The Easy Crochet Bible: A Complete Beginner's Guide on Crochet
Author: Riley, Lucy
Date: 2019-06-29

The Easy Crochet Bible

A Complete Beginner's Guide on Crochet

Lucy Riley

Description

Crocheting is the procedure of creating a material by interlocking the circles of a thread, yarn, or strings of various materials by means of what is referred to as a crochet hook. The name is known to be derived from the French term crochet, which translated to English means “small hook.” This book titled The Easy Crochet Bible is a beginner’s guide to getting started working with materials that are used to create crochet projects. This book will carry you through the process of learning how to crochet, from learning about the different types of materials you can use to crochet and the tools that you will need to crochet your project, through varying types of ways to add embellishments and finish off your project depending on what your goal is. The book is structured to guide you through the art of crochet in this way:

- The first chapter of the book will guide you through the various types of materials you can use to crochet and which ones work best for the various types of patterns that are available. It will also cover the tools that are needed and the materials that the tools are made out of, as well as why there are so many different types.

- The next two chapters will intimately cover the basics of crochet and how to hold your hook and the difference between your hook hand and your yarn hand. Once you have gotten that down, the book will cover the various types of basic stitches you will need to know in order to get started.

- The book will wrap up with your options for embellishing your crochet project and how easy it is to change between multiple colours in any kind of crochet project.

- Finally, the book will cover how to finish the project to tie off any loose ends. You do not want your project to unravel!

This book is a general guide to crocheting, and it is best for people who are beginners or those who have been practicing crocheting for a while and want to get a refresher course on things they likely already know but may have probably forgotten. If you have been interested in learning to crochet for a while but did not know where to start, you have come to the right place! You will enjoy how easy this book is to read and the way that it guides you through the different topics that are related to starting your first crochet project. This book will cover everything you need to know to get started crocheting. The descriptions of the tools and materials you need are general knowledge until you reach the chapters on the many different ways that you can add embellishments to your project, as well as how to finish the project so that you will not have to worry about it coming unravelled. There is a flow to the book that will help even the newest person to crocheting begin successfully crocheting.

Table of Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1: Getting Started: Equipment and Materials

➢      Yarn

➢      Hooks

➢      Measuring Tools

➢      Needles

➢      Scissors

➢      Stitch Markers

➢      Specialty items

Chapter 2: Crochet Basics: How to Begin

➢      Slip Knot

➢      Fountain Chain

Chapter 3: Types of Stitches: From Basic to More Advanced

➢      Slip Stitch

➢      Single Crochet

➢      Double Crochet

➢      Half-Double Crochet

➢      Triple (Treble) Crochet

➢      Bullion Stitch

➢      Loop Stitch

Chapter 4: Embellishments and Additional Touches

➢      Flowers and Leaves

➢      Borders

➢      Bands

➢      Braids and Cords

➢      Motifs and Other Shapes

Chapter 5: Working with Colour

➢      Changing Colours at the End of a Row

➢      Changing Colours in the Middle of a Row

Chapter 6: Finishing Your Crochet Piece

➢      Basic Row Method

➢      Continuous Round Chain Method

Conclusion

Introduction

Congratulations on downloading The Easy Crochet Bible and thank you for doing so. You have likely come across this book in your search to begin practicing the art of crochet or are looking to deepen your knowledge about crochet. This book will be a guide to learning how to begin crocheting and everything you will need to know in order to get started. This book can be a good reference for you as you begin your new crochet projects. It will discuss everything from the basics through more advanced techniques that you can use once you get more comfortable.

The following chapters will discuss descriptions of all of the tools you will need to begin a basic crochet project as well as the types of materials you need to create your project. It will then follow with basic techniques for using your tools and materials and the many different types of stitches that are used in crochet. It will cover everything from basic stitches to those that can be considered more advanced. The next two chapters will walk you through your embellishment options as well as working with multiple colours in one project. The final chapter will be a guide to wrap your crochet without leaving any loose ends!

There are ample books on this subject of crochet on the market, thank you again for choosing this one! Every effort was made to make sure it is filled with as much useful information as possible to help you. Please enjoy!

Chapter 1: Getting Started: Equipment and Materials

Before you get started on your crochet projects, it is important to get to know the tools and equipment as well as the materials that you will need and will be using in each of your projects. You will want to ensure that you are using the correct tools and materials so that your project comes out the way you are expecting it to. Although there are a wide variety of materials and tools you can use depending on the project you are working on, it is good to know the differences up front to make sure each of your crochet works is successful.

Yarn

A variety of materials can and will be used to do crochet projects. Many of these types that are popular include strips of fabric, knitting yarns, threads used for embroidery, ribbons, and wire that can all be used in crochet. There are yarns that are specifically made for crochet which are likely easier to use, especially in the beginning. As you get more involved in crochet, you will see that there is a unique effect created with different materials that are worth the difficulty that may come along with using them. The yarn that is specifically designed for crochet is known to be firm and smooth, and this type of yarn is the best to use when learning a new type of crochet technique. There are a few things that you will want to consider when selecting a yarn for your crochet project. We will discuss some of these points next.

