A beginner’s guide to crocheting

So you have wanted to learn how to crochet for a while now but don’t know where to start. As someone who was in that exact position a few years ago, here are some tips and tricks to help you begin your crochet journey. 

These are tips I have picked up after countless failures of trying to learn how to crochet, and although I would not label myself a master at crocheting, through these tips and tricks, I feel that I am on my way to mastering the art.‍

Gather your materials 

While many people may recommend buying a crochet starter kit, I believe it is best to start with simple materials as a beginner. This way, you will be able to master your skills and learn some simple patterns that can be turned into art. To start, I believe that only two items are essential; yarn and a hook.

I recommend first buying yarn. 100% wool yarn is best to start off with since it tends to be much softer than other yarn types and is very durable. Wool yarn also is easier to find when buying. Look for medium or fine-sized yarn, which will make it much easier to handle and see the patterns as you crochet. 

Then comes the fun part of choosing yarn, picking out the colors. There is no limit to the number of colors you can pick, so go crazy! 

Getting the correct needle is also important. I recommend buying a 5mm size crochet hook or a 6.50mm with a one-sided hook for the hook. These hooks are much easier to hold onto and move with. An important fact to keep in mind is that the size of yarn correlates with the size of the hook, so if you have thicker yarn, it would be best to use a bigger hook. Starting with a hook in the middle will allow you to be comfortable with having the hook in your hand, and from there, you will be able to move down to a smaller size or move up. ‍

Gain some knowledge on crocheting‍

Before you take your hook and yarn to start creating magic, let’s first gain some basic knowledge on how to crochet. Since crocheting is still an art form, there are specific skills that you must learn about to be able to bring your creations to life. 

While this may seem boring or an unneeded part of learning how to crochet, it is the most important. Having background knowledge on crocheting will help build the foundation for great work to be made. The best way to be able to teach yourself at home is through YouTube. 

After watching and learning from various YouTubers on how to crochet, I have found that these YouTubers are the most helpful for learning simple patterns. 

YouTubers I recommended. 

• Simpledaisy
• Bella Coco
• Kristin’s crochet ‍

‍Learn hand exercises‍

Like every muscle in our body, if our hands are not stretched or worked out before we start crocheting, it can lead to hand cramps and aches, further slowing down the learning process. As a beginner, I made the mistake of crocheting for 5 hours without doing hand stretches or exercise. This led to me being unable to crochet for a week. Please don’t make the same mistakes I did! 

That is why it is important that as you learn how to crochet, you also take time to take care of your hand muscles. Especially for those that it is their first time using their hand’s muscles constantly, I recommend doing daily hand exercises.

These exercises do not have to be strenuous; simple stretching of your hand and fingers will help your muscles get used to moving for a long time. Also, while learning, if you feel any aches or pain, take time to rest your muscles. The most crucial part of crocheting is that you are enjoying the experience. ‍

Learn an easy pattern‍

Now that you have mastered how to hold the hook and know the basics of crocheting, it’s time to create magic! To make more complicated projects, you should start off learning some simple patterns that could be turned into bigger projects. 

Starting with simple designs like squares or rectangles is the best way to get used to crocheting. That way, you can become used to the repetition of the stitches and get the hang of working with the crochet hook. Also, while creating these patterns, it is best to start off by doing a simple stitch so that the overall process doesn’t become complicated.

I recommend starting with a single stitch since it can create various patterns and styles. Through learning this stitch, it can then help you understand the other stitches.

By starting with creating different squares, I found that I could use that skill to make blankets and even pants. These small patterns can also be used as coasters or towels and can be put together to create bigger items.

Start off slow

One of the most crucial parts of learning anything, especially crochet, is taking your time as you learn. While it is exciting to learn something and want to create things quickly, by taking your time, your work will be more precise and pretty. Also, not rushing the process will help you learn more about crocheting.

As someone who recently learned how to crochet in the past few years, I still feel like there is so much more out there for me to learn about the art of crocheting. I have also found that by taking my time learning crocheting and creating projects, I have been able to use crocheting as a method of relaxation and self-expression. Although I don’t always make objects that I like, just the process alone brings me joy.

Be patient and kind to yourself! You are still learning and will not always be perfect, and that’s ok. That’s what makes crocheting so fun. Even the “unperfect” pieces you create can still be used and are still art. There is no such thing as bad crocheting; as long as you enjoy yourself and your creation, that’s all that matters. 
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I am still learning how to further my crochet skills, but I have found that these skills have helped me gain a better understanding of crocheting. They have helped me understand that this is not an activity that only old ladies do but can be something that everyone can enjoy no matter who they are. It can also be used to create modern pieces and be a way to express yourself freely, which in turn has increased my appreciation and love for art.

I hope that through these tips, you will be able to start your crochet journey on the right path. Although it may seem hard at first, I hope you continue trying to master your skills and find joy in your creations. As long as you’re having fun creating, you are on the right path to becoming a crochet master.