use a stitch marker to denote the last stitch of every row or round.

This will help you keep track of your stitches and make sure you're following along correctly. For projects that are worked flat, this will also help you keep your edges straight. Block your work: When you're all done with your work, follow our handy blocking tutorial to set your work in place and smooth out any unintentional wrinkles or uneven ends. Don't give up! If a stitch or a project just isn't coming together, keep working on it. Practice makes perfect!

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