If you purchase your yarn by the hank, which is a wrapped unit of yard or twine, know that it will be easier to work with if you unwrap it and wind it into a ball. Depending on the material the hank will come in different lengths. Cotton threads are known to be much stronger than other threads. You will want to use mercerized cotton. The process of mercerizing adds sheen to the cotton. Wool and wool-blend yarns have a bit of stretch to them that make it easier to insert your hook, making it a really nice material to work with. Linen yarns that are natural can be a bit stiff sometimes, but it creates a crisp neat and durable fabric. If the natural linen is blended with another fabric, it can help soften the linen. Acrylic and nylon yarns are the most likely to pill more than other yarns, but they are generally inexpensive and easily accessible.

Loosely woven yarns are difficult to pick up stitches as they have a tendency to split in half very easily. Heavily textured and furry or hairy yarns make it difficult to unravel if you make a mistake and need to fix it. It will also hide the structure of your stitches and will likely make it difficult to maintain an even gauge as you are working. Silk is very comfortable to wear as it keeps you warm in the winter and cool in the summer. However, it is very expensive and it is not as resilient as the other yarns that are available. Silk also has a shine to it. Blended yarns that are good quality usually retain the best properties of the component fibres. Yarns that are dark in colour can make it hard to see your stitches unless you are working in good lighting. If you are thinking of using a different yarn than what is recommended in the pattern, you will want to make sure you crochet a gauge swatch and check on the size of your hook. Try to choose a yarn that has a similar weight as the yarn that is recommended.

Hooks

The standard crochet hooks come in a variety of colours, materials, and sizes. They can be made of plastic, bamboo, wood, steel, and aluminium. Hooks that are considered antique are made of bone, ivory, wood, Bakelite, and resin. Fine cotton and linen threads are typically used with steel hooks. Plastic and aluminium hooks are the most commonly used and available hooks and are generally used with a wide variety of yarn types.

When you are starting a pattern, it will usually recommend a hook size that will work best for the particular project. It may vary, however, depending on the size of your gauge. The most important thing to consider when selecting a hook, besides the size of the hook, is how comfortable the hook is to hold in your hand. If possible, you should handle and hold a variety of hooks before you make a purchase to ensure the hook can be held comfortably in your hand. Afghan hooks, or blanket hooks, have a cylindrical and long shaft and a knob at one end that is used to prevent a stitch from falling off. The hook you are using needs to be long enough to hold all of the stitches that are across the entire width of your piece.

There is a lovely product available on Amazon that has a soft silicone handle for comfort, 11 interchangeable sizes so that you do not need to buy multiple hooks and it light up in the dark! It is available for purchase here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07HDQ1WR8?ref=myi_title_dp.

Measuring Tools

You will want to find and use a measuring tape that is flexible, and that shows both imperial and metric measurements on the same side. You will want to keep in mind that with flexible measuring tapes, they can stretch over time and become inaccurate. If you have a flexible measuring tape that is starting to show signs of wear or is getting stretched out, you will want to purchase a new one so that your measurements remain accurate. A twelve-inch plastic or metal ruler can also be useful when you measure gauge swatches.

Needles

You will want to avoid splitting your crochet stitches, so it is important for you to use a large eye needle with a blunt tip. Tapestry needles are a good option for this, and they are typically the perfect choice as they come in sizes that range from 18 to 28. Yarn darners are needles that are longer than tapestry and depending on the project, are also great choices. You will want to do your research to see what needles will work best for the types of projects you will be working on. If you are going to do a wide variety of projects right from the beginning, you may want to invest in multiple needle sizes so that you are ready for your projects and you have everything you may need to get started right away.

Scissors

You will want to invest in a pair of small, sharp, and pointed scissors to cut your yarn and for trimming off tails. It is important to maintain the sharpness of the scissors so that you do not split your stitches. There are a variety of scissors that come with covers over the blades which will help you maintain the integrity of the blade. It will also help keep your fingers safe from harm depending on where you store the scissors. The size of the scissors is also important because you want them to be small enough to get into small spaces to cut off your tails and not create holes or damages to your stitches as you are using them. Pointed ends are important, too, as it will give you a precise location to cut.

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers do exactly what the name says; they mark your stitch position. While the rings are small, they are quite useful. They can help you keep your place, complete a complicated stitch, be a reminder to swap out colours and more. So if you are known to be a multitasker, you can use stitch markers and never miss a stitch. Stitch markers are plastic or metal small rings that you place between your stitches to mark an important part of your pattern. There are two main types of stitch markers, locking, and ring. The locking stitch markers open and close with a latch while the ring makes a solid circle. You can slide a solid ring onto your needs between two different stitches. As your knitting continues, you can either slip the marker when you come to it or remove it, depending on the pattern you are using. You will want to make sure you remove them at this point, or it will become a permanent part of your project.

Specialty items

Eventually, when you are well into your crochet journey, you might want to try your luck at broomstick crochet. For this, you will need a large knitting needle. If you are not able to find a needle that is a good diameter and length, use the length of a wooden rod. The length of the needle will limit the width of the piece you are crocheting. You will want to sharpen one end to a point and smooth it out with fine sandpaper.

If you are looking to do hairpin crochet, you will need the specific hairpin tool. These are easily available for purchase from knitting shops and specialty needlework stores. There are many versatile tools that have several holes in them so that you can adjust the width of your work fairly easily.

