I Will Survive

LearningtoCrochet

TheBasics

The first thing you will learn is how to make a slip knot. A slip knot will be the starting point to every pattern you make.

Once you have created your slip knot the next thing you will learn is how to create a chain stitch. You will have lots of practice with these as you will be making a big chain of stitches, just like the name says.

Once you have made a few chains the next big step is to work back into those chain stitches creating the single crochet stitch.

Each step will have a scan code with a link to short video. These videos are designed to help make the process of learning how to crochet easy.

HowtoHold YourHook

There are two common ways to hold your crochet hook.

Pencil Grip : Hold your hook as you would hold a pencil. Hold the thumb rest between your thumb and pointer finger and let your third finger rest along the back of your hook.

Knife Grip : Hold your hook as you would hold a knife . Hold the thumb rest with your thumb and third finger while your pointer finger stretches along the back of the hook.

We suggest practicing with both grips to find out which grip you find the most comfortable. No matter which grip you choose, always have your hook facing you.

SlipKnot

(make sure the tail goes under your working yarn).

Take your yarn and create a loop. Insert your hook into the loop. Take working yarn from the back of your hook to the front placing yarn over hook. This is called yarn over.

Using your hook, pull hooked yarn through the loop. You will have one loop on your hook.

ChainStitch (ch)

Create a slip knot. Yarn over your hook. Yarn over: Take working yarn from the back of your hook to the front placing yarn over your hook. Pull the hooked yarn through the loop on your hook (your slip knot) . You will be left with one loop on your hook. Repeat above steps until you have created 20 chain stitches.

SingleCrochet

Stitch(sc)

Create a slip knot. Chain (ch) 20 + 1 extra chain (this will be your turning chain) for a total of 21 chain stitches. Turn your work counter clockwise leaving hook in chain stitch.

Turning work: You will turn your work at the end of every row you complete working back into previous row.

Insert hook into the second chain stitch from hook. (You are skipping the chain 1 stitch used for turning your work)

Yarn over, pull hooked yarn through the loop on your hook. (You will now have 2 loops on your hook).

(sc)Continued

Yarn over. Pull hooked yarn through both loops on your hook. (You will now have 1 loop on your hook). You have just created one single crochet stitch (sc).

Place stitch marker into the stitch you have just created. Create a single crochet stitch (sc) in the remaining 19 chain stitches. Chain one (ch 1). Turn your work. Insert hook into the second stitch from your hook. (make sure you are inserting hook through both stitches of single crochet stitch will look like a v).

Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through stitch. (You will have two loops on your hook).

(sc)Continued

Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through both loops on hook. (You will have one loop on your hook).

Place stitch marker in the stitch you just created. Continue placing a single crochet stitch (sc) in the remaining 19 stitches from previous row. Chain one ( ch 1 ). Turn work. Repeat above steps until you have created 10 rows.

SingleCrochet

FasteningOff

Once your project is complete or you want to change colours, the final thread will need to be fastened to your project securely. Work one CH, than cut your yarn. It will need to be least 5 inches away from your work. This excess 5 inch yarn is called the tail, in the following card you will learn how to weave the tail into your project so it doesn't unravel. Pull your tail through the loop on your hook and tighten it gently.

WeavingEnds

After your ends have been fastened, the leftover tail will need to be weaved into the existing stitches. This will ensure your project will not unravel or fall apart. As said in the previous card, make sure your tail is at least 5 inches long.

Thread your darning needle with the yarn and weave it into the back bumps of your stitches. Start in a downwards direction for a few stitches, than move over a stitch and work your yarn in an upwards direction. Repeat until you have weaved in your ends. Snip off end.

Practice Practice Practice

When starting a new skill such as crochet, it takes practice and most of all patience. Your first couple projects may not look exactly like the pictures, but we hope our user friendly guide and videos will make this learning process as seamless as possible.

