Learn to Crochet Quickly & Easily!

Many theorize that knitted and crochet items survived in the early period of imperialism. Many communities in this era used this kind of industry as their main source of living. The crocheted and knitted products are mostly purchased by the middle class society.

Crochet was known to identify the status symbol of a person from the early history. This kind culture was practiced by the royalties who were able to afford buying expensive lace products and make the value of crochet products to depreciate.

Many have theorized that knitting and crocheting was developed through the old practices of people leaving in countries like China, Middle Eastern countries, and in South America. Many people believe that crochet may have been practiced by early cultures to flex the muscles of the forefinger rather than a fashion hook. This theory was accepted by many craft historians because of the lack of artifact crochet products as proof of its traditional practices.

In the early 1800's, many European communities have used crochet products in place of the much expensive lace made materials. Crocheting only requires fewer materials, and it is also widely accepted by different social classes. From these periods, crochet was done mostly on thread. The most common widely made products from crochet were filet crochet made in rows either open or close mesh to make a particular pattern. While in the 1900's, the massive production of steel hooks have introduced many products which are made from thread.

In today's time, crocheting and knitting is the pleasure of many people. It has recently evolved the interest of many people on handicraft making that made it so popular with the high quality of yarns and threads used. The pleasure of making a crochet item is working it with different yarn textures and colors.

As a beginner, a person should learn the process of making a pattern row and a single stitch crocheting. Here are some basic steps that will help a person learn how to make a crochet product.

1. First, the person may need the use of crochet supplies like a size G crochet hook, small scissors, worsted-weight yarn with any colors, and a big-eyed yarn needle.

2. He may start by holding the crochet hook in his right hand if he is right-handed. Then he may create a slipped knot on the hook.

3. He may slide the hooked yarn to the slipknot of the hook. This process will create a continuous stitch or a chained like stitches. He will then proceed to bringing back the yarn on top of the hook making the thread go into the hook and grabbing the slip knot into the hook.

4. He can pass on the first chain stitch allowing the knot to be properly hooked on the knot of the thread. This will allow the thread to be properly in place so that it will not loosen. A much tighter knot would be better to create a chain stitch.

5. He may insert the hook to the hole of on the next chain stitch, and then slide the yarn passing through the center of the second chain stitch going to the upper part of the hook. He may have now created two loops on the hook of the threads.

6. He may bring the yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide the knot in the center of the loops that he had created on the hook.

7. From the second loop, create another one chain stitch to make a counter clock wise loop. This allows the hook to remain in the chain stitches. He may start again in creating the following rows, creating the same loops on the previous rows.

8. He may create a single crochet stitch in the first loop tightened going to the following loops of the previous rows. He must be exactly sure to create the hook on the last stitch to retain the stitches on their places.

To finish the work, he may cut the excess yarn on the skin. He must not forget to retain at least 6 inches of the thread on the last chain stitch. This will allow him to slide the hook up to the upper part of the loops and bringing the thread into the last loops of the hook. As a beginner, he may find it difficult to do especially on more detailed crochet products. He may start doing these basic steps to help him get used with the techniques.

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Wouldn't It Be Wonderful to Be Able to Make Crocheted Gifts for Friends, Family and For Yourself?

Think of some of the things you could make simply
by learning how to crochet:

Afghans

Baby hats

Baby layettes

Baby rompers

Baby booties

Christmas ornaments

Christmas stockings

Clothing

Coasters

Coats

Baby blankets

Baskets

Bathroom mats and sets

Bedspreads

Bibs

Flowers

Hair ties

Hats

Head warmers

Mittens

Place Mats

Scarves

Book marks

Slippers

Socks

Sweaters

Table cloths

Toys

Dishcloths

Doilies

Dolls

Doll clothes

And much more!

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Crocheting is one of the most popular hobbies in the Untied States today. Over 10 million people are engaged in crocheting these days. Crocheting is one of the most satisfying hobbies you will find.

To create a garment from a ball of yarn or crochet thread is one of the most exquisite reasons why many people are enticed to try crocheting. The colours, the quality, and the way they create the frame of your masterpiece are the ultimate purpose of the crochet thread.

Today, there are numerous types of crochet yarn. The permutations are endless, and each type brings new and interesting variations.

So wide is the choice, that sometime it can be difficult to be sure which the best thread is for a particular purpose. Many people who are into crochet probably have no idea what many crochet threads are made from.

As a beginner, one cannot simply tell from the appearance or the texture of the thread. This is because manufacturers seem reluctant to reveal this by clearly stating the content sold to the consumers, which can be helpful when deciding what to buy.

Here are some tips that you must know in order to identify the best kind of crochet thread for your project:

Know the different types of crochet thread

One of the most frequently used crochet thread is cotton. The reason for this preference is because cotton last for many, many years and is easy to wash.

Synthetic crochet threads are frequently used because of lustre, but nothing more than that. They too are easy to wash, but should be dried flat rather than hanging. This prevents them from loosing their shape.

The word "ply" in the yarn label, this refers to the amount of the strands entwined together to materialize the yarn.

Always start with a "beginner's thread" when you are just starting to crochet - an easy smooth crochet cotton.