Chapter 2: Crochet Basics: How to Begin

As you will come to know there are a wide variety of crochet stitches, but most projects that you start will require you to learn know to make a slip knot in order to get your yarn on the hook and a chain stitch in order to make a solid row to anchor your entire crochet piece. Other basic stitches are the double crochet, single crochet; slip stitch crochet and half double crochet that will allow you to start crocheting. Beginner projects are the single crochet, double crochet; half double crochet, and slip stitch. The next chapter will discuss all of these different crochet stitches in details. However, before you learn about the basic stitches, you will need to learn how to pick up a hook and yarn efficiently.

Depending on whether you are left-handed or right-handed, you will need to decide which hand you will want to hold your hook and yard with. The hand that you decide to hold the yarn with, whether it is your left hand or your right hand, will now be your “yarn hand.” Therefore, the other hand that you decide to hold your hook with will now be your “hook hand.” Since the art of crochet requires the most amount of deftness with the hand that holds your hook, your dominant hand is the one you should probably start working with as the hand that holds your hook. Sometimes, though, it is common for people who are left-handed to feel more comfortable with holding the hook in their right hand. Once you are making your first stitches, you will know immediately which hand you will want as your yarn hand and which hand you want to be your hook hand.

Every crocheter is likely to develop their favourite way of holding their hook. Some hold their hook a certain way because it is the way that they had learned from the beginning and have always done it that way; others have accommodated holding their hook in a way to create comfort for their hand. This is especially true for people who are suffering from injuries or arthritis. The good thing about having different ways of holding a good hook is that all of them are just slight variations of the two different basic hook holds, and they can all be considered the “right way” as long as you are able to work proficiently and make stitches without hurting yourself. Especially when you are starting out, you might want to switch holds on the hook until you are able to settle on the one that works best for you and your hands.

There are two basic holds on a hook, the overhand hook hold, and the underhand hook hold. In the overhand hold, you will grip the hook from the top and wrap your fingers around the side and bottom of the hook. You will then press your thumb up against the opposite of the hook from your fingers. You can compare this hold as to how a child initially learns how to hold a spoon to eat soup. The underhand hook hold is similar to how you would hold a pencil. You will rest the hook on your middle finger while your thumb and pointer finger hold the hook in place.

As previously mentioned, there are available modifications on how crocheter’s hold their hooks. You might even want to change your hold as you become more and more comfortable with using a hook for the first time. All that truly matters is that you are going to be able to efficiently and comfortably use your hook to grab the yarn and make your stitches. It is important to pay attention if you are experiencing wrist, hand, or shoulder pain while you are crocheting. If you are experiencing any kind of pain, you may want to consider changing your hook hold position.

Something to keep in mind if you are a left-handed dominate person is that all of the patterns will be for right-handed people. The action of creating stitches in crochet works the same for left-handed as it does for right-handed. However, left-handed crocheters will be creating the stitches essentially in backward order from the way the pattern reads. We have a couple of special tips for left-handed crocheters. When pattern instructions read in a certain direction, as a left-handed crocheter, you will need to translate them to read in the opposite direction. In other words, left-handed crocheters will always work from left to right instead of right to left as it will likely be shown in the photos and in some of the written instructions. If the pattern calls for this stitch to skew the fabric to the left, it will skew to the right, and vice versa. This is especially the case for more complicated stitches like those that twist or cross. Left-handed crocheters will find that their stitches will cross in the opposite direction from what the written pattern says. The best way to keep track and not get confused is to honestly cross out the left and right in the directions and change it with the opposite. So, if it says left, make sure it reads right and the same goes for if it says right, write left. This may seem daunting, or like too much of a fuss, so the best way to read the stitch is to review it on the stitch chart. On the stitch chart, left will read left and right will read right. This is true no matter what the written directions say.

Slip Knot

This type of slip knot is a simple way of simply tying off the very end of the yarn to create a small loop that can be eventually fit the size of whatever crochet hook you are using when adjusted. This tiny loop is important as it secures the material you are using to the hook so you can begin to make a chain and then crochet the chain stitch. You will make a slip knot as follows. You will want to roll off a bit of yarn from your yarn ball. Hold the material in the middle of your hand with your thumb about ½ of a cm from the very end of it. Using the yard coming from this ball, you will want to wrap the yarn two times around your middle and index fingers. You will then pull the fibre that will be coming from the yarn ball through the loop that was created between the two fingers, which will now form a different loop. Finally, place this different loop in the hook. Stiffen up the new knot by pulling on the loose end of the material thread. Next, you will need to change the size of the yarn loop by tugging on the yarn that is from the sphere until it fits perfectly on the clip, but it can simply slide up and down on the shaft.

Before you make your first chain stitch, you will want to learn how to hold the crochet hook in combination with holding the yarn. The one thing that you will have to keep in mind is to slow down. The stiffer you hold the hook and yarn the harder it will be to manoeuvre it. It will likely seem uncomfortable at the beginning, but it is important that you do not get aggravated. Quickly, with a little practice, it will become second nature to you. You will want to clasp the hook and eye, with the slip knot close, in your yarn hand, making sure the open end of the yarn is in the position to hang loose downward. You will want to grasp the yarn coming from the sphere in your former hand, which is not your hook hand so that the yarn goes halfway around your index finger, and then you will anchor the yarn with your pinkie finger. Then you will firm up the loose end that is falling down by holding the bottom of the slip knot in the middle of your middle finger and thumb. This will allow you to be ready to make a chain!