Eventually with practice your stitches will become neater, your edges will become straight, and your tension will get consistent. Over time you will develop your own personal style that's unique to you. So don't get frustrated just keep practicing and enjoy the process.

listrations by Heather Rozell based on images from 500 crochet stitches by pavillon (2015). Ebook created by wild rose creations. videos created by wild rose creations

Buildingonthe basics

Building on the basics

Now that you have learned the basic single crochet stitch it's time to build our knowledge and try more complex stitches. In this section you will learn two more common stitches that are used when crocheting. The double crochet stitch (dc) and the half double crochet stitch (hdc). By mastering these two stitches you will have the skills and knowledge to understand more complicated patterns and create even more stitches.

DoubleCrochetStitch (dc)

Create a slip knot. Chain (ch) 20 + 1. Turn work.

Yarn over and insert hook into the second stitch from your hook.

Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through the stitch. (you will have 3 loops on your hook).

Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through the first two loops on your hook. (you will have 2 loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through the two loops on your hook. (you will have 1 loop on hook). You have just created a double crochet stitch.

Place a stitch marker in the stitch you just created.

(dc) Continued.

Place a double crochet stitch (dc) in the remaining 19 chain stitches from previous row. Chain 1. Turn work. Repeat above steps until you have created 10 rows.

(dc) Continued.

Half Double Crochet Stitch (hbc)

Create a slip knot. Chain (ch) 20 + 1. Turn work. Yarn over and insert hook into the second stitch from your hook. Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through the stitch. (you will have 3 loops on your hook). Yarn over and pull hooked yarn through all three loops on your hook. (you will have 1 loop on your hook). You have just created a half double crochet stitch (hdc).

(hdc) Continued

Place a stitch marker in the stitch you just created.

Place a half double crochet stitch (hdc) in the remaining 19 chain stitches from previous row. Chain 1, Turn work. Repeat above steps until you have created 10 rows.

(hdc) Continued

GetCreative

Crocheting is like cooking, yes following the recipe is important, but it's also fun to do your own thing once you have learned the basics. This is how patterns are made!

Experiment with different stitch placements and alternating rows with your favorite stitches. If you’d like to try alternating rows a good start is to do one row of double crochet stitches (dc) and the next row do a half double crochet stitch (hdc).

Alternating stitch placements could look something like starting your row with half double crochet stitch (hdc) then adding in a few double crochet stitches (dc) and finish off with half double crochet stitch (hdc).

GetCreative

If you like the patterns you’ve created with alternating rows or stitches be sure to write them down in the book provided! This book is a great tool , to help keep your patterns and project ideas in one place.

Illistrations by Heather Rozell based on images from 500 crochet stitches by pavillon (2015). Ebook created by wild rose creations. videos created by wild rose creations.

Special Instructions

You will need to know how to make the basic chain stitch when making this hanging planter.

Slip Knot: Take your yarn and create a loop (make sure the tail goes under your working yarn). Insert your hook into the loop. Take working yarn from the back of your hook to the front placing yarn over the hook. This is called yarn over. Using your hook pull hooked yarn through the loop. You will have one loop on your hook.

Chain Stitch: Yarn over your hook. Yarn over: Take working yarn from the back of your hook to the front placing yarn over your hook. Pull the hooked yarn through the loop on your hook (your slip knot). You will be left with one loop on your hook.

Step one

Step two

Gather the four chains together and tie together at one end with one big knot. This is the base where the plant will sit.

Step Three

Adding the beads to the hanging plant.

Thread one of the tails through your darning needle and add one of the beads. Repeat three more times.

Step Four

In this step you are going to attach your work to the ring. You first want to place your plant in the base of your hanger where you made the knot. Make sure your chains are even and not tanged. You want your plant to be as even and level as possible when you attach to your ring so it will hang straight. Once you are happy with the look, attach to your ring with a knot, leaving about 1 cm space from the beads to the ring.

Step Five

To finish off, thread one of the tails through your darning needle, and wrap around all the tails in the space between the beads and ring. To secure the wrap insert hook through the wrapped yarn from top to bottom. Trim excess yarn.