Technically speaking, crochet is a tool consisting of a stick equipped with a hook and which serves to convey the thread in the textile arts. The origins of crochet are very ancient, just like textile art in general, so much so that it can be traced back to Egyptian culture.
Nowadays, crochet is made in aluminum and steel, or plastic, but also in lego and even ivory: those who want to try their hand at this activity have a huge choice. Unlike knitting, then, it does not have the task of holding the stitches, but only the knitting eyelet and for a standard length of about 20 centimeters.
To practice crochet, different types of yarn can be used, in order to guarantee equally different results. In fact, by choosing to use silk and cotton , it is possible to obtain a very delicate fabric that is very reminiscent of Victorian craftsmanship. For household items, on the other hand, it is advisable to use a thicker and more resistant yarn.
You are looking for a good yarn for a creative work
The choice is very wide: in addition to cotton, you have linen, hemp, silk, jute and wool available.In this way, you can create something truly unique and original of its kind. As you may imagine, different types of crochet work can be distinguished, which we will analyze in detail shortly. Either way, we can recognize the following:
- Simple crochet , which includes net, Friulian, fork and Irish lace crochet.
- Tunisian crochet , which offers the possibility to collect a greater number of buttonholes at the same time, just like on a knitting needle.
The origins of crochet
As previously stated, crochet has very ancient origins, even if the examples that have come down to us today are very few. It is very curious to know how the experts have confirmed that many processes were done directly by hand, especially in the first period of birth of this practice. In fact, the fingers were used to create the loops and pick up the various stitches. This particular technique, then, was very widespread in Egyptian cultureand artifacts have been found in different parts of the world: for example, beautiful dolls were made in China, headdresses in Africa and hats in Turkey. The crochet technique was already widespread in Europe and, especially in Scotland, where winter hats and heavy capes were the cornerstone of production at the time.
But in Italy, around the sixteenth century, the most elegant and delicate form developedof crochet: in fact, the nuns used it to make sumptuous lace, as well as sacred vestments and special decorations for every occasion. In a very short time this practice began to spread to other countries, such as Ireland and Spain and in general where Catholicism was practiced. In London, on the other hand, it was Queen Victoria herself who chose to definitely take off the trend of crochet lace , promoting a real exhibition of arts. Crochetit reached its popularity between the 1910s and the 1920s, with the introduction of complex stitches, but also the production of books with diagrams, ideal for those who needed to learn this technique. In the Sixties the fresh and lively colors, present in many creations, begin to depopulate; while in the Eighties there was a strong crisis, accompanied by a decline in crochet work. All this because women are starting to work at full capacity and time is running out. From the nineties, then, we live a new and prosperous growth, up to the present day: we are talking about a much loved and used technique to create nice and original objects. The basic stitches of crochet
The basic stitches ofcrochet work are definitely the following: the high crochet, the low crochet, the slip stitch and the chain stitch. In fact, learning to crochet requires a series of basic rules , combined with a lot of patience and a desire to have fun and experiment. These are the four fundamental points to be able to carry out many creative works: they are very simple to exploit and do not require prior knowledge of the subject itself. We can say that the crochet technique is within everyone’s reach: anyone can start learning the basics of this art, even the youngest.
You have already bought your crochet hook set
Here you will find some very nice ones to buy online, perfect for getting started.
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It is remarkable how crochet , especially in children, helps to develop a certain dexterity and helps a lot in school learning. So if you’re looking for a challenging hobby , crochet might be for you! As we have said, it is a practice that is very easy to learn and even if you start from scratch, you still have enormous possibilities of achieving satisfactory results in a short time: dedication and commitment are certainly the key words of this practice with ancient origins.
With these basic points you can create very beautiful and tasty jobs! They are ideal for starters. Chain
Crochet is also an ideal practice for beginners who want to test themselves and create eccentric and particular works. In fact, if you want to make a chain stitch it will be enough for you to put the yarn on the hook and pull it inside the first stitch, so as to form a buttonhole.
