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There are many different things you can make with crochet, like blankets, hats, sweaters, scarves, slippers, gloves and more. When you first start crocheting as a beginner, I recommend starting with something simple, like a scarf, or hat. When I first learned, my mom taught me what I now know is a granny square blanket. I was about 14 and didn’t know anything about colours, or striping, and it was hideous, with green, blue, white, purple and black, but I loved it. Many years later it became a favourite of my first dog, Ty, and when he passed last year, he was buried in it. :*(
Choosing supplies is important as well. When I first started crocheting, a simple Bernat or Red Heart medium weight yarn was a good place to start, but you can use anything you like. My favourite yarn, nice weight, softness, and lots of colour choices is Loops & threads Impeccable. It’s not too thick or too thin. When yarn is too thin it takes a long time to see progress. For me, crochet works up a lot quicker than knitting, and you can see your progress faster. When knitting it sometimes takes a few rows to see the progress or the pattern.
When choosing hooks, it’s important to choose a set of hooks that feel good in your hands, like these ones. You may buy a few sets, or singles in different styles, to find a favourite. I have tons of hooks, but in my fave size, I tend to use the same 1 or 2 hooks that feel best in my hands.
How to Crochet for Complete Beginners
I’ll be providing the following tutorial in right-handed directions and American stitch terms.
Step 1: To start, make a slip knot. Hold the end of your yarn in your left hand between thumb and middle finger. Wrap yarn from front around index and middle finger, then around to the back, passing up through the loop and slip off fingers and pull tight. you’ll know it worked, when it gets smaller when you pull gently on the longer side of the yarn. Slide crochet hook into the loop and pull the long yarn to close around the hook.
Step 2: Foundation chain (ch) Hold the small tail between left thumb and middle finger, hook in right hand, and your long tail around left index finger and weave through pinky on left hand, to hold your tension. You’ll need to make the chains a little loose, too tight and the next row won’t sit flat. Knowing the right tension for this row will come with practice. Using your crochet hook, wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front, and use the hook to pull it through the loop. I like to turn the hook so it faces the bottom, pointy part of the previous loop. For this example, I’ll chain 15, on your pattern it’ll be written as ch 15.
Step 3: Stitches
Single crochet (sc): Start by inserting your hook into the second chain from your hook. Put your hook though the second loop, then wrap your yarn over, and bring it back though the chain (you will have 2 loops on your hook), loop the yarn over, and drag back through both loops on the hook. Place the next stitch in the next chain.
Half double crochet (hdc): start in the third chain from the hook, place your yarn over, from back to front, then place the hook though the chain, yarn over and pull the loop though (3 loops on the hook), yarn over, pull through all 3 loops on the hook. Place the next stitch in the next chain.
Double Crochet (dc): start in the third chain from the hook. Start with a yarn over from the back to front, put your hook through the third chain, yarn over, pull through chain (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through first 2 loops, yarn over again, pull though final 2 loops.
Treble crochet (tc): yarn over twice, insert hook into 4th chain from hook, yarn over, pull through chain loop, yarn over pull through first 2 loops, yarn over, pull through next 2 loops, yarn over again, pull through final 2 loops.
Check out this video, for a video breakdown of each stitch.
What are you excited to create with crochet? Show me your designs, by tagging us @purple.rose.crafts & #purplerosecrafts on Instagram.
Much Love,
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