Learn to Crochet: A Beginner"s Guide to Crocheting for Fun & Profits
Contrary to popular belief, crocheting is not restricted to the elderly and shut-ins. In fact, crocheting can be something anyone of any age can do. If you have always wanted to learn how to crochet but thought it wasn't for you, it is well worth your consideration to take a second look at the art of crocheting.
As trends come and go, clothing made by crocheting always come back in style. As such, the desire of having a wardrobe that includes clothing that has been made by crocheting is always there. Clothes made from crocheting are popular with many different segments of our society, including some well-known clothing designers.
If you have been looking for information that will teach you how to crochet easily, or resources that will show you how to crochet easy stuff, there are a great number of resources available to help you. In fact, it is not that difficult a skill to learn once you find the right training material. Even though it will take some effort and patience, finding literature that starts from the beginning teaching you how to crochet for beginners, you can learn what is quickly becoming a lost art.
Along with easy to follow instructional material, you will need the proper tools to crochet quality clothing. To start with, get a good crochet hook, a variety of yarns, a measuring tape, a yarn needle, several pins, along with a willing determination to finish what you start! Once that is in front of you, you can begin!
Let's consider a general overview of tips to get you started in the wonderful world of crocheting:
Handle the Yarn Like The Pros
For those new to the art of crocheting, how you hold the yarn is vital. If you don't learn how to hold it properly, it can be quite tricky to then begin crocheting the article of clothing. It will take some getting used to but, not giving up and following these suggestions, you will quickly learn the proper way to hold your yarn.
To begin with, allow the yarn to pass freely through your fingers even while securely holding it. The proper way is to wind it through the little finger, beneath the ring finger, above the forefinger and then the middle finger. You can also hold the yarn by looping it in the area of the little finger and then cause it to cross the forefinger.
Once you have this in position, start properly holding the crocheting hook. This is similar to how you would hold a pencil or spoon. When assuming this position you'll find that it won't be as hard to 'heave' the yarn from your fingers down to the loop into the crocheting hook. With all of this in position, as you proceed with the process of crocheting and getting the hang of it, you can then begin applying your own technique of working with the yarn. Don't be overly concerned if you find your own particular way of handling the yarn and hook. The goal here is to become an efficient crochet specialist in the long run.
Hook and Yarn Size Matters
You should never take for granted the expertise when identifying the proper hook and yarn for the particular crocheting project. Each crocheting hook is identified by different letters and numbers corresponding to a particular size. For example, the higher the number or letter, the thicker the crochet hook is. On the other hand, yarns are identified by size through their name.
As Pattern Size Changes, So Does The Crocheting
In order to downsize any crocheting project, the simplest way is to deduct the number of stitches. For example, you can skp a stitch in a row and then continue to the next row to reduce the size of the project. On the other hand, in order to enlarge the project, simply insert more stitches in a row. In fact, you can easily join two stitches of the same row together. The result of this approach will produce a solo stitch on the next row prior to it.
Reading The Pattern Is Like Reading A Book
One area that can become confusing, especially for the beginner, is understanding the abbreviations on a particular pattern. It is vital to learn the art of using memory, coupled with logic, to effectively handle this obstacle. Once you have learned to memorize what these abbreviations mean, you will find yourself crocheting at a much faster pace with more efficient hand movement.
The most common approach to this dilemma is to understand that patterns and instructions are usually worked in rounds or rows. You can know this from the pattern indicating which application is appropriate. It can even include a combination of rounds and rows. You will discover that crochet patterns and instructions are rated at different skill levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Depending on your skill level, it is recommended to choose a skill level that will best match your ability. Unless you are able to start out in the advanced level, that would be the level to aim for after you have improved.
Next, keep a count of the stitches made as you progress with your work to monitor how many stitches will be needed for each round or row depending on the particular pattern. Now, verify your gauge through crocheting a sample measuring about four inches by four inches. Based on your measurement, adjust the gauge of your work by either using a smaller hook should your gauge be larger than desired, or a larger hook to reduce the size should the gauge become smaller than desired.
