Fun Crochet: Beginning Crochet

The first step to enjoying this wonderful craft is to purchase crochet hooks and yarn. You will learn that crochet hooks come in a variety of sizes, styles, and colors. A good hook size for beginning crochet is the G hook. It is recommended that you use a G hook for practicing basic stitches.

If you have ever looked at a crochet pattern, you may have thought that you were reading a foreign language. That is because crochet patterns contain abbreviations, to keep things simple and orderly. To begin crocheting with a pattern, you will need to know what the abbreviations stand for, as well as have a clear understanding of the basic stitches. First we will take a look at various types of crochet hooks and yarn, and then we will discuss the numerous crochet stitches.

Some crochet stitches are very simple and basic, and these are the ones that all beginners should start with. However, you will soon discover that as your proficiency grows, you will soon begin to use some of the more difficult stitches. It is simply amazing the effects you can create by using various stitches, combining stitches, and alternating stitches with yarn colors.

The first rule of thumb, when learning to crochet, is to remember to have fun. This means that you shouldn't get stressed out if you make a mistake or if you don't understand a pattern. Just practice making chain stitches. Your goal will be to create a length of chain stitches that look uniform and even.

Before you even begin to think of tackling your first pattern, you will practice your stitches by crocheting various swatches. These are crocheted blocks of a square shape, you can determine the amount of rows that you would like, but the object is to practice your stitches until you feel comfortable with the shape and appearance of your crochet swatch.

Don't worry about wasting your yarn either. In fact, if you like, you can save your swatches and stitch them together to make other projects. It is recommended that you make crochet swatches to test your gauge before beginning other projects as well. So relax and enjoy crocheting swatches, they are the groundwork for your future crochet designs.

It is also important to realize that since your crochet experience is intended to be fun, that you may want to test the limits of your creativity. Once you begin to memorize different stitches, you may find yourself working on a pattern then decide that you would like to take it in a different direction. Never fear to stray from the patterns and experiment. Many times you will learn that you can take the knowledge that you have and experiment and create your own unique styles. This is how I have developed some of my favorite patterns.

Here is an example of a dress I made after becoming bored with a pattern and giving it my own unique flair.

You will also learn that you can create many beautiful crochet pieces from simple shapes such as squares, circles, and rectangles. This is a great way for beginners to branch out into a variety of projects without necessarily having the experience or the proficiency to tackle more complicated projects.

However, you will discover that just a few simple stitches and the ability to follow a pattern will have you crocheting numerous amounts of projects in very little time.

If you fancy afghans, then you may want to begin learning the Granny Square after you master the basic stitches. Many beginners create one giant Granny Square afghan with matching pillow as well.

The most important thing is to make sure you have fun and take your time. Enjoy your crocheting and you will find that in no time at all, you will be crocheting like a pro.

There’s many a crochet beginner who has made their skill debut with the design and completion of a crochet scarf. A simple project that lends itself to a variety of bold colors and various patterns, the crochet scarf has marked the foray into the world of crochet for many just picking up hook and yarn. Additionally, the shape of the crochet scarf is enormously forgiving of any first timer mistakes.

If you would like to try to make a crochet scarf, the possibilities are endless when it comes to design and color combinations. If you are making the crochet scarf for yourself – not a bad idea if this is your first attempt – then the choices are all yours. The decisions include the type of yarn – a textural choice that’s really a matter of preference, although you may want to avoid anything too scratchy considering the crochet scarf goes around your neck. You must also decide the color of the yarn – or color combination. You can do a simple, solid pattern, mix it up, or even add some pattern designs throughout.

Additionally, before beginning your crochet scarf, you must also decide the length of your scarf. You may want a shorter crochet scarf that’s more about fashion or a longer crochet scarf that’s more about function.

If you are just beginning crochet, it may be helpful to purchase a crochet scarf pattern to help you along. You can find the patterns at local craft stores or online where pattern sites offer many from which to choose. The Internet can be a great resource for finding patterns for any crochet scarf you want to attempt – as well as pictures of the final product.

If you are feeling ambitious, you can even attempt a crochet scarf as a gift. Pick favorite colors of the person to whom you are giving the scarf and get to work. The beauty of making such a personal gift for someone you love is that they won’t ever notice the mistakes. They will, however, know that they’ve received a unique gift that truly means something.