how to...

I thought I would do a “how to” I’ve been teaching some of the girls at work how to crochet.  Truthfully I am trying to convert them.  I am the only crocheter in our knitting group. 

The teaching went quite well.  But then I was there telling them what to do and sorting out any problems.  Writing the how to is proving more of a challenge.  So you will have to let me know what you think..? 

 Holding the hook is definitely the trickiest bit of crocheting.  This is how I hold mine

  
The hook is in one hand, usually the one you write with.  The other hand holds the yarn and controls the tension.  So it has quite a lot to do.  I use my little finger to do this. 

You need to just play around with it, until you find what works for you.  Some books suggest holding the hook like you would a spoon or a pen.  But I don’t hold those normally (so I am told and whatever that might be), so am not really best placed to comment.  I am a great believer in if it works for you... 

 So once you have got the hang of holding the hook and yarn you are ready to start crocheting. 

We are going to make a chain.

1. First make a slip knot.  and slip the knot over the hook.

 

 

2. Now wrap the yarn round the hook.  The hook should be in front of the yarn..

 

3. The hook then draws a new loop though the loop on the hook.  So that there is only one loop on the hook. 

 

Assuming you have just the one loop left on the hook, you have completed your first chain stitch. 

Now you are crocheting!!!! :-)

This is one of the great things about crochet.  If you think you have finished a stitch, and there is more than one loop on the hook – the stitch isn’t finished! 

The chain stitch is really useful in crochet, as it is the start of most projects.  You can either start rows, rounds or foundation chains.  All of these I hope to post at some point.

 Now that you can chain stitch.  You could make a Lazy Daisy  I will post that pattern very soon. 

Let me know what you think?