Crocheting is a great craft for beginners and experts both. Beginners can make crocheted scarves in just a few hours using large needles (hooks), a bulky yarn, an a single crochet stitch. Those who are more experienced can get into double crochets, treble stitches, popcorn stitches or any number of combination stitches that can create endless patterns for hats, mittens, sweaters, slippers, and blankets. The basic tools needed to crochet like an expert are a hook and yarn. These tools vary greatly in size and even material. A beginner may find it easiest to work with an I of J sized hook and a light weight yarn. This allows them to see their work as they progress. The new fashions using faux furs are a bit more difficult, but can be mastered very quickly once the basic single crochet stitch is learned. All crochet projects start with a chain stitch. This is just what the name implies, a chain of a specified length into which the hook will be inserted to start the next row of stitching. Depending on the pattern, the crochet stitch may be worked into each link of the chain or skip links to create spaces in the pattern. A common pattern for a blanket is the granny square. This can be one big square that makes up the whole blanket or a series of smaller squares that are later stitched together. In the case of the granny square, the chain you begin with is only a few stitches long. Then you work the single crochet into it, skipping links so that the stitches begin to circle around and form a square. The next row adds stitches as it makes its way around the perimeter so that the square can grow to the desired size. Anyone can crochet like an expert with a few basic skills. The chain stitch, a single crochet stitch and the double or half double crochet stitch can be woven into endless patterns and accessories. The electronic manual gives you the details invaluable tips from master needle workers. |
