A crochet needle is a straight, double-ended tool. It has a hook at one end and a point at the other. The crochet needle can be made of metal or bamboo and comes in a variety of gauges depending on the thread weight and type to be used.
The first step in crocheting is to make a slip knot, which is also called the starting knot, on the crochet needle.
The yarn should then be wrapped around both the hook and point of the needle to form a loop.
The tail end should then be pulled through this loop from back to front. Pulling this tail end will tighten the loop until it forms a second knot. When making the first stitch, it should be pulled on and tightened just enough to remove the slack.
The second step is to hold the knot in the crook of the thumb and fingers. The working end should then be held above and away from the other hand and drawn through this loop and under the needle point coming around from behind. Holding it back with the thumb and forefinger will make sure it doesn’t come undone.
The third step is to bring this working end back around to the front again, up along side of the needle point, through the loop on the hook and between both hands holding it taut against the needle.
Make sure you are holding your work so that it doesn’t slip out of your hands and so you don’t have to work over loose ends later. The tension should be firm but not too tight that it will distort the shape of your stitches.
The fourth step is to take the needle forward, drawing this new loop through the previous one still on the hook and draw this stitch out from under the needle point. Make sure this new loop is not too tight against the hook or your work will be distorted.
The fifth step is to hold onto the tail end of the yarn with the forefinger and thumb, letting it twist around them as you move to make another stitch. To complete your first stitch, draw this working end taut again and make sure it is not too tight.
The sixth step is to repeat the fourth and fifth steps above until you have reached the end of your row or project. The last stitch should be made with both working ends together in order to keep them secured together when needed.
The seventh step involves fastening off your work by cutting the yarn a couple of inches from the last stitch and gently pulling it out, bringing both working ends together in an even loop.
Take your crochet needle through this loop and tighten the knot by sliding the yarn back down toward it instead of drawing it up through.
The eighth step involves hiding these tails so that they are not visible on your work either by knotting them or weaving them in.
The ninth step involves blocking your work to even out the stitches, help it keep its shape and make it look more professional.
This is done by bathing the finished project into cold water while containing it within a square, then gently squeezing it to absorb excess water without disturbing the stitches too much. Hang it to dry with a towel underneath to absorb dripping water.
The tenth step involves trimming the ends of your work once it has dried, taking care not to cut them too close or else this might result in weak spots within your crocheting that could break more easily than others. You should then wear your crocheting with confidence knowing that it looks great!
When you are trying to choose between knitting or crochet, consider that the latter requires a hook and is smaller since each stitch takes up less space on your work.
This means that crocheting can be done more quickly than knitting and it’s also more portable because there’s no large needles involved. On the other hand, you can create more complicated patterns in knitting than crochet.
So this is how you can crochet.