I hear that Young People are Crocheting a LOT!
No sooner did I hear a podcast mention that young crocheters want to know how to use different shapes to make garments, then I watched two of my nieces teach their cousins basic crochet stitches and coach them through their first scarves!
What my Young Crocheters wanted to know (with links)
What are the stitches, and why are there different terms for them anyway?
- British terminology names stitches by how many loops are on your hook before you start your series of yarn over pull through two loops.
- American terminology names stitches by how many chain stitches tall the stitch is when it is finished.
I liked this chart a lot because it included Japanese symbols as well.
https://knotsewcute.blogspot.com/2011/07/american-standard-vs-british-uk-crochet.html
What are the parts of the stitches?
Why is my rectangle getting bigger, it looks like a trapezoid?
There are two ways to keep the turning chain from becoming an increase in solid crochet fabric: (1) make your turning chain, skip the next stitch and treat the turning chain as a stitch on the return row; (2) make your turning chain, work the next stitch in the next stitch, on the return row stop and turn before you get to the turning chain.
Method 1 has straighter sides, method 2 has more solid fabric without gaps. If I am writing a pattern, I tend to make fewer writing mistakes for my technical editor to find with method 2, and can cover it up by running single crochet along all of the edges of the piece when I’m finishing it.
https://www.edieeckman.com/2019/08/28/where-to-put-the-first-stitch-of-a-crochet-row/
How can I make my chain stitches looser, I can’t fit my hook back into them!
If your stitches are too small, use a larger hook. If your stitches are too big, use a smaller hook. Some people use a larger hook for their foundation chain as a matter of course, then cover it up with an edging when they are done.
Many young crafters don’t have babysitting money yet (or dog walking money, or any kind of money) so owning more than one hook may be a problem. Adults in their lives: a set of multi-sized hooks make great Christmas Stocking Stuffers!
Addendum: I contacted Kamaca Champion from the podcast, she had this to add,
“When I teach beginning crocheters about tension, I use a word picture and demonstration of playing the fiddle vs playing the violin. When one plays the fiddle there are short strokes fast strokes. The violin is longer stroke. When a crocheter is pull the hook through the loop, if they stop the movement as soon as the hook crosses the loop (short fiddle stroke) the tension will be tight because the loop closes in on the hook “nose.” But, if one uses a long rhythmic pull through the loop, as the hook pulls, it is essentially lengthening the new loop size.
To demonstrate this, I have them use their hands to play an air fiddle and then an air violin. Many say “ahhhhhh! Ok ok” after we do this exercise.”
Why do my back and arms hurt?
Check out your chair posture. If you are getting sore, stand up and stretch. Better yet, stand up and stretch regularly so you don’t get sore! You can also play with different styles of hooks, and ways of holding your tool, just switching your hand hold in the middle of a crafting session can make a difference.
https://www.moderndailyknitting.com/community/a-chair-is-a-tool-2/
What I wanted my Young Crocheters to know (with links)
How do I read a pattern?
Designing in crochet is way easier than following a pattern in crochet for a lot of us!
I think it’s great to learn to read patterns, but always remember how to design: because that is how to think in order to adapt patterns to fit beautifully, and how to smash patterns together to get the look you want; if there is not enough time to just design it from scratch in the first place.
https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern/
How do I increase?
Work two (or more stitches) in the same stitch. If you do a lot of this, you will get a fan shape, it’s used beautifully in lacy motifs.
https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/how-to-increase-in-crochet/
How do I decrease?
Work your first stitch until there are only 2 sts left on your hook. Work the next stitch until there are 3 sts total on your hook, yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.
https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/how-to-decrease-in-crochet/
How do I stitch into the side of my fabric?
I experiment on the side of my swatch until I know how many stitches I need in the edges of each stitch, then I try to follow that pattern consistently.
This tutorial gets a bit more fancy:
https://feltedbutton.com/blogs/new-felted-button-blog/how-to-crochet-a-clean-edge-along-a-rough-edge
Edie Eckman’s Every Which Way Crochet Borders calls this a base row and has more great advice.
How do I crochet in the round (making a cylinder or solid form?)
How to Crochet in the Round: Spiral vs Joining
What is a swatch?
