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So I Have Just Started To Crochet, Now What?

Jamie
Learn to Crochet

Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

So you recently started to learn how to crochet, but what is the next step? Maybe you are confused by all of the abbreviations that are basically another language. Maybe you have spent way too much time trying to figure out how to make a double crochet.  Or maybe you are tired of making scarfs for everyone in your family. Well, this is the post for you!

In this post, I will go over some of the most common abbreviations used in crochet patterns.  I will go over the different types of yarn (weights and materials). I will show you how to perform some of the basic stitches.  At the end of the post, I will provide you with some of my favorite places to find crochet patterns/projects.

Crochet Dictionary

The abbreviations that are used in crochet patterns can be overwhelming to a person who is new to crocheting.  However, over time you will start to read a crochet pattern fluently without having to look up the abbreviations.  The list below contains common abbreviations. This list is in alphabetical order.  These abbreviations are a good foundation for most crochet projects. If you master these abbreviations, then you should be able to read most patterns.

  • *  * = repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed
  • BL = back loop only
  • CC = contrasting color
  • ch = chain
  • dc = double crochet
  • dec = decrease
  • fl = front loop only
  • gauge = the number of stitches per inch and rows per inch that result from a specified yarn worked with a specified-size hook.
  • hdc = half double crochet
  • inc = increase
  • MC = main color
  • RS = right side
  • sc = single crochet
  • sc/dc/tr2tog = single/double/triple crochet 2 together
  • sl st = slip stitch
  • sp = space
  • tr = triple crochet
  • WS = wrong side
  • yo = yarn over

All About Yarn

Yarn can be bought in many different weights, colors, and fibers.  Weight is the thickness of the yarn. The larger the number the thicker the yarn. So a yarn with a weight of 3 is thicker than a yarn with a weight of 0.  The weight of the yarn can also be used to determine what the best hook to use. A thicker yarn with a weight of 6 will use a very large hook like M/13 (9 mm), whereas a yarn with a weight of 4 will use a hook that is slightly smaller like an I/9 (5.5 mm).

When you are shopping for yarn, you can find many different fibers. Fibers are what the yarn is made of.  There are different synthetic and natural yarns. Most beginners start crocheting using acrylic yarn. Acrylic yarn is made from a polymer (Material Science to the rescue!).  Acrylic yarn is relatively cheap and is produced by a variety of different companies.  Acrylic yarn sometimes gets a bad rap because it can be itchy and uncomfortable to work with. However, this is not true for all acrylic yarn and an unfortunate myth. Cotton yarn is used to make garments. It can be bought in many different weights.  What I like about cotton yarn is that it is lightweight and very durable. Wool is also a common yarn fiber. Wool is made from the wool of sheep, llamas, or alpacas.  Wool yarn is a warm fiber that is used to make scarves, sweaters, and other autumn/winter clothing items. There are many different types of wool including merino, cashmere, mohair, angora, or alpaca.  You can also buy blends that contain two or more fibers like an acrylic and cotton blend. These blends are used to make the yarn stronger, improve the washability of the yarn, and even change the appearance of the yarn.

I have been crocheting for several years now, and have found different yarns that I enjoy to work with.  I like to use the bulky yarn for projects because you can see the progress of the project easily.  However, I really like the bright colors that are found in the lightweight baby yarns. Here are some of my favorite yarns to work with for each weight.

Weight 0 – Lace

Aunt Lydia’s Crochet Thread – So this crochet thread is perfect to make lace with. I have used it to make nameplates in the past that I have used on my fireplace mantle. I have also used it to make a wall hanging that put in a frame for my grandparents.  This crochet thread is made from cotton and comes in a variety of different colors ranging from white to black to purple to red.

Weight 1 – Super Fine

 Red Heart It’s A Wrap – So I have to be honest, but I have never used a super fine weight yarn before. However, every time I go to Joann or Micheal’s I pick up this yarn and almost buy this particular yarn.  I don’t really have a project in mind for this yarn, so I always talk myself out of buying it. I love the colors this yarn is available in and that it is a cake which makes cool color changes. I also like the fact it is a cotton and acrylic blend. So it will be easy to wash and work with. This will be the yarn I use when I finally try to make my first project using a super fine yarn.

