A must-read for beginners in crochet (graphic symbols, crochet hooks, and thread materials)

Recently, some beginners have been asking questions about crochet symbol diagrams. I have sorted them out before. Today I will publish a more detailed article for those who are planning to try crochet but have not yet started. It contains a lot of content, but it may not be comprehensive, please understand.

The following are some immature experiences I would like to share with crochet enthusiasts who have not yet started.

1. Understand crochet symbols. 

You don't need to remember all of them, but you should keep in mind some common crochet symbols, such as single crochet, half double crochet, treble crochet, and their increase and decrease. There are also chain stitch, skip, and slip stitch, which are used to crochet a group of patterns in one stitch.

After understanding the crochet symbols, we need to learn their corresponding crochet techniques.

After learning these crochet techniques, you have mastered the basics. Whether the finished product of crochet is exquisite or not requires us to improve our skills, master the strength of our hands when crocheting and some small skills in crochet needle processing. The speed of crochet depends on practice.

2. Choice of crochet hook and yarn

Almost all hobbies require money, and crochet is no exception, but the initial investment in crochet is very low. Yarn, crochet hook, marker button, sewing needle, the latter two are usually given away when you buy yarn or crochet hook, so you don't need to buy them extra. ‍

Yarn on the market ranges from more than $0.1 to more than $2, and the price of crochet hooks also varies. No matter what price range of crochet hooks and yarn you buy, the size of the crochet hook must match the thickness of the yarn.

My crochet hook was given to me when I bought yarn. It is very thin and hurts my hands. The wool is Cotton Yarns which costs less than two dollars. I bought more than 20 rolls at once and I can't use them all. I will try other wools later. Some colors are a bit astringent and not smooth enough when crocheting, but the cotton flower pattern is actually quite beautiful, with the wool fluffy. Of course, not everyone likes this frizzy feeling.

For beginners, it is recommended to buy less yarn and try it first, instead of buying too much yarn at once. It is best not to use the thin crochet hook provided, the thick-handled ones are more useful. Crochet masters are good at using any crochet hook, but for beginners, the thin crochet hook is really tiring.

The commonly used yarn and hooks should be the following brands. You can buy as needed.

3. It's Only Hard in the Beginning, don't give up easily

I don't recommend crocheting a difficult doll right at the beginning, as it can easily undermine your confidence. For beginners, it is normal to crochet and unhook, so don't think you are not good enough. You can start with simple small stuff. I found that headbands are a good choice. I have crocheted more than 20 styles and I am not tired yet. At the beginning, I used a thin crochet needle to crochet an egg doll. After crocheting for two days, I almost gave up crocheting. My hands hurt so much that I took a break for two days before picking up the yarn again.

Finally, I hope everyone has fun on the road of crocheting. Although crocheting is healing, health is more important, so take a break when you are tired.