The chain, the fundamental basic point of crochet work , allows you to start the work together with the magic ring. More precisely, to make this point, it is necessary to form a loop and, as previously mentioned, thread the thread inside it, pulling it. At this point, tighten the knot that is formed and repeat the operation by passing the thread through the chain. Who wants to start, starts here! Very low and low mesh
Two fundamental points of the crochet are the very low and low stitch . To make the slip stitch, thread the hook into the penultimate stitch of the cast-on chain round. And after you have collected and thrown it, take care to extract it by passing it through the two links. For the single crochet stitch, you will need to insert the hook into the penultimate stitch and pull it through the base stitch. It sounds very complicated, but it’s not! Obviously it requires commitment and perseverance. Then take the yarn and pass it through both stitches and, only at the end, make a chain. Double crochet, half double crochet, double double crochet, triple double crochet
To make the double crochetinstead, it is important to put the yarn over the hook and then insert it in the basic stitch, in the fourth chain, without considering the buttonhole. Then, pull the thread away through the chain: thus, you will end up with three buttonholes above the hook. Insert the thread again and pull it out using the slots left on the underwire; at the end of the row, finally, make three chains to turn the work.
To obtain the half double crochet, on the other hand, after having obviously started everything with the chain, it is good to wrap the yarn on the hook, enter the third last chain and extract it. In this way, you will form three links; after that, pick up the same thread and pass it through the three o’clock.
The double trebleIt is not that difficult to make: throw the yarn over the hook twice, count five chain stitches and insert the hook into the stitch it corresponds to. Now, pick up the thread and pull it out. You will see that four stitches will form, close them two at a time throwing the yarn from time to time and, finally, slide it until you are able to close everything.
The triple treble crochet, on the other hand, can be obtained by throwing the yarn on the hook three times. Count six stitches, pull the hook through and close them two at a time just like for the double stitch. Learning to crochet: techniques and secrets Crochetit is a very trendy hobby, but also an ancient art through which to make elegant doilies, laces and decorations. Learning to crochet requires constancy, as well as for many other techniques, but also a certain manual ability. This is a mini-guide to learning how to crochet in a few simple steps.
First, buy a crochet hook and possibly number 3 or 4: they are considered ideal for those who are beginners , as they are neither too big or small. Obviously, also get a ball of yarn to start the knitting and, possibly, not Mohair wool, as it is very complex and difficult to untie in the event of errors. The ideal is a colored acrylic for a lively and original work.
Incrochet technique , the fundamental hand is the one that holds the thread and not the one that takes care of moving the underwire. Precisely for this reason, if you are right, your left hand will do all the work and vice versa.
The thread must not be too soft, nor too taut, but perfectly smooth on the palm of the hand. In the case of a very thin thread , it is ideal to make it turn once around the little finger, pass the stump inside the palm of the hand and, finally, over the index and behind the finger itself.
But how do you hold the crochet
This is a great question and the answer is very simple: you can comfortably hold it with your thumb and forefinger, or by advancing your forefinger over the crochet rod, while your thumb supports the underside.
At this point, you can start the actual knitting by making a knot and inserting it inside the crochet hook; then place the iron over the wire exerting a slight pressure. Now take the yarn firmly and pull it through the hook. You will easily realize that you are perfectly capable of making your first jersey !
From here on, the goal is precisely to make a greater number of chains, at least one hundred, in order to learn in depth and detail how the wire and the iron are held.Crochet for beginners: what jobs to do
If you are a beginner struggling with crochet, it is advisable to make works with basic stitches , which are infinite in the sense of the word. In fact, a creation of this type includes very simple crochet stitches: the slip stitch, the chain stitch, the single crochet and the high one. In fact, with these basic points you can create very beautiful and tasty jobs! They are ideal for starters.
For those just starting out, it is advisable to create works with a rectangular or square shape:in this way, you will not have to make any increases or decreases in stitches and better monitor your work. We strongly advise against, at least for the first time, complicating the work with creations with a particular or geometric shape. This belongs to the next level.
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Try to do jobs that don’t take a huge amount of time away, as it can become stressful in the long run, especially if you’re just starting out.
It is also important to know how to choose the most suitable yarn and as it was anticipated, the use of wool is not recommended. Choose cotton, linen or jute: they are easily manageable even in case of mistakes. The most popular jobs for beginners are certainly rectangular pot holders, tea towels, scarves, coasters, pencil cases. These are creations, mostly in low or high knits, easily achievable with undemanding and complex yarns.