To recap:
Follow the instructions carefully and have all of your materials at the ready before starting the project. By applying these suggestions, coupled with an in-depth training guide and a willingness to be patient, you can successfully learn how to crochet!
As trends come and go, clothing made by crocheting always come back in style. As such, the desire of having a wardrobe that includes clothing that has been made by crocheting is always there. Clothes made from crocheting are popular with many different segments of our society, including some well-known clothing designers.
If you have been looking for information that will teach you how to crochet easily, or resources that will show you how to crochet easy stuff, there are a great number of resources available to help you. In fact, it is not that difficult a skill to learn once you find the right training material. Even though it will take some effort and patience, finding literature that starts from the beginning teaching you how to crochet for beginners, you can learn what is quickly becoming a lost art.
Along with easy to follow instructional material, you will need the proper tools to crochet quality clothing. To start with, get a good crochet hook, a variety of yarns, a measuring tape, a yarn needle, several pins, along with a willing determination to finish what you start! Once that is in front of you, you can begin!
Let's consider a general overview of tips to get you started in the wonderful world of crocheting:
Handle the Yarn Like The Pros
For those new to the art of crocheting, how you hold the yarn is vital. If you don't learn how to hold it properly, it can be quite tricky to then begin crocheting the article of clothing. It will take some getting used to but, not giving up and following these suggestions, you will quickly learn the proper way to hold your yarn.
To begin with, allow the yarn to pass freely through your fingers even while securely holding it. The proper way is to wind it through the little finger, beneath the ring finger, above the forefinger and then the middle finger. You can also hold the yarn by looping it in the area of the little finger and then cause it to cross the forefinger.
Once you have this in position, start properly holding the crocheting hook. This is similar to how you would hold a pencil or spoon. When assuming this position you'll find that it won't be as hard to 'heave' the yarn from your fingers down to the loop into the crocheting hook. With all of this in position, as you proceed with the process of crocheting and getting the hang of it, you can then begin applying your own technique of working with the yarn. Don't be overly concerned if you find your own particular way of handling the yarn and hook. The goal here is to become an efficient crochet specialist in the long run.
Hook and Yarn Size Matters
You should never take for granted the expertise when identifying the proper hook and yarn for the particular crocheting project. Each crocheting hook is identified by different letters and numbers corresponding to a particular size. For example, the higher the number or letter, the thicker the crochet hook is. On the other hand, yarns are identified by size through their name.
As Pattern Size Changes, So Does The Crocheting
In order to downsize any crocheting project, the simplest way is to deduct the number of stitches. For example, you can skp a stitch in a row and then continue to the next row to reduce the size of the project. On the other hand, in order to enlarge the project, simply insert more stitches in a row. In fact, you can easily join two stitches of the same row together. The result of this approach will produce a solo stitch on the next row prior to it.
Reading The Pattern Is Like Reading A Book
One area that can become confusing, especially for the beginner, is understanding the abbreviations on a particular pattern. It is vital to learn the art of using memory, coupled with logic, to effectively handle this obstacle. Once you have learned to memorize what these abbreviations mean, you will find yourself crocheting at a much faster pace with more efficient hand movement.
The most common approach to this dilemma is to understand that patterns and instructions are usually worked in rounds or rows. You can know this from the pattern indicating which application is appropriate. It can even include a combination of rounds and rows. You will discover that crochet patterns and instructions are rated at different skill levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced. Depending on your skill level, it is recommended to choose a skill level that will best match your ability. Unless you are able to start out in the advanced level, that would be the level to aim for after you have improved.
Next, keep a count of the stitches made as you progress with your work to monitor how many stitches will be needed for each round or row depending on the particular pattern. Now, verify your gauge through crocheting a sample measuring about four inches by four inches. Based on your measurement, adjust the gauge of your work by either using a smaller hook should your gauge be larger than desired, or a larger hook to reduce the size should the gauge become smaller than desired.
To recap:
Follow the instructions carefully and have all of your materials at the ready before starting the project. By applying these suggestions, coupled with an in-depth training guide and a willingness to be patient, you can successfully learn how to crochet!