Crochet for beginners. A few basics: Knitters use two straight needles; crocheters use one hooked needle or "hook" as it is know in craft circles.
You can crochet practically anything : potholders, baby blankets, sweaters, etc.
Crochet is nothing but a string of knots, nothing complicated, really.
Beginners work best with a large hook, preferably size H or I and heavy yarn. Four ounce, worsted weight in a good yard to practice on. The fashion yarns in fuzzy or sprinkled threads are too difficult for beginners to deal with, as is sport weight or baby yarn.
The chain stitch produces the foundation row for most projects.
hold a small loop of yarn in your non dominant hand. The tail of the loop should fall over the back of the hand holding the loop and should always be attached to the skein of yarn. Thread the "tail" over your index finger and around your little finger. This controls the tension of the yarn and creates a smooth flow of yarn. Beginning tend to crochet too tightly, so resist the urge to tighten the yarn after each stitch. With practice you will learn to control the tension.
The hook will be in your dominant hand. Slip the loop on the hook; Catch the loose yard trailing off your hand with the hook and pull it through the loop. Congratulations! you've made your first stitch. Continue in this fashion: catch yarn and pull through loop until you have the inquired number of stitches for your pattern.
The most common stitches are the single and double crochet. Single crochet produces a tight, warm product, while double crochet is looser and faster to work up. Once you're comfortable with the chain stitch, we will discuss the single crochet stitch.
