Crochet for a beginner

[iamdivergent]

Very interested in learning to crochet. I want to be eventually able to make myself a Sassenach infinity scarf a la Outlander! not paying £45 for one on etsy!

Does anyone have any recommendations on how to get started, books/videos etc and a kit list I'd need? I have a voucher for Dunelm so would be handy if could be bought there unless cheap elsewhere.

Many thanks!

[anyoldname76]

i started with a cheap ball of dk and a 4mm hook i got from the market, i watched endless videos on you tube by bella coco and the crochet crowd. i found the trickiest part was holding the wool right, once you get the hang of it though its really addictive.

[JoBlogs]

You Tube is the best for learning. Books are useless. You need to actually see it. And on YT you can pause and rewind. Go through until you find someone you like. I learned to crochet by spending a morning with a friend and from then on I could understand patterns and books. It's a lovely hobby.

[iamdivergent]

Thank you both

[PandaG]

Charity shops can be a good source of cheap yarn - I would start with double knit or thicker so you can more easily see the stitches. Agree with YouTube as a great place to start. Also, if you can find a local craft group (often in churches or offshoot of WI) there is often someone more than happy to help.

[Wisterical]

Attic24 has excellent, clear, photo tutorials. Just ignore the sickly whimsy.

[RaininSummer]

Buy a nice yarn even if cheap. Can recommend Stylecraft special double knitting or aran as one of the nicest acrylics. Learn the main stitches and the pattern abbreviations. Practice with simple squares etc or a kids scarf til you have the hook and yarn holding sussed.

[Justasec]

Youtube, bella coco I found really good. Did a lot of watch and pause while I caught up. Good luck!

[iamdivergent]

Perfect. Many thanks!

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

I learn best from books. Having been shown the basics I have found the Stitch And Bitch crochet book the easiest to follow.

[Doramaybe]

I am obviously a maverick crochet person.

I loop the wool on my right hand and work the wool from my right with the hook. Like knitting.

My Gran taught me that way, and in fact after reading this thread, I went out and bought a few hooks and a ball of wool to test the way I do it compared with all the vids.

Absolutely the same result.

I wish I could explain more.

Scarves and granny squares coming your way, after twenty years lol.

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Dora, I am the same.
Having failed repeatedly to learn from books and YouTube videos, when my friend was showing me last week she said, 'Since you're a knitter you might find it easier that way' and ping! I got it immediately.

[Doramaybe]

TheCountess.

Hey, thanks!

I thought it was just me. I used to crochet years ago, and this thread woke me up again. As I said I work near a wool shop, and just bought a hook an a ball of wool, I think it cost 4 quid altogether. I have to say it was like riding a bike, I just went back to the way Gran taught me.

I flew through it. Am delighted now, will do more.

Have a friend who is expecting a baby in March. Guess what I will try?

I am amazed that the "knitting" stance is so normal for me. Thanks again!

[flamingnoravera]

Another knitting style yarn holder here. I cannot get the hang of the opposite hand yarn feed.

[CotswoldStrife]

I started crocheting this year, although I do hold the wool in my left hand quite a few other people do the right-handed 'knitting' hold and I looked the odd one out!

[BananaSandwichesEveryDay]

Hi Iamdivergant. I was inspired to learn to crochet by the wonderful Candy's Hugs pages on here. I bought a cheap ball of wool and a no 5 hook from Dunelm and then did a Google Search. I found several sites where I could watch basic tutorials and I just kept watching a bit, then copying until I got the hang of each stitch. Just before the end of the school summer break, I was confident enough of my abilities that I bought some wool and made some squares for Candy's Hugs. I'm now making a scarf each for my dils as part of their Christmas gift.
Good luck on. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

[Doramaybe]

Right or left, the end result is the same.

Just that the Left hold for the yarn might be the "right" way to do it, but whatever.

I am delighted that I caught this thread. I will be right hand crocheting again after so many years.

Thanks OP and contributors.

[tizwozliz]

I personally learn from books/diagrams more easily than videos. Although the way I crochet looks different to anything else I've ever seen online (and people who can crochet look on in bemusement if they see me crochet!)

I've actually been trying to retrain myself but without much success

[iamdivergent]

Ooh fab it's spurned others on. I got my bits and have managed a chain. I cannot get my brain and hands to coordinate when making the next row though argh

[iamdivergent]

Something clicked today! It's a tad squint but I'm further on than I was the other day!

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Looking good!

[iamdivergent]

facepalm

Blame dh as he started talking to me grrrrr

[iamdivergent]

What happened here then

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

It looks like you have lost some stitches. Did you forget to make the turning chain at the start of the row?

[BlackAmericanoNoSugar]

Do you have any stitch markers? A safety pin, a hook earring or a hair clip would do, or even loop through a different colour piece of yarn. Put a marker in your first stitch if you’re doing a row of doubles, or into the third chain if you’re doing a row of trebles where 3ch counts as the first stitch. That way it will be completely obvious where your last stitch should go at the end of every row. Also, count stitches each row until you’re more au fait with it.

[iamdivergent]

Thank you. I'll try and find the safety pins 😂