10 Tips for Beginners Before Beginning to Crochet

Crocheting is the art of using yarn, thread, or other similar material to create fabric. The art of crocheting goes back to to the 18th century and is slowly becoming a dying art. Regardless, crocheting is still very popular in the world of yarn work. So, whether you are looking to learn to crochet or looking to better your technique, here are ten tips for beginners before they start crocheting.

1. Set goals for yourself.

Knowing the kind of items you want to make and why you want to make them always helps in the beginning. Whether you are looking to make blankets, toys, hats scarves, etc. In order to give away, sell, or do just for fun, it makes it easier to begin a project. When you set goals for yourself, keep in mind that your goals don't always have to be the same. For example, say you made a beautiful doll, and your original goal was to sell all your items, but you have a family member, who has shown interest in your work with a birthday coming up. For this particular item, you are free to choose whether you stick to the original plan of selling the item or giving it away. By figuring out what kind of items you want to make and what you want to do with it, it keeps you on track with a fun hobby that doesn't leave you guessing what to do with the finished results.

2. Patience is everything.

Something you have probably heard at least a dozen times is "All good things come to those who wait." As cliche as it sounds, the same thing applies to the art of crocheting, but, before you decide crocheting is not for you because of this, let me explain. Crocheting may not show results immediately, so, if you start to have doubts about it, do a quick search of all the items people have figured out how to crochet. From backpacks to hats to character blankets, one thing is in common in each project: the creator put a lot of time and patience into the finished project. Depending on what you make, a project can take anywhere from minutes to hours to several days, even. Despite how long it takes, the finished product is always as remarkable as the creator's patience for making it.

3. Plan your project.

Yes, crocheting can be fun and easy, but it requires more than hooks and yarn. As previously stated, you should figure out what kind of items you want to crochet. After that, the best way to follow through with that project is to plan it. This can be done any number of ways, but I'll save that for another post. Remember, the more you plan out a project, the better the project will turn out.

4. Do your research and practice.

With five main stitches and over 125 advanced stitches, the last thing you want to do is just dive into a particular pattern without learning the different terms and stitches used in the world of crocheting. Instead, take it slow and learn the terminology used when explaining how to create a certain stitch and practice it. I'm not saying never use a pattern book or a pattern you find on the internet, though. Before attempting a pattern, look at the variety of stitches used for the pattern and make sure you know how to do them rather than learning as you work through the pattern. This way, you can save yourself from the frustrations of a pattern not working out.

5. Make use of your resources.

There's absolutely no shortage of "How To" resources on the subject of crocheting. From YouTube Videos, websites, apps to download on your phone, and even printed books on sale at your local crafts stores, the art of crocheting has been opened up so that anyone can learn how to crochet. No matter what kind of learner you are, there are all sorts of different resources made available to you. All you have to do is figure out what resource caters to your learning technique and figure out what is best for you.

6. Know your material.

With many varieties of colored material, there are also different types of material. That being said, different types of material can very easily affect the way a project turns out. When buying yarn, look for the hook and needle size suggestions located on the paper wrapping that holds the yarn. These suggestions, based on the material, recommend what sort of hook is best fitted for any project done with this particular material. Also, don't be afraid to pick up the yarn and feel it. The rougher the yarn feels, the rougher the project will turn out while the softer the yarn, the softer the project. Get an idea on how the yarn feels before you determine if it's a good fit for whatever project you are working on.

7. Keep a variety of tools.

Again, it takes more than yarn and a hook to create a crocheted project. I'm not talking about a plan, either. With so many different project designs and material out there, there is also a large number of tools. There's hooks, stitch holders, tape measures, scissors, buttons, and so much more that can make a project that much better, and I will post another a list of things to keep around when crocheting another time.

8. Keep your materials and your tools organized.

Organization is key when working on crochet projects. If you just leave your tools, your materials, and your projects lying around, you can never take full inventory of what you have versus what you need. Try to keep your tools in one area, like a case or tackle box, your material in another, like on a shelf or in a basket, and your finished projects in a different area, like a box or another shelf. Usually, organization works easier if you set aside a designated space for everything. Always remember: The more organized you are, the easier it will be to take inventory for a project.

9. Don't expect to be perfect.

No one has ever started out as a master at anything they just learned. Any project pattern you come across anywhere was created by someone who put a lot of time and effort into creating said pattern. When learning to crochet, don't ever get discouraged because you make a mistake or the project doesn't look exactly like the picture. Crocheting and creating a pattern is all about trial and error. So, whether creating your own pattern or learning someone else's, take note of what works and what doesn't, then apply it to your work.

10. Know your measurement.

This is actually the hardest part when learning to crochet. While different materials work with different sized hooks, it can greatly affect your project if you don't take into consideration measurements. No two people crochet exactly alike, so using one hook can cause the user to have to do more stitches per inch than another. This is where measuring tape comes in. Before assuming a particular hook is right for a project, use a number of different sized hooks with the material and see how many stitches per inch it gives you. Then, compare it to the measurements in the pattern. That way, you don't end up shorting yourself by following the pattern to perfection but end up with a smaller product than anticipated.

11. Have fun.

If I haven't lost you already, you're probably confused about the usage of an 11th tip in a ten tip post. This is because I want you to understand that, while crocheting is a complex hobby with many aspects to it, it can also be fun. This post was in no way intended to scare you off from the historical hobby called crocheting. Instead, it was truly meant to inform you of a few things to take into consideration when starting a project. However, if you take a step back and look around at the many interesting things you can accomplish with this hobby, you can still see the appeal many others have. Crocheting opens the door to many crafting opportunities and is a truly amazing hobby that is slowly dying off. Have fun with it.