This post here is to start from the beginning and give some basics to get you started on your crochet adventures.
We will start with making a slipknot, this is how you can start most crochet projects.
After you are comfortable making a slipknot we will work on making chains, this is the basic foundation for many crochet projects.
Once we have our chain down, we will work on some single crochet stitches.
we can make a few squares and rectangles to get used to working with the hook and yarn. this will also let us work on our tension. Tension is how loose or tight you make your stitches, there is no right or wrong tension; however ideally you want your tension to be consistent and that takes time and practice.
you can check out the abbreviations blog post for commonly used crochet abbreviations. most patterns will use abbreviations for the stitches they use; while most patterns should have a section to explain what each abbreviation means, this does not always happen.
How-to videos are added in here for those who are visual learners.
How to make a slip knot a basic slip knot; fist, make a loop working yarn over tail, then slide hook through the loop and catch the working yarn on hook, pull the working yarn through the loop; hold both ends and pull knot snug. Make sure the working yarn controls the size of the lop around the hook.
now that we have our slip knot, how do you hold the yarn and hook to start creating your stitches?
Really doesn’t matter how you hold them, just need some tension on the
working yarn and be able to move the hook around and pull through the loops. it Is similar to writing as in there are many different ways to hold a pen to write with there are many different ways to hold the hook.
Same with holding the yarn. there is no right or wrong way to do so. generally, you will hold the hook in your dominate hand (the hand you write with) and the working yarn in your non-dominant hand. find what is most comfortable for you that allows you to control the tension in the working yarn. this is a photo diagram of how I hold my yarn to create the tension needed when crocheting.
Below is a short video on how I hold the yarn and the hook, this is by no means the only way to do so, play with it and find what works best for you.
Now that we have a slip knot and can hold the yarn and hook, we will practice making a chain. While it can be tedious to make a chain and take it out many times, this drill will help you get your tension down before moving on to the next step of learning crochet stitches.
making the chain you want to catch the yarn with your hook and pull through the loop you have already created.
the video and instructions show one way of making a chain; this is not the only way to make a chain. play with the yarn and hook and see what works best for you.
Single crochet is a basic stitch that is used often and can be used to make a lot of different projects in, making it a great first stitch to learn.
Here is a quick get-started pattern. This can be made short or long. short squares or rectangles to help you start building upon your tension skills, or you can make your rectangle long and you will end up with a scarf!
Basic Scarf: Crochet Pattern
Ch 26
starting in the 2nd chain from the hook
Row 1- sc 25, turn (25)
Row 2-5 ch 1, sc 25, turn (25)
Row 6: ch 1, [sc 1, ch 1, sk 1]x12, sc 1, turn (25)
Row 7: ch 1, sc 1, [sc 1, ch 1, sk 1]x11, sc 2, turn (25)
Note: after Row 6 other than the ends the sc are worked in ch sts and the chs are over the sc that are skipped. this pattern of sts is also known as moss st
Row 8-254: repeat Row 6 & 7
Note: if you want your scarf longer or shorter
you can skip or add some rows
Row 255-260, ch 1, sc 25, turn (25)
cut, tie, and weave in ends
I would love to see your progress, you can tag me or message me on facebook or instagram @mycraftypursuits