Crochet: Knitting: Crochet for Beginners (Sewing Hobbies Quilting) (Crafts Crochet Needlepoint) (2 page)

The Slip Knot

The first things to learn when doing a crochet project, is to know how to make a proper slip knot. Almost all crochet patterns start with this simple knot. All you will need for this are your hands and your yarn. You do not have to cut off a piece of yarn. You will be working straight from the ball.

Begin the slip knot by laying the thread on the table. Make a loop with the thread, measuring about five inches from the tip. You have to make sure that the shorter end is on top of the longer end. Hold the loop together using your fingers. Your less dominant hand can do this for you.

Then, with your dominant hand, take the longer piece of the yarn, which is the yarn attached to the ball under the loop, and then into the loop. This will make a new hoop which is more secure. Pull it tight.

You are now ready to place this completed slip knot on to the end of your crochet hook. Place the yarn to hang over the needle as you work.

You can also decide to make a small simple knot to make things easier. You can then attach this to your hook so you can start working right away. The knot should be a little smaller than the circumference of your finger.

The Chain Stitch

Now that you have made the knot, you can begin making your first stitches. The chain stitch is the most basic stitch in crochet. In many crochet pattern books, this will be abbreviated as ch. You should practice this stitch until you get it down right, because for many beginners, it is still hard to control the amount of tension placed on the yarn. Keep practicing the chain stitch until you develop a technique you are comfortable with. It will also help you get acquainted with which way you hold a hook. People hold hooks in different ways. Some people hold the over the hook like pencils, and some do an under the hook technique as if holding a frying pan. Any one is okay, but it is completely up to you to decide which technique is the best for you. To be comfortable, hold the needle at the middle. This part is flat, so you can hold the needle comfortably and securely.

To start making your chain stitches, make sure that your knot is attached to the hook. Hold the short end of your slip knot using your middle finger and thumb. Keep your index finger free, as this will be the one to place the yarn around your hook’s handle. Use your hook to take the yarn through your loop. This will create your first chain link. Repeat this process to make successful chain stitches. Keep going until you find the right way of holding your needle. You can practice on this for as little as fifteen minutes per day. If you make any mistakes, it will be easy enough to unravel by simply pulling on the yarn.

Remember that with as little as six chain links, you can begin with another kind of stitch, which is the slip stitch.

The Slip Stitch, The Single Crochet Stitch, and The Double Crochet Stitch

The Slip Stitch

The next thing you can do once you have mastered the chain stitch, is the slip stitch. Slip stitches are very easy to do, though you would need a little bit more dexterity in your fingers to accomplish this. In crochet pattern books, the slip stitch is usually abbreviated as an (sl st.). This is a stitch that makes very little height, and you can use this to join stitches together or to strengthen the edges of your work. It can also help you change directions when working without leaving any visible traces of stitches.

You will need to make at least six chain stitches to start a good slip stitch. With your hook, slip into the first secure chain that you made. This is the chain you can find the furthest from your hook. You will see that it will make a ring. Then, with your free hand, wrap the hook with the yarn from back to front. You may also want to rotate the hook so that its tip is pointed towards you.

Finish off your slip stitch by pulling the yarn with your hook through the stitch and into the loop you made on your hook.

Making a Single Crochet Stitch

Performing a single crochet stitch will be your next step in learning how to make all those crocheted goodies. This stitch is a tight kind of stitch and it results in tightly woven material. A single crochet is abbreviated as sc on most crochet pattern books.

To make a Single Crochet Stitch, you must first begin with an ample amount of chain stitches. Then you make a new loop on a secure chain stitch. Take note that you cannot do this on the chain loop on your hook.

If you did that properly, you will find that you have two loops on your hook. Finish your single crochet stitch by pulling a new loop of your yarn through both of these loops. This will result in one remaining loop. Repeat these steps as needed.

If you make a mistake, you can pull the yarn gently to unravel it back to where you want to start again.

Making a Double Crochet Stitch

A Double Crochet Stitch is considerably looser than the Single Crochet Stitch, a tiny bit looser than most crochet stitches. These are often used to make very comfortable scarves and sweaters, since looser stitches are softer to the touch.

To start making double crochet stitches, start by making fifteen chain stitches, and wrap your hook with your yarn from front to back.

You will then have to put your hook through the first two front loops, and slide it under the fourth chain stitch from your hook. You will have to yarn over your hook again after doing this.

Make three more loops on your hook by pulling wrapped yarn into the chain stitch. To do this properly, try to gently pass your wrapped hook through the chain.

Now pull the hook through the first two loops that you find on your hook, and put the yarn over your hook once it is done. Then, pull your hook through the last hoops that you see on your hook. This completes your double crochet stitch. You can repeat this as needed.

If you find this difficult, you can try practicing this stitch for at least ten to fifteen minutes a day. You will soon get used to the motions, and you will be able to perfect this stitch in no time.

Now that you have mastered the basic knots and stitches for crochet, you can now move on to making your first project. You might want to try something smaller and less complex like a scarf, or a blanket. This is also the time when you can now pick which color of yarn and which kinds of materials you want to work with. Any color will do, even the ones with multiple colors.  But before that, there are some tips you might want to know and to remember so you can work so much faster.

Learn How to Make a Turning Chain

Knowing how to make Turning Chains is quite important when making any kind of crocheted projects. This is needed so you can change your stitches’ direction anytime during your work, and it can also help you create the height you need in order to make your next row of stitches.

This is usually considered as the first stitch of your next crochet row, except when you are working with the single crochet stitch. Turning Chains are actually chain stitches. To make a turning chain, you will have to consider which stitches you are using.  A single crochet stitch will require one chain stitch to accomplish a turning stitch. A double crochet stitch will need three chain stitches to make a turning chain. Turning Chains will depend on the height of your stitches, and you will simply have to adjust the number of your chain stitches