Crochet: How Do I Start?

Are you a beginner to crochet? (if not, scroll down a little more to the next section!)

Are you toying with the idea of learning how to crochet? DO IT! Similar to what I tell my kids, we have to try something new to figure out if we like it!

What do I need?

Learning how to crochet does not have a high upfront cost. You just need a crochet hook, yarn, a little bit of time, and a desire to learn.

Yarn: Can be found in craft stores, online stores, thrift shops etc. DO NOT start with big bulky yarn, super frilly/fuzzy yarn, OR the tiniest/thinnest yarn you can find. When you learn how to crochet, you need to see what your stitches look like. So pick a color you like, try to get a “smooth” looking yarn, and you’ll be good to start!

Hook: I would recommend purchasing one crochet hook of a medium size (ie a J hook). The medium size hooks are easier for seeing the stitches you are creating, and they are a little easier to handle compared to a tiny hook (ie lacework) or a bulky hook (ie for super chunky blankets)

How do I start?

The first 2 things I recommend learning are the slip knot and chain stitch. They are not as difficult as they may sound. 

The slip knot is the starting point for many simple projects. It literally “starts” your project and prevents it from being pulled apart (or) unraveling on one side. It can temporarily pause a project or also secure it. Simply untie it by just pulling on the end of the knot. 

The chain stitch is often used to start many projects such as blankets and scarves etc. It is a series of “loopy” stitches that form a chain pattern. Chain stitches can also be used to make fun embellishments on projects (think bumps or doll hair etc.) as well as to increase the height of a row. Nearly all crochet projects start with chain stitches. (Alternate abbreviations/names: “ch”)

Practice making a slip knot and then doing a bunch of chain stitches (at least the length of your arm). Once you get to the end of that length, take a look at your work and ask yourself:

1. Is my slip knot in place? Is it coming apart? Did my work already unravel while I was doing my chain stitches?
2. Do my chain stitches look like these pictures? Are the chain stitches different sizes? Are some stretched too far and some too tight? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, pull your entire work out and start over. WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?!  Even if your work came out OK, still pull it out for practice. I know it sounds crazy but you’ll thank me later lol. The more practice the better! It’s really important to get these beginner stitches down. 

While you are working on these beginner stitches, also get familiar with crochet terms that are often used. There are a lot of abbreviations and terms that will sound foreign during your beginner journey, so go ahead and start getting curious. Check out some of my suggestions in the next section too to get more familiar with the world of crochet and its awesome community.

I know the basics of crochet but I want to learn more!

Awesome!!! At the time of this post, that is where I’m at in my crochet journey too! When I first started, I only knew how to do single crochet blankets. I didn’t even know the stitch names! A family member taught me how to do it and I just copied it. Being taught by friends or family is great too, but it’s always better when you can try things in your own time and learn more of the terminology and abbreviations used for more complicated patterns. If you don’t want to have to rely on someone else teaching you new things, then here are some suggestions:

Tips to grow your skill and exposure to new ideas:

Research: I suggest hitting up your favorite craft or book store for crochet books, or favorite search engine and search “crochet stitch types”. See if there is anything there that inspires you! I had found a couple of cool stitches that other creators were using in their projects. I didn’t have any interest in the project itself but I’ve made other things with the same stitches that I and others enjoy. For example, I had found a neat swirly stitch pattern that someone was using for a headband but I decided to use it as a bookmark. Don’t be afraid to think outside the box!

Mingle: Join some crochet groups (in person or on social media) and see if you gain inspiration from these groups. Unfortunately there are a lot of bots and scammers out there so be careful not to spill your personal information or life story. As an introvert I, personally, join a group or two and then lurk for a bit to see if they are actually helpful or not. If they are not helpful, I leave the group and find another. If they are helpful to others in the group, I start trying to engage based on my comfort level.

Free patterns: I LOVE FREE PATTERNS!!! I mean, who doesn’t like “free” am I right? The creativity of creators offering free patterns is fantastic! Unfortunately there are a lot of scams as well. I’ve discovered patterns that have a very cute, but AI generated, picture and the pattern itself was NOTHING close to what it was “supposed to” look like.

Practice with free patterns others have confirmed accurate before you attempt to buy any patterns. When you do decide to drop some money for a pattern, make sure it’s for creating an item that is also in line with your current skill level so as to not waste time or money!

And most of all, have fun!!