Are you just starting out with crochet? Here Hochanda share their top tips for new crocheters. From the most comfortable way to hold a crochet hook to crocheting your first stitch; these useful tips will give you all the confidence needed as you get started.
Holding the Hook
Yarn to work with
Once you are happy with your hook hold, take your yarn and start to unravel a short amount. What you will have is what is called the ‘working yarn’. This is the line of yarn that goes off to the larger ball. Looking for wools and yarns? Click here to view some fantastic products.
All about the tension
How you manage the tension in the yarn is important. If it is too slack, you will find your crochet work will have large gaps or holes in it. Similarly, if you hold it really, tightly, the crochet work will bunch up. What you are looking for is to keep the tension in the yarn firm. There are a number of ways to hold the yarn, but we’d suggest starting by holding the line of yarn over your little finger and weave it in and out and along your other fingers then pinch it with your middle finger and thumb.
Creating the first knot
The first knot you would like to make from your yarn is that the one which will attach to the crochet needle. this is often called an error knot, named because once you take hold of the working yarn and provides it a touch pull it will slip all the high to the highest of the hook. Make a touch loop at the top of the yarn, pinch the loop at the join, flip it over then you will take your hook and pull it through. Take hold of the tail end of the yarn and therefore the working end of yarn, pull them both and your hook away, and therefore the slip knot will close.
Starting a Chain
Next, let’s look at the simplest crochet stitch - a ‘chain’. To create this, take hold of your hook and put it underneath the yarn, hook the yarn and pull it through the hoop and you have a chain! Simple!
Practice makes perfect
When practicing, if you notice the row of chains to start to grow and move away form the hook, try to adjust your grip by holding the hook a touch above so you’re always holding it very on the brink of the knot.
Now, a sequence might not appear as if much on it is on, but what you have just created is one among the foremost versatile pieces of crochet work. check out the below example? are you able to spot how crochet chains are incorporated into the teddy and rabbit? the headscarf and headband used on both use a crochet chain effect. It really may be a such versatile stitch.
Trying small projects
Once you are confident with your first steps, you can start looking at some small crochet projects to try. A crochet chain will make a quick and easy bracelet, but you’ll find lots of great ideas to inspire on the Hochanda website here. From the tools, patterns and kits to get you started you’ll be hooked on crocheting in no time at all.
Most important, whatever you decide to try, it is important to have fun and let your creativity spark. For additional craft tutorials visit our YouTube ‘In Hochanda’s Craft Room’.