Step 2: The Starting Chain

Ready to get frustrated with this? Most people do, but don't. Just keep calm and if you can't get it, blame me and I'll try to explain better.

I'm sorry lefties, I don't know how to teach left handed crochet but I know a lot of left handed people crochet right handed. Both of your hands have work to do anyway!

Your yarn should have two ends, one that feeds out of the middle and one that feeds out of the outside. I prefer to use the one that feeds from the outside as it tends to get tangled less. You may try either.

Step 1:
Leaving a 'tail' of 2 to 3 inches of yarn wrap the yarn around your index finger twice, crossing the second loop to behind the first. It should create an 'x' shape on the side of your finger.

Step 2:
Tug lightly on the front loop to loosen it, then pull the back loop underneath the front loop and up. Slide them off your fingers and tug until tight. This should create your starting link. Or slip knot.

Please enjoy the sound effects of my baby and husband in the background.

Step 3:
Next put the hook through the loop you just created and tug on the 'tail' end of the yarn to tighten it onto your hook.

Step 4: 
Place your right index finger on the top of the loop around the hook to stabilize it then yarn over (abbreviated YO in patterns) your hook. To yarn over simply take the yarn that is attached to the ball end and bring it up behind the hook and wrap it around. With your thumb and middle finger that are not on the hook grip the bottom of the loop that is on your hook to keep it from sliding. Catch the yarn you just wrapped around into the hook and through the loop. You should now have the new loop on your hook and one loop hanging below it. Congratulations you have 'chained one'.

I will be adding a video for this soon. Just trying to figure out how best to record it so you can see.

Step 5: 
Repeat Step 4 twenty more times. No, I'm serious.

Step 6: 
Congratulations, you made your starting chain. It should almost look like a braid. With your index finger on top of the chain that is on your hook you can give a little tug at the bottom of the chain to even them out a bit. It's okay if it doesn't all look even this time. It takes practice!

Important Notes:
I can tell you how to hold a hook and how to hold your yarn but for me I just made it up as I went until I found something that felt comfortable and worked for me instead of trying to train my hands.

It is completely normal for projects to look all lopsided and crazy and not work out the first time. That is OKAY! When I first tried to crochet every scarf I made turned into a triangular cat toy, and then I quit. When I picked it up again two years later I kept dropping stitches and making trapezoids. My first granny stripe blanket had to be restarted 4 times. My first chevron blanket had to be restarted 6 times.

The more you fail at a pattern or anything you make the more you LEARN ABOUT IT. If you just walked through every pattern no problem you would miss discovering so much and how to trouble shoot.

It's all part of the process. Keep practicing!

Step 1: Collect Supplies

Quite luckily the start up costs of crocheting are minimal and you may even have some of the supplies already. Here is what you'll need.

• Crochet Hook (you only need one!)
• Yarn
• Scissors
• Tapestry/Yarn Needle

Choosing Your Yarn

It's best to start with a medium weight or '4' weight yarn. I suggest starting with a Red Heart Super Saver brand yarn because it's inexpensive, holds up well, comes in an assortment of fun colors, and is medium weight. There are other types of yarn that are medium weight, you're welcome to try them if you'd prefer.

To find out if a yarn is a medium weight check the label. 

 

You also want to pick a color that is not too dark and not too light. This will make it easier for you to see the stitches in the beginning. Avoid the ombre or variegated yarns at this point.

These colors are great for starters but don't feel like you have to choose one of these! (From top to bottom Orchid, Aruba Sea, and Prefect Pink)

The yarn should cost no more than $3.50 per color.

Choosing Your Crochet Hook

Different size hooks will make different sized stitches, obviously, but even within the medium weight class of yarn there can slightly different bulkiness to the yarn and therefore different recommended hook size. Regardless of pattern, your results will always turn out better if you use the hook size recommended by the yarn (with the exception of amigurumi or tiny crocheted characters/toys/ect).

To find out the hook size you need, check the label on your yarn again.

Recommended hook size for Red Heart Super Saver yarn is a 5.5mm hook or an I-9. Make sure you look at the crochet hook size and not the knitting needle size. Easy way to tell, one is shaped like a hook, and the other one is two needles.

I recommend Boye brand hooks, they are my favorite, but try what you want.

A hook will run you a little bit over $1... big spender.

Tapestry/Yarn Needles

These are used for weaving in the ends of your yarn once you've finished a project. As you work on project with multiple colors you will have more ends to weave in, that is the allure of a solid color piece. Less ends.

You should find the yarn needles in the store by the crochet hooks and knitting needles. Look for one with a big eye so it's easier to thread the yarn through when you get to that point.

I recommend getting the metal needles over the plastic ones. Again personal preference. But 100% of the people who wrote this blog post agree with me.

Scissors

I seriously hope I don't have to explain this one. Any scissors will do, just to trim yarn and cut it off when you're done with a piece. I bought kids school scissors (metal ones, not plastic) because they are inexpensive and easy to keep around with the rest of my crochet stuff.

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And now I've given you an excuse to go shopping! Go collect supplies, I doubt it will cost you more than $7 unless you simply can't decide on a shade of yarn and have to buy 5.

I hope to have the next step up very soon! Feel free to post questions in the comment section if you need clarification on anything!