When people find out I crochet, I generally get two reactions: (1) a comment about me being a secret grandma, and (2) an overwhelmed look. The latter usually wins out when people contemplate learning how to crochet themselves.
But — and this is an important but — just because it may seem complicated, I promise it’s not difficult at all. Sure, patience is key, especially when beginning. However, with a little time and some dedicated practice, crocheting is a fun and totally doable hobby, no matter how naive you feel about the ways of the grandma.
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Plus, if you’re crafting a new throw for your couch, you won’t feel quite so bad sitting on it all afternoon while you binge-watch your favorite TV show, because you’ll also be creating something impressive and tangible in the process.
What you need to get started:
- Yarn — pick your yarn first. Then, check the label on the back to see the recommended hook you should use for the project. If you are a complete beginner, I recommend starting with a medium weight yarn. This will be indicated with a 4-5 knitting stitches per inch denotation on the label.
- Crochet hook — see above regarding sizing. The yarn label will tell you exactly which hook size to purchase.
- Tapestry needle — again, the size of the yarn will determine the needle you should purchase.
- Scissors
That’s it!
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Give me 10 minutes and I’ll teach you to crochet so you can get you started making scarves, hats, blankets and more.
In the video below, we’ll show you how to create a slip knot, chain stitches, single crochet, double crochet and cast off. With these basic crochet stitches, you’ll be crafting overwhelmed-look-worthy projects in no time.