Learn to Crochet: Part One

Learn to Crochet: Part One

Yarn & Hooks

By Christina Bellmay

Choosing the Right Yarn

Getting familiar with yarn is crucial to learning any yarn craft. Many craft stores today carry a wide variety of yarn from acrylic, nylon, cotton, wool and many other natural fibers. You'll touch many different types while walking through the yarn isle in your local craft store. Some may feel smooth, others rough, some bumpy and full of texture while some are soft and fluffy. While choosing the right one may seem intimidating at first, taking the time to learn about it will be greatly beneficial to not only you, but your future crochet projects as well.

Choosing acrylic yarn to start is an excellent choice. Acrylic yarn is inexpensive, hypoallergenic, machine washable and great for learning the basic crochet stitches. Next, it is important to decide what weight of yarn your pattern calls for. Most beginners find it easier to work with worsted weight yarn since it is not too thin nor too thick. You will find the yarn weight on the label wrapped around the skein. Worsted weight can be identified as “Medium,” “Worsted,” or as a category “4” yarn.

Source: http://www.craftyarncouncil.com

Yarn like Red Heart Super Saver is a great starting point to learn to crochet. Being very inexpensive, there is about 364 yards per skein and there is a huge variety of colors to choose from. This yarn in particular is great to use not only for it's price, but because there isn't a dye lot. With most yarn, it is a good idea to purchase the amount of yarn you are going to need for the finished product in full with matching dye lots. By matching the dye lot, you are ensuring that the color will be exactly the same. Red Heart Super Saver gives you the quality and durability you need to memorize the basic stitches you will use every day that you crochet without having to worry about a dye lot.

While navy blue may be your favorite color, it may be more wise to choose a lighter color. Crocheting with a lighter color, especially in the beginning stages, will make it much easier to see your stitches in any lighting. Darker colors tend to make the definition of the stitch harder to see, which may make it difficult to be able to see if you are making your stitches right while learning. Once you get the feel for crochet, try working with different colors, light and dark.

There are many brands of acrylic yarn that are great for beginners. Here is some that I recommend for a beginner with a lower budget:

• Red Heart Super Saver
• Lion Brand Vanna's Choice
• Caron One Pound
• Bernat Super Value
• Red Heart With Love
• Caron Simply Soft

Don't let this tiny list stop you from exploring many wonderful acrylic yarns. Go to your local craft shop and explore the yarn isle. There's plenty to choose from!

Choosing the Right Hook

Purchasing the right crochet hook might sound like another lengthy process, but thankfully, it's not! For beginners learning their first few crochet stitches, look on the yarn label to determine what size hook you should be using. We've decided on worsted weight yarn, which usually calls for a 5.5mm crochet hook. You can find this information right on the label, usually next to or near the yarn weight section. Once you've determined the right size hook for your project, it's time to decide what kind of hook you want.

Hooks can be made of virtually anything, the most popular being plastic, aluminum and wood. Plastic is most always the least inexpensive, aluminum as well, but a little higher priced. I have personally found aluminum to be the best choice for myself because I feel like plastic can sometimes be flimsy. It all depends on personal preference and how much money you want to dedicate to your new craft.

Crochet hooks can be purchased individually for a few dollars or in sets, which tend to cost a bit more, some with cases, some without. Check your local craft store, and be sure to look in their weekly ad. Many of the chain stores have awesome coupons every week!

Source: www.coatsandclark.com