Learn to Crochet- Part 1
Okay so I promised that I would try to write a “tutorial” of some kind which teaches you how to crochet. Truthfully, I’m not sure if this will make a lot of sense or if anyone will understand it but I want to give it a try and give it my all. So here goes. Please keep in mind that by no means am I an expert at crochet. I did not take any classes or learn from any one person. I taught myself by reading blogs, books, and watching videos on YouTube. Throughout this series of posts, I am going to provide you with the basic knowledge that I have and with the resources that I used.
First and foremost, you cannot learn to crochet unless you have the materials to do so (obviously). I frequently purchase my supplies from the larger craft stores such as Michael’s and AC Moore but I’m sure that you can find these things at a Super Walmart or other large store. I also shop on eBay and Amazon.com(affiliate link) for somethings that I cannot find in the store. Here are a few things that you will need to get you started:
- A set of crochet hooks – Now I know you’re wondering why you will need a whole set of hooks. Here’s the reason: different projects call for different hooks. Hook sizes make all the difference when you’re crocheting. It determines whether the item that you’re making turns out bigger or smaller (Bigger hook, bigger item. Smaller hook, smaller item.) Certain patterns call for certain sized hooks and most of the time it’s cheaper to buy the set than to buy hooks one at a time. When I started out, I bought a Boye set(affiliate link). It was a reasonable price and provided a range of sizes. There are a variety of styles of hooks out there so just choose what is comfortable and feels right for you. **Update: I just got a set of Clover Amour(affiliate link) hooks for my birthday and I absolutely LOVE them. They crochet smoothly and handle very nicely.**
- A good pair of Scissors – You will definitely need a very sharp pair of scissors. Yes you can use a regular pair of household scissors but a sharp pair of sewing scissors makes your life a lot easier especially when you need to cut through 10-20 strands of yarn. I have a pair of Singer scissors(affiliate link) that I absolutely love. I’ve had them for a while and they never fail me.
- Tapestry Needles – I know you’re probably wondering what this is for. Tapestry needles are very important for your finished project. When you have those pieces of yarn at the end of your project, they need to go somewhere. Tapestry needles are used to weave those ends of yarn back into your work so that the whole thing doesn’t unravel. I personally use Clover Chibi Tapestry needles(affiliate link) but there are a whole lot of different types of needles out there. Again you choose whatever your are comfortable with (and sometimes whatever is on sale!)
- A cheap skein of yarn – Ok so we’ve made it to the yarn. Why buy a cheap skein of yarn? Trust me when I say you don’t want to buy an amazing, expensive, beautiful skein of yarn when you are first learning how to crochet. It will not be pretty and truthfully that yarn will most likely get wasted. I went through a lot of yarn before I actually learned how to make something that resembled anything pertaining to crochet. You will need a nice soft yarn that is pliable and forgiving. A nice cotton worsted weight yarn is what I started with. Lily Sugar n Cream(affiliate link) is my favorite because it is soft cotton and has a variety of colors. You want a nice bright color that is not too light. Something like black, brown or any dark color might be hard for you to work with in the beginning since the stitches won’t be so visible.
Make sure that you follow my blog so you don’t miss out on the next post in this series! Next I will be talking about the resources I used to get started!
