Learning the basics of crochet

2024 Author: Sierra Becker | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-26 03:46

Crochet is a very interesting needlework technique, and in recent years it has only been gaining popularity. Not only handmade sweaters are in fashion, but also voluminous scarves, hats, interior items, toys, and bags are at the peak of popularity. Therefore, it is not surprising that many people want to learn the basics of crochet. First you need to choose the basic tools and learn the basic techniques.

Tools

The first step to learning the basics of crochet for beginners is choosing the right tool. Hooks come in different sizes, and which one to choose will depend on the yarn. Most often, on skeins of yarn, they write what size hook is suitable for knitting. Its size, i.e. thickness, is indicated on the tool itself and is measured in millimeters. If 3.0 is written on it, then this means that its thickness is 3 mm. In order not to make a mistake with the choice, it is best to try to hold different models in the store, tie a couple of rows with them, evaluate the slip of the hook, how it catches the thread, and how dense the fabric is.

For beginners who are just learning the basics of crocheting, it is sometimes difficult to navigate in the number of rows, to see increases. BUTin circular knitting, it may be difficult to determine the beginning of the next row. To avoid this, markers can be used. These are small fasteners that are easy to remove, move and mark loops. Pins can also be used as markers.

First of all, you should buy a needle with a wide eye for sewing different parts of the product or in order to hide unnecessary thread ends. You will also need pins, tape measure and scissors.

How to crochet?

After the tool is selected, you can proceed to the second step. It is impossible to learn the basics of crochet without learning how to hold it properly. One of the most common and convenient ways is like a pen. They usually keep it at a distance of 3-5 cm from the head.

Some crochet hooks have special ergonomic handles with small indentations-planes that tell you how to knit them correctly, where to put your fingers. You can also hold the hook like a table knife.

Working thread

There are many ways to keep the working thread. And, in fact, it cannot be said that only one is correct. The main thing is that it is convenient to knit and adjust the tension. The photo shows a very common method. It is suitable for those who get acquainted with the basics of crochet. The working thread is placed in the left hand. The section that captures the hook during knitting should be on the index finger, and the rest of the thread shouldslide through the palm. It's pretty easy, it just takes a little practice. During knitting, the left hand holds the work and controls the tension of the thread. The latter may determine what density the canvas will have.

Start knitting

To understand how to crochet in practice, you need to learn how to make the initial loops. Each time work begins with a set of air loops. To form the first of them, you need to retreat from the edge of the thread a few centimeters. The short edge is a non-working thread, which can then be hidden in the finished product. Further, only the second part participates in the process, i.e. working. It is necessary to form the first loop, as shown in the photo. There is a small knot on the hook. A broken thread can be released, it is no longer needed. The initial loop is ready. The working thread remains on the index finger. To tie the first air loop, the working thread is crocheted and pulled through the initial one, as shown in the photo. The first air recruited. The rest are recruited in the same way. It is important to ensure that the working thread is always the same tension, and the air loops are the same size.

If everything was done correctly, you will get such a "pigtail".

Basic loops

To master the basics of crochet, the basic stitches are the first thing to learn:

• Single crochet. This loop is one of the most commonknitting. To move from air to knitting single crochets, you need to add another air to the chain of loops for lifting. Lift loops are knitted to form a neat edge of the fabric. Then you need to turn the knitting horizontally, skip the air rise, thread the hook into the next one, hook the thread and pull it out.



After this action, two loops will remain on the hook. Therefore, you need to hook the thread again and pull it through them. The first single crochet is knitted.



Then they are knitted one by one in all air loops to the end of the row. To move to the next row, you need to tie the air for lifting again, turn the knitting and thread the hook under both slices of the first loop in the previous row, pull out the working thread. There will again be two loops left on the tool, so again you need to hook the working thread and finish the column, as was done in the previous row.



All other columns of the second row are knitted in the same way. The next rows are performed according to the same principle.

• Double crochet. Another common knitting loop. To complete the first row, three more air loops must be added to the already connected air loops for lifting. Therefore, the first three are skipped, and the first column is knitted into the fourth. The working thread is thrown onto the hook, and only after that it is inserted into the air loop and catches the working thread. It has 3 left.loops. Once again, you need to hook the working thread and stretch it through the first two loops lying on the hook. And then repeat this action again with the remaining two. The first double crochet is completed. Then they are knitted one in each air loop. An example of a double crochet is shown in the photo. It is worth noting this knitting principle. The working thread is passed through two loops each time, and this principle always works. Therefore, it is easy to assume that a double crochet will also be knitted. Only there will be more lifting loops - four. And you can also make a column with three crochets (in which there are even more air to lift - five).

  

• Connecting column. Another name for it is a half-column. This is an auxiliary loop, which is almost invisible in knitting. It is used for circular knitting, for closing rows, etc. For example, to start knitting in a circle, you need to connect a chain of air loops. To do this, the hook is threaded into the very first air loop, catches the working thread and pulls it through all the loops.

  

Increases and decreases

Increases and decreases can be done at the beginning of the row, at the end, in the middle. These are the basic crochet techniques. They help expand and narrow the canvas, change its shape. The photo shows the increase using the example of single crochets. In order to make an increase, you just need to tie 2 columns in the same loop together. It turns out that where there should be onecolumn, there are two of them. The increase is ready.

To make a decrease, you need to combine two loops. The hook is threaded into the first and pulls the working thread through it. The same action is repeated with the second. There are four loops of loose stitches left on the hook. To finish the decrease, you need to hook the working thread and pull it through all four loops on the hook. The gain is connected. It turned out that two columns merged into one.

All of the above techniques are the basis. It is on them that the patterns are based. Therefore, in order to proceed with further study, it is better to practice knitting these types of loops properly. It is recommended to learn how to make loops of the same size. So the canvas will look neat and uniform. It is also important to feel the force of the thread tension. This will help to make the same loops and monitor the elasticity of the fabric.