This is the powerful-large-not-project-bit-of-fabric that you make to experiment on. You can use it to check how many stitches per inch you are making, so that you are using the right hook for the project (remember, tight stitches, use a larger hook, loose stitches, use a smaller hook).
https://www.crochet365knittoo.com/check-gauge-crochet/
Checking your gauge (stitches per inch) is the classic use of a swatch, but there are so many other questions a swatch can answer!
- Do you like this fabric that you have created by these stitches in this yarn at this gauge?
- Do the colors pool in a lovely way or in a way with a rude (but funny) term?
- Did you buy enough yarn?
- Will the edging you are planning to use work as you hope it will?
- Will the buttonholes you are planning to use work after laundering?
- Does the fabric change after laundering?
- If you are altering a garment to fit, how many more or fewer stitches do you need in the critical areas?
- Is your foundation chain too tight? Too Loose?
Tian Connaughton’s new book has a lot about working with swatches.
Wait, weighing a swatch will help me know how much yarn to buy?
It sure will! See the swatch section in Lily Chin’s Crochet Tips & Tricks: Shortcuts and Techniques Every Crocheter Should Know
This response was from my oldest niece who has has algebra and geometry, and has a confident design sense. She can see how to wrap a shape around a body part and see how it will make a garment shape. There is something about crochet that makes young people confident about design and making things.
How do I make a garment flow smoothly over various body part bumps?
Rectangles are lovey, but even skinny humans need some adaptations to get good fit!
The bigger the bump, the more length and width is needed in that spot.
You can use short rows, mix taller stitches into your rows strategically as I did in the Attleboro sweater for bust shaping, increase under your bump, then decrease away the stitches afterwards, or a combination.
How do I shape an armhole?
An armhole is like a u-shaped cutout in the side of your sweater. You can stop short on some rows, or slope the curve with decreases. If you cut out the shape you want in your armhole, then lay it over a very large swatch, you can count off the stitches that are showing how many stitches exactly you need to decrease away to get your shape.
How do I shape a sleeve cap?
In a fitted sleeve, the part that goes over the bicept between the underarm and the shoulder seam looks like a bell when you fold it flat. The seam of the sleeve cap should the be same length as the armscye, or slightly longer. Look at sewing patterns, or schematics of classically shaped knitting patterns. If you had a large swatch, or a completed body piece, you can lay a pattern over it and count how many stitches to decrease and when to get the right shape.
While Finishing School: A Master Class for Knitters is not a crochet book, the chapter on sleeve caps is AMAZING.
What can I learn from copying existing garments?
This is called rubbing off – you don’t need to destroy your clothes, but if you have something that you already love the fit, measure the parts you love, and use that to make your sweaters.
You can also pin a piece of tissue paper to an existing garment, and trace the seam lines. When you unroll it, you will see what shapes were used to make the garment. In sewing you need to then add some seam allowances, in crochet, it depends on how you intend to join things up what seam treatment you need. You can experiment on your swatch to decide what looks best.
What can I learn from copying sewing patterns?
It’s like rubbing off a pattern, but without the pencil and tissue paper. See what fundamental shapes are used, figure out why. Then recreate them, and try them out.
What can I learn from books about knitting design?
The techniques, shapes, and methods are the same for both knitting and crochet, so, read the books, and keep translating the ideas to yourself.
Just remember: crochet stitches can be made in the front loop, back loop, both loops, back bumps, sides of stitches, and into chain loops. The shaping and direction of crochet fabric is much freer than in knitting! Learn the shapes, but don’t take on constraints from knitting that don’t exist in crochet.
I’m not aware of any how to design crochet garments books right now. If you find one, comment please!
I saw this one at Rhinebeck in 2023, so excited! It’s called Design Your Own Crochet Projects: Magic Formulas for Creating Custom Scarves, Cowls, Hats, Socks, Mittens & Gloves, I met the author, and she said she hoped it would be like the Ann Budd books are for knitting designers. It’s still not garment design, but she’s thinking about it.
Adults in the lives of young crocheters, this is a book to buy, so the author is encouraged to write them the garment book in a few years.
What is a stitch dictionary?
