Hi @FunkyFresh . Thanks for the tag @Ru-bee . What a great topic and question!
The best tips I can give are:
- Work out how you learn and understand things and use strategies when doing crochet. For instance, I’m a person who learns by doing and I’m usually a person who can read instructions and perform the task. However, I noticed with crochet, I had to have a visual diagram of the pattern in order to work out what I was doing and had to do. This was for my attempt at a granny square crochet pattern. Looking at a visual aide helped me immensely and I was eventually able to get the granny square started and completed. This was also true with the wording of stitches and how many loops were needed for each stitch such as triple and double crochet stitches. Even now, I have a photo of a granny square pattern on
my phone with the pattern that I refer to when I’m starting a new granny square as I often forget and get confused at what to do.
- Know and learn the difference in stitches between US and Australian/UK crochet terminology as they are different according to each pattern and how the crochet work turns out. I used a book called ‘Crochet for Dummies’ and I was able to learn and understand how to crochet a lot easier than a magazine kit I purchased to learn how to crochet. Australia uses UK crochet terminology yet I was able to understand the US terminology easier and crochet which is what I now use and prefer.
- Find what type of crochet hook feels comfortable to use such as plastic, bamboo or metal and if it has a covered handle or not as you’ll be using it a lot and it can cause discomfort if it hurts too much. I prefer a metal hook as I find it grips the wool better.
- Start with something simple! A granny square is easy to master rather than a crochet toy or piece of clothing.
- Take your time and remember, practice makes perfect! Allow yourself the time to make mistakes and learn from them. You will eventually get how to crochet and you will get better.
- Use the internet to look at crochet videos if that is how you like to learn. You tube often have great videos by different creators such as The Crochet Crowd.
- Your local library can be a good source for books and magazines on crochet. Also, look for access to digital sources such as magazines related to crochet as they often have a beginner section in the magazines.
I hope these tips help. My crochet skills are only limited to making granny squares - nothing complicated- as that’s all I can grasp and understand. I’m more a knitting person.
Take care.
Judi9877
