Introduction
Crochet is an art form that is full of variety and potential. With any number of stitches, one can create blankets, baskets, clothes and jewelry. Many crafters report that crochet is faster than knitting, and this appeals to many who might be considering picking up the hook for the first time. Crochet has long been considered easier to learn than knitting since, at its most basic, it only requires one hook and a ball of yarn. Crochet is a hobby that doesn’t discriminate. Anyone can do it. Men, women, young people, and older folks have all adopted crochet as a hobby. You don’t need a lot of money to crochet, either. All you need is a hook and yarn, as many wonderful items have been made with a simple aluminum hook and sturdy acrylic yarn.
Crochet, as we know it at least, developed during the 16th century. Historical sources claim that crochet may be found in Italy as far back as the 1500’s, but because fiber-based archaeological finds do not survive the ravages of time very well, it is difficult to find evidence of crochet in Europe before 1800.
One place that crochet made a real difference was in Ireland during the Great Potato Famine. Once Queen Victoria bought crocheted Irish lace from women in Ireland, everyone who was anyone had to have it too. Irish lace took off and the art of crochet saved many families in Ireland from further poverty and likely death by starvation. Schools were formed, teachers trained and scattered throughout the island, and crafters began designing their own patterns. As personal finances improved, people began to emigrate to America (Marks, 2019). Neighbors began to share patterns and it wasn’t long before crochet took off in North America. Necessity is the mother of invention and it wasn’t long before crochet made a mark in clothing, housewares and jewelry.
But what’s with that hook? You might be surprised to know the humble crochet hook has been made of a wide range of materials. Aluminum is the most common material, the most sturdy, and the most cost effective for beginners. Historically the hook was made out of whatever crafters had on hand such as fossilized mammoth bone, porcupine quill, celluloid, agate, ivory and bone. Very small hooks that measured 2mm or less were, and still are, made from steel. These days, handles can be covered with soft foam for increased comfort of crafters with joint pain. Handles have also been ornately carved, adding a unique and personal touch to a crafter’s tool.
The crochet hook is a simple tool made up of a few important sections. We refer to the entire tool and the tip of it with the same word, “hook.” The pointed tip is used to poke into stitches, or into the center of circles. This is the leading edge of your tool. It is the hook that captures the yarn. The yarn then sits in the throat, or the depression right behind the hook. The body of the crochet hook is made up of the shaft, the thumb rest,
and the handle. To make things even more interesting, there are two kinds of crochet hooks: in-line and tapered. An in-line hook has a throat that is flatter and deeper than a tapered hook. If you find one kind too difficult to work with, try the other. There’s no point in using a tool you don’t like!
Hooks range from tiny to quite large! Hook size refers to the size of the head and the throat. Generally, crochet hooks are all the same length. The size of a hook is measured in millimeters, and directly impacts the size of your stitches and the size of whatever you are trying to make. While you are still getting used to the feel of the hook, it’s recommended that you start out with a mid-sized hook, rather than one that is very small or too large and cumbersome. The best yarn to start with is a worsted weight acrylic yarn thick enough to be easy to work with and durable in the washing machine and dryer. This will stand up very well to the friction produced by pulling back stitches if the need arises. And as anyone who has ever picked up a crochet hook can tell you—occasionally pulling back stitches is a fact of (crochet) life! If you study the label on the yarn you have in mind (or the details of the yarn if you’re shopping online), you’ll find a recommended hook size that corresponds to that yarn.
How To Crochet Clothes
Many crafters decide they’d like to create their own clothes, but they want more choices than were available back in the days of the granny square vest. While those vests can be quite attractive, there’s nothing wrong with variety. It can be great fun to decide what to make, once you know who you want to make the garment for! Are you crocheting for an adult or a child? Or perhaps a pet? If you’re crocheting for an adult, will your garment be for a man or a woman? We’ll discuss some of the many options available, discuss stitches that might lend themselves more readily to a garment and a few other considerations you may want to think about before starting.
Crochet For Beginners
As with all other crafts, you’ll want to learn the basics first and build your skills up from there. Most of the challenge of learning this wonderful craft will be in building your muscle memory. Holding the hook, manipulating the yarn, and learning how your item should look will all become easier with time. You need to practice these new skills as you
learn them. Once you master one stitch, then the next, making one charming item after another, you’ll build your skillset and your confidence. You’ve got this!
There are many hooks available on the market today, made from a wide range of materials. Bamboo, aluminum, nickel and plastic are among the most sought-after. Some even have foam grips designed to help crafters with arthritis grip the hook more comfortably. It really comes down to trial and error, but you want to choose a hook that will allow the yarn to glide smoothly over the hook and shaft and not make you work harder than you have to. For this reason, many beginners start with an aluminum hook. Thankfully, hooks are relatively inexpensive, so one doesn’t need to break the bank to find a hook they like. Hooks are measured around the shaft, using millimeters. The millimeter measurement is then used to denote the hook's size—for example, a 4mm hook measures 4mm around the shaft. The number of millimeters also corresponds to a letter. For example, a 4mm is also a G/6.
Yarn is another material swimming with choices. There are so many to choose from that it can be overwhelming! Acrylic is a common choice, as is wool. Yarn is also made from alpaca, buffalo, bamboo, cotton, wool blends, Angora, and silk. You’ll want to start with a yarn that feels good in your hands. The more pleasant a yarn feels as it slides between your fingers, the more pleasure you’ll get as you learn. This is another material that you may want to experiment with to really get a good idea of your preferences. Yarn comes in