Tips and Tricks

     Like I said before, I rarely use patterns so you won't find them here. However, you will find tips and tricks to help you succeed in your crochet journey! Happy Hooking :)
 
All About Yarn

   All yarn is NOT created equal! Different projects take different types of yarn. When buying yarn for a project make sure to do your research; some require higher "weights" and some lower. The yarn "weight" is how bulky, or big the yarn strands are. Smaller projects take lower weight etc. The weight of each yarn is printed on the label.
   
    All crochet hooks are NOT created equal either! The heavier the weight the bigger size hook you need, the lighter weight the smaller hook you need. What size hook you need per skein of yarn (skein is a fancy term for package of yarn) is printed on the label of the yarn also.

   In addition to the weight of yarn you also have to consider how soft it is. So touch all the yarn! If its going to be something touching skin, you want a softer type of yarn.

Yarn Weights

Yarn Weight	1: Super Fine	2: Fine	3: Light	4: Medium	5: Bulky	6: Super Bulky
Yarns in Category	Baby, Fingering, Sock	Baby, Sport	DK, Light, Worsted	Afghan, Aran, Worsted	Chunky, Craft, Rug	Bulky, Roving
Needle Size (US)	1-3	3-5	5-7	7-9	9-11	11 and up
Average stitches per 4 inches	27-32	23-26	21-24	16-20	12-15	6-11

All About Stitches 
  Brace yourself, it's going to get confusing! Here is a list of the most common stitches and what they look like. Yes, it is possible to create these with just a hook and yarn.

Slip Stitch (sl) - This is simply inserting your hook into a stitch and pulling the working yarn through it and the loop (stitch) on the hook. 

 

Single Crochet (Sc) - This is much like the Sl only instead of pulling straight through to the loop, you will pull the working yarn through the stitch which will create 2 loops on your hook. Now yarn over (pick up some working yarn) and pull it through the two loops.

Half Double Crochet (Hdc) - Like the Sc except BEFORE you insert your hook into the chain stitch (white color on image) you will yarn over, this will create two loops on your hook. Then insert hook into working stitch, yarn over again (3 loops on hook) and pull through all three.

Double Crochet (Dc) - Same as Hdc except instead of pulling through all three loops, you pull through two; yarn over, pull through two.

Triple Crochet (Tc) - Same as double crochet except when you yarn over BEFORE inserting hook into the working stitch you will yarn over twice, creating three loops on the hook. Then continue same as Dc; pull through two, pull through two, pull through two.


 Remember, the great thing about crochet is if you mess up simply drop the yarn and do it again!


7/11/2013

•     Always remember to practice! Got a new stitch you're trying out? Test it on some scrap yarn until you get it down to the T. Tension needed can vary by stitch so practicing saves you from messing up a whole project vs. just some scrap. 

 7/15/2013

• To crochet in a straight line (I.e a scarf, blanket, headband) at the end of the row remember to always Chain 1 then turn and crochet in the first stitch.