Beginner Crochet from the House of Sylvestermouse

You will need a crochet hook and yarn.

Hooks come in different sizes. The size of the hook determines the size of your stitch. The thickness of most hooks is indicated by both letter and number. The larger the number, the larger the size. Steel hooks are the exception. They are measured on a reverse scale. A 14 is the smallest size and the 00 is the largest.

When selecting the size of a hook for your project, a good rule of thumb; the thicker your yarn, the larger your hook.

Photo by Sylvestermouse

You may also want a pattern.

While a lot of experienced crocheters work without a pattern, as a beginner, you will probably want a pattern. A pattern will take the "guess work" out of crocheting and a pattern will tell you the size hook and the weight of the yarn recommended for your project.

When selecting a pattern, look for one that is marked "Easy" or "Beginner." Some patterns are marked with stars. You would want to select a 1 star pattern.

Crochet patterns at a glance can look intimidating and confusing. Like so many other things in life, with a simple "glossary", a crochet pattern can be easily deciphered.

Standard Abbreviations

ch...................chain
dc...................double crochet
dtr..................double triple (treble) crochet
hdc.................half double crochet
lp, lps..............loop, loops
rnd, rnds.........round, rounds
sc....................single crochet
sk....................skip
sl st.................slip stitch
sp, sps............space, spaces
tog..................together
tr.....................triple (treble) crochet
yo...................yarn over

Hold it like a pencil, with your thumb and index finger on each side of the flat portion of your hook and your middle finger resting against your thumb.

Wrap the ball end of your yarn around your little finger of your left hand. Take it under the fourth and third fingers, then over the top of your index finger. This allows the yarn to slip easily across your fingers and to the hook.

To begin crocheting, you start with a simple "chain" of stitches.

To start a chain, make a slip knot about 6" from the end of the yarn and insert the crochet hook from right to left.

Position your fingers and hands as illustrated below.

Holding the slip knot between your thumb and middle finger of your left hand, keeping the yarn taut, push hook forward, at the same time twisting it, so the yarn passes over back to front of your hook, and is caught in the "hook."

Draw the yarn through the loop, thus forming a new loop on the hook. Keep this loop loose enough so the next chain can be drawn through it easily.

Repeat these steps until you have the desired number of chains (loop on the hook does not count as part of total)

Since this is your first sampler, I will try to be very specific and spell out the words following each abbreviation. In a published pattern, you would only see the abbrevations.

Materials:
Approx. 15 yards cotton yarn
Size I, J or K crochet hook
Tapestry or Yarn needle (a needle with a big eye)

(Crochet hook I or larger. You will want to be able to see your work)

Instructions:

ch (chain) 50

You are now ready to work the first row of single crochet.

sk (Skip) the last chain made and insert the hook into the next chain, hook the yarn and draw up a loop.

There are now 2 loops on the hook. Catch the yarn over the hook again and draw the yarn through both loops on the hook. A sc (single crochet) is completed and 1 loop remains on the hook.

rep (repeat) these steps to draw up a loop and make a sc (single crochet) in each remaining chain of the foundation chain.

Make one ch (chain stitch) and turn work.

*Work a sc (single crochet) in each single crochet of previous row, inserting hook under the two top threads of each sc to draw up yarn loop for new stitch.

At the end of the row, ch (chain) 1 and turn.

Repeat from * until you have desired width.

To fasten off on last row of work, cut yarn and draw yarn end through last loop. Tighten to keep yarn from unraveling. To hide the yarn "tails", thread the end of the yarn into a tapestry or yarn needle and weave it into the back of your work.

All illustration pictures were copies from Reader's Digest "Complete Guide to Needlework" ~ See Amazon Link Below

This Crochet Mouse Pattern can be found in "Quick Crochet Gifts" by Sandra Peach. This booklet was published in 1988 and it is very hard to find. I am placing the current Amazon link for this booklet directly below. If it should be sold out at the time you wish to purchase it, please contact me if you really want this book and I will search for it again.

To hide the yarn "tails", thread the end of the yarn into a tapestry or yarn needle and weave it into the back of your work.

This lens only covers the very basic instructions to get started crocheting. There have been many books published on "how to crochet." I have found that you can probably easily learn to crochet by watching YouTube Videos.

Happy Crocheting!

Live every moment as it comes;
Take what it brings to you,
Be happy with the things you have
Each day your whole life through.

Take every step, one at a time,
And make the most of it -
Then, looking back, don't wish that
You could change it just a bit.

Make every hour that you spend,
Mean just a little more,
So all the ones that lie ahead,
Will be worth waiting for.

And don't put off those "Little Things" -
Try to fit them in somehow,
For the time when you'll enjoy them most,
Is not "Someday", but now!

JoAnn M. Daugherty

see more Lolcats and funny pictures, and check out our Socially Awkward Penguin lolz!

Moderated by Sylvestermouse
Updated: 1/27/12

Illustrations scanned from: Readers Digest Complete Guide to Needlework

ALL OTHER PHOTOS ARE THE EXCLUSIVE PROPERTY OF SYLVESTERMOUSE

Thank you for stopping by!
Do Come Back and See Me Again!
~ Sylvestermouse ~

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