Fountain Chain

You will need to wrap the yarn over the hook from the back of the hook to the front of the hook to make each chain stitch. Keep your pointer finger in a straight line and twist your wrist towards your body to do this. At the same time, you will want to wind your previous wrist away from your body to bring the yarn back in the face of the hook. Now, twirl both of your wrists back to their unique positions. The yarn will now be wedged under the hook which now creates yard over.

Next, you will want to move the material into the loop of the hook. To do this, primarily wind your wrist towards you so that the hook is in a downward direction. Next, you will want to drag the yarn into the loop and then curl your wrist back to its unique place consequently that the hook is now in front of you once again. This has made one single stitch known as a chain stitch.

Finally, you might have to alter the volume of the circle that is on the fastener so that it is able to glide with no trouble and rather movable on the tube of the hook. To make the loop bigger, you will use the catch to drag up on the ring while allowing the additional material needed to roll off of your pointer finger. To make the loop less significant, you will want to use your pointer finger to haul on the material until the circle is the correct size you were looking for. Carry on creating the stitches, repositioning the loop on the shaft of the hook as you move along so that each and every one of the stitches will ultimately be a similar size.

Chapter 3: Types of Stitches: From Basic to More Advanced

When you are learning a new skill, it is important that you begin with the fundamentals. You might see your goals and eyes on creating a wonderful jumper you crochet yourself. It is good to have goals about your projects as you can create such countless diverse things by means of crochet. It helps you to learn the fundamentals, however. With a high-quality base of the basics, you will be moving forward to your dream projects sooner than you think.

Slip Stitch

A slip stitch is commonly used to link the trimmings of a crochet foundation chain into a circle or ring for a round project crochet. A slip stitch will be needed to move your yarn that you are working with and hook to a different location in your project without splicing the material and having to combine it again. You will want to insert the hook into the first chain that is located on your hook stick from front to back. Then, you will carry the operational yarn from back behind the hook and up and over the very top of the hook. You will want to grasp the fibre in the elbow of the hook and drag it from side to side in the stitch chain. You will now have one single loop on your hook, and you have one stitch slipped. Now, you can replicate steps one and two until you have slipped the necessary amount of stitches as you need and is mentioned in the outline. Finally, to link the chain foundation into a loop for in the round working, you will want to pull the hook into the stitch that is farthest from the hook and begin to create a stitch slip as explained before.

Single Crochet

This is known as the most vital textile structure stitch. It is designed to make a textile that is very firm with a very slight stretch or give, which makes it great for making things like animals that will need to be packed very tightly. When you start, work the number of chain stitches needed by the pattern to create a chain foundation. Rotate the project so that you are ready to crochet back down the crochet chain which was just shaped. For single crochet, you will need to skip one stitch, which is the chain turning, and put your hook from the front of the project to the back and into the next chain that is on the hook. Put the thread over the hook and draw the hook through the stitch. Next, you will now have two new loops that are on the hook. Pull fibre over the hook and haul the hook through both of the circles that are on the clasp. You will have one single loop left now on the clip. You have now just finished a single crochet stitch. Continue to work single crochet across the foundation chain, creating one small crochet stitch into all of the remaining stitches in the chain. Once you have completed a row of crochets, chain one together, which is the rotating the chain, and flip over your work. The concluded row will no longer seem quite like the chain foundation. But look directly, and you will become aware of the parts of the stitches you were just making. On the next row of the crochet, to work it you will only have the option of crocheting through the loop in the front alone, both loops of a stitch, or through the loop that is in the back alone. A lot of the patterns you will be looking at will specify when to crochet through the back or front loop on its own. If it is not told to you directly, you will want to work through both loops.

Double Crochet

The Double Crochet is a stitch that is bigger than the single crochet, and it makes a lighter and more movable fabric. If you want to crochet a double crochet into a chain foundation, you will want the material over hook, leave out two or three stitches, it will depend on whether or not your pattern calls for two or three to be skipped, and pop in the hook into the chain from the front to the back. Then you will put the fibre over the hook and draw the hook through the chain stitch. You will have three loops on your hook. Yarn over again and pull the hook now through two of the loops on the hook. You will now have two loops that are still on the hook. Yarn over the hook and pull the hook through the remaining two loops that are on the hook. You now have a finished double crochet stitch and have still one remaining loop on the hook. Yarn over the hook again and put in the hook into the next chain of stitch, and duplicate steps two and three to make as many extra double crochet stitches as you needed. In regards to single crochet, when you reach the end of your chain foundation, crochet the necessary number of turning chains that are needed and then rotate your project over. Next, the yarn goes over hook and pop the hook into the chosen part of the stitch, which is the front, the back, or both loops, and crochet with double crochet stitches as described above, crossways on the row.

