Crochet help please

[Lessthananovice]

Hi :)

I'm wanting to learn to crochet as I think I need some form of meditation and I always think how peaceful it looks! I did it as a little girl with my granny but now I remember none of that !

I know I need a weighted (?) yarn and a large hook but I'm a bit lost when looking online! Where is best to buy from? Any tips on what I should buy? If someone could literally send me the name of what I need I'd be most appreciative 🤦🏻‍♀️ I don't care about colour etc as I just want to practice :-) and hopefully learn to actually make something ! :) thanks

I should say I've been using YouTube videos to learn so far but as I haven't bought anything I haven't put theory into practice yet 😂

Go to a local shop - Dunelm or Hobbycraft are great. Pick out a ball of yarn that you like and on the label it will tell you what size crochet hook to get to use with the wool. If you're just practising you can't really go wrong.

Good luck with it! I love crochet.

I'm by no means an expert but taught myself a few years ago so that I could crochet my wedding bouquet.
I needed to practise just how to make my fingers work with holding the yarn and the hook. I also needed time to get to grips with motion of the hook when chaining. I spent hours just chaining and it's so familiar now I never think about it.
I bought the cheapest wool. I think it was a style craft Dk and a 3.5mm hook.
Hope that helps!!

Very experienced ‘hooker’ here . Yes, find a nice chunky yarn and a larger hook and enjoy.

I'm a knitters with crochet envy, but the only advice I can give is to make sure that your YouTube videos are UK crochet and not US as the stitches are named differently with regard to single/double. Get yourself some cheap double knit and a 4mm crochet hook and have fun - the joy of knitting and crochet is you can rip it back if it doesn't work and you still have your yarn and start again!

Is paintbox a good make of yarn? Thanks all :-) I'm excited to try it out but I'm not the most crafty! I'd love to be able to make a blanket or something eventually!

Start with 4 or 5 mm hook and style craft dk yarn. Wool warehouse are a good place to buy from. Attic24 is a great blog for learning how to crochet as Lucy does really detailed photos and step by step instructions. Bella Coco is also a highly rated tutor.
I taught myself about 10 years ago using a book from the library, and cheapo hook from a charity shop and dk yarn. I did lengths of chains, which I ripped out and redid over and over to get used to how to hold the hook and the yarn. Mainly, enjoy it!

Revelry has lovely patters and definitely a larger hook and yarn to start off with! Enjoy. I love crocheting... haven't done it for weeks though. I need to get back on it 🧶

Ravelry*

Any yarn will do to practice with. Ideally one that's not "splitty". Wool Warehouse are really good to order from. You can select the yarn weight = chunky when searching. The yarn will have a recommended size hook, try that as a starting point.

I'm not sure what you mean by a weighted yarn?

I crochet granny squares, put them together into a lap rug and donate to our local hospice. I started slow, but do it whilst watching TV and don't need to watch every move now. My SIL does a basketweave pattern which is one, continuous rug, and makes a thicker finish to my granny squares. I've also made little flower hairclips for my niece. I also used to watch youtube videos, stop, rewind, watch again till I got it.

In normal times, I visit charity shops for cheap wool. I also use www.marrineryarns.com/. I use a size 4 hook with double knit (DK) wool. Their acrylic balls start a £1.10. Their current stock is very limited compared to their usual range of colours though. Its easier to start with a larger hook though, then work down the sizes.

www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/paintbox-yarns-cotton-dk

www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/p/pony-easy-grip-crochet-hook get a 4mm hook

Look at the Attic24 web site with Lucy. You can but everything you need by also get sets of the right wools, hooks etc with the correct patterns and lots of advice. Here's a reason why she is really popular and wins awards for promoting real craftwork.

I agree totally with @longtompot Came on to give the exact recommendations.

Mikey with The Crochet Crowd had some good tutorials too, but he's American so starting with Bella Coco would be better. There is a Facebook group too for support

www.attic24.typepad.com/

She has lots of tie ins with various wool warehouses too

Wow thanks everyone :-)

Sorry if I'm being dense... does this look a good yarn to begin with?

www.woolwarehouse.co.uk/yarn/stylecraft-alpaca-tweed-chunky-all-colours

I'm here to 3rd Bella Coco - she taught me.to crochet. You'll be 'hooked' in no time groans

And am I right in thinking I'd need a 6mm hook? I'm so lost!

Ooh, I know this one! For your lockdown yarn shopping, Deramores or Love`Crafts is an amazing place to buy what you need. If you're planning to make clothes or garments, a 'chunky' weight yarn is great as you get to see your project complete quicker. If you're planning to make toys, a DK weight (double knit) or thinner is better as you don't have so many holes visible after it's stuffed. I completed my first few garments with a size 6 hook because I like that it's a balance between faster crochet and prettier looking stitches (I'm not a fan of huge chunky stitches I prefer delicate ones). Start with a granny square and make it as big as you like my first one ended up being a blanket for my babies. Paintbox is a brilliant brand, and you can go for the acrylic instead of wool/wool mix because that is easier to wash and dry and great for beginners. Bella Coco and Hooked by Robin are amazing places to start on YouTube for beginner tutorials, especially if you're left handed Robin is so lovely and patient. I'm so sorry for rambling I began crocheting last year and I love it so much. I always bury myself deep in the details when I start a new hobby so I'm excited to actually be able to help someone 😂 I hope this helps you :) if it has, ask me anything and I'll answer! X

I think you meant worsted yarn? That's a US weight
I would start with dk, double knit, and a 4mm hook. Follow youtube. Learn the chain first and go from there

I would also start with dk, probably stylecraft and a 4mm hook

It’s good to start with cheaper acrylic yarns as they are easy to work with and won’t get ruined if you rip them out many times. Scheepjes colour crafter is a good one for starting with or Stylecraft Special DK. I learnt with DK weight yarn and a 4mm hook and had no issues but stick to lighter colours as it’s easier to see each part of the stitch.

I love the Addi crochet hooks, really sturdy and comfortable

When you have the basics down, have a look at the Attic 24 blog - lots of easy to follow patterns for blankets etc. That’s how I started and now I can make much more complicated things.

Don’t get tweed or anything with different colours in the yarn to start with, makes it harder to see what’s going on. Pick a light plain colour or a few, until you get used to the stitches.

Thanks everyone :-) I've ordered a DK yarn in bright red so I can see easily, thanks for the tip! And a 5mm hook as that's what the yarn said :-) thanks all!! if I ever make anything semi presentable I'll post a pic ;-)

Another vote for Bella Coco and Attic 24. I use Stylecraft Special DK for lots of projects, it washes well too! Look forward to seeing a pic, but a friendly warning crochet and yarn buying is addictive