Once you enter the world of crochet, you will find yourself itching to get started on a real project as soon as you have mastered a few basic stitches. You will find an item that looks interesting, peek inside of the crochet instructions, and find a whole mess of abbreviations and numbers that will probably make very little sense to you. Never fear! With a little bit of knowledge and some practice under your belt, you will be reading those crochet instructions like a pro in no time!

The first thing you will want to do when you decide to try your hand at an actual crochet project is to find a pattern that is written for a beginner. This will ensure that the stitches stay basic, and the piece will require minimum shaping and finishing. An afghan can often be an easy way to start, but if the size seems intimidating, a baby blanket can be a good beginner’s project.

Open up Those Crochet Instructions Without Fear!

Once you have selected the item that you would like to make, you will need to dissect your crochet instructions to make sure that you have a good understanding of each and every part of your project. The first thing you want to look for in your directions is a key that will help you understand all of the abbreviations that are listed.

If your crochet instructions do not include a key, you can supplement with a basic crochet manual that will teach you how to do each stitch as well as what the abbreviation for the stitch is. The next part of your directions will probably be a list of required supplies to complete your project. Pay special attention to the amount of yarn needed so that you don’t end up running out before you finish your item. Dye lots can be tricky things on yarn, and if you don’t buy your supply all at once, you run the risk of being unable to match your color precisely with subsequent trips to the yarn store.

Once you have assembled all of your supplies, you will probably find a gauge guide listed in your crochet instructions. It is worth your while to take the time to crochet a sample swatch to ensure that the measurements of your stitches match the measurements in your crochet instructions. After you have determined that your gauge is correct, you will finally be able to dig into the meat of your directions – the step-by-step guide in creating your item.

Crochet instructions can appear to be confusing at first, but with a little knowledge and practice you can master those directions with ease. Work through each step of your instructions carefully and patiently, and the result will be a beautiful handmade piece that you will be proud of.

Contrary to what common sense might tell you, crochet hooks have not been around as long as crochet has. No one knows how long the simple art of crochet has existed. While pictures indicate that crochet stitches were used in ancient Egypt, the materials used in crochet usually don’t hold up as well as pyramids do.

Crochet hooks, as we know them, first appear in history during the nineteenth century. The use of metal for hooks and the need to make some of the work more uniform probably led to tools made from enduring material that could be identified as crochet hooks.

Today’s Hooks

Modern crochet hooks are made from modern materials - of course - and are made to standard sizes. As important as it is to find the hooks that work best with your preferred materials, fit your hand comfortably and make the required stitches, it is more important to understand how to determine which crochet hooks are right for you and your project. The ability to easily find free patterns on the Internet means having to understand what materials are called for in each pattern.

The size of crochet hooks is written differently in America and England. American hooks have a number and a letter to identify the size. The metric size is usually found on the package and on the hook as well. The English system uses a number. If an American crocheter found a pattern using English notations, the size of the hook given as 10 would translate to an American D/3 which in metric is 3.25 mm. Fortunately, the ease in finding free patterns is matched by the ease in finding tables to translate from one type of system to the other. All systems use larger numbers for larger crochet hooks.

Finer yarn and crochet thread calls for smaller hooks. Using the same weight of yarn with different sized crochet hooks will result in tighter and looser results. The size of the hook also affects the gauge. Changing the size of the hook can be a simple way to change the size of the finished product. Just be sure to experiment with the gauge first.

When a pattern calls for a steel hook, it is not telling you to avoid plastic ones. Steel hooks are the very small crochet hooks used with crochet thread to make lace. You can find pictures of the different hooks in pattern books and on the Internet to make sure. If a pattern calls for an unfamiliar hook, ask someone who is experienced or check a book or the Internet. Make sure you use the right crochet hooks for your projects.