Weight 2 –  Fine

Sugar Bush Itty Bitty Yarn – So I am using this yarn to make a lightweight summer vest. This vest pattern has many small openings and this yarn is perfect to make the designs. The yarn is great for clothing because it is a blend of merino wool, cashmere, and nylon.

Weight 3 –  Light

Lion Brand Baby Soft Yarn – I love using this yarn to make baby blankets! I make a lot of baby blankets because many of my friends are having babies and my mom’s friends are having grandbabies. This yarn is an acrylic and polyamide blend. Both of these fibers are synthetic fibers, so the yarn is machine washable which is very important for a baby blanket. The yarn comes in many different colors that are perfect for baby blankets.

Weight 4 –  Medium

Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable – So I am going to cheat a little on this weight and give you two of my favorite yarns. The first one is the Red Heart Boutique Unforgettable yarn. I have used this yarn several times in the past to make scarves for gifts, to sell, and even to wear myself.  This yarn is 100% acrylic. I love the color combinations available and it is also fairly soft.  There are fairly long color sections that make this yarn self-striping.

Caron Simply Soft – This is my go-to yarn for most projects. I have made blankets, baby hats, adult hats, headbands, and a sweater from this yarn.  This yarn is an acrylic yarn, but it is so soft.  It is easy to work with and is available in many bright colors and even variegated yarns.  Most recently, I have been using this yarn to make an argyle scarf using the Paint and Camo colors.

Weight 5 –  Bulky

Bernat Maker Home Dec Yarn– This is a fun yarn to work with to make pillows and other home decor items. I have also used this yarn to make a market bag.  This is a tubular yarn that contains a cotton shell with nylon filling. The yarn is available in bright and modern colors.  It is easy to work with and is very soft.  I have created a couple of crochet patterns that use this yarn for throw pillows. You can find some of these patterns at our Etsy shop (www.etsy.com/shop/CraftEazePatterns).

Weight 6 –  Super Bulky

 Bernat Blanket/Baby Blanket Yarn– So I like to work with super bulky yarns, and as a result, I’m going to provide you with my two favorite super bulky yarns. The first one is the Bernat Blanket and Baby Blanket yarn. This yarn is very soft and warm. The yarn is made from polyester. If it is used to make a baby blanket, it can is so soft and thick that it will make a great blanket for tummy time.  I made my dad a blanket using the blanket yarn, and he said it is so soft and warm.

 Lion Brand Hometown USA Yarn– I have used this yarn in the past to make winter hats and a Katniss cowl for my sister.  This yarn is acrylic yarn.  It is soft and each color has a US city in the name like New York White and Cincinnati Red.  Another cool feature for this yarn is that its made in the USA.

Learning the Basics

So there are a handful of stitches that are the bases of almost every pattern. If you can master these stitches, then you should have the background to work on many projects and patterns.  In this section, I will give you the steps to make the chain followed by a video tutorial.  The stitches will progressively get taller as you go along. At the end of the post, there will be a video to show you how to make a magic circle which can be used if you are crocheting in a round.

Chain Stitch

The chain stitch is the first stitch that you will learn. This is because you make a foundation chain to start a project.  Steps 1-2 are used to start the foundation chain only (aka the first chain of a project).

  1. Make a slip knot and place it on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook (yarn over hook).
  2. With the yarn at the tip of the hook draw the loop through the loop on the hook. This makes the first chain.
  3. Repeat, yarn over (yo) and pull this loop through the loop on the hook until you have the desired number of chains.

Slip Stitch

The slip stitch can be used in a chain stitch or a row stitch (aka single crochet/double crochet/etc.).  In the written instructions, the row stitch instruction will be in the paratheses. The slip stitch can be used when you are working in a round, joining a new color, to make a trim, or to invisibly move to another part of a row.

  1. Insert hook into the chain (under top 2 loops).
  2. Yarn over (yo) and pull through chain (stitch) and loop on the hook in one motion.

Single Crochet

The single crochet (sc) is one of the most commonly used stitches in crochet patterns.  The single crochet is considered a row stitch.  This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.

