Today, crochet is not anymore just for grandmas. Yarn design is now very popular and is anybody that has a creative sense, patience and imagination. While the patterns may seem to look so hard, when learned, one will be surprised how easy it is. Crochet projects are ideal gift items for your loved ones as well as useful in the home.
The internet has thousands of free crochet patterns from beginner to advanced that are readily availble so that you can practice simple patterns. All you need to do is browse the net and discover so many sites that makes crocheting more enjoyable.
Guide before starting:
Keep the yarn from intertwining or coiling by changing the way that you turn or flip your project after each row is completed; for instance, turn your project clockwise after you have made an even numbered line or row and then turn it counterclockwise after you have completed an odd numbered line or row.
A tapestry needle, as it has a rounded end is good for weaving the yarn ends into your project when finished. A tapestry needle number 16 that is used generally for plastic canvas basting is a suitable size to manipulate when working on “worsted weight yarn crochet patterns”. When you weave the loose ends, make sure you weave two inches going to one direction and another two inches going the opposite direction.
Learn basic crochet stitches to understand crochet patterns:
Chain stitch
To make the chain stitch, you need to create a “slip knot” so to start chaining, pass the hook underneath the yarn, pull the yarn through then catch it with your hook. Draw the yarn again back in the loop that is on your hook so to form your "first chain". When you pass your hook underneath the yarn, this act is referred to as "yarn over". Keep on repeating this chaining manner for as many as the pattern requires it.
Slip Stitch
The “slip stitch” is mainly used to seam “rounds” of crocheting all together. The slip stitch has no tallness therefore it can not be made into rows. Insert your hook in the chain then “yarn over” and draw a loop passing the chain. Draw then the new loop passing the “old loop”.
“Single crochet” stitch
To practice this stitch, make fifteen chain stitches. Insert your hook in the second chain from the hook “yarn over” and draw a loop going through the “chain”. “Yarn over” once more and draw the new loop going through “two loops” on your hook. In each chain row that you make, work through a “single crochet” at the end of the row “chain 1 and then turn”.
“Half double crochet” stitch
Make fifteen chain stitches first, to practice, then “yarn over” the hook once. Insert your hook in the third chain from your hook and “yarn over” then draw a loop going through the chain twice. “Yarn over” and draw the yarn going through all the three loops on your hook and make a “half double crochet” in each chain stitch across. Then make two chain stitches and flip to the other side.
“Double crochet” stitch
”Yarn over” you hook once and then insert the hook in the fourth chain counting from the hook; “yarn over” and draw the yarn going through two loops on the hook and “yarn over” once more and draw it towards you going through the remaining two loops on the hook. Make a “double crochet stitch” in each chain stitch across and at the end make three chain stitches and turn. Make a “double crochet stitch” in each stitch across
“Triple crochet” stitch
Practice by making fifteen chain stitches. Yarn over the hook twice and insert the hook in the fifth chain from the hook, (*) “yarn over” and then go through two loops on the hook; repeat two more times.
Checking the pattern gauge
To check your pattern gauge, you need to stitch an unattached work sample before you begin your project; normally at twenty stitches across, fifteen rows high and measure or calculate from the inside rows that is the main portion of your project; compare this alongside what the gauge of the pattern says.
When your sample is found to be too large then you need to use a hook of a smaller size and making another sample and check again the gauge.
When your sample is found to be too small then you need to use another hook of a larger size, stitching another work sample.
Keep on practicing and in time, you will be able to identify and do all the stitches with ease!
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Learning to start making your own garments in a pleasurable way is one of the best things that you can do in your entire life. And the best thing about that is you can feel proud every time you see your friends or relatives wear your masterpiece.
In the same way, crocheting is more than just stitches and yarns. It is, basically, a wonderful activity that almost everybody would love to engage in. Who would not? With all those “calming effect” and sense of fulfillment, learning crochet lessons is the ultimate way to hone your skill.
Contrary to most popular beliefs, learning crochet lessons is not that hard. In fact, in order to get you going, all you need is a good crochet hook, yarns, measuring tape, yarn needle, and some even pins.
The Yarn
Once the equipments are complete, the next thing you have to do is to learn how to hold the yarn.
For people who are absolutely newbie when it comes to sewing in general, holding a yarn could be tricky. Even if it only takes some time of getting used to, it is still important to know the proper way to hold it.
Here is how:
1. Hold the yarn in such a way that you will let it pass through your fingers. The sequence would be: little finger—beneath the ring finger—above the forefingers and the middle fingers.
2. You can also hold the yarn by looping the yarn in the region of the little finger, and allow it to cross the forefinger.
3. In holding the hook, it would be better to hold it the way you hold a spoon or a pencil. In this way, it would be easier for you to heave the yarn from your fingers down to your “loop in the hook.”
These are just the basics. Hence, one should always keep in mind that holding the yarn is actually a matter of partiality. So it would be better to always try your preferred position until you feel comfortable doing it.
Identifying the Size of Hook and Yarns
One of the most important crochet lessons that you must learn is on how to identify the right yarn and hook sizes.
Keep in mind that the sizes, whether it is for the hook or the yarn, pertains to the breadth and depth of the item. For instance, the dimension of the hook is specified using different letters. It can also be some numbers, while there are cases wherein hook’s size may use both the numbers and the letters.
In order for you to be able to identify which hook size is appropriate to use, always keep in mind that in crocheting, the higher the letter or number, it simply means that the hook size is getting thicker.
On the other hand, identifying the heaviness of the yarn is also the same as the thickness of the yarn. But unlike the hook size, the yarn size is indicated by a name.
Decreasing and Increasing
In learning crochet lessons, it is also important to learn how to decrease and increase the breadth and depth of the project or pattern.
If you want to decrease the width a project, deduct some stitches. This can be done by skipping a stitch in a row, and then stitch into the next. On the other hand, in order to increase the thickness, all you have to do is to insert more stitches in a row. This can be done by joining two stitches of the same row together in order to come up with a solo stitch on the next row prior to it.
Pattern Reading
It is extremely important for a crochet maker to learn how to read the abbreviations in the pattern. This involves a little time because you have to memorize all of the terms and abbreviations in the pattern.
Knowing them would simply facilitate your process and would make your work faster. It can be very time consuming if you keep on looking back at your guidelines just to know the meaning of a certain abbreviation.
The bottom line is that crochet lessons are significant things that every crochet maker should do. Incorporating them into your work would absolutely make your life making different crochets a lot better.
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