r/CrochetHelp • u/Agreeable-Pea-27 • Mar 20 '24

I'm a beginner! What's the best crochet advise you've received?

I'm a beginner to crocheting and I'd love to know what's the biggest helpful advise/tip you have received in crocheting.

34 Upvotes

94% Upvoted

77 comments sorted by

72

u/readreadreadx2 Mar 20 '24

Count  👏🏻 your 👏🏻 stitches 👏🏻

Saved my ass so many times. 

7

u/IMjellenRUjellen Mar 21 '24

If I may add part b to this excllent tip: the stitches are shaped like a P

This was a offhand comment from a youtube tutorial, and it was an aha moment for me 🤗

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37

u/lambwolfram Mar 20 '24 edited Mar 20 '24

sc through the back loop of the starting chain!

Also, yarn under for amigurumi.

ETA: back bump***

13

u/readreadreadx2 Mar 20 '24

Back loop or back bump?

I always prefer working through the back bump, it leaves a much nicer edge that will match the top edge of the finished piece. 

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32

u/PeppermintBiscuit Mar 20 '24

Take breaks so you don't overwork your hands and wrists and cause damage

8

u/ferafaces Mar 21 '24

This needs to be higher, I thought it was smart to just work through it when I first started and then was heartbroken when I ended up needing to not crochet at all for a few days so I didn't have to use a brace.

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63

u/Status-Biscotti Mar 20 '24

Make your beginning chain loops bigger than you think you’ll need.

36

u/Pingwingsdontfly Mar 20 '24

Go up a hook size for the chain!

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31

u/sparklejellyfish Mar 20 '24 edited Mar 21 '24

Let the yarn "bounce", aka let it have its natural shape. Don't pull on it too tightly. Also GAPS ARE NORMAL IN CROCHET

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28

u/oinkpiggiee Mar 20 '24

Use stitch markers!! Even when you think you won’t need them. Better to be safe than sorry

22

u/apri11a Mar 20 '24

Rip. As soon as you've confirmed a mistake, rip and re-do, once noticed that mistake never goes away.

18

u/LaraH39 Mar 20 '24

Count.

Work your first row into the back loop of your chain.

Turn your work ANTI clockwise and THEN chain one.

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11

u/goblinf Mar 20 '24

  1. follow the pattern. don't guess it!

  2. Use the internet to learn how to do things

  3. don't worry about tension when you are learning a new technique, that'll follow.

  4. get some stitch markers and COUNT your stitches!

11

u/heyladles Mar 21 '24

Plan your project before buying yarn.

There is no point to having a stash of yarn you will never actually use, or having too little of a yarn type or dye lot than your project calls for.

13

u/SaltyAF5309 Mar 20 '24

Handmade should look handmade.

Consistency is great, "tension porn" moments are to be commended, but we are not machines. Be patient with the process and trust that practice will improve results. Be nice to yourself. If you're stressed out, pause and find some zen elsewhere.

5

u/tracy-young Mar 20 '24

When measurements matter, swatching is your best friend!!!

12

u/Neus69 Mar 20 '24

"If it's ugly at the beginning, it promises to be beautiful at the end"

4

u/Spirited-Claim-9868 Mar 21 '24

COUNT. And try not to skip ahead too much. My first projects were disastrous because the process looked super simple (was making a beanie), i got magic ring and single crochet doen quickly and just kept going randomly. Please just look through the whole tutorial, it'll save time in the end

4

u/Salty_Perception5672 Mar 21 '24

Turn your work anti clockwise when starting a new row, it has made a big difference to me edges

4

u/Desperate_Idea732 Mar 21 '24

Leave your ends long and weave them in many different directions with a tapestry needle.

4

u/life-is-satire Mar 21 '24

Learn to read patterns even if they seem like a foreign language. Start off with small projects and add new techniques with each new project.

I recommend making wash clothes by making swatches out of a pattern book. It will be manageable able you’ll have a useful item!

7

u/froggyc19 Mar 20 '24

If you're making flat items like doilies or squares, do not underestimate the power of blocking!

When I make doilies they're always wavy but blocking fixes EVERYTHING. It doesn't need to be any of the fancy ways either.

Just soak the completed item in a bowl of water for about 30min, roll it in a clean white towel to remove most of the water (don't wring the item, just push down on the towel), then take some straight pins and either foam boards or cardboard and pin the item in the shape you want it to be. More pins mean more control over the shape so go crazy! Let it set for about 24 hours or until dry.

By blocking, you let the yarn relax which allows you to correct any waves in the stitches.

3

u/gidgeteering Mar 21 '24

Yarn feels softer and better if you do more loose stitches. You can loosen it my angling your hook to the right a bit after you pull through the loop. Uses more yarn, but overall, it’s softer and squishier.

3

u/MandiLandi Mar 21 '24

Amigurumi works up inside out.

Use stitch markers.

Buy at least an extra skein or two more than you think you’ll need.

Dye lots matter.

5

u/Environmental-Map134 Mar 20 '24

Use lots of stitch markers! If you're making Amigurumi, put stitch markers after repeats. Then use stitch markers every 10 stitches when working in rounds. If you make a mistake, you'll only have to go back 10 stitches and not restart the round.

I like to put stitch markers in when planning where to put safety eyes.