How I Learnt to Crochet

I have taken a bit of a creative break over the last few weeks but I am coming back refreshed and revitalised. I have found a new hobby and my favourite way to relax and keep myself occupied while Will is watching the football World Cup: crocheting. I recommend teaching yourself because then the only person you can get frustrated with is yourself.

I searched on YouTube and found these two amazing videos by Sarah-Jayne on her channel bellacoco. I sat and watched the first video about four times before I even picked up my hook and yarn. To watch her first crochet video on making a granny square click here.

The picture at the top is my first granny square I made using that video. Then I just carried on practicing changing colour as I went, I'm planning to carry this on and hopefully make it big enough to be a throw on our bed. I like the idea of my first ever attempt at crocheting being a part of our lives for a long time.

You will probably become a bit obsessed once you get going; that could have just been me. Anyway, you may end up with loads of granny squares so Sarah-Jayne has another video explaining how to join granny squares to make a blanket. I personally prefer the first way, you can watch that video here.

I liked the look of the squares having a boarder to break up the colour and make it stand out more.

I loved seeing it come together; it was well worth the time and effort. So much so that I have gone into my third and most ambitious project, I'll come to that in a minute though. I obviously am still learning but I have a few small tips for any other beginners.

Here are a few things I have learnt....

• It will take you a while to get the tension right, but don't worry, you will find your own way that works.

• Do not cut off the strands that are left once you finish a square or join. I did, thinking I had tied a tight-enough knot and it unravelled a little. Not good. For the beginning of your square, tuck the end in and wrap around as you do each treble crochet.

Hopefully it's clear enough in the picture I have crocheted around that strand. You can then safely cut off the end, without fear of unravelling nightmares. The same goes for the ends you have left at the end of your square, when you bind two squares together, tuck them in and crochet them into the join.

• I had a bit of trouble with the granny square when you go to the next row and crochet four chains. Here's what I'm talking about.

It wasn't exactly secure so I have been adding in another loop, which seems to be working well.

Once you have gone through that third chain to create a join, go back through the gap, yarn over and pull back through. You should then have two loops on your hook; yarn over and pull through both loops, this counts as your first chain. Make sure you pull that chain really tight so it's secure. Then just go back to following the video. I just found this works for me.

• My last small tip is use crosstich designs. I am attempting a big blanket for a present out of loads of granny squares and then attaching them altogether. I'm not sure if it's going to work but I'm hopeful. I'm taking it quite seriously, I even drew out my design.

Using a crosstich design is really handy as they both work in squares. If this one turns out okay I'll be searching some more designs like this. So far I have completed one side, 15 squares across.

If I can do it, you definitely can! I am seriously hooked (crochet joke). I hope you find this post useful. Also make sure you like Sarah-Jayne's videos on YouTube.

Thanks for reading

Amy