Half-Double Crochet

This stitch is larger than a single stitch and shorter than the double crochet. It is also in the middle of the two stitches when in relation to firmness and flexibility. To crochet a half double into the chain foundation, yarn over the hook and put in the hook from the front of the project to the back of the project into the third chain away from the hook. The initial two chain stitches are now the turning chain. Yarn over the hook once more, and drag the hook through the stitch. You will have three loops now that are on the hook. Then you will yarn over the hook and drag the hook through the three loops that are on the hook. You have now crocheted a half-double crochet stitch, and will end up with one loop on the hook. For a double and single crochet stitch, when you arrive at the bottom of your chain foundation, crochet the necessary number of turning chains, and then rotate your project over. Yarn over the hook, putting the hook into the chosen part of the stitch, either the front or the back or both loops and crochet half-double crochet stitches as was previously mentioned above.

Triple (Treble) Crochet

This is the highest of the stitches known in crochet. The triple crochet, also known as the treble, makes a very elastic fabric with openings between each stitch. To crochet this stitch into the chain foundation, yarn over the hook two times, leave out the first three or four stitches, as your pattern calls for, and out the hook in from the front of the project to the back of the project through the subsequent stitch in the chain foundation. Yarn over the hook and drag the hook through the stitch chain. You will see four circles on the hook after this. Yarn over again and drag the hook through two of the loops on the hook. Three hooks remain. Yarn over the hook and drag the hook through two loops on the hook. You will have two loops left. Yarn over the hook and pull the hook through the left, over two loops. You have now completed one triple crochet stitch and have one loop when you have finished.

Bullion Stitch

This is a highly textured, almost 3-D stitch, which is an interesting design detail for accessories of all kinds. It is created by working in a large number of yarn overs and then pulling the hook through all of them all at one time. It will take a little practice to get the hang of it, but it is worth the effort. You will begin by wrapping the yarn around the hook 7 times. This number will vary by pattern. Insert your hook into the stitch where you want to create the bullion. Pull the yarn up and over the hook. Pull back through all of the loops on the hook. You will want to keep the loops loose on the hook to allow for an easy pull through. You can also use a yarn needed to help you pull the yarn through. Pull the yarn up and over the hook once more and drag into the loop.

Loop Stitch

The Loop Stitch will create a design that appears shaggy and can be used to create details like a fur or add a plush texture. Play with the different lengths available for looping to create different styles. You will insert your hook into the stitch where you want to loop stitch. Then you will wrap the yarn around your index finger, of the hand that is not holding the hook, to create the loop. Pull that loop on to the top of your hook. You will now see two yarn strands on your hook that together will make one loop. Pull each of the strands through the loop on your shaft. Pull the yarn up and over once more. Drag into and out of the three loops in the shaft. This completes one loop.

These are just some examples of the many different crochet stitches you will be able to master in your time practicing crochet. Feel free to look up other stitches to practice before you begin a project that requires them in order to get a good handle on how to work with your hands through the stitch.

Chapter 4: Embellishments and Additional Touches

Just like learning a new stitch for the first time, adding embellishments and other finishing touches to your crochet project will likely take some time to master. There are many different kinds of embellishments you can use to make your project unique to you, but some of the most commonly used are flowers, leaves, borders, bands, braids and cords, and some motifs and other shapes. We will cover the opportunities you have to add finishing touches in the last chapter. We will now begin to cover these embellishments in further detail so that you can decide if and when you would like to start adding embellishments to your own crochet projects.

Flowers and Leaves

Flowers and leaves are some of the most fun embellishments to make, and they are a great way to use up some scrap material that you might have lying around from past projects. You can make the flowers to wear as a pin, as many craft stores will carry pin backs that you can use to attach the flower. You can also use them as decoration for package wrapping or to add a unique touch to your clothing. A small flower can be a great and sweet touch to the clothing of children, especially in the spring and summer months. A group of flowers can also look great on a purse or a hat. Where there are flowers, there are typically leaves as well. Leaf patterns come in many different shapes and sizes depending on the type of project you are doing. It is also a great way to add additional pops of colour to any flower or crochet pattern you are working on.

Borders

Choosing a design for your border may seem like it can be overwhelming. After all, there are so many different options to choose from. Your choice will be determined by the type of project you are working on, your personal taste, and the taste of the person who will be using it. You will likely just want to go with your instinct when choosing a border, but if you truly want a more structured approach, you might want to keep in mind some of the following principles.

Narrow borders that are simple may serve mostly functional tasks; they will hide yard ends, stabilize edges, and serve as a button or buttonhole band. They are likely the best choice to frame a throw or shawl or other items that are particularly busy, highly textured or multi-coloured. In other words, for these types of projects, let the main fabric be the main act and the border be a supporting cast. More intricate and decorative borders may be the focal point of the design, or at least they may serve as an enhancement and compliment the main fabric. You may come to realize that some borders are so very versatile that they can be used for more than just a border.

You will also want to pay attention to the scale of the border you chose as it relates to whatever project you are attaching it to.  Make sure you are not overwhelming a tiny project with a border that is too wide. The same is true for the opposite. The scale is important in borders as it can take away from the sole purpose of the project and its intended use. For instance, if you are making a washcloth and your border ends up being too big, it will take away from the usefulness of the washcloth because the border is too large. However, if you are looking to do something out of the box over usefulness, this may be something exactly what you are looking for.

