Useful Crochet Tips for Beginners
One of the most common responses I get from people who are about how to begin Crocheting. There’s a lot of fear and anxiety when it comes to picking up this craft and I don’t believe there needs to be. I completely understand where these emotions are coming from and I get a little worried before embarking on a new adventure, but when I wrap my head around it, I realize that it doesn’t have to be that scary.
I had some helpful crochet aid along the way, but there were several things that I didn’t know that I wish I had. This led to a lot of frustrations that I had to push through, but it made me a better Crocheter. So, in light of that, I’d like to share some tips that I would’ve given myself when I first started out and I hope they’re beneficial to you.
Engage the Gauge
Gauge is so important and something to take seriously when you crochet. The gauge is the number of stitches per row and in a specific amount of inches. Gauges vary depending on the stitch, yarn, and hook, so it’s important to test different sizes to ensure you get the desired result. What I would do is choose a set number of stitches for a certain, stitch, yarn, and hook, and write down the information so I could compare and contrast it with others. So when I went to make a project, it was easy to find the exact tools I needed.
Frog It Out
Admittedly, I can be a perfectionist when it comes to things. I hate the idea of making a mistake and having to start over, but the more comfortable you get with beginning anew, the better Crocheter you'll become. Frogging is when you "rip" out your yarn stitches when there's an error, and trust me, this will happen. As annoying as it might be in the moment, I find myself more annoyed when I'm finished and entirely realize that the error has negatively impacted what I was making. Get comfortable with frogging. It'll take you longer, but you'll thank yourself for it.
The Crochet Diaries
I can’t tell you how useful keeping track of my crochet journey has been…actually, yes I can and I’m going to right now. It might seem like an extra step in an already demanding craft, but it actually makes things easier. The best part is that it can be catered to what’s right for you. I have a mountain of journals I’ve used over the years. I’ll outline ideas, estimate materials, draw inspiring clothes, and write down my thoughts. The preproduction process is what makes the production process run so smoothly.