by Sofia S. on December 3, 2009
As crocheting is one of those timeless crafts learned from our grandmothers, it is a bit hard to see youngsters enjoying the craft in the present generation or even some who could understand crochet terms. Although there are some families that have managed to hand down the love of the art of crocheting to their children, most people have forgotten about this craft.
There are also people who really are determined in learning how to crochet. They understand that learning it is not done instantly and that it requires a lot of time and patience to learn the craft. So they go about their way in learning the art as a meaningful hobby that would allow them to spend their time leisurely. Obviously, the internet is there to help them in their dream of learning how to crochet.
The first step of course is to learn the basic stitches. You can search for this, too, and find a lot of helpful sites that will guide you in this first step. There are only four of these basic stitches and once you have mastered them, you can promptly start on a simple project of your choice. There are a lot of project ideas online, too, that are printable for free. CrochetManiacs Section – our Members Area, coming soon- is a place full of ideas for projects.
Any project requires a pattern, of course. And you may find yourself at awe the first time you read a pattern. Well, there is not need to panic for there are a lot of sources that can help you in this small problem. The very first thing to do when trying to read a pattern for a project is to first learn how to understand the crochet terms and abbreviations. Once you are familiar with these commonly used terms, you will find it easier for you to understand any pattern. Most patterns will come with instructions which are mostly in abbreviations and some crochet terms are being used.
Deciding on what project to do depends on your preferences. Whether you are making your first project for yourself or for a friend, find a simple project that will allow you to use what you have learned. Simple yet fun projects like cell phone cases, purses or tote bags surely sound appealing to most young people. Find one that will suit you and then find a free pattern in which the crochet terms are easy enough for you to understand.
by Sofia S. on December 3, 2009
Do you want to learn the art of crocheting or are you thinking of enrolling in crochet classes? Some people might think that the art of crocheting is becoming obsolete. Well, it is in fact surviving and that makes learning the craft very special since there are only a few people who are interested in it. It may mean a bit harder to learn since there are only a few who would willingly teach you the intricate art of crocheting. Women of past generations used to learn crocheting from their grandmothers and made a lot of things with their art like table cloths, bed covers, curtains or even Afghans.
Nowadays, younger women who are more modern prefer to learn things all on their own. We live in the era of speed and automation. As an answer to their need, the internet is ever available anytime and almost anywhere. Everything is being searched online. There are in fact a lot of sites that would be able to offer you of a lot of invaluable information about crocheting including instructions, tips, patterns and even information about crochet classes. We have included a list of the best websites in our “CROCHET WORLD” links section. Check them out, you’ll be thrilled.
There is in fact a wealth of information about where to enroll in crochet classes. Of course you always have the option of joining CROCHETMANIACS CLUB (opening soon) gaining access to a galore of basic information about crocheting. Regardless, depending on the type of class you want to join like crocheting for teens or knitting classes for teens, you are sure to find something that will suit your needs. You will need some materials for your crochet classes. Certainly, you have to prepare a skein of yarn and some hooks. You could also arm yourself with a lot of background ideas about yarns, hooks, stitches, patterns and items to be crocheted.
In general, crochet classes will teach you the basic steps of crocheting either through a series of illustrations or through VIDEOS. All projects whether large or small always start with a chain (chain stitch). The chain is one of the basic stitches that you will learn in every crochet class. A short length of yarn maybe used for practice until you can get the correct and even spaces in between stitches. The single stitch is the next basic step (we call this stitch a “leg” in greek and I guess there maybe an analogue term in other languages as well). The double stitch (in greek we use the term “double leg”) is also used in most projects because it is firm and tight like the single stitch yet it is twice the height of a single stitch, making you finish you project in a lesser time of course depending on the pattern. Lastly, the treble or the triple stitch (“triple leg” in greek) is the last of the basic stitches. Other advanced stitches may follow depending on the type of project you are doing. You should also be prepared with a project in mind.
