Learning one stitch properly
I’d like to propose a small practical exercise this week: learning one crochet stitch properly rather than trying to take in a whole pattern's worth of them at once — no judgement here, btw. My first crochet project was a cardigan, and I definitely learnt on the go, with no practice beforehand. But think of this exercise as a grounding practice, if nothing else.
Why beginners find crafts frustrating
When a person starts in a craft, it's tempting to jump right in and start making the thing, the project, the article, they intend to make (whoops!). This person, though, will inevitably run into problems, which may lead to giving up and never coming back to it (also guilty!). And I do think it makes more sense, sometimes, to go back to basics.
In this case, start by learning a single stitch at a time. The double crochet stitch (using American terminology) is genuinely a good one to start with, as it’s used in a frightening number of patterns. Simply repeat it over and over until you get to a point where you don't have to think about it in order to make it properly. Doesn’t mean you can stop counting!
What it teaches besides the stitch, and why it's valuable
I think that it's a valuable lesson for most people to learn when they're starting out in any craft: the value of patience and just doing the same tedious thing over and over again — sorry, but that’s the truth. It's a kind of practical meditation.
How to practice it
If you want to try it out for yourself, the best way to do so is to take a simple hook and some cheap yarn — you don't want to invest in expensive materials yet — and simply make a series of evenly spaced stitches for the next twenty minutes.
It won't be a real project, not yet, but it should teach your hands the proper spacing and motion needed for the stitch as a whole, in much the same way that pianists play scales before attempting any real music.
When to stop and start another project
The point at which you want to stop is when you can make the stitches without having to actively think about what you're doing. That’s when you move on to an actual simple pattern, preferably not involving too much shaping.
British wool is generally available in decent quantity from smaller manufacturers, and I would recommend buying something cheap and easy to work with at this stage rather than an expensive, high-quality skein that you're tempted to save.
How to make the double crochet stitch
✨ Step 1 Start by making a few chains, 15 or so.
✨ Step 2 Yarn over, insert your hook into the stitch, and pull up a loop.
✨ Step 3 Yarn over again, pull through two loops, then yarn over once more and pull through the last two.
Repeat, row after row, for about 20 minutes — no finished object needed yet.
The stitch is more important than the project, at least at this point. Because this is also a grounding exercise. Everything else builds from here.
And if you do it, please share a picture with me 😊
Speak soon,
Loris