Many beginners start with a bigger thread size until they are confident in their use of needles and crochet patterns.

As you improve in confidence advance to the next level, try to use some of the finer types. This will enhance your skill.

Using a finer thread will give your work an impression of a refined finished product because of its feebleness.

When buying crochet thread, it is always important to have an extra ball of thread as depending on the tension of your work you may require a little more thread than the pattern require. If using coloured yarns this is especially important because if required to purchase another ball the dye lot may not be the same. This is not as important when using white yarn.

Purchasing a cheaper quality of crochet thread may not always be advisable. This will depend on the garment being crocheted and the use of such garment or product.

Therefore, the next time you go to your local crochet shop, be careful when choosing the thread. Keep in mind that the crochet thread is the major part of your work. The quality of your finished article will depend on the quality of the thread used.

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Making crochet slippers for warmth and comfort

There never was a better time than now to start making your own clothes and accessories. Of course, saving money is likely to be the compelling motive, but there are all sorts of other equally good reasons. Even for the fortunate few who are not feeling the pinch nowadays, it is by no means easy to find precisely the clothes that suit you for the way you live. At the very best, searching for what you want can be irritating, tiring, and time consuming.

Some people are making crochet items from hats to slippers. Aside from the reason that it makes their time worthwhile, working some patterns into crochet provides a feeling of contentment once they are finished.

In Fitting Style

In fashion, it is important to achieve a perfect fit to create a remarkable fit and comfortable garment. You cannot look well dressed and confident unless you are comfortable - and comfort goes hand in hand with fit.

In crocheting, you can instantly make your own clothes without having to compromise the comfort as well as the appearance.

One good thing about crochet is that it uses very light materials such as the yarn, thereby, creating soft, delicate and perfectly fit garments. Best of all, crochets employ stitches similar to knitting, hence, it is assured that the fit will provide utmost comfort because of the bagginess of the finished product due to the composition of the yarn.

Crochet Slippers

Good slippers are more expensive than ever these days. Therefore crocheting slippers is a very good alternative.

By using an uninterrupted thread of yarn and a single hook, you can start making your own crochet slippers. The idea of creating crochet slippers is to come up with a series of chains or loops by employing the concept of slip stitch. From there, you can gradually work your way out into finishing the product by employing different styles of slip stitches and loops.

Indeed, crocheting your own slippers will not only give you a certain kind of recreation but can also become profitable if ever you have decided to sell your masterpieces. Just keep in mind that whatever you do, think of it as something that you have never done before so that every pair of crochet slippers that you make is almost priceless.

Article Written by: Belinda MacKenzie
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Pattern for Crochet Baby Blanket - Snuggle Your Baby Up In This Beautiful Hand Crochet Warm Baby Blanket.

Materials used for the crochet baby blanket:

I have used a soft baby blue and a soft pastel multicolor baby wool for this baby blanket

350 gr soft blue (or any color of your choice)
350 gr soft pastel multicolor (or any other color of your choice)

The crochet baby blanket is square with the finished width and length each 90 cm (35 ½ inch). For this result a crochet hook no. 4 was used.

Width and length can be adjusted to your choice however you would need to adjust the materials accordingly.

A small sample will give you a good indication of the end result. Use approx. 10 chain stitches (1/10 of the number of stitches used for the pattern). Crochet hook as indicated. Complete approx. 2 full pattern motives.

The above photo shows the pattern of the crochet baby blanket detailed.

Abbreviations: ch = chain, sc = single crochet, dc = double crochet, trc = triple crochet, hdc = half-double crochet.

Starting Chain: In multicolor pastel baby wool - 174 chain (ch) stitches. If changing the number of chain stitches ensure that you are able to divide them by 4 + 2 ch extra.

Row 1: Single crochet (sc) in 2nd chain (ch) and sc in each ch across (172 sc)

Row 2: Multicolor - 3 ch (as first dc), then 1 dc in each sc.

Rows 3, 4, 5 and 6: soft blue - start each row with 1 ch and continue each row with sc in each stitch.

Row 7: Multicolor - turn 1 ch, then 1 sc in the 1st and 2nd sc, 1 deep stitched trc (= 1 trc around dc of the dc in multicolor row below) *3 sc in each of the following 3 sc, 1 deep stitched trc* repeat pattern, finish row with 1 sc in the last 2 sc.

Row 8: as row 2.

Row 9, 10, 11, 12: as row 4, 5, 6 and 7.

Row 13: Multicolor - turn 1 ch, 1 deep stitched trc in the 1st dc below, * 1 sc in each of the following 3 sc, 1 deep stitched trc* repeat pattern.

Row 14: as row 2.

Repeat the pattern until the required length. Ending the last two rows as row 2 with the last row in sc.

Finish the baby blanket with crocheting 2 rows in sc on both sides in multicolor.

Border:

Start with 2 sc *1 hdc, 2 dc and 1 hdc in the next same stitch, 4 sc* repeat pattern until finished.

By Belinda MacKenzie the author of the Crocheting Made Easy.

Photo and pattern copyright 2007 by Belinda MacKenzie (*reprinted with kind permission)

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