Bands

Bands can be similar to borders as they are basically the same thing, but a lot less intricate. Bands can also be a project on their own. A lot of crochet makers use bands to create headbands and wrist bands and sell them or give them as gifts to their friends and family. Just like other crochet projects, they can be as simple or as intricate as you wish. There are a wide variety of patterns for crochet bands and like most projects range from easy to hard. Crochet bands are also a great way to use up excess scrap material that you may have lying around.

Braids and Cords

The most common of the crochet braids and cords is the double chain easy cord. You can use this pattern to make belts, ties, or even use a double chain as the foundation to begin your work. The following steps will explain how to make a double chain easy cord. First, you will want to leave a long yarn tail at the beginning, approximately 3 times as long as the preferred length of the cord. Then, you will want to make a split knot to create the beginning of the first chain. Next, you will want to hold the working yarn around your index finger. This will be around your yarn hand finger. You will want to tail over the hook from the front to the back so that you will have 2 loops on the hook. Then, you will want to hold the bottom of the cord with your middle finger and the thumb of your yarn hand. Grab the working yarn and bring it into and out of the loops that are on the shaft. You will then have a single loop on the hook. You will then repeat steps four and five until your cord has reached your desired length. It really is that simple!

Motifs and Other Shapes

For crocheters, a motif can be a square or simply a type of stitch pattern that is repeated in order to create a larger design. A motif can either be something of wonder and beauty or a lesson about shapes. It is a great way to articulate your imagination or simply an interesting way to consume your extra scraps of yarn left over. It can be a piece by itself or be used as an embellishment on an item you already have. You can also combine motifs to make a garment of clothing or a cosy blanket. A motif can be a square, a circle, a hexagon, or almost any other type of shape you can think of. It can be three dimensional, lightweight with lace, or dark and heavy. It can show off an interesting texture with a single colour, or it can be stitched in a multitude of complementary or contrasting colours. Even a brand new crocheter can successfully finish a simple motif, which gives instant gratification. It can be quickly stitched, and the size of the gauge does not really matter. The actual practice of crocheting can be easy but understanding the crocheting terminology can be confusing. Charts make it easier and clearer where each stitch goes, creating a visual for how the stitches relate to one another.

Motifs can be crocheted in what seems like an uninhibited number of ways. You can crochet with a multitude of colour combinations. Move the beginning of a round, and even start and end rounds in different ways. These thought-provoking alternatives make it hard to include every opportunity into each teaching or graph in a manuscript. Of course, each human being learns in their own way, and sometimes, well-placed works are exactly what is needed in order to understand something. In spite of which arrangement you normally fancy, text or pictures, you might want to use this chance to widen out of your comfort zone and attempt something new in terms of skills. Crocheting motifs can be addictive. Once you begin to crochet these fun pieces, exploring possibilities by playing with shape, colour and texture will make you realize it is very hard to stop!

Now that you have a better understanding of what the different embellishments and additional touches you can add to your crochet projects, you will see that the world of possibilities is very open in your crochet journey. Think of embellishments as not only a great way to use up extra material you may have and otherwise had no use for, but it is also a great way to hone in on your skills and learn a new aspect of the world of crochet. Ultimately, you are given the opportunity to add a bit of crochet to all aspects of your life, not just your craft room. Motifs can be created with a variety of materials, so you will never run short of options to look up and explore as you are going through your crochet journey. You will soon find out your favourite motifs to create, and you will find yourself adding these to all of the different crochet projects you take on. Whether it is a heart, circle, triangle, or even a monogram, the options are endless when it comes to creating your motifs. We hope you enjoy this unique aspect of crochet!

Chapter 5: Working with Colour

There are two common and easy ways to change colour in your crochet project. Multiple colours in a crochet project are a great way to add a sense of visual interest to any pattern, and it is honestly very easy to do. You will want to learn the basics of crochet before you learn to attempt switching out your yarn colours. After you learn the basics, you can simply crochet any pattern you want, and you will be able to switch the colours up whenever you chose to do so. You can change colours in your crochet by doing a basic crochet stitch, or you can otherwise do a double or triple stitch as you follow the directions of a basic crochet stitch.

Changing Colours at the End of a Row

First, you will want to begin by choosing your colours. Before you begin crocheting, choose the colours that you would like for your pattern and decide where you want those colours to start. Some patterns may tell you specifically where to change your colours, but if you are crocheting a project without a pattern, simply decide how much of each of the colours you want to be present in your final result. It is best if you decide how many chains and rows you want in your pattern before you start working. For example, if you are making a dishcloth, you may want 30 rows with 30 stitches going across the width. Then, you would need to make a decision on how many rows of each colour you want.

Next, you will begin to create your rows and chains. Take your first colour and create your first chain and then your rows of single crochet stitches until you have your desired size of this particular colour. Follow the steps for basic crocheting to create your pattern of choice. If you are following a specific pattern, create that pattern until you have reached the point where you would want to change colours. On your very last stitch, do not complete your single crochet. Stick your hook through your crochet, pull yarn over the hook, and then drag it through to make two circles. At this point in the project, you should have two loops around your hook. Leave these loops on your hook as you switch colours. These specific instructions are for a single crochet stitch, which is one of the most basic stitches, and most common stitches for crocheting. The technique used for this stitch can also be used for all different types of stitches, so you can follow the instructions listed and gear them toward the type of stitch you are currently using.

