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By: Ikedi Ani-okoye

About

Pronounced "croshay," is basically the art of creating fabric through interlocking loops of yarn. Unlike knitting, only one yarn loop, the loop on the hook, is active at a time. Crochet uses a slender rod with a little hook at the end as opposed to knitting needles. In fact, comes the French word croc or croche, meaning hook.

Beginning in the 1800s, was used as a less costly substitute to lace in many parts of the world and became a thriving "cottage industry"particularly in France and Ireland. In the 1840s, the first patterns were being published. Queen Victoria proudly purchased Irish-made lace, bringing popularity to the craft. A resurgence in the popularity came after World War II with increased interest in home crafts and the publication of more non-lace patterns with thicker yarn.

Beginning Crochet: Part One

To begin crochet, all you need is a basic, medium sized hook and some yarn. Although offered in a variety of materials, popular hooks are aluminum or bamboo, which is warmer to the touch and improves with oil from your hands. An H hook, which is size 8 or 5mm in British sizing, is often recommended for beginners and some cheap acrylic yarn.

Crochet patterns use a large variety of abbreviations. Here are the most common and what they mean:

YO or yo (Yarn Over)- To yarn over means to bring the yarn over the hook of your hook so that the hook can catch the yarn and draw it through the loop. Literally, bring the yarn over the hook.
ch-chain stitch
sc- single crochet
hfc- half double crochet
dc- double crochet
tc_ treble crochet
st(s)- stitch(es)
sl st- slip stitch
sk- skip
dec- decrease
inc- increase
sc2tog- single two stitches together

To begin crocheting, you have to tie the yarn to your hook with a slipknot. You wrap the yarn around the hook, bringing the end portion of the yarn on top into a working loop. Then you yarn over by bringing the bottom thread over the hook so that the hook can catch it, twisting, and pulling it through the loop. You don't want to pull the slipknot too tight.

Find Beginning Crochet Video Guides 2-5 at FaveCrafts.com

Our Favorite Free Crochet Pattern: Crochet Towel Holder Rings

1. Take a plastic lid from a can of slim fast or powdered baby formula.

2. Cut about a 2 inch hole in the center of the lid.

3. Take yarn and a single all the way around to cover the lid, approx. 140 times. Single across the top 18 times, turn. Single 16 times across top, turn. Single 14 times, turn. Single 12 times, turn. Single 10 times, turn. Single 8 times, turn. Single 6 times, turn. Crochet 10 rows.

4. Double 4 times across. Then single 5 times between the two middle double crochets to form a button hole.

5. Sew a button on the back and hang on refrigerator or oven door.

6. Put a towel through the hole of the project.

7. Decorate the other side with whatever you like. I usually put a small (doll style) craft hat with flowers and a ribbon for a bow.

More Free Crochet Patterns:
Broomstick Afghan
Furry Pal
Granny Square
Crochet Flip Flops
Crochet Candles
Crochet Cord