Homeschool stressing you out? Perhaps you have a math assignment due or you are bummed about receiving a bad grade. Whether you are a student or a teacher, chances are, at times you are probably finding yourself feeling down. If that is so, then a relaxing way to defeat these stressful times is to grab a cup of hot chocolate, collapse on the couch, turn on nice classical music, and take out a hook and yarn. Crochet is a fantastic way to unwind!
Attention, beginners! To start your crocheting journey, you first need to create a shopping list. For those who are starting out, a size 4 yarn is perfect. A very good brand of nice beginner yarns is “Sugar ‘n Cream”, which can be acquired at Joann’s or on Amazon. You can find the size of the yarn on the label. It’s on a little symbol that looks like this:
Courtesy of Lionbrand
There are a bunch of different sizes, but size 4 is easiest for beginners. The larger, fluffy yarn balls are very compelling, but those are better once you become more advanced. When you are first starting out, I recommend buying just a ball of yarn or two. Don’t buy 10 colors right away, because you need to make sure that crocheting is something you enjoy doing and would like to commit to it. Sugar ‘n Cream brand has multicolor yarn which is really fun to use. Beginners are welcome to use any colors except for black. It is very hard to see the stitches when using black yarn, so it is important to stick to brighter colors.
Courtesy of Daufuskie Island
Next, you need to find a suitable hook for your yarn. Specific yarn sizes go along with specific hook sizes. For example, a #4 yarn can be used with a 4.5 to 5.5 millimeter hook. The shaft in the hook should be about the same size as the thickness of the yarn. Suitable hooks are found in craft stores, Amazon, or my personal favorite: Joann’s. When picking a hook, remember that the head shape matters. If the tip of the head is slightly pointed, then it will be easier to use, so aim for a hook of that shape.
Courtesy of The Lindsey Life
Courtesy of Depidiomas
Once you have your hook and yarn, I recommend getting craft scissors to cut your yarn when you finish a project. Also I recommend buying stitch markers. They look similar to paper clips, and are used to mark the beginning of each round if you decide to begin crocheting more advanced projects. You can get some in a pack, once you decide to commit to crochet. You should also make sure that you have a tape measure, so that you can measure your project dimensions and figure out how big you want it. All of these items can be found at Amazon, Joann’s, or a craft store of your choice. Now, you have everything you need to begin your crochet journey!
To get started, you need to know how to hold your hook and yarn. If you are left handed, then do the opposite of the following directions.
Hold your hook in your right hand (unless you are left-handed). You can either hold it like a fork, or a knife. I recommend the knife hold. There is going to always be a loop on your hook as you crochet, so use your thumb to keep it in place. Your other hand needs to hold the yarn AND the project. It should look something like this:
Courtesy of The Woobles
To begin most projects, you must know how to tie a slip knot. To do that, make a pretzel using your yarn, and make sure you leave a tail of about 6 inches. Then, insert your hook into the loop. It should look something like this:
Photo by Lydia I. Martinov
Pull the ends tight, and you will have a beautiful slip knot to begin a project.
Photo by Lydia
Next, you need to learn how to create a braid. To do that, you hook the yarn that is attached to the ball:
Photo by Lydia
Then, you pull it through the slip knot loop:
Photo by Lydia
Continue hooking the yarn through the loop as many times as you want, and you can create a long, fancy braid. Don’t worry if you don’t get it the first couple tries. It took me a while to get it right. To unravel and start over, simply take the loop off the hook, and pull the yarn until all the stitches are undone. Keep practicing, and by the time you read the next article of my Crochet series, you should be completely ready! There, I will explain how to make different stitches, and practice them by creating a granny square. I will also explain the different terms used in crochet. You can find the series by searching “Crochet” on the home tab, or you can find them in the Arts and Culture tab. Happy crocheting!
The Lighthouse 