Crochet 101 - Learning how to crochet the chain stitch

It used to be that crochet was the red-headed stepchild of the needlecraft world, not being given much regard by other needle artists. And, although most people in the US consider any form of needlework a persuit of women, any form of lacemaking and needlework were only enjoyed by men until the most recently centuries! But, that's a discussion for another post.

Crochet is currently enjoying an increase in popularity, and some folks are very interested in learning more about it. I feel the best way to learn is to watch someone actually with hook and yarn - somehow the printed illustrations have always been confusing to me. I was taught to crochet by my Grandmother, (who never worked with instructions), but not everyone knows someone who can teach them.

There are a lot of books and instructions in bookstores and on the Internet about learning crochet. The majority is in the form of written illustrations. Not only was I very fortunate to come across a site that not only has video tutorials, including LEFT-HANDEd instructions, but also one in which the kind webmistress has given me permission to use her video on my blog!! For those who already know how to crochet and are interested in learning more, her blog has several video tutorials that can help you, (notations below).

I will be posting more crochet references in the future, but for now, for those who just want to learn how to "chain", (the basic stitch in crochet), here's a great tutorial.


You'll need:

Yarn - basic, inexpensive yarn is all you need - you'll be ripping and re-hooking a lot, and eventually the yarn will get frayed. Remember whatever yarn you select is just for practice, so it can be any color. Just get regular yarn - novelty and eyelash yarn is sometimes challenging for even the most seasoned crocheter, so please avoid those yarns, at least for now.

Scissors - preferably sewing scissors that are made for cutting fabric and yarn. If you have embroidery scissors, they are perfect.

A crochet hook - Hooks come in many different materials, such as metal, plastic, wood, and so forth. They also come in different lengths. For beginners, it works best to use a basic, short hook. Hooks are available in many sizes, from teeny-tiny, (for fine lace), to very large sized used to make novelty items. For beginners, size J, K or M are good sizes for beginning crocheters.

That's it. Find a comfortable chair and in a place with good lighting, and practice away!



Crochet 101 - CHAIN


With heartfelt thanks and great appreciation to Teresa at:

http://crochet-mania.blogspot.com/
http://www.youtube.com/tjw1963
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptOiDj1iIv0