Tip #1: Relax and get comfortable.
Relax. Choose a well lit, comfortable space to begin your crochet journey. Lighting is very important so that you do not cause undue stress on your eyes. Make sure you are in a comfortable place because once you get going you may find you do not want to put your crocheting down.

Tip #2: In the beginning use a larger hook.
Start crocheting with a larger hook. I recommend practicing with either an I hook, J hook or a K hook. Most beginner crochet tightly and this makes it difficult to get the hook between the people stitches using a larger hook will help learn the proper hook placement and will also help beginners understand gauge a bit better.

Tip #3: Worsted weight yarn is the best yarn to begin with.
The best yarn to learn with is a worsted weight yarn. There are many types of worsted weight yarn but for the beginner purposes acrylic yarn is perfect. It generally slides easily through your fingers and is easy to rip out while practicing. There are also many colors to choose from. Choose a light color so that each stitch is easy to see. Avoid deep, dark colors in the beginning. Another great benefit of acrylic is that it is usually inexpensive, perfect for practicing. Make sure that the yarn does not split easily around the hook.

Tip #4: Remember to count your stitches.
When learning to crochet you will most generally start with single stitch blocks or strips until you get the feel for the stitch. It is important to count each stitch made often beginners find their blocks slant, they have uneven sides. This is caused by either having to many stitches in each row or not having enough stitches in each row. Remember to count until you are completely comfortable with stitch definition or when learning any new stitch.

Tip #5: Find a mentor.
This may be the most important tip I can give the beginner, find someone who knows how to crochet. Knowing someone that can give you a visual is extremely important. Can you learn to crochet on your own? Absolutely! However it will speed your learning time up drastically to have someone show you the stitches. Often times teaching guides make steps look difficult by breaking them down piece by piece. Crocheting is a fluid movement and once you see it done that way it is much easier to understand those step by step instructions. Many craft stores have classes and many yarn shops won’t mind demonstrating.

These are my basic tips for beginners, perhaps you have a few tips that you would like to pass on to someone just starting their crochet journey, please stop by the crochet forum and give us your tips today!

Happy Crocheting!!!