In The Beginning

Beginner Tips

When I first started crocheting, I was lost. Not in learning how but with the materials side of the hobby. I was confused about what yarn to use as a beginner and started my journey with DK weight yarn which was what the tutorial used. I had no idea that there were different varieties of weight and sizes of yarn and regretted it instantly when starting my first project. When Learning crochet what’s just as important as the technique is learning about the materials. After a lot of google searches and watching more crochet videos I came to understand the difference in yarn. However, by taking a more hands on approach I was able to fully understand yarn and the different hooks used while crocheting.

Since it’s not common knowledge as a beginner I decided to make a tutorial of my own through this blog.

City Of Bridges

photographed by me

My first project

My first project was a nightmare, not only because of my lack of skill but because of the DK weight yarn I used to make it. My first project was a bag/purse. It was horrible because I used such thin yarn. Tt took me forever to complete the bag and it hurt my hands so much because I was still learning and was using an aluminum hook from a beginners kit which is not the best to use if you want to avoid making your arthritis worse. After such an experience, I’m surprised I didn’t give up  on the spot but I’m the type to keep trying till I succeed and I’m glad I did or I wouldn’t be where I am today.

Even the smallest pebble matters when learning something new

Photographed by me

Learn Your Yarn.

After failing with DK weight yarn, I looked more into other yarns I can use. This is when I learned that there are different weights of yarn. When I learned this, I then wondered what weight means when it comes to yarn. Google truly was my best friend at this time. The weight number on any yarn label refers to the thickness of the yarn. It goes from 0-7 weight.

·         0 Weight= Lace

·         1 Weight= Super Fine

·         2 Weight= Fine or Sock Yarn

·         3 Weight= DK (What I Unfortunately Used)

·         4 Weight= Medium, Most Commonly Used, Best for Clothing and Blankets

·         5 Weight= bulky or chunky

·         6 Weight= Super Bulky

·         7 Weight= Jumbo

This is such important information that I wish every beginner crochet tutorial started with when talking about materials and I mean no ill will towards the youtubers I learned from but introducing someone to crochet with DK yarn was a bad idea. Bella Coco’s video was amazing. It made learning crochet easy to digest but I also used the yarn she said she was using and regretted it not long after.  That aside, the video was perfect.

Thank you Bella Coco for teaching me how to crochet!

Photographed by me

Know Your Yarn!

The best yarn to start with is any 4-weight acrylic yarn. Aside from weight, it’s important to know what the yarn your using is made from. As I said, acrylic is the best kind of yarn to crochet with due to how stretchy and flexible it is. Perfect for fixing mistakes and making them as well. The next Important thing to have is a good ergonomic hook. An ergonomic hook is just a fancy way of saying, a hook with a cushion. My favorites are the Prym hook brand as well as the cheaper option which is a set of amazon hooks made by the brand Weabetfu or something similar. The grips on these hooks are so comfortable and make crochet smooth and easy. Now when it comes to what size hook to use when learning to crochet, I would recommend using a size 5.5mm hook with your 4 weight yarn which is typically the hook size recommended on the yarn label. By starting with a 5.5mm hook you can better figure out your tension. If your stitches are too tight, go up a size which would be 6.0mm hook and if your stitches are too loose then go down a size which is a 5.0mm hook. Though you should only change hook sizes once you figured out how you’ll hold your yarn as you crochet. Once you are comfortable with the way you hold your yarn and notice your tension is still off, then change the hook size accordingly. I should also mention that if your stitches are just right, there is no need to change the hook size.

3 Rivers

Photographed by me

Experiment

As you continue to level up your skills it’s important to experiment. Try different yarn weights, try dEifferent yarn sizes, and try different yarn brands. Not all 4 weight yarns are the same. Some might feel more different than others even if they are both made of acrylic. This goes for all weight yarns. Try them all and find what you like and just because you like how the yarn feels and works up doesn’t mean it perfect for the project you want to make. Every yarn doesn’t work for every project. Please experiment. Just because this youtuber likes this yarn doesn’t mean you’ll like it too. Even if they swear by it, it’s still better to test it first before buying a whole bulk order of it. All this also applies to hooks. Just because I love my recommendations doesn’t mean it’s the right option for you. Experiment and try it, try it and experiment. You’ll thank me later.

The sky has no limits.

Photographed by me

Go beyond Your Limits

As you become more comfortable with your skills try new patterns. Don’t stay in your beginner bubble. Just because it says advanced doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try it. You never know. What’s advanced for most might be easier for you. When your interested in a pattern and for some reason it’s not clicking with you, find another tutorial. Someone explaining the exact same pattern in a different way might be just the way you need to hear it. Again, experiment! Have fun with your new hobby and do things you normally wouldn’t do and don’t forget,

don’t give up!

Ride even the smallest of waves.

Photographed by me