How can crochet make you feel better, you may ask. You probably have a grandmother or mother that used to crochet or perhaps still does it. Crochet is very much the “in” thing now, and there are many ideas and patterns on Pinterest, Instagram, and YouTube. The repetition of movements takes you into a space where you are focused only on what you do. You may not be aware of your surroundings. And you may easily slip into the automation of a well-known skill. These are the characteristics of the state of flow which means that you are present in the here and the now. You can read about the value of a hobby in our article “Spoil yourself with a new hobby.”
What do you need to crochet?
One of the reasons that crochet can make you feel better is that it is cheap and easy to start. You need only two things:
- Yarn
- A crochet hook
Yarn comes in various weights, from super-fine to chunky. The best thread, to begin with will be a medium-weight acrylic, wool, or cotton yarn. Start with a yarn with a smooth texture and a light color. It will enable you to see your stitches clearly.
Crochet hooks also comes in different sizes, materials, and shapes. Use the smaller hooks for finer yarn and bigger hooks for bulkier yarns. When using a medium-weight thread, you should start with a medium-size crochet hook. You may find the best crochet hook size on the back of the yarn label.
How must you hold the hook and the yarn?
There are two ways to hold a crochet hook. You can either hold it like you hold a pencil or like you hold a knife. Loop the yarn through the fingers of your non-dominant hand. You use this hand to regulate the tension of your piece.
What stitches can you use?
There are various basic stitches that you can use to crochet your masterpiece.
Slip knot: Every piece you crochet starts with a slip knot. It is how you cast the yarn on the hook to begin crocheting. See how to make a slip knot: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7r0v_1tQrBI.
Chain stitch: It is a fundamental stitch. The chain stitch forms the foundation of almost all crochet projects. The abbreviation is “ch .”If you see ch 95 or ch 95, you must crochet 95 chain stitches.
See how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7v-mssy5rKU
Single crochet stitch: The abbreviation is “sc .”Here you can see how: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiENIkPzIzE
Half double stitch: It has the abbreviation “hdc .”How to crochet a half double stitch: https://www.google.com/search?q=crochet+half+double+crochet+stitch&oq=crochet+half+double&aqs=
Double crochet stitch: Its abbreviation is “dc .”Here is how you do that: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7AN0ihb25k
Triple crochet stitch: The abbreviation is “tr .”The video shows you how to do this stitch. https://www.google.com/search?q=crochet+triple+crochet+stitc#kpvalbx=_OjOGYri2CNeH8gLhmamYBA16
Slip stitch: You can use this stitch to join pieces together or create finished edges. When you use this stitch, it makes a dense material. The abbreviation is “sl st .”This is how you do a slip stitch https://www.google.com/search?q=how+to+make+a+slip+stitch+in+crochet&oq=how+to+make+a+slip+stict&aqs=chrome.
And this is how crochet can make you fell better
You can start to crochet a granny square.
The following are patterns for the classic granny square. You use a slip knot, double crochet stitches, chain stitches, and slip stitches for the most straight forward design.
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/how-to-crochet-classic-granny-square-3576784
You can find exciting and beautiful variations of the granny square at the following link:
https://www.thesprucecrafts.com/easy-granny-square-crochet-patterns-978963
Final thoughts
It may take some time to master the stitches, as with any new skill. However, once you are accustomed to the movement of the yarn over the crochet hook, it will become automatic behavior, and you can just easily slip into the joy of your creation. And you will understand how crochet can make you feel better.
Please tell us about your crochet projects in the comments below or at our Facebook group https://web.facebook.com/klaenmagazine. I would love to see photos of your creations.