Basic Crochet
So, as per the menu, there are many good tutorials on crochet, I am NOT going to reinvent the wheel. Please read them here
So, what is this page?
Whether you are left or right handed, there is no right or wrong way to hold a hook, no right or wrong way to hold the yarn, no right or wrong way to wrap the yarn round the hook. In short, find what works for you, whats comfortable, and go with it.
I guess because I learnt from the internet, despite being very much British, I use US terminology.
The following sections will describe how to do a stitch, now, just so you do find yourself confused ,each stitch can be varied by where you insert the hook into the previous sitch, if its the are between two lower stitches, round the post from the front of the lower stitch, round the post of the stitch from the back, through the O shape part on top but at the front of the stitch, at the O shape part at the back of the stitch or in the bit beneath both parts of the O on top of the stitch. See, many variations, worry not. Again, be consistant, start there. (By default, patterns for regular (non tunisian) crochet would normally expect you to put your hook under both parts of the O on top of a stitch.)
US = Slip stitch, UK = Single Crochet
Hook into lower stitch, yarn round hook, pull through both loops.
US = Single Crochet, UK = Double Crochet
Hook into lower stitch, yarn round hook, pull through 1 loop, yarn over pull through both.
US = Double Crochet, UK = Treble Crochet
Yarn over hook. Hook into lower stitch, yarn round hook, pull through 1 loop, yarn over pull through two, yarn over hook, pull through both.
US = Treble Crochet, UK = Quadruple Crochet
Yarn over hook, twice,. Hook into lower stitch, yarn round hook, pull through 1 loop, yarn over pull through two, yarn over pull through two,yarn over hook, pull through both.
(get the idea?)
My best advice is to make yourself a simple scrap book, do a small swatch of each one, label it, to remind you what it looks of. There are countless combinations of things you can do… such as if you do single crochets back and forth, but then do 5-7 double crochets into a stitch you will get a bobble..
If you take a look at my book review you will see some books are well worth the buy with stitches in, often those stitches above are all you need to do many many various and wonderous things. Some combinations make a very light lacy peice, others a super warm and cosy one. Some are fiddly to do and dont look impressive, others are simple and look nice.
My only real advice is dont start out with super fine yarn, or yarn with large amounts of fluff, or stringy bits.. its a pain.
