Crocheting is a challenging hobby and skill. You need to be focused, know how to use your hands, and get plenty of practice. You can improve your crochet skills by just following a few basic tips and tricks, including choosing the right yarn and hook.
Improve your Crochet Skills with these Tips
Try Different Yarns
Although every type of yarn is ideal to begin your journey, some yarns offer a more fine and professional look. Opt for the linen yarn that works beautifully, as you can easily handle it while crocheting. It’s best to try different yarns to find the one that is ideal for you and your crochet style.
Additionally, some types of yarns, such as manmade fibers, can cause irritation and itching in sensitive skin. If you experience similar problems, you can go for natural yarn fibers. They are smooth and easily roll on the hook. If you are planning to do so, make sure to purchase single yarn balls of each type of yarn to save money.
Opt for Right Crochet Hook
The truth is that finding the right hook is no easy task. It might sound absurd to you, but every person trying to crochet holds the hook differently. Don’t worry! You get the same results no matter how your fingers reside on the hook. You need to look at how your body connects with the hook-knife grip, pencil hold, or left-handed style.
Apart from this, consider the pressure you put into holding the hook and how your wrist and arms move while crocheting. Of course, you can’t just hold a hook to determine whether it works for you or not. You need to try crocheting through multiple hooks to find the best fit. Invest in hooks by different brands that you think will be ideal for you. Once you find the perfect tool, you can start making gorgeous crochet creations in no time.
Make Variety of Patterns
We all take inspiration from certain designers to polish and explore our skills. However, people who only gravitate towards specific designers don’t learn much about other styles. While there’s nothing wrong with it, it does put a limit on your learning opportunities.
To truly find the style that suits you, you should broaden your skillset. This will help you grow as a designer and professional in the future. When you’re aware of different crocheting techniques, you can choose a method and style that defines your work and personality.
Look for different designers, and practice several of their designs and patterns . Try to learn as many techniques as you can to understand how crochet pieces come about. The best part of following different designers is that you learn the difference between hooks, yarns, and styles. If you only limit yourself to a few styles by a handful of designers, you can’t use your full creative potential.
Learn About Gauge
Don’t try to avoid using a gauge, as it really matters in improving your crochet skills. This tool helps you know how many stitches you need to use in the required inches. It also helps you determine how many rows of the stitch work best in an inch. If you want to make an item that matches the design you have chosen, you need to use the right measurements. A gauge also helps you create a design with the right sizes that you need to fit in other pieces. If you want your piece to be accurate and look like it was made by a pro, using a gauge is a must.
Generally, beginners don’t use it when making a design. This often leads to a hat that doesn’t fit right or a larger-than-necessary chair cover. Many pieces end up going to waste due to this small mistake. Don’t worry, though, because using a gauge doesn’t take much time, and you don’t have to put in much effort to learn using it either.
Consider Frogging
What’s frogging? It’s when you have to rip out your stitches due to a mistake. Typically, it happens when you choose a design with so many details that it needs different methods to create. If you want to polish your crochet skills, it’s best to frog your piece. In fact, if you crochet your piece completely and find a mistake a few rows back, frog it. People who want this step don’t get appealing and impressive results.
The worst part is that in most cases, mistakes are pretty noticeable. However, if the problem is not visible and you don’t want to go back, then you might unsee it. The best way to avoid this problem is to check your pieces after swinging in and swinging out your yarn a few times. Don’t procrastinate to frog a few columns or rows back. This will save your time and energy as well as give you a beautiful creation to feel proud of.
Keep Stitches Loose and Relax
We all feel nervous and tense when we try new things or learn something. It explains why many beginners tend to hold their hooks tighter so they can avoid mistakes. It’s actually the other way around: holding on tighter can keep you from making perfect stitches. This especially applies to particularly complicated stitches. So fight the urge to hold on tight, relax, and take a deep breath. Lose your grip on the hook to relax your stitches.
Slowly stitch your piece by looking closely at your hands and yarn. Not only will your crochet get a finer and smoother look, but you will also find it easy to insert your hook. Many people struggle to insert a hook to make stitches. This is because they tighten their last stitch, which leaves no space for a hook. So, to make the process easier, go easy with your yarn and stitches, so they stay loose.
Bottom Line
Crocheting is more like calligraphy, as you have to focus on the movement of your hands. Like calligraphy and other challenging activities, you need loads of practice to take your crochet skills to the next level. But also remember to keep the right equipment and learn new techniques to enhance your skillset.
