Crochet 101 - Getting Started

*Edited*

Yesterday I began to teach my daughters how to crochet. I think some of us forget sometimes how hard it was when we started and how frustrating it can be to learn.  I thought that maybe getting some basics together would help not only my girls, but others who want to delve into the world of crochet. This small post will show how to begin a crochet project (something that always bothered me as a kid) and the different ways you can crochet into your foundation chain.

Here is my 1st attempt at a tutorial (eek!)

As basic as it gets…… the slip knot.

                   

Wrap your yarn loosely over the hook from left to right, then under and over to the left as shown above.Pull the yarn through the loop and, voila, you’ve made a slip knot. Tighten the knot to the hook and start crocheting!

Followed by the chain……..

Crochet begins with what is called a foundation chain. To make a chain, make a slip knot. Wrap the working end of your yarn over the hook and pull it through the loop.

This is what the chain looks like. You will make as many chains as is called for in the pattern you are using. 

So, your pattern says to crochet in the chain you just made. The question is where? Next I’ll show you that you can create 4 distinct edge to your project depending on how you crochet into your chain.


Through the "Bump" 

This view is of the underside of the chain. As you can see, there are small “bumps” along the underside of the chain. I prefer to use this method because it makes a nice clean edge that could easily be crocheted into to add an edging. It is also easy to knit into this edging.

To single crochet into the “Bump”, insert your hook from front to back, through the bump and pull through a loop. Wrap the yarn around your hook and pull it through both loops.

This is what the bottom edge of your project will look like. 

Through the top of the chain


You can also start by crocheting into the top of the chain...…..

Which looks like this

Or, you can crochet into the front or back loop of your chain

The back loops, are the loops on the top of the chain (when looking directly down on the chain) and the front loops are the loops on the bottom

Through the back loop

 Through the front loop

So, there really isn’t a wrong way, in my opinion, to start a project. Its all in the hands of the crafter :) I Hope this is helpful to someone. Coming next, basic crochet stitches.