This is a collection of photos, notes about usage, and instructions for working different stitch patterns which are combinations of the basic crochet stitches. The best dictionaries show you how simple arrangements will change your fabric, and how they behave: stretchy, drappy, crisp, colorful, or wear a turtleneck under it.
Some explain how to turn a corner neatly in the stitch, and some include chart diagrams.
Wow can I learn to read Stitch Diagrams?
Terrific link from Edie Eckman!
Which stitch dictionaries do you like?
So glad this question isn’t which one do I like best, because that’s like picking an ice cream flavor. These are the ones on my shelf, not the best for beginners, or the best overall.
On a babysitter’s budget, I’d borrow books like these from the library to see which ones you want to buy, not buy them sight unseen.
- Every Which Way Crochet borders by Edie Eckman
- Around the Corner Crochet Borders by Edie Eckman
- Connect the shapes Crochet Motifs by Edie Eckman
- Crochet Every Way Stitch Dictionary by Dora Ohrenstein
- Crochet Stitches Visual Encyclopedia by Robyn Chachula
- Melissa Leapman’s Indispensable Stitch Collection for Crocheters
- 1000 Knitting Patterns Book (This is in Japanese, and has all the symbols, the second half is crochet, lots of lacy patterns)
How is a Reference book different?
A reference book is like a collection of tutorials you don’t have to google first. There are articles on blocking (getting good shape after laundering) and how to launder, various fibers, how to read patterns, chart diagrams, do seams, and many more techniques.
I just borrowed the Complete Crochet Course by Shannon and Jason Mullett-Bowlsby from the library. Yep, looks helpful!
Who are wonderful crochet designers and teachers online now and published in the past? How do I access them on my budget?
- Orchard House Editing has terrific crochet and Tunisian Crochet patterns. She has a discord channel for discussion, and I’ve worked with her as a technical editor. One of her events is a budget sweater make along, like an internet festival of chatter and tips. She’s super grounded, sensible and funny!
- Edie Eckman is another of my technical editors and I own many of her books. She even has a newsletter of deals. I especially like her video tutorials.
- Lindsey Stevens is another of my technical editors, her site is a treasure trove of technical crochet wisdom. Check out her fairy tale about why swatches lie
- Lily Chin is funny, smart, generous and helpful. Really helpful for design or alteration.
- Marly Bird has a Big List of Free Crochet patterns
- Dora Ohrenstein’s books are wonderful, I’ve borrowed from the library a lot.
- Red Earth Design Studio makes thoughtful knitting and crochet patterns, here are her crochet patterns on the payhip platform.
- Tanja Osswald makes intricate small patterns that are amazing to wear.
- Linda Skuja’s garments look well fitting, though I haven’t crocheted any of them.
- I have made the Green Tea block from the Floral Hook, it’s overlay crochet, where many colors come to play. A bit like a puzzle, SO PRETTY. She links to video tutorials for tricky bits.
- I haven’t made any of Natalia Kononova’s patterns either, but her work looks really interesting.
- Elena Fedotova’s patterns look really interesting. See how she uses hand dyed yarn especially, very modern and clever I’ve admired, but not made her work.
- Another designer whose patterns I haven’t tried, but whose work I admire is Linda Permann
- I want to get into Tunisian Crochet too: I will be checking out https://www.knotbadbritt.com/ and https://tlyarncrafts.com/ and https://detroitknots.wordpress.com/ and https://yarntowers.com/
- I borrowed https://www.amazon.com/Crocheted-Sweaters-Christopher-Rich/dp/156477399X from the library, and really liked it for sweater shaping.
- Have you heard of Dover Press? They often reprint craft books that have gone into the public domain, with tips about what modern yarns to substitute for whatever yarns were mentioned in the originals. Some of the Victorian patterns are goofy. Some are brilliant.
- The library has pattern books that you can borrow. Beware of free patterns on the internet, you get what you pay for! That said, below is my e-mail list sign up, and you do get a free crochet pattern with it. In a way, you are paying for it by getting my emails, so it isn’t free. It is technically edited, comes in several sizes, has schematics and pattern charts too! The Attleboro sweater shapes the sleeves with short rows, and the bust by using two stitches with different heights in the same row, so that is an example you can emulate for fitting.
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