Debi Pearl

HOW TO CROCHET

Why bother learning to crochet?
By taking the time to teach yourself a new skill, you will be limited only by your imagination as to how this can be applied.

Crocheting is a skill that can provide your family with many custom-made items. By crocheting, you can create beds known as hammocks. Using that same hanging net system a chair can be made. Rugs, bedding, clothing, hats, belts, shoes, bags and many other useful items can be created by varying the size of your hook and your materials.

Where do I find patterns?
Patterns are available at many skill levels. Yarn retailers know that providing their customer base with new and fun patterns creates a market for their materials. Books, magazines and the internet are just three of the resources for patterns. As you become more skilled, you may find that you develop your own crochet patterns.

Materials
Don't limit yourself to pretty threads and yarns from the local retail outlet. Crochet work can be done with strips of old clothing, string, rope and even grasses and vines. If you find yourself without a crochet hook, these are simple tools that can easily be carved out of wood or fashioned out of a stiff length of wire. In a pinch, you can even learn to utilize your fingers to do the work. Even without the use of a machine, a skilled worker can learn to produce a large amount of material.

Getting started
For learning, I recommend that you use a ball of cotton thread and create some squares that can be used as pot holders, hot pads, wash cloths or even as protective mats beneath a lamp or decorative item. A beginner will find it necessary to undo and redo a row a few times before the proper tension and technique is learned. THIS IS PART OF THE LEARNING PROCESS and not a sign of failure. If you are patient with yourself, experience will increase your skill level.

For a beginning project I recommend starting with a small, squared item. A square item will tell you quickly whether or not you are turning the work correctly by how straight the sides appear. Counting the stitches will also tell you whether or not you are dropping or adding a stitch out of place. By working on smaller projects initially, you will be encouraged as your efforts are quickly rewarded with a finished project. As your speed increases, you will then gain the confidence to tackle larger projects.

At the end of this post, I have included a pattern that is offered free of charge by Lion Brand Yarn.

Here are some videos that demonstrate the basic stitches you will need to master in order that you might follow a simple pattern.

Chain Stitch
In patterns, this stitch will be abbreviated "ch st."

Single Crochet (includes good information on how to turn work) In patterns, this stitch will be abbreviated "sc."

Double Crochet In patterns, this stitch is abbreviated "dc."

Half Double Crochet Abbreviated as "hdc." -- Note: This instructor, from the UK, refers to the stitch as a half treble crochet stitch.

When you are reading a crochet pattern, here is a quick guide to tell you what the various abbreviations mean:

When you are reading a crochet pattern, here is a quick guide to tell you what the various abbreviations mean:

( )	work instructions within parentheses as many times as directed
*	repeat the instructions following the single asterisk as directed
* *	repeat instructions between asterisks as many times as directed or repeat from a given set of instructions
[ ]	work instructions within brackets as many times as directed
	inch(es)
alt	alternate
approx	approximately
beg	begin/beginning
bet	between
BL back	loop(s)
bo	Bobble
BP	back post
BPdc	back post double crochet
BPsc	back post single crochet
BPtr	back post treble crochet
CA	color A
CB	color B
CC	contrasting color
ch	chain stitch: refers to chain or space previously made: e.g., ch-1 space; ch(s) chain(s)
ch-sp	chain spac
CL	cluster
cm	centimeter(s)
cont	continue
dc	double crochet
dc2tog	double crochet 2 stitches together
Dec	decreas(e)(s)(ing)
dtr	double treble
FL	front loop(s)
foll	follow/follows/following
FP	front post
FPdc	front post double crochet
FPsc	front post single crochet
FPtr	front post treble crochet
g	gram
hdc	half double crochet
Inc	increase/increases/increasing
lp(s)	loops
m	meter(s)
MC	main color
mm	millimeter(s)
oz	ounce(s)
p	Picot
pat(s)	or patt pattern(s)
pc	Popcorn
pm	place marker
prev	Previous
rem	remain/remaining
rep	repeat(s)(ing)
rnd(s)	round(s)
RS	right side
sc	single crochet
sc2tog	single crochet 2 stitches together
sk	skip
Sl	slip
Sl st	slip sitich
sp(s)	space(s)
st(s)	stitch(es)
tbl	through back loop
tch or t-ch	turning chain
tog	Together
tr	treble crochet
trtr	triple treble crochet
WS	wrong side
yd(s)	yard(s)
yo	yarn over
yoh	yarn over hook

Before beginning a project BE SURE TO CHECK YOUR GAUGE. At the beginning of most patterns, you will find something called a gauge. This will tell you how many stitches equal a certain size and how many rows of that stitch equal a certain size. By working a small test swatch of crochet work, you will know whether or not your thread and hook will create the correct size to produce the right sized finished work.



The amount of time it takes to produce a gauge is not wasted, but will ensure that you get the finished product you desire.

learninghttp://www.lionbrand.com/patterns/ckc-pot.html?newreg=1)

POTHOLDER:
SKILL LEVEL: Beginner



Materials
4-ply worsted-weight yarn of 100% cotton, 1 ball
Crochet Hook - Size K-10.5

GAUGE:
5 sc = 2 inches; 8 rows = 3 inches.

With 3 strands of yarn held together, ch 21.
Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (20 sc). Ch 1, turn.
Row 2: Sc in each sc across. Ch 1, turn.
Rows 3-21 (or so): Rep Row 2 until piece measures 8" from beg.
Last Row: Sc in each sc across, end (ch 10, sl st in last sc made) for loop. Do not fasten off.
Edging Row: Ch 1, sc in same space as last sl st, then sc in each row-end st along the side of potholder to next corner, 3 sc in corner, sc in each st of starting ch to next corner, 3 sc in corner, sc in each row-end st along opposite side edge of potholder. Fasten off.