Foundation Chain Sc
  1. Insert hook into the second chain.
  2. Yarn over (yo) and pull through both loops on the hook.
  3. Insert hook into the next chain.
  4. Yo and pull through both loops on the hook.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 the desired number of times.
Row Sc
  1. To start the row, chain 1.
  2. Insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
  3. Yo and pull through the stitch.
  4. Yo and pull through both loops on the hook.
  5. Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.

Half Double Crochet

The half double crochet (hdc) is the third shortest stitch after the slip stitch and single crochet.  The half double crochet is considered a row stitch.  This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.

Foundation Chain hdc
  1. Yarn over and insert hook into the third chain.
  2. Yarn over (yo) and pull through all three loops on the hook.
  3. Yarn over and insert hook into the next chain.
  4. Yo and pull through the three loops on the hook.
  5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 the desired number of times.
Row hdc
  1. To start the row, chain 2.
  2. Yarn over, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
  3. Yo and pull through the stitch and loops on the hook.
  4. Repeat steps 2-3 the desired number of times.

Double Crochet

The double crochet (dc) is the second tallest stitch after the triple crochet, that I will go over in this post.  The double crochet is considered a row stitch.  This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch.

Foundation Chain dc
  1. Yarn over (yo) and insert hook into the fourth chain.
  2. Yo and pull through the chain.
  3. Yo and draw through first 2 loops.
  4. Yo and draw through the remaining 2 loops.
  5. Yo and insert hook into the next chain.
  6. Repeat steps 2 through 5 until desired stitches are made.
Row dc
  1. To start the row, chain 3.
  2. Yarn over, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
  3. Yo and pull through the stitch.
  4. Yo and pull through the first 2 loops.
  5. Yo and draw through remaining 2 loops.
  6. Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.

Triple/Treble Crochet

The triple/treble crochet (tr) is the tallest stitch that I will go over in this post.  The triple/treble crochet is considered a row stitch.  This stitch can be used in a chain and in a row stitch. This stitch is called a triple crochet in the United States but it is called a treble crochet elsewhere.

Foundation Chain tr
  1. Yarn over (yo) twice and insert hook into the fifth chain.
  2. Yo and pull through the chain.
  3. Yo and draw through first 2 loops.
  4. Yo and draw through the next 2 loops.
  5. Yo and draw through the remaining 2 loops.
  6. Yo twice and insert hook into the next chain.
  7. Repeat steps 2 through 5 until desired stitches are made.
Row tr
  1. To start the row, chain 4.
  2. Yo twice, and insert the hook front to back of the top two loops of the first stitch of the row below.
  3. Yo and pull through the stitch.
  4. Yo and pull through the first 2 loops.
  5. Yo and draw through remaining 2 loops.
  6. Repeat steps 2-4 the desired number of times.

Magic Circle

A magic circle is sometimes used when crocheting in a round. I have used a magic circle to make hats and stuffed animals.  In my opinion, a video is the best way to learn how to do this stitch.  The video below is one that I have used several times when trying to remember how to make a magic circle.

Favorite Places to Find Patterns or Ideas

So now that you have learned the basics, its time to find some cool patterns.  There are so many places where you can find projects, but here are some of my favorite places.

Books

So one place I have found projects is through books.  Here is a list of books that I have used in the past to find projects.

Stitch ‘n Bitch Crochet – The Happy Hooker

So I was wondering around Barnes and Nobles one day after I moved to Ohio and came across this book. Several of the projects are super cute and it is also a great book for beginners. There is step by step directions of how to make certain stitches with pictures.  I have made several patterns in the book including a bag, sweater, and shawl.

I Taught Myself Crochet

This is the first book I bought to help teach myself how to crochet.  The cool thing about this book is that it comes with hooks. This is obviously a great book for beginners who are learning the art. The patterns progressively get hard as the book goes along.  Even though this book is for beginners there are some great blanket patterns inside.

Crochet – The Complete Step By Step Guide

I received this book for my birthday one year. This book is a great resource. There are so many instructions to make different types of trims and stitches, but it also contains some cool pattern that varies in skill level.

Online

You can find many crochet patterns online. Some of these patterns are free, while others you have to buy.

Ravelry (www.ravelry.com/account/login) is a social network for people who do yarn art. There are so many patterns available on Ravelry.  The search feature is very nice because you can search based on a variety of different parameters. If you know you want to make a scarf, you can search for a scarf but also include other parameters such as hook size, skill level, amount of yarn, or even if its free or a paid pattern.  You can also post your completed projects in Ravelry, join groups, find local crochet groups, and comment on other crocheter’s projects.

Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/) is one of the most popular social networks. But did you know that you can use Pinterest to find crochet patterns? There are so many patterns available on Pinterest, so there is no limit on what patterns and projects you can find.

Our subscription crochet box will send a project to your door every month.

Our website (theCraftEaze.com) is another resource to find new projects. What’s special about CraftEaze, is that we have a subscription service which will send you a new project monthly. The subscription service contains all materials needed to make a particular project in addition to a Netflix and wine suggestion. It also provides access to a private Facebook group which is like an online craft group.   You can sign up for our subscription service at thecrafteaze.com/Subscription.  Each month, we have a Facebook live video revealing this month’s project. We talk about the materials that are included in the CraftEaze box, the wine suggestion, and the Netflix suggestion.

CraftEaze also sells individual projects that were featured in each month’s CraftEaze box. These projects are well suited for beginners. We provide tutorials for any stitched used in the project. You can find a list of past projects at thecrafteaze.com/individual_projects.

I hope you enjoy learning how to crochet and making new projects!

Peace, Love, and Crafts- Jamie

The 5 Things You Need When You Learning How to Crochet

Jamie
Learn to Crochet

Disclosure: CraftEaze is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com and affiliate sites.

Learning to crochet can be fun.  I first learned how to crochet on a summer internship between my sophomore and junior year in college.  A colleague who attended the same college taught me during that summer, and I was immediately hooked!  In this blog post, I will talk about the 5 things that I feel you need when you are learning how to crochet.

1) Patience

Remember Rome wasn’t built in a day, so don’t expect to be the best crocheter ever the first day.  It will take a lot of practice and patience at first, but if you work hard and stick with it you will soon start to make some awesome projects.

2) Youtube

Youtube is a great resource when you are learning how to crochet or to learn how to make a new stitch. There are several great videos out there teaching the basics like how to make a chain, single crochet, or double crochet along with some more advance items like how to work corner to corner.  I have recently been working on an outer space blanket corner to corner blanket.  The pattern I am using for this blanket is from Whistle and Ivy (https://www.whistleandivy.com/, you should definitely check out this site because she has some really cute ideas. Since this is my first major corner to corner project, I have been utilizing Youtube a lot for refreshers.

This is a photo of my personal scissors. I love my flower scissors!

3) A Unique Pair of Scissors

You are going to want a good pair of scissors that is only used for your yarn.  I personally like to use colorful items.  The bright colorful items just have a way of brightening your mood.  I currently have a pair of Fiskars floral scissors. Fiskars has floral scissors in pink and blue that you can buy on Amazon or at Joann Fabrics or Michaels.  The scissors I own has large pink flowers on them, which makes it easy to use only for my yarn projects. And because of the large pink flowers, my boyfriend knows not to use these scissors to cut paper or tape.

4) A Pinterest Account

I know what you’re think, ” Jamie, where have you been the last couple of year, everyone has a Pinterest account today because where else will you find Joanna Gaines inspired decor projects or your DIY rustic wedding decor”.  But it is also a great resource when you are learning how to crochet. There are tons of patterns available on Pinterest. Some of these patterns are for more experienced crafters, but a lot are simple projects for beginners. Its user interface also makes it super easy to search for particular projects. Like if you want to find a baby blanket, you can search for “Easy Crochet Baby Blanket Patterns”.  You can also find crochet blogs that can teach you how to make different types of stitches.

5) A Sense of Adventure

Once you start to crochet, you will be embarking a lifelong crafting journey. You will be looking for new patterns to try, new stitches, and new types of yarns.  There are several times when I’m wondering around Joann Fabrics, Michaels, or Pat Catans where I will see a new or different type of yarn and will want to buy it just to see what I can make out of it.  That’s the great thing about crocheting, you can always try new things.  Here at CraftEaze we love this adventure so much that we created a monthly subscription service that will deliver a new project (with all of the supplies) directly to your door!  These projects are good for beginners and also will introduce you to different types of yarn and patterns.  Check out the subscriptions menu for more information.

Happy Crafting!

<3 Jamie

 

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