Easy crochet patterns and yarn for a beginner

[dontstopmenow]

I thought I might ask here - my dd has a friend (14) who has a lot of anxiety. She has just started crocheting and has enjoyed making a little octopus already. Can anytime signpost to some online patterns that I can print and give her and then I can offer help as needed? Thank you !

Lots of people start with Attic24 and she often uses Style craft Special Double Knit. She makes easy blankets, garlands and wreaths.

The easiest route is to follow YouTube videos when learning a new crafting skill. You can actually "see" what to do which I think makes it more straightforward

Ravelry, they have lots of free patterns

Good idea for attic 24. I love her blankets and have made a few. I will definitely look at ravelry and YouTube also - I’m hoping to make her up a little crochet pack!!

Etsy have some great patterns too, but you do have to pay for them.

A lot of craft sites will have free and paid patterns you can download, love crafts and hobbii spring to mind. Yarn will depend on the pattern. Bella coco on YouTube is good for learning new techniques.

Lovecrafts have loads of free downloadable crochet patterns, including some specifically for beginners
Crochet Supplies | Shop Crochet - 15% off First Order | LoveCrafts
You just need to sign up to get their e-mails I think (you can always unsubscribed afterwards)
also Sirdar
https://sirdar.com/en/patterns/free-patterns
and Hobbii
Patterns - Hobbii.co.uk

For yarn, I'd recommend starting with a cotton yarn, as this makes it easier to see the stitches and less likely to split or get caught in the hook.

Granny squares are my favourite soothing activity. If you use a variegated double knit yarn you can just keep going and still get different colours and a giant blanket. Lots of guides on YouTube

Theresa’s Crochet Shop on Etsy.. so many little animal patterns. They are paid for but not expensive, and so simple to follow. I’ve made a few of hers and they work up really quickly

You could go for something like this
amzn.eu/d/6QqGRhA

Tbh though my 14 year old just searches things up on YouTube or looks at something and enjoyed working out the pattern herself. She is making an Attic24 bag now but prefers quicker projects like little animal keyrings etc. The cotton yarn they use in these patterns are good and you can get colourful packs of them.

I agree re. Crochet good for anxiety. She may also enjoy cross stitching.

That's a lovely idea.

A teenager might like some of the more modern crochet like Nattythread or etm.Studi0 on Instagram. Have a look at the Asian amigurumi on YouTube, loads of brilliant tuts. A lot use milk cotton which I tricky to get here by use a blended cotton as an alt for amigurumi like Scheepjes soft fun or sirdar stories. Both brilliant for amihurumi with a 2.5 hook.

Bella Coco on YouTube is fab. I find Stylecraft special double knit is a fab yarn to start with

Oh and Etsy have a lot of great amigurumi patterns. Try searching for kawaii and there lots of fun easy to make patterns