Crochet: Knitting: Crochet for Beginners (Sewing Hobbies Quilting) (Crafts Crochet Needlepoint) (5 page)

There are four basic stitches that you need to learn in crochet in order to start creating the crochet masterpiece that you want to create in the near future. Getting started might be a little difficult if you have not tried your hand on handicrafts that involve yarns and threads, but do not worry – once you learned and mastered basic stitching, you’ll be able to do other more complicated stitches and patterns in no time at all and start creating the crochet project that you have in mind.

1.              Single Crochet

Instructions:

In order to create a single crochet, you would need to create a foundation chain that holds almost eleven stitches. To do this, make sure that you hold both the yarn and the hook as you would hold a pencil or a knife. Maneuver easily by sliding your thumb to the hook’s throat from the grip, and then proceed to anchor the look on the hook

Now, proceed to insert the hook under the back and the front loops of the second chain made. Twist the yarn round the hook by encircling the yarn on the hook from the back to the front, and then catch it with the hook. Now, make the hook pass through the two chain stitch loops. This would create two loops. After that, twist the yarn round the hook, insert the hook into the loop and draw it over the two loops. This would yield a single crochet stitch.

Continue repeating the process until you have gotten ten complete single crochet stitches in one row. In order to start with a new row, you can make a turning chain by making a chain stitch and then turning the piece from right to the left. This process is called the chain and turn. One chain stitch should be the same as the height of a single crochet stitch.

When you are done with the rows that you desire, or are satisfied with the length, you need to fasten the last stitch you made in order for all the stitches not to come undone. To do this, cut the yarn coming from your yarn ball about 12 inches from the loop on your hook. Bring it over your hook and draw the yarn end or the tail through the hook’s loop. Pull it in order to tighten up and secure your last stitch.

2.              Half Double Crochet

Instructions:

Create a half double crochet by making a foundation chain with twelve chain stitches. Just like you did in making a single crochet, position your hand to hold the hook and the yarn like a pen, but hold the fourth chain stitch from the hook. Twist the yarn round the hook coming from the back all the way to the front. After that, pull a hook by drawing it through two of the chains that you have made. This will give you three loops right on the hook.

After doing the instructions above, you would have a half double stitch. Proceed by repeating the same steps for nine times more in order to have ten similar stitches. In order to proceed to the next row, do a couple of chain stitches to make the turning chain.  Start making the proceeding row by passing the hook right under the first stitch’s back and front loops, ignoring the turning chain stitches. Repeat the process of doing the half double stitches until you achieve ten rows. Be sure to fasten them off to avoid the stitches becoming undone.

3.              Double Crochet

Instructions:

The double crochet can be similar to the half double, with the exception that it has one more step in order to complete the stitch. This time, count five chain stitches from the hook and hold the foundation chain. Place a yarn above the hook, ending the thread on the front from the back, and then push the hook under both front and back loops of the 4th chain stitch, making it pass through. Twist another of the yarn around the front of your hook and catch it. Next, pull the hook to pass through the two chain stitch loops in order to have three loops.

Next, twist the yarn round the hook, insert the hook into the loop, coming from the back to front and draw it through the first two loops. You now have two loops left on your hook. Again, place the yarn above the hook from the back through these loops. With this, you would have a double crochet stitch. Keep on doing the steps until you have ten of these stitches completed before moving to the following row. In order to start the row after this, make three consecutive chain stitches and then turn. The three chain stitches should be equal to the double crochet’s height. Continue repeating the process of double crochet until you are satisfied with the length. Fasten off to avoid ruining the stitches.

4.              Treble Crochet

Instructions:

Like the stitch taught above, a treble crochet is a one-step advanced type of stitch in comparison to the double crochet.  To begin doing treble crochet, make fourteen rows of chain stitches in a single foundation chain.

Count to the sixth chain stitch and hold the foundation chain from that position. Place two yarns over the hook, then insert the hook under the fifth chain stitch’s back and front loops. Do another twist with the yarn round the hook, and then pull the hook tight through the initial two loops that you see in order to create four loops. Next, draw the yarn through the hook and push it through the following two loops. You now have three loops left on your hook. Draw through the next two loops and then wrap both loops on the hook.

You now have a treble crochet. In order to create more, just repeat the process for nine times in order to have ten treble crochets in one row. In order to create another row, just make four more chain stitches and then turn. Continue with the same steps until you’re satisfied with the length before fastening off.

5.              Slip Stitch

Instructions:

While not one of the basic stitches, the slip stitch serves as a functional, supporting stitch that is used often anchoring chain stitches, shaping pieces, securing seams, finishing edges and joining circles. It is shorter than a single crochet and is not made in multiple rows on its own.

To practice making slip stitches, you try making a foundation chain with eleven chain stitches. Insert the hook under the loop of the 2nd chain. Twist the yarn round the hook, and then draw through the chain stitch and loop on the hook using a single movement. That is considered a single stitch. Try working on one slip stitch on the remaining chain stitches. You will create a nice drawstring of a single row of slip stitches after.

