Crochet

How to Start, Materials, & Trends

By Keren Ortega

Crochet is IN this season! Mesh patterns in particular are bound for a rise in popularity this summer. Light mesh sweaters create interesting layers in your summer outfits while remaining cool and modest. They can also be used as swimsuit cover ups and repurposed during other seasons. Crochet vests also add a wonderful pop to your closet and can be worn again later in the year. Crochet accessories like headbands and tote bags also headbands and tote bags are an easy way to step up your style. (The photos below were shot during winter time so you might notice the outfits are rather warm, but they can be replicated with less layers for the summertime). Granny square crochet blankets can make for a lovely picnic blanket and the mesh beach cardigan seen on Merit can be layered on top of tank tops or short sleeves. Of you can purchase or thrift course you can purchase or thrift crochet pieces at stores like Goodwill, H&M, Pacsun, and American Eagle, but the best way to make a piece you love on a budget is to stitch it yourself!

Crocheting is peaceful, therapeutic, and it is incredibly rewarding to create something you can take pride in. A study conducted in 2011 suggested crochet can improve brain function, and relieve depression. Crocheting is really quite simple and can be done while listening to music. It is also time-consuming, which can be useful when fighting off summer boredom.

Here’s everything you’ll need to start crocheting along with a brief breakdown :

MUST HAVES:

• A hook: Hooks come in different sizes. Your yarn will specify what size hook you should use for it. You can get plastic hooks, steel hooks or hooks with grips, but I recommend plain steel hooks to begin

• Yarn: Yarn comes in different colors, patterns, materials and diameters. Acrylic yarn is usually cheapest and great for practice, but I like to use cotton yarn when making clothing since it is more breathable and wears less quickly than acrylic yarn.

• A crochet needle: A crochet needle is used to stitch pieces together such as attaching granny squares and stitching sleeves to tops.

OPTIONAL:

• Stitch marker to help you remember important stitches. You can buy these at a craft store or just use a safety pin if you don’t have any.

• A tape measure or ruler.

• Clothing accessories like elastic, buttons, lace, zippers, etc.

• If you are planning to create cute figures with faces, you should invest in eye buttons and embroidery floss for details.

HOW DO I START?:

Ok, so you’ve gathered your materials, what now? The best way to learn to crochet is to see it in real time. Look up YouTube videos and make sure you understand yarning over and learn to do any crochet stitches you might need for your project. It will take practice, but once you get the hang of it, it's muscle memory! There are thousands of free patterns and crochet tutorials online, so be sure to take advantage of these resources.

PATTERN ABBREVIATIONS:

Oftentimes, when reading crochet patterns, stitches can be abbreviated into short letter sequences. While this can at first seem overwhelming, it is really quite simple, I’ve listed some common abbreviations below.

yo: yarn over ch: chain stitch sc: single crochet hdc: half double crochet dc: double crochet htr: half treble crochet tr: treble crochet dtr: double treble crochet sl st: slip stitch cont: continue dec: decrease inc: increase lp: loop st: stitch tbl: through back loop sk: skip tog: together rep: repeat sp: space ws: wrong side

If you’ve stuck around long enough to read this, I’ve also included a free pattern on how to make a mesh market bag like the one seen in our swimsuit article on page 26. It’s a great first project that makes for a super handy bag!

Section One:

Ch 143.

Row 1: Starting in 11th ch from hook, tr 1, *ch 3, sk 3, tr 1 in next ch, rep from * to the end of the row.

Row 2: Ch 7 (counts as 1 tr and 1 ch-3 sp), tr 1 in top of next tr, *ch 3, tr 1 in top of next tr, rep from * with the last tr going into 4th ch of turning ch from row below. Rep row 2 until you have 34 vertical “squares” to match the number of horizontal “squares.”

Do not cut yarn. Block work. Begin working to decrease rows to cinch the top edge together.

Section 2:

Row 1: Ch 1, sc 1 in 1st tr, sc 2 in next ch sp, *sc 1 in next tr, sc 2 in next ch sp, rep from * across the row. (102 sts)

Row 2: Ch 1, sc3tog across row. (34 sts)

Row 3: Ch 1, *sc 1, sc2tog, rep from * to last st, sc 1. (23 sts)

Rows 4-9: Ch 2 (does not count as a st), hdc across row.

Cut yarn and reattach on opposite edge at the beginning of the foundation (first) chain.

Section 3:

Row 1: Ch 1, sc 3 in 1st ch sp, *sc 1 in ch at bottom of next tr, sc 2 in next ch sp, rep from * across row. (102 sts)

Repeat for 8 more rows along this bottom edge.

Section 4:

Do not cut yarn. You will now work in rounds around all 4 edges of the work to join the bag and add the straps. Begin by working down the side edge instead of back over the row you just worked. Use a stitch marker to mark the beginning of the round. Note that in round 1, the “ch 74” is what creates the straps, which are around 20 inches. (for longer or shorter straps, add or subtract ch sts.)

Round 1: Ch 1, and working into side edge, sc 9 evenly down the side of hdc and sc decrease rows (until you reach the net portion), place marker, sc 3 in 1st ch sp, *sc 1 in side of ch 3, sc 2 in next ch sp, rep from * to end of net portion (102 sc along net portion), place marker, sc 9 evenly up side of hdc and sc decrease rows, ch 74, sc 9 evenly down other side of hdc and sc decrease rows (until you reach the net portion), place marker, sc 3 in 1st ch sp, *sc 1 in side of ch 3, sc 2 in next ch sp, rep from * to end of net portion (102 sc along net portion), place marker, sc 9 evenly up side of hdc and sc decrease rows, ch 74, sl st to 1st sc at beginning of round.

Round 2: Sc to marker at beginning of net portion, sc 1, sc2tog to 1 st before next marker, sc 1 (52 sts along net portion between markers), sc up side, into each chain, and down other side to next marker, sc 1, sc2tog to 1 st before next marker, sc 1 (52 sts along net portion between markers), sc up side and into each chain.

Rounds 3 and 4: Sc all the way around. Sl st to close off at end of round 4. Secure and weave in all ends.

(You can find this pattern among others at twoofwands.com)