Next, you will take your new yarn and pull it through your hook. Place the yard you are working with down, and this is with the crochet hook still inside it. Then, you will take your next colour of choice and fold it in half at the end, with five or six inches at the end of the yarn on one side of the fold. Then, place your hook through the loop you have just created and pull the second colour of yarn through the two loops that are already on the hook. Make sure that you do not tie a loop in your second colour. You just want to fold it in half so that it can slide easily through the loops that you have in colour one. As you are pulling your second colour through your first colour, you might need to hold onto the end that is loose to make sure you do not lose the yarn.

Now you will want to cut and pull the colour one. Now that you have the second colour attached, cut your first colour attached on the strand of the yarn. Leave about four inches, cutting the yarn attached to the skein. Then, you will want to pull the strand of the yarn left that you just cut to tighten your second colour in place. You might need to adjust your second colour into place by tugging on the end of the material with the bottom of your first colour. Take the first colour yarn still connected to your work. Then, you will want to grab hold of the end of your second colour yarn and pull both strands together at the same time. This will help you correct the yarn so the ends are about the same length.

You can now create the first chain with your new colour. Place the yarn under then over your hook and pull it through the loop that is on your hook. At this point, you will start to crochet as you usually would. You will want to single crochet over loose strands and then continue to form rows and chains until you have your desired size of the new colour. Next, you will want to Single crochet over loose strands of your yarn. Taking the first colour and second colour yarn, you just need to pull to adjust and tighten your crochet. You will want to hold them in the back of your work, near the top of your highest row.

Now, you will need to turn your work and single crochet over both of those colours. Then, you will need to place your hook through the second chain. Then, grab your working yarn, which is your second colour attached to the bulk of the yarn, and place it over the hook. Then, pull your second colour through the loop. Now, you will crochet the strands until they are secure. As you create your stitches, the single strands of yarn you initially had will be crocheted into your work. Continue to create crochet stitches until the yarn feels more secure, doing at least six to eight single crochets over the strands. Then, you will need to cut the ends of the yarn close to your last single crochet.

You will continue to crochet at this point. Now, you should be exclusively working with your second colour. Continue to crochet your second colour into your work until you have your desired amount of rows. At this point, you can switch back to your first colour, add another different colour, or continue to crochet with your second colour. If you are going to want to switch colours again, just repeat the steps you used to switch from your first colour to your second colour. It is that easy!

Finally, you can now finish your project. After you have your desired size, you will need to do something with your loose yarn ends. Finish off your last single crochet, as you do so you will be pushing the hook through your last stitch, yarning over, and then pulling through the two loops. Then, you will want to cut your working yarn, leaving four or five inches. Yarn over and then pull the yarn with your hook through your last loop. Pull it tight enough and weave your loose ends through your work.

To weave your loose ends through your crochet work, place your hook through your last stitch, then yarn over with your loose yarn, and then pull it through the stitch. Continue to do this through each and every loop until you have weaved in about half of your yarn. Then, you will need to turn and go back the same direction you came from, putting your hook through the stitch you just used and weaving your yarn towards the start of the chain.

Changing Colours in the Middle of a Row

First, you will crochet your rows until you have reached the desired length. Begin your crochet project as you normally would with one colour. Stitch as many rows as you want of that colour. Then, when you know where you want to start your next colour, you can stop crocheting here. You can start your new colour in the very middle of the row, towards the end, or towards the beginning. It is entirely up to you really.

Next, you will feed the hook through the next loop. As you normally would, you will take your crochet hook and stick it through the next stitch with your first colour yarn still on your hook. Then, wrap the yarn you are currently working with around the hook and then you will need to pull it through the stitch, which is the first loop on your hook, just as you would usually. Now, let go of your yarn.

Now, you will pick up your new yarn. On your final yarn over, you will now add your new colour yarn. Leaving the loops from your previous yarn on your hook, you will wrap your second colour yarn around your hook. Then, pull it through the loops that are already on your hook. After you have pulled it through, you will need to tug the new yarn from the back to tighten and adjust it.

Finally, you will crochet as you normally would in your project. At this point, you should be working with your second colour of yarn. Simply crochet that yarn into your project as you normally would until you reach the point in your project that you want to change colours again. Then, change colours again in the same way you have previously used.

If you are planning to switch back to the first colour of yarn you were working with, then you will want to "carry" your yarn. Do this simply by changing colours in the way described above, but keep the strand of your old yarn against the loops you are currently working with. Then, as you crochet with your new colour of yarn, your old yarn will be carried in your work, because it is already up against the loops you are crocheting. When you decide to change back to your previous colour in your project, it will already be in your work so the process will be easier moving forward now on.

Chapter 6: Finishing Your Crochet Piece

For a person who is new to crochet, how to complete a chain of crochet may not be easily understood. The most basic method is usually the first one used, and it is used for almost all types of different projects. The next method we will describe is an improvement on what is considered to be the yardstick for any item that is crocheted.

