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How to Crochet: Basic Stitches Part 1

Hello again! Today is the second part of the How to Crochet class! We'll start with an instructional video and then I will go over each bit individually written out as well! So if you learn better by reading, then don't worry I have something here for you as well. Just a quick apology for the amount of cleavage in the video, my mother was filming over my shoulder and somehow didn't notice the angle she had down my shirt. (I was unable to coerce her into shooting it again)

Now onto the written part!

Vocabulary

• Slip Knot: A slip knot is the beginning of crocheting your project, though sometimes is changed out for a "magic circle" which will be detailed in another lesson. To perform a slip knot, using your non-dominant hand, palm facing towards your face, lay the tail end of the string across your hand. Then Wrap it around your index finger creating an x that faces you while your palm faces you. Turn your hand so that the two lines of string are facing you. Slip your hook under the first string, and snag the other with it. Pull it through. What you have created is a slip knot. Tighten it around your hook and you are ready to begin.
• Yarn Over: Yarn over is a fancy way of saying "get that string on your hook" 
• Chain (Ch): Many, but not all,  projects begin with a foundation row created with a chain. To make a chain take your hook with a slip knot around it, loop it around the string and pull it through. Do this until you have what looks like a braid with the number of braid segments that the instructions require.
• Slip Stitch (Sl St): A slip stitch is good for when you want to finish off a project, or make some form of decorative detail around the edges, as well as for when you are crocheting in the round. To perform a slip stitch turn your work (do not chain) slip your hook through the previous stitch, yarn over and pull it through the stitch as well as the loop you have on your hook. 
• Single Crochet (SC): The single crochet stitch is used a lot in amigurumi as well as other smaller project where not a lot of stretch is required. To perform a single crochet stitch chain one off of your previous row and turn your work. Then slip your hook through the previous stitch, yarn over, pull it through, yarn over again and pull that loop through the previous two loops. 
• Half Double Crochet (HDC): The half double crochet stitch is used a lot in projects where you want a slight bit more stretch in your work, or you're trying to get more area done than if you were using a single crochet stitch. To perform this stitch chain two off of your previous row, turn your work, yarn over, slip your hook through the previous stitch, yarn over, pull through (You should now have 3 loops on your hook) yarn over again and pull that loop through the three already on your hook. 
• Double Crochet (DC): This stitch is used when you want to make a lot of area quickly, or when you want to have a bit of stretch in your project. To perform this stitch chain three off of your previous row, turn your work, yarn over, slip your hook through the previous stitch, yarn over, pull it through (now it should look identical to an HDC) yarn over again and pull through just two loops on your hook. Which will leave you with two left. Yarn over again and pull through the last two. 
• Finishing off: To do this yarn over and pull through the loop left on your hook. Pull it tight to create a knot then cut the loop. 

If you have any questions or concerns feel free to leave a comment on this post and I will respond as soon as possible! Have a good day and practice until next week!

Discussion: Favorite Videogame

What is your favorite video game or video game series? What does a video game need for you to find it intriguing? Do graphics matter as much as gameplay? Discuss in the comments!

Azura's BJD Prompts #22: Confession Blogs

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Azura's BJD Prompts #21: Least Favorite Company

Which doll company is your least favorite? It could be because of the customer service they provide, the quality of the dolls, or even that they don't have sculpts that you like!

How to Crochet: Tools

Alright so you want to know how to crochet! I might be able to help with that.

This tutorial will be written in several different parts to make it more easy for you to learn, and for me to write them out.

This one is for tools!

Lets dive right in shall we?

I messed up my alphabet, pay no attention to the GFE...Imagine it backwards.

• A: A basic pair of scissors, you don't need anything fancy for cutting in crochet, all you'll be doing with these is cutting the ends of your projects. 
• B: Ergonomic Grip Crochet hooks, I suggest these for anyone who crochets a lot or someone who plans on doing large projects. Don't buy them if you're just going to crochet for just an hour at a time, or for learning. They get expensive at roughly $8 each.
• C: Aluminum Crochet Hooks, These are the cheapest ones that are worth using (please do not go get plastic crochet hooks, when you first start I know a lot of people have problems with tension, and they break very easily.) and are the best to learn on. You can find these in just about any craft store you come across.
• D: Steel Crochet Hooks, these typically only come in smaller sizes, from 3.25mm and lower as far as I've found. 
• E: Measuring Tape, You'll need this for measuring your work, you'll be questioning your gauge quite a bit, one of these will become invaluable very quickly.
• F: Stitch markers, These are for marking your stitch (great for when you have lots of rows to do, or your crocheting in the round and you need to know the first stitch in the round) they're also used for when you want to stop working on a project and come back to them later. 
• G: Darning Needles, These are blunt needles that have large eyes for you to feed yarn through, you use them to sew bits on or to weave in your ends. 

Now you won't need all this to start with, Most of this you'll need to get only after you begin projects, but when you do get all this stuff you'll need something to keep them in won't you? Why yes. Yes you will.

Now you'll find expensive crochet hook holders in stores, and they'll run you anywhere between 8 and 12 USD. Do not buy these unless you just really want to. I did and I regret wasting the money.

I now use something much cheaper, and much easier to replace should it break!

What is it? A standard, run of the mill pencil case. 

Thats right. A pencil case. Cost me less than a dollar.

Aint it pretty? Just a slightly transparent Pencil box.

Now then we come to yarn. There are tons of different types of yarns and they come in a variety of weights, colors, and materials.

Now I'll try to cut this down for you so that it'll be easier to understand.

First you'll find a few different ways that yarn is wrapped. There's the ball (I can show you how to make a ball with your hand in a later tutorial) a Skein and a hank. In the majority of craft stores and chains like walmart you'll find yarn in Skein's mostly.

In yarn specific shops you'll be likely to find it in hanks as well, which is basically the yarn in one large loop, folded in half, and wrapped round itself.

I typically put my yarn into balls after I've used a good deal of it to keep it from knotting when I'm not using it.

Weight: Every yarn has a weight, it goes from Lace, Fingering, DK, Sport, Worsted, Bulky and Super Bulky. Now the weight of the yarn is basically just the thickness of the yarn.

Look I did my ABC's backwards again.

A is a standard worsted weight acrylic yarn in a skein. You can find this brand at walmart, and is great for beginners.
B is a DK weight yarn, I've had it for a while and have since lost the label, so I'm not exactly sure what its made of. Its been put into a loose ball.
C is a fingering weight yarn and is wrapped in a ball as well.


Most patterns for beginners that you come across will be for Worsted weight yarn, which is the little 4 on the back of the label inside the picture of a skien.

You'll find yarn in more materials than I can count, from cotton to silk to acrylic to alpaca wool. What you use greatly depends on what kind of project you're doing and what level of softness, stretchiness and warmth you want.


Now. Thats a whole lot of stuff to know and think about, and if you're like me I got a little confused when I first heard all that.

What do you really need to start crocheting?

yes lovely blurry picture for everyone. Very sorry for the craptastic phone pictures I'll try to take some better ones for when I revise this tutorial later.

All you really need to start is some cheap acrylic worsted weight yarn (remember size 4 on the label), a 6mm aluminum crochet hook (its easier to use a slightly larger hook when you begin, your tension will be tight, everyone's is so don't worry. Mine still comes out tight pretty often). and a pair of scissors. Thats all you need to start learning crochet.

So go get your materials, they shouldn't cost you more than $10 usd and you should be able to find them all at walmart if you don't want to get lost in a craft store.

 I'll see you next week with a tutorial on basic stitches.