From the basic stitches, you can now create new patterns by simply changing the loops that you crochet into. As you explore other types of crochet patterns, you’ll find some directions that will tell you to work on a specific loop. Other types of patterns will also let you work on a spiral. These would open a lot of possibilities such as creating hats, bags and shoes. Others can also help you learn to create eye-catching spaces or holes that are needed when making clothes and drawstrings. Here are some patterns that you might want to try out:

1.              Single crochet ribbing

In order to create a rib pattern, you can crochet each row by working on the back loops solely. You can do this with any basic stitch, but it would look best using single crochet or half double crochet. This type of pattern is best for making collars and cuffs, due to its stretchiness.

2.              Eyelets

Eyelets are holes or gaps that are made through chaining, and skipping the same number of stitches chained. These holes are great when making ribbons or drawstrings, or as standalone pattern of nice stitches.

You might want to practice by making a foundation chain of eighteen chain stitches. Work on single crochet by starting on the second chain and continuing for the rest of the remaining sixteen. Chain one and then turn. Work again on a single crochet on the first stitch and then turn. Chain one and then skip to the next stitch in order to do one single crochet in the next and then chain one. Repeat doing this until the end of the row and then turn. On the second row, work on the first stitch by doing a single crochet. The idea is to alternate chains and single crochet until they are all uniform in size. Continue alternating rows until you are comfortable with their sizes and spaces.

3.              Mesh

Patterns such as mesh have bigger holes in comparison to the eyelets. Try practicing by making a foundation chain with twenty-three chain. Start by doing a double crochet in the 8th chain. Chain two, then skip the next two chains and do another double crochet on the next chain. Continue doing this for four times then chain five and turn. On the other side, skip the first stitch and do one double crochet in the next stitch. And then chain two. Repeat this for four more times. Eventually, you will notice that the turning chains will form a stitch and holes. At the end, skip two chains and do a last double crochet on the third chain. On a typical pattern instruction, you will not see where the last stitch should be placed. Continue doing this until you feel comfortable with the technique.

4.              Spiral and Rings

Making a round crochet is essential when you are planning to make hats, bags and other types of fabrics. Two known basic methods of making a round fabric is by working on a spiral and working on joined rounds.

When making a spiral, make a foundation chain with five loops. Join the chain by making a slip stitch in order to form a ring. With this, do ten single crochets and then fasten the last stitch with a safety pin in order to mark the end. Then, work two single crochets in each of the first nine stitches. Take out the safety pin on the end and then do two single crochets on the last stitch. Fasten the safety pin again on the last made stitch. Do a single crochet on the next stich and then two single crochets on the preceding one. Keep on doing this until you reach the last round and then fasten the safety pin again on the last stitch. You will notice that the stitches will continue to grow. Once you are satisfied, you can fasten off the last made stitch in order to avoid the stitches coming undone.

Joined rounds are also made using a chain with five loops. Join the chain using a slip stitch in order to form a ring. Do three chains and then work on twelve double crochets around the ring. Join the round using a slip stitch in the two loops at the top in the first stitch. For the second round, chain another three and work on two double crochets for each twelve double crochets. You will notice as well that the round will have twenty four stitches. Join the round again by making a slip stitch. Keep on doing this until you are satisfied with the number of joined rounds you’ve made.

It is important to note that the distribution of stitches around will depend on three factors: the stitch you are using, the weight of the yarn, and the shape that you want to achieve. The taller the stitch, the more stitches that is required for the first round as well as the succeeding ones. Also, the thinner your yarn is, the more stitches required in order to make the round.

Chapter 6: Reading and Understanding Crochet Instructions

Learning crochet can be similar to immersing one’s self in a foreign culture. Different languages are also spoken and written as well as rules and customs. While it can be intimidating for others, the outcome can be enormous and worth the wait.

Your knowledge of crochet does not end with merely understanding how to stitch alone. Crochet pattern stitch and directions can have a lot of instructions that you might not understand. For example, “ch” stands for chain, while “sl st” is for slip stitch. “Inc” means you need to increase or add more stitches. “Turn” means you need to turn back the piece in order to work back on the next row.

It is best for you to study these abbreviations and shortcuts in order to be familiar with the instructions. There are a lot of articles online that show different terms and words associated with crochet that you might find useful.

Also, schematics are another important factor to understand when reading patterns. These are drawn-to-scale outlines that helps you understand what the piece should look like after crocheting. Each piece that you will be making will be an individual schematic. Each schematic has corresponding numbers on them that will indicate information such as width/bust measurement, length from the armhole, cuff width, with of top edge, and length from the edge to top edge. The smallest size is often listed first before the parentheses, with the larger sizes inside in sequential manner.

A starter project can have simple outlines with no shaping in front or back required. Usually, the more shaping involved, such as necklines, shoulders and waists, the more complex the crochet project is. It is best to study these guides in order to consider the style of the piece you are going to make.