Month: April 2022

A-To-Z Challenge ~ Letter ‘K’

K: Crocheter’s Starter Kit

A crochet starter kit is a great present for a friend who has experienced
the desire to learn the craft.

Choose a nice basket preferably one with a handle. It doesn’t have to be
expensive.
Place within it the following items (tools) of the art of crochet.

1. A few skeins of a well-known brand of yarn. Acrylic yarn has a vast
selection of colorful hues, is non-sensitive to skin and the learner will
find it works stitches with ease.
2. Two different size hooks – H (5:00mm) and J (6:00mm) are good
size selections.
3. Scissors
4. Yarn (a.k.a. tapestry) needles to weave in ends. They are available
in steel and plastic.
5. Stitch markers (inexpensive) are quite helpful for counting stitches
or rows.
6. An easy instructional booklet with illustrations.
7. Remember to place a bow on the handle along with a nice gift card.

A-To-Z Challenge: Letter ‘J’

When working on a project it’s best to ‘join’ new yarn (same or
contrast color) at the end of the row rather than in the middle
making the join less noticeable.

Join your new yarn by first making a slip knot and placing it
on the hook. Next insert the hook into the first stitch on the
row then draw new yarn through both slip stitch and slip knot.
Voila!
Continue stitching along the row.
Remember to leave a good size tail from previous row’s yarn
(fastened off) to weave into your project.

The crocheter can use this method with any stitch pattern.

A-To-Z Challenge: Letter ‘I’

A crochet pattern often requires the crafter to ‘increase’ stitches.

Simply defined = add two stitches into one within a row per
instruction.

The extra stitch can be placed at the beginning, the end, in the
middle portion or even every other stitch.

Whenever you Increase stitches, you accomplish a different shape
design.

Pay close attention to your pattern’s instructions. Increases often  
are repeated and the instructions are written between parentheses.

Instructions with illustrations prove to be quite beneficial and now a 
beginner to the craft can access and subscribe to YouTube channels,
technological wonders for free.

A-To-Z Challenge: Letter ‘H’


The two most common types of crochet hooks are the yarn hook and the
thread hook.

Yarn hooks are made from various materials with all having the same basic
construction.

There are five parts to a hook.

The head hooks the yarn enabling the crocheter to grab and slide the yarn
in and out of a project as per pattern requirements.

Moving downward is the throat of the hook which extends from the head
to the working area. Be wary of working your stitches in this slanted area as
they’ll be way too tight.

Next is the most important part of the hook ‘the working area’, the straight
part of the hook where stitches are formed to designated size.

Following is the finger hold, an indented place a crocheter can place the
thumb. Stitches should never be formed in this area; they will be way too
loose.

The shaft is the last portion of the hook where the crocheter’s hand rests
while working on a project.

Hooks are made from plastic, metal (aluminum) and wood (bamboo inclusive).
Each has its advantages and disadvantages thus it’s the individual’s choice
usually based on the type of yarn, habits and preferences.
In the past I always chose aluminum hooks.

The size of hooks range in both diameter and length with two basic types,
inline and shaped.

You’ll find both metric (mm) and letter/number listed on the finger hold
portion of the hook. The most popular hooks for me were/are: ‘H’, ‘I’, ‘J’
and ‘K’.

In comparison to years ago there’s more of a selection and curious me
purchased both an ergonomic aluminum hook for comfort and a huge
plastic one to experiment.





US ‘T’

A-To-Z Challenge: Letter ‘G’

Grannie Square(s)

Worked from the center outwards the grannie square, unlike other
crochet patterns, has no set gauge nor hook size.
The yarn choices range from crochet cotton to bulky.
My preference is Red Heart 4 ply acrylic as wool would make me
itch.
Squares can be worked in one specific color or several colors by
adding contrast colors.
When the desired number of individual squares has been completed,
the crocheter can join them in two different ways (crocheted together
or stitched together with a yarn needle).
Grannie squares are a great way to use up leftover yarn.
There are hundreds of square variations to choose from and numerous
YouTube channels to assist newbies to intermediate crocheters with
visual Step-by-Step by instructions.
The sky is the limit to the crafter’s creativity.