Crochet - Moving on from Basic Stitches - Finding Tutorials and Help

Many beginning crocheters, when they have mastered basic crochet stitches, wonder how to move on. You can work basic in various ways and combine them to make wonderful crochet fabrics. You can even work crochet in a way that imitates the patterns involved in Aran knitting patterns. Crochet lace is another technique, which is interesting and exciting. There are many exciting ways to make beautiful crochet fabrics.

The internet provides many useful resources to crocheters. Patterns may show you different stitches but you may want to substitute another stitch for the one suggested. There are some wonderful tutorials both video and written on the internet. Crochet Pattern Central (CPC) has both. In the written tutorial section look at Butterfly, checkerboard, crazy, and crossed treble, stitches. “Faking it Stitch” is a wonderful faux knitting stitch, which you make with an ordinary crochet stitch. The Mitred Tiles stitch is a pleasant change. Video tutorials include Afghan or Tunisian stitches, basic cable, bullion, mesh, popcorn and puff stitches.

There is a CPC video tutorial on the interesting tapestry crochet technique, where you work with two or more colours of yarn to make pictures, letters, patterns or geometric designs within the work. This is how crocheters make the very effective picture Afghans and you can use it to make an Afghan with a name or slogan worked into it.

Crochet Cabana has an excellent crochet dictionary with photographs of the different stitches and either links or instructions at the side to find tutorials for these stitches.

Afghan or Tunisian Crochet, sometimes called shepherd’s knitting, is probably the forerunner of both crochet and knitting. You do Afghan or Tunisian crochet with a long hook, which usually has a stop on the end opposite from the hook. When crocheting in this style, you have many stitches on the hook at the same time and the row consists of two stages. Stitch Diva has some excellent tutorials for Afghan or Tunisian crochet.

Irish crochet combines ordinary crochet stitches to make patterned, raised lace. One designer has created her updated Irish crochet for modern clothes.

If you hear of a stitch or crochet technique that you have not heard before, it is always good to ask other crocheters about it. Fortunately, the internet provides crocheters with the means to contact one another and there are many excellent helpful crochet forums, where you can ask a question. Two excellent crochet communities are Ravelry and Crochetville. You do have to join a crochet community, by registering an e-mail address, to ask a question in their forum, but it is worth doing so as it gives you access to many resources besides the forum.

You can do so many interesting and exciting things, once you master basic crochet stitches. Internet tutorials for crochet stitches and techniques are widely available. Crochet communities enable you to ask advice and help, with techniques and stitches, from other crocheters. The whole, thrilling, exciting, crochet world opens to you and your hook. What are you waiting for? Come on in, the crocheting is fine.