What is crochet?
Crochet falls under the umbrella of needlecraft, as it requires you to use hooks and yarn to create a finished result. Many people think it is the same as knitting but it is entirely different! You can use it for clothing such as jumpers, hats and socks or for homeware items such as blankets, rugs and coasters. Whatever you choose to make, there is sure to be a great pattern to follow.
What you need to start crocheting
To start crocheting, you don’t need to spend lots of money, and you can get hold of most items to suit your individual budget.
- Crochet hooks – you can get single or double hooks that come in plastic, bamboo and steel options. If you aren’t sure whether you will enjoy crocheting, then start with the cheaper hooks - this will help as you learn, and you upgrade at a later date if you find you are enjoying your new craft.
- Yarn – whether you want to use wool, bamboo, cotton, fabric or even strips of plastic bags, there are a huge number of different yarns that you can pick to suit your project and your individual taste.
- Stitch markers – these help you to remember the number of stitches in each row, so that you don’t mess up your pattern.
- Scissors – you’ll need a quality pair of scissors that can easily snip through your yarn when you come to the end of your work.
- Storage – keeping your tools safe, clean and secure with high quality storage solutions is vital.
Is crocheting hard to learn?
The great thing is that it is a skill that you can build on as you learn – you can take one step at a time until you feel confident. Take a look at our top three tips:
- Keep your stitches the same size – it can be easy to end up with tight and loose stitches when you are learning the art of crochet but work on keeping them all the same size and you will enjoy accurate results every time.
- Be prepared to practice – learning to crochet is straightforward, but you will need to invest ample time so that you achieve consistent results that you are proud of.
- Play around with different yarns – don’t fall into the trap of thinking that one yarn is better than another: use various alternatives to see the different results you can get.
Projects to get you started
One of the most popular choices for beginners is to create sets of coasters for the home or to make crochet squares that can later be sewn together to make a blanket. If neither of these suggestions sounds appealing, then maybe you could try any straightforward project that requires straight lines or single stitch types to help you learn.
Remember, practice definitely makes perfect when you are learning how to crochet!