How easy is it to teach yourself to crochet?

[RedPandaWanda]

I love crochet and wish I had learned as a child.
I am 49 now and would need to teach myself, I’ve tried looking for local classes but there isn’t anything much about and those that are available are too expensive.
Does anyone know if it’s something easy to pick up or am I too old to learn now?

It is easy, but beware - I injured my wrist
making a blanket and had to stop! I think it was tendonitis or something. If I had realised it was an extreme sport I would have taken more precautions! This was some years ago and I have recently started considering 'getting back on the horse', though I'm a mother now and therefore need to be responsible and conduct a thorough risk assessment first 😄

I had a Ladybird book that taught me basic crochet when I was 8 or 9, along with my Mum's god daughter helping. I've not done it in years, you've inspired me, OP! Still have some hooks, but no yarn ...

I taught myself from the Happy Hooker book! Trust me, I had tried EVERY youtube video going at the time (about 10yrs ago) and I just couldn't understand the most absolute basic stitch at all. They all just seemed to say 'then simply slip your hook along' whilst working at warp speed with their hands in the way. Working from the book was so much easier because she really explained how to think about the stitches. I haven't hooked for a while now, but that book gave me the basic knowledge I needed to create some really gorgeous things.

I will warn you now that it starts off frustrating, but it's very addictive. And apparently brilliant for mental health too. My favourite hooks are Clover ones - I'd suggest starting with a larger hook than a 4mm just because it's easier to see each stitch so you can understand how it all works. But pick up some cheap acrylic and an 8mm hook and get on ravelry for some inspiration. One of my favourite scarves is the first thing I ever made, using the most basic stitch, with some soft chunky wool.

Thank you all for your advice and suggestions.
I’m really hoping to get the hang of it and for it to become my new hobby.

Agree with recommendations, start with Bella Coco, a 4mm hook and a ball of DK wool. Stylecraft is my favourite, but the pound shop is a good place to get a ball to start with.

Esther from 'In a Nutshell' does a lovely TLC blanket to learn different techniques
itsallinanutshell.com/2020/06/17/tlc-blanket-learn-to-crochet/

There are video tutorials for each section, she's a fantastic video teacher.

I taught myself to crochet on my 60th birthday so you're definitely not too old! I prefer learning from a book and bought a 2nd hand copy of Crochet Step by Step by Sally Harding.

I've always struggled with tension in my many previous failed attempts (starting age 6 ) so now I just wind the wool round my fingers extra times so it doesn't escape.

I had tried to pick it up again for years after learning the basics as a kid. I just couldn't do it. I found a cheap kids set in a charity shop and the diagrams where sort simple and within a Week I could do a simple granny square. Then after a few weeks of churning them out and getting the muscle memory going I watched you tube and only did U.K. tutorials. Now I make up my own patterns as I go along. This is a very loose weave beach cardigan I'm working on for summer, based on a simple Mandala design. I'll attach a picture of the set I bought too . The wool and hook is frankly terrible but the book was a huge help for me. I found it much easier to start with a larger hook, like a size 8 and some T-shirt toe yarn instead of a ply with a few starters twisted. I got into a terrible twist with that sort of yarn but with t shirt yarn you can't pierce the strand.

I really want to learn too!

I’m very excited, I’ve ordered some bits and a little kit off Etsy.

Fucking impossible, based on my own efforts 🤣

Easy. I am not keen of videos as most hold the hook different my to me. Fiber Spider is good though as he has a clear presentation in his videos.

I prefer charts and diagrams as they are easy to follow and replicate.

My dd is 15 and taught herself during lockdown by watching videos. Charity shops often have some decent books; I picked up a how to crochet book with lots of very clear diagrams for £2.

I taught myself by buying a beginners kit then googling the stitches as they came up on the pattern. It was very easy, but you do need to work out if the pattern is us or uk terms.

I used the happy hooker book supplemented by YouTube videos when I was struggling. I sat at night in front of the to fiddling with wool and a hook. The first thing I made was a cushion cover with granny squares. One tip though, choose bright wool to practice, definitely not black or anything dark because the stitches are so much harder to see. It’s just practice practice. My friend went to a group at the same time as I started and we progressed at much the same rate.

If you find it difficult to get your head around it then you could ask at your local wool shop - either the staff there or a regular customer would probably give you a tutorial. When I wanted to learn one of DMs friends showed me in half an hour or so. We had a craze at school for making blankets as a huge granny square and I wanted to join in.

Also recommend Bella Coco, I started last week and surprised myself by being able to do rows of simple stitches by the end of the second day!

I also recommend Bella Coco. I started with the granny square, I think that is easier than trying to do a block of a certain stitch to begin with. I’m going to go against the grain though and say get a chunky wool in a light or bright colour but not white (cream, yellow, pale green, bright blue, pink) as your stitches will be clearer and when they are talking about the parts of the stitches it’s easier to find the corresponding bits on your stitch. I’d also get a 6mm hook as the 4mm will be too small for chunky wool.

@ludocris

It is easy, but beware - I injured my wrist making a blanket and had to stop! I think it was tendonitis or something. If I had realised it was an extreme sport I would have taken more precautions! This was some years ago and I have recently started considering 'getting back on the horse', though I'm a mother now and therefore need to be responsible and conduct a thorough risk assessment first 😄

Same here! In 2019 I learned from YouTube, mainly Bella Coco though lots of others. I was pretty housebound due to cancer treatment and it gave me something absorbing to do. Unfortunately I ended up with tenosynovitis as well as a flare up of arthritis and had to give up.

Then in October I pickedit up again and I'm loving it. Just careful not to sit and crochet for too long!
I like Bella Coco because she is slow, clear and English and she doesn'twaffleon for half an hour before she starts. There are lots of US YouTube tutorials but the terminology is different.

Someone bought me a kit from etsy as a gift and it nearly put me off as it was so difficult. Thin thread and tiny fiddly pattern.
Best Imo to do a scarf first. Something repetitive and forgiving to get the practice and rhythm.

I found Bella Coco great too. Had no notion of how to crochet at all. My first block was very rough but I had my first granny square 2 days later. Now on my third blanket and made myself a small rug with hexagons too

This is second blanket, completed 6 months after I first picked up a hook but not doing it every day. And with an unreasonable amount of time using Excel pivot tables to work out the colours were balanced . I always thought of myself as exceptionally poor at anything artistic or crafty and I've been thrilled at how I've been able to crochet.

Made for DD, 3 at the time. Her only comment? "I want more pink". Sigh.

I had a look at Bella Coco and am going to try again. Thanks.