Seven Tips for Crochet Beginners
By Ben Wayne
Seven Tips for Crochet Beginners
By Ben Wayne
Crochet is a hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people. The motivations for getting started in this hobby are varied - some people want to make great projects that they can give as gifts or keep to enjoy, while others simply want something to do while they are relaxing at home in the evening. No matter what your personal motivation happens to be, the seven tips below should help you maximize your enjoyment of this activity.
#1 - Forget About Perfection
There is almost no chance that you will be perfect on any of your first projects - so don't worry about it! Mistakes are common in crochet, especially among those who are just getting started. If you try to hold yourself to a perfect standard, you won't enjoy the hobby because you will be stressed about your mistakes. Relax, accept the imperfections that are going to pop up in any project, and enjoy yourself.
#2 - Take Your Time
Don't put a deadline on any of your crochet work, especially at first. For example, it isn't a good idea to plan on giving away one of your projects as a Christmas gift if you only get started on the 21st of December. As you are learning this craft, provide yourself with plenty of time to complete each project and don't force yourself to rush to meet a specific deadline.
#3 - Give Yourself a Break
Taking breaks while crocheting is important because this activity can be taxing on your hands as the hours add up. Make it a habit to take periodic breaks in order to relax and stretch out your hands and forearms. It is possible to develop a repetitive stress injury from spending hours on end working on a crochet project, so taking breaks is an important part of the process.
#4 - Consistency if Key
Maintaining a consistent pressure on the yarn is one of the most important skills that you will need to develop when learning how to crochet. If you want the finished product to have a consistent look, you need to pull on the yarn with a steady amount of pressure throughout the job. Too much pressure, or not enough, will have a negative effect on the finished appearance of the job.
#5 - Stay Organized
Just as with anything in life, crochet gets easier when you are organized. If you have project supplies spread all over the house, you will never have what you need when you need it. Try to establish a specific spot in the house where you will work on your projects, and designate a basket or box for all of your supplies so you will know where everything is when you are in the middle of working on a project.
#6 - Care for Your Neck
It is easy to find yourself in a hunched over position while working on a crochet project - and you could wind up with a neck ache as a result. Be careful to sit with good posture while you are working on any project, and avoid burying your chin down into your neck while looking down at your work. Poor posture can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, so this is an important point if you want to be able to work on crochet projects on a regular basis for years to come.
#7 - Practice!
You won't get better at anything in life without practice, and that is certainly true when it comes to crochet. The skills that you have at the beginning of your crochet experience will likely leave something to be desired, but you will improve as you go. Keep taking on new projects and eventually you will develop a range of skills that enable you to make more elaborate projects than you ever imagined.
Ben Wayne writes for CIT Studios, a 3,800 square foot studio and retail space in Woodsboro, MD, featuring supplies for arts and crafts such as sewing, crochet and knitting, as well as papercraft.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ben_Wayne/2221015
Crochet is a hobby that is enjoyed by millions of people. The motivations for getting started in this hobby are varied - some people want to make great projects that they can give as gifts or keep to enjoy, while others simply want something to do while they are relaxing at home in the evening. No matter what your personal motivation happens to be, the seven tips below should help you maximize your enjoyment of this activity.
#1 - Forget About Perfection
There is almost no chance that you will be perfect on any of your first projects - so don't worry about it! Mistakes are common in crochet, especially among those who are just getting started. If you try to hold yourself to a perfect standard, you won't enjoy the hobby because you will be stressed about your mistakes. Relax, accept the imperfections that are going to pop up in any project, and enjoy yourself.
#2 - Take Your Time
Don't put a deadline on any of your crochet work, especially at first. For example, it isn't a good idea to plan on giving away one of your projects as a Christmas gift if you only get started on the 21st of December. As you are learning this craft, provide yourself with plenty of time to complete each project and don't force yourself to rush to meet a specific deadline.
#3 - Give Yourself a Break
Taking breaks while crocheting is important because this activity can be taxing on your hands as the hours add up. Make it a habit to take periodic breaks in order to relax and stretch out your hands and forearms. It is possible to develop a repetitive stress injury from spending hours on end working on a crochet project, so taking breaks is an important part of the process.
#4 - Consistency if Key
Maintaining a consistent pressure on the yarn is one of the most important skills that you will need to develop when learning how to crochet. If you want the finished product to have a consistent look, you need to pull on the yarn with a steady amount of pressure throughout the job. Too much pressure, or not enough, will have a negative effect on the finished appearance of the job.
#5 - Stay Organized
Just as with anything in life, crochet gets easier when you are organized. If you have project supