Crochet

It has been said that one way to achieve a balanced life is to have three hobbies that will make you fit, make you money and be able to express your creativity. The first two can easily be had by joining a gym, having a career that you are passionate about, but finding one that inspires you to be creative is a bit more difficult to do. One of the most popular and probably the easiest way is to learn how to crochet. Crocheting is a form of needlework, but instead of a needle it uses a hook with varying sizes and the act of crocheting is mainly creating stitches and combining them in rows to create a project.

It is low key and low maintenance, you do not need to invest in equipment or expensive materials like painting or baking have, you can actually do it in the comfort of your living room or bedroom and it does not take that much effort once you have learned and mastered the basics. You can start by working with small and simple projects and as you become more confident with your crocheting then you can tackle bigger and more complex projects at your own pace.

Learning how to crochet is easy, fun and highly engaging and even relaxing.

How To Crochet? 

Crochet is a very old form of needlework, however it is not in the same level as knitting, but it does have its own following. Crochet is an art form, one is able to create a number of items from a ball of yarn, a hook and a couple of stitches. When one creates a crochet project, he or she does so based on a designer’s pattern and one simply has to follow the pattern in order to complete it. The final output can be a success or a failure since it is very easy to make mistakes in the process. Thus, learning how to crochet properly is a crucial part of becoming an expert in it and being able to complete high quality projects. Many people are intimidated by crochet, most think that it requires too much effort and the activity itself is not that rewarding or for some not challenging enough. Such biases will hinder your ability to enjoy crochet and learn how to crochet properly. Nothing has ever been achieved without any effort, and if one wants to be creative, then he or she must be prepared to do the work. There are a number of stitches that one has to master in crocheting, and the success of your project depends on your ability to execute such stitches according to the design pattern. Each stitch is called by a special name, and one must be able to master the stitch and the name, and this would probably take a lot of practice. You need to be able to tell the difference from a double stitch from that of a treble and be able to start and end your projects with the proper stitch.

Common Mistakes in Crocheting 

As stated earlier, it is very easy to make mistakes while completing a project, and if it happens, it is actually very cumbersome to correct it, since you need to go back to that wrong stitch and undo everything that you have already done after the mistake. Thus, in order to avoid having to do this and waste precious time and effort, then one must know the common mistakes most people commit when learning how to crochet.

  • Not Crocheting Properly The Stitches.  Each stitch requires a certain number of loops, pulls and lines, and it could be that you are not doing it properly, and thus will result to uneven stitches, wrong stitches and ugly stitches. Thus, it is important to know the differences for each stitch and then making sure to master each one. Also ensure that you are crocheting not only in the front loop as it may distort the structure of the stitches and the final output.
  • Taking On More Crocheting Projects Than You Can Handle. Most of the time, when we want to work on a project, we do so without really thinking how much effort goes through it, and we start to work on projects that are way too difficult or too large to manage. We would end up not being able to complete any of it, and or lose the motivation to complete the project. It is such a waste of time to engage in a project and then not complete it, and it is a waste of materials and money too. So start with simple projects and save the larger ones for long vacations and holidays.
  • Not Counting Your Stitches. We often think that crochet is not that difficult, you just keep repeating the same stitch over and over again, until you realize two hours after that your scarf looks like a blanket or your round doily is now a triangle. It is actually important to count your stitches individually and in rows so that you can keep track of the design and the pattern. You need to count your stitches every row that you finish and also every row that you make. This will ensure that you will come out with a finished project that looks exactly the same as in the pattern.
  • Not Using the Specified Materials in the Pattern. Most newbie crocheters make this mistake, when you use a hook size that is not the one specified in the pattern, it will result to either a smaller or a larger stitch and will make your finished output either shorter or longer than what it should be. If you use a different weight of yarn, it will also affect how the project would look like. Be sure to use the exact materials that are in the pattern, this would mean studying and reading the pattern before you begin any project.

Crocheting Can Be Fun! 

Many people would think that crocheting is boring, or that it is for the spinsters and grandmothers and widows and that it is not worth the effort you put into it. But learning how to crochet is one of those simple yet very satisfying skills you could learn and by the looks of it, many do find it fun and exciting.