Hey Internet!
I'm teaching a friend how to crochet and she catches on very quickly. I'm not the greatest teacher ever, but there are a lot of things I wish someone had told me when I was learning. I mostly had to figure everything out on my own, and I was able to do it, but I realize that not everyone can learn the way I did.
Here are some notes for beginning crocheters. Feel free to share them with friends, relatives, etc. but please direct them back to this blog. ;)
Choosing a hook: With all of your options, it's sometimes difficult to choose which hook to use. Different hooks are right for different projects. The larger the hook, the looser and larger the stitches will be. In general I really enjoy using a size G with worsted weight yarn, and size F with fingering yarn (baby yarn). Unless you're working with a pattern, you can use pretty much any size though. Choose one that feels good in your hand.
Chaining: This is the foundation for your crochet project, it's the first step. To start a chain, you first make a slipknot that you can make snug on your hook. There are a few ways to make the slipknot, so do it whatever you feel most comfortable with. It is abbreviated "Ch" in most patterns.
Slip Stitch: The smallest stitch--very similar to chaining. It's most common to use slip stitches while joining a round. It's abbreviated slst.
Single Crochet: The second smallest crochet stitch you'll learn, so it should be the first you learn. Crocheting is new to you, and the brain has nothing to compare the motions to. By starting from the simplest stitch, you can get used to the motions and slowly build on your knowledge. It is abbreviated "SC" in most patterns.
Double Crochet: Is abbreviated "DC" in most patterns. It is like single crochet but has an extra step. Because it has the extra step, it is a longer stitch than sc. Probably the most popular stitch.
Triple Crochet: Two more steps than a sc. This is a very long stitch and appears to be more loose than dc and sc.
Turning: In order to have both sides of the project match, we turn our projects. This means that instead of going left to right and then right to left, we only crochet to the left. Turning stitches should be chaining the number of the stitch + 1chain. (Example, dc is double, so its number 2, then you add one chain. So you when you reach the end of your row you chain 3. Single is 1, so you make 2 chains after getting to the end of a row.)
When people are having trouble with the basic motion of using a hook, telling them to "scoop the yarn with the hook and then bring it through the stitch" seems to help. Crochet hooks are built with the hook part for a reason, you use it to capture the yarn and manipulate it.
To keep yarn clean, you can use a
yarn bowl (there are some super cute ones!), or some people will use a plastic bag, I've even seen a toilet paper holder! Forreal. Whatever will keep the yarn clean and still make it easy to pull more yarn out!
Let's talk about the ends..... Weave those girls in! Take a yarn needle, or even a hook if you don't have a needle, and weave the tail through the crochet. Some people will take clear nail polish and put a dab on the very end so that it doesn't go anywhere. I think that with most things you shouldn't NEED to do this, like overkill status, but I've also had projects where I wished I had. If you're working with something that will be getting a lot of attention or even when you're making a commercial product, leave a longer tail so you can get the tip to a place that won't be seen as much and add a dab of nail polish or fabric glue--y'all, this can help A LOT in the appearance as a whole. You don't like to see strings coming off your clothing, you REALLY won't want strings coming off things like lacey fingerless gloves (just to name a project of mine that I WISH I had known about this for... ugh!) Slippery yarn, or even crochet thread, are mediums I think it's a good idea to use this tip with. (Especially when you're making lacey fingerless gloves with slippery crochet thread! :/ Never gonna let myself live that down.)
So I know this was short but I hope it helps somebody somewhere. I'd really like to make video tutorials, but honestly guys I just don't have the extra time in my day. Sorry! One day I hope I can manage that.