Basic Row Method

You will begin by making your final stitch. Make the last stitch in your row, as you usually would before starting an extra stitch chain to flip your project over and continue on to the stitches in the next chain. Then, you will add some additional thread to your project. Cut the material about four to six inches from where it is at the end of the piece you are currently crocheting. The tail is the name of the extra thread. Next, you will start in the same way you would if you are crocheting a single crochet chain. You should have one circle on your hook. Now, you will want to clutch the fibre on your hook and pull it to the loop as if you were going to crochet another chain stitch. Then, you will move the thread all the way into it. Now, as an alternative of crocheting a loop with the fibre, you will instead drag the fibre all the way into and out of the loop. Next, you will pull to sturdy the knot. Give the tail what is considered a hard pull. You have to be able to see the loops behind and around it squeeze up until it looks like your crochet ends in a bond. At this point, you are considered complete, though you should not think of ending here as this joining of thread can and would likely come apart. Finally, you will want to interlace in the trimmings. Take your thread tail and intertwine it back through the crochets that you have made. This will conceal the thread tail and keep it from separating the knot you just made to finish the project.

Now, there are a lot of different hypothesizes on the right way to intertwine the yarn through the crochet. A yarn needle is used by some people, other people will use the hook for crochet, some people interlace the fibre back and onward through the first and/or second rows, and a number of people will pull it in a solitary line through the centre of the first row. Try each and find a way that you like but most of the ways are likely to work just as good for you. You can use all of the different methods until you are comfortable and find one method that works best for you. You should find one way to do this and stick to it as it can get confusing if you are trying to bounce back and forth between the different methods.

Continuous Round Chain Method

You will start by completing your last stitch of the project. Work the final stitch as you usually would all whilst you’re crocheting in the round. Complete just before you are chaining extra that would be needed to start a new row. Next, you will want to cut off the surplus thread. Slash the yarn about 4 to 6 inches from where it comes to the end of the project you are currently crocheting on. Again, this is known as the tail of the thread. Then, you will pull the thread through and out. Now, you will need to tug on the loop that you have underway until all of the yarn comes through and you have a movable tail. Then, you will want to pull through a yarn needle with the thread tail. Next, you will thread through the next side of the hole. Now, you will have a circle with two sides of a row that are separated by a V-shaped gap that remains open. Your thread and needle should be on the same side. You need to bring them over to the opposite side. Just under the first stitch is where you will want to put the needle, as it just passed the beginning chain, and under both loops, pull the thread tail. You will then pull the gap closed.  You will do this by bringing the two sides of the V together by tugging on the tail, and by doing so, you will close the gap. Next, you will finish the fake chain. On the first side, you will want to start by going back to the original chain that was just made. Put the thread into the back end loop of the first stitch, which is on the facing side, and then you will pull it all the way through. On the outside row, it should now look like a normal chain would and it should be unseen. Finally, you will interlace in what is left of the tail. Lace the tail down towards the middle as you see fit and then you will want to go up to the top again. It is important to weave from two different directions in order to keep the tail from coming loose.

Almost all crochet projects will likely require the ends of the yarn to be woven in securely so the project will not eventually come undone. There are multiple methods depending on the project type and the yarn used. Depending on the yarn you chose, you may need to block your work. Unless otherwise instructed in the pattern, you should always weave in your ends before you block, and block before you begin to assemble the finished item. Blocking is less necessary with man-made fibres than with all the other natural fibres.

Projects that were made in pieces will need to be assembled before they are finished. For example, you may need to attach the sleeves on a sweater or add a flower appliqué to a hat. While the assembly can be done as you make the project on some patterns, on others, it is likely you will need to attach the pieces together at the end either through sewing or crocheting them together once you are done. Other finishing steps that may be taken and used in your projects include adding borders, adding ties or buttons, or working embroidery on the piece once you are finished crocheting.

Ultimately, it is important to remember that you will need to finish each and every one of your project to ensure that it will not eventually unravel. There are many different ways that are available to you to finish off your project so you can choose which one works best for you every time, or you can change how you do it if the pattern of the project directs you to finish it off in a particular way. If you are not working off of a pattern, you should remind yourself to finish it off when you are done so that all of your hard work does not go to waste. The last thing you would want to do is to work so hard and so long on a project that you might want to give to someone as a gift, only to have the gift eventually unravel and fall apart on the person you are giving it to! Feel free to refer back to this chapter at any point in your crochet journey to remember the different types of ways you are able to finish off your crochet project. Finally, we hope that this chapter helps you to understand the different way that you are able to finish off your crochet project.

Conclusion

Thank you for making it through to the end of The Easy Crochet Bible. We are hoping that this book is exactly what you need to start crocheting for yourself and creating your own unique projects using the tips and tricks that you have learned throughout this book. We hope that this book was easy to follow along and understand. In the event you forget or need a different technique on how to do something, feel free to go back and refer to any section, in order to refresh your memory on the ways that are available to you.

The next step is to go out to your local craft store and pick up the supplies that you are going to need to start your first crochet project. You will find that there are a lot of different types of crochet patterns that are free to use online and have a wide variety of difficulty levels. There are also many books of patterns available for purchase if this is an easier way to access crochet patterns for you. With this book, the supplies you purchase, and the endless amounts of patterns available to you, you will be well on your way to creating unique works of crochet art that you should feel proud of and are able to share with your friends and family.

Finally, if this book was useful to you in any way that you could describe, a review on Amazon is always appreciated!