Expert: Marla - 6/27/2011

Question
I Will Love To Start To Crochet (Im 11), And Are There Any Tips And Techniques I Shuud Know?

Answer
Hi Nirvana!
Thank you for asking! Welcome to crochet! It is my favorite hobby. I didn’t learn how to crochet until I was about 20! How wonderful it is that you want to start at an early age. I think you will find it fun. You can make a lot of things that don’t cost very much. Now, as for tips, I guess maybe I should just list them. I hope I don’t bore you too much. There is a lot to say about crocheting! I’ve written down thoughts as I get them, so it may seem like I am jumping form one place to another.

·   I hold the crochet hook almost like I would a screwdriver, and put my thumb on the flat part of the hook. Some people hold it sort of like a pencil, with the flat part of the hook between their thumb and pointer finger. Holding it like that is uncomfortable for me, but it may be comfortable for you. My sister holds it this way, and she said the way I hold it is uncomfortable for her.  Try different ways to hold the hook and use the way that is most comfortable for you. Don’t let anyone tell you that you are holding the hook wrong. I don’t think there is a wrong way.

·   Sometimes the directions are long and confusing, and it is easy to lose your place. When the directions are long, I take the time to write out the directions, and put each step on a separate line on a sheet of paper. It does take extra time, but I found it is worth it. This way I don’t lose my place easily, and if I have to put my work down, I just make a small mark on the paper where I left off. I usually do this when I crochet doilies (my favorite thing to do).

·   While I crochet, I count to myself each stitch as I crochet it. That way if the number of stitches I make in each row or round (like in doilies) is not correct, I only have to unravel one row or round. I also stop occasionally to check my work. Even when I count my stitches, I sometimes skip a stitch.

·   Some patterns say they are at the beginner level. Occasionally, I have seen some patterns that say “beginner”, but I don’t think they are. I think some are for someone with a little bit of experience. So if a beginner pattern seems too difficult for you, that is probably one of them. Don’t get discouraged! But most that say “beginner” are fairly easy.

·   When I first started to crochet with a small hook, like one for doilies, I got a little discouraged. But it was only because I wasn’t used to the small hook. When I got used to the small hook, I wasn’t discouraged anymore.

·   Yarn has different dye lots even if the color is the same. A dye lot is a number assigned to a vat of dye hat the yarn is dyed in. The dye lot number is printed on the label. So even though you may be buying blue yarn, the skeins may be a slightly different shade, because they were dyed in a different vat. When doing a project, make sure the dye lot for each color is the same. Some yarn says “no dye lot”, but if there is a dye lot number on them, I make sure the numbers match just to be on the safe side. I usually buy extra yarn in case I need more than the pattern says. I’ve never returned extra yarn before because I save it for another project, but I think some stores will let your return unused yarn. What you need to do is to ask the sales clerk if you can return any unused yarn.

·   I’m sorry I can’t give you advice on the different types of yarn. There are a lot of different kinds. Some are soft and thin, while others may be thick and sort of rough. Some are made from different kinds of wool, cotton, or from man-made materials. And even though two different yarns say “4-ply”. Which is the number of small strands twisted to make up a larger strand of yarn, the thickness may be different. There are some yarns that are beautiful, but also very expensive, I’m a cheapo, so I just use the ones that don’t cost too much, so that’s why I don’t know much about different kinds of yarn. And I wait until the yarn does on sale then I buy it.

·   Gauge is important if you are crocheting clothing. If your gauge doesn’t match what the instructions say, then you probably will need to either crochet tighter or looser (whichever the case may be), or use a different size crochet hook. When I am crocheting doilies or afghans where the exact size is not really important, I usually don’t bother to check my gauge. When you are first starting to crochet, you may be a little tense and crochet tightly. I did when I first started. Then as I got used to crocheting I wasn’t as tense.

·   Sometimes after you crochet something like an afghan, it may be out of shape and needs to be blocked.  This is where you dampen a crocheted object, and stretch it to the shape you want it and pin it to a large object. For an afghan, I recommend a bed. If you have an electric blanket, you might want to take it off the bed first to prevent a pin from poking a wire. And if you have a dog or cat that likes to jump on your bed, you may want to close the bedroom door. Remember to get all the pins out when you are through blocking because you don’t want any pins left on the bed. My dog sheds a lot, and he likes to jump on my bed. His hair on an afghan would not be a very nice gift for someone. I also use one of those rollers with the sticky paper on it to remove lint from my projects.

·   Some people always wash their afghan if they are going to give it as a gift, because they want it to look fresh.  Frankly, I don’t because washing would seem to take away the new look to an afghan. But sometimes it may be a good idea because the oils in your hands can come off onto the afghan. Since I have a dog, when I crochet an afghan, I keep it in a large garbage bag, even while I am crocheting, and the dog hairs pretty much stay off. It is a little awkward, but it works.  I think washing before giving it as a gift is a personal decision. While I am crocheting something, I am always washing my hands. It is important to keep your hands clean to keep your project from getting soiled.

·   I have read that you shouldn’t make potholders out of yarn made with acrylic materials because they can melt. Cotton yarn is recommended. I read also from an internet article that if the instructions on the yarn say you can iron it, then it is safe.

·   If you are unsure of a first project, maybe you could start with something simple like a place mat



That is what I can think of for now. If I think of more, I’ll e-mail you. I know you will be good at crocheting, and I think you will find it fun. Let me know how it goes for you, and if I can help you with anything! Good luck!

Marla