Tips and Bits and Pieces on the art of Crochet Techniques

It is a wonderful way to make doilies and garments for women and children alike. It also grows quicker than knitting. So you are in front before you start.

Changing Thread colors

Crocheting with different colors will breathe life into your garments. You could bring out the creativeness in you, by mixing the colors into different patterned creations, whether it is on doilies or for making small crochet animals for the grandchildren.

There is right and wrong way of doing this although I have done it in two different ways.

The first way -if doing colored rows, decide on number of rows per color. For this session, we will say you are doing four rows of red and four rows of green. Finish your four rows of red then put your hook into the first loop of a single crochet in the red color, now pick up the green color thread through the last two loops to complete the single crochet. Carry on in the green color as normal. Be careful to change colors on the same end each time, so you carry on in the opposite color. With a crochet hook, you can pull the loose end in and out through the same colored work, so there is no loose end.

The other way- is when you change color, put your hook into the first loop of single crochet in the red color, and now pick up the green color, only now you fold the loose end back onto the green color thread you are using. In fact, you wind a double thread around the hook and pull it through as normal, until the end disappears into your work, continue until you need to change colors again. When using this method be careful if using two different shades of colors that the dark thread does not show through onto the right side.

If you need to change back and forth with many colors, in close proximity then I would use the first option. Although now you need to loop the thread back and forth on the wrong side of the garment, this way the looping effect will not show on the right side.

In the case of having a motif in the middle of an article, do not carry colored threads across the back of garment, as this will look untidy. Start with a new thread.

Whatever you crochet, have fun creating it, and receive their gratitude when given to friends or your loved ones.

To make a chain for the left hander

Because you are left handed there is no reason why you cannot crochet the same as a right handed person. It is the same only in reverse. I have put the abbreviation and the meaning each time so you will grow accustomed to them. No matter what you do in life crochet is no different, you need to practice to become a professional. With my help you should be crocheting small things in no time.

To make any stitch you will need to hold the hook in your left hand (similar to holding a pencil) with the yarn in right hand. You have to catch the yarn in the groove of the hook to do every crochet stitch you make.

Yarn over hook Abbr (yo) Bring the yarn over (yo) the top of the hook, from the back to the front, catching the thread in the groove of the hook.

To Make A chain Stitch Abbr (ch)

First, make a slipknot on your hook. This is your first loop on your hook, now holding hook in left hand, bring the yarn over the top of hook, from the back to the front, and pull the thread in the hook through the loop. Congratulations! You have made your first chain. This is the main starting stitch for any garment. Repeat this action to make the number of chain stitches required for the pattern.

Single Crochet Stitch Abbr (sc)

As above, you need to hold hook in left hand and insert into the first chain stitch, then put yarn over (yo) and pull loop through chain. (You now have two loops on hook) put yarn over (yo) and pull yarn through both loops this time. You have now created a single crochet stitch.

Double Crochet Stitch Abbr (dc)

Hold hook in left hand and place yarn over hook (yo) insert into fist chain stitch, yarn over (yo) again and pull yarn through chain stitch. (now you have 3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull yarn through 2 loops, then yarn over (yo) again and pull through last 2 loops. You have now made your first Double Crochet.

Now you have the idea carry on and try making small squares to start with or a scarf would be a good idea what with winter coming.

I have spent several hours researching this very question. In addition, I have found that there are many sources claiming different origins, such as Arabia, Turkey, India, and North America. Others suggest that is was started as far back as the 1500 BC, where others say it started with Finger crocheting around the 1820's. No one appears to have verified proof of it origins.

Most agree that the word crochet comes from the French word ‘croche' or ‘croc' meaning to hook.

We call it crochet, along with the Belgians and French. I believe it is called haken in Holland, hekling in Norway and haekling in Denmark

Another interesting aspect discovered is the way in which the hooks held. Some held it like a pencil giving it a more feminine or graceful look. They are now discovering that if you hold the hook in the palm of your hand it reduces the risk of suffering carpal tunnel.

Records show that in years gone by during the Victorian era they used a loose stitch and a tight stitch, now of course we use different sized hooks. In addition, they used to crochet into the back loop of the stitch. Now it is an accepted fact to crochet into the back and the front loop of the stitch.

The Irish created beautiful motifs, it is believed, that one nun would create the flower, and another one a motif and another would crochet them together. They were true masters of their delicate craft.

Crochet has survived hundreds of years and is still a sought after craft even today.

Source of information: http://www.victoriancrochet.com/history.tpl

http://www.crochet.org/newslet/nl0997a.html

For a more detailed history please read "Crochet History & Technique" by Lis Paludan