5 Crochet Tips for Beginners

I have been doing a lot of crocheting since this quarantine has started. Since March, I have completed two Nook covers, a pillow, finished a blanket, and am currently working on three blankets that are close to done.

I am still relatively new at crocheting, although it is something that comes pretty easily to me for whatever reason. I actually taught myself, with the help of a few tools that I will mention below. That said, I wanted to share some tips for those who are just starting to learn — especially since it looks like this quarantine will be going on for a while:

1. Use YouTube: I personally prefer using YouTube tutorials over anything. I am a very visual learner, so it helps to see someone doing it rather than follow instructions. If you are new to this, I highly recommend Googling the stitch that you are trying to learn. And, what’s great about it is that it’s completely free.

Start Flat: Many people recommend starting with a hat. I highly recommend that you don’t do that, because it took me a while to be able to crochet in the round. For a first project, create something flat — and square. This could be a bookmark, a scarf, or even a blanket. I honestly think blankets are a great first project because they are flat and they grow rather quickly.

2. Get Some Books: There are so many great beginner books out there — many of which come with free patterns as well which is super awesome. I actually purchased Learn to Crochet from Barnes and Noble, and that book has everything that you need to get started.

3. Download Apps: Many of the craft stores in my area have coupons weekly. I highly recommend anyone who is interested in crocheting to go ahead and download it. I sometimes can get 50 percent off of my entire yarn purchase.

Going off of that, make sure that you also check the clearance bin at the craft store/website. You can find some pretty cool colors for a fraction of the cost.

4. Don’t Buy on Amazon: Yarn is one of those things that you need to actually go into the store in purchase. Since the pandemic has begun, I had no choice but I really hate buying yarn online. The reason why is it never comes as you expect it to be. For example, I was looking for chunky yarn, so I ordered it based on the description. It turned out to be really thin, which did not end up working for my project.

Since the pandemic hit, I have been working with yarn that I’ve used before so that I have an idea of what I’m getting. Therefore, if you’re trying to figure out which yarn to purchase, I highly recommend using Red Heart Super Saver Yarn, because it’s very good to make anything you want from blankets to hats to scarves. What is also great about that yarn is that it’s a pretty decent quality and comes in a ton of colors.

5. Look at the Back of the Skien: Okay, so this one is a little hard to do if you’re purchasing online (another reason to avoid it if you can). But, when you buy in the store, pay attention to the lot numbers on the back of the skien that you wish to purchase. I learned this from my mom, and it basically helps ensure that all of the colors are the same shade.