Beginners How to Start Your Own Crochet Handmade Product?

We all know crochet is fun and a relaxing hobby that anyone can do! But have you ever thought about turning it into a Crochet Handmade Product? You might also wonder, ‘how to start crocheting?

Well, in this step-by-step guide, we will discuss how to get started with the basics to knowing the most common stitches.

We are so glad that you decided to learn how to crochet! This is a craft that is super easy and fun to do because when you get the hang of it you can make just about anything.

All you need to do is get used to holding your hook and your yarn, make a slip knot, crochet a chain, and you’re good to go! But let’s get into the details!

What Do You Need to Start Crocheting?

The best thing about crocheting is that you don’t need expensive tools to get started, the tools we need are already in the drawers of our houses.

But most importantly, you will need yarn, the recommended size of crochet hook, scissors, and yarn needle.

It is recommended to start off with the thicker yarn and hook (because it is easy to handle for beginners).

But how would you know which yarn is suitable for your craft when you go shopping for it?

This is the label showing what size your yarn is. Once you start, you will be looking for the size 4 and up.

The yarn label usually states what size hook you will need. For size 4 yarn you will need a hook size 5.5mm or size I-9.

How to Hold Your Hook

There are no right or wrong ways to hold the hook but there are mostly two common ways, the knife hold, and the pencil hold.

Everybody uses different methods and It is totally up to you how you hold it!

Here’s How to Make Slip Knot

You are going to make a slip knot and place it on your hook.

The most common way to start your crochet project will be a slip knot. You will definitely want to know this because almost all patterns aren’t going to tell you to make one at the beginning of the pattern.

The pattern is called a “magic circle,” but we’ll get to that in the next tutorial.

Measure out about 3 inches of yarn.
Hold the yarn in your three fingers and point the index finger away. Like a finger gun!
Bring the yarn over your index finger once, with the short end at the front of your finger.
Wrap the yarn around your finger, this way you will have two loops.
Grab both short and long tail with your thumb and middle finger.
Take the back loop and pull it over the front loop, but do not pull it off.
Pull it off your finger completely, and then you’re going to want to tighten the knot. Don’t make it super tight, because you want your slip knot to slip up and down.

Congrats, you made your first knot!

Insert your hook into the slip and pull the working yarn. Make the tail end faces the end hook.

The Second Step is to Hold Your Yarn

Now lets conjure on how to hold your yarn.

Don’t loose your excitement just yet, because this is the exciting part!

Your tension is basically, determined by the holding of yarn. Whether your hand is right handed or left handed you hold the yarn with it relaxed and not tight, nor too loose.

Take the slip knot attached to the hook and place it in your working hand between your index finger and your middle finger.

Wrap it around your little pinky, then bring it up to the front side of the index finger; wrap it over to the back of the finger.

How to Make a Starting Chain

We know, crocheting your first chain will still feel hard but the more you practicum the more you get the hang of it.

A starting chain is the number of crochet chain stitches that form the foundation for the rest of your craft.

To make a starting chain:

Hold the hook in your right hand and the yarn in your left hand. Take the hook, if it is not already through the slip knot.

Grip the end of the slip knot with your left hand, and hold it between your thumb and middle finger as previously.

Bring the working yarn over the hook, moving it from the back to the front.

Turn the hook a little and catch the yarn in its bowl or mouth, then draw it through the loop on the hook. That makes one chain stitch.

Working Into Your Chain

This picture shows how you can count your stitches, the front should look like a series of interlocking Vs.

Now Let’s Learn The Single Crochet

The single crochet is probably the easiest stitch and first one to work for a beginner, suitable for your very first project.

As one of the most accessible and most often used crochet stitches, the single crochet is shortened sometimes as “SC” in crochet patterns.

Start with a chain of 11 stitches. (You may use a chain you have already worked on if you like.)

Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook.

Now, yarn over the hook from back to front.

Take the yarn through the chain. Now you will have two loops on your hook.

Wrap the yarn over the hook once again.
Draw through both loops on the hook. And voilà you are left with just one loop on the hook, and you have just finished your very first single crochet stitch!

Learn to Make A Turning Chain

At the end of a row, you will turn your work over, do one or several chain stitches (that’s called the turning chain), and then begin the row of stitches.

Turning the Work

To turn your work, you simply turn it 180 degrees clockwise. Now, that other side is facing you, to ready yourself for the next row of stitches.

Finish Off By Weaving The Ends

You need to fasten off the yarn once you have completed the last row of your crochet swatch in order to secure the stitches properly.

How to Fasten Off

Cut the yarn, leaving a about 6-inch tail.
With the hook you’re carrying, draw the yarn tail through the loop on your hook.
Bring out the hook from the work and pull on the yarn tail gently to draw it tight.
You can then bind the yarn tail so that everything is held firmly in place.

And that’s it! You can now create single crochet and make more squares for your blanket or any other craft you have in mind.

In the end, learning how to start crocheting open up endless possibilities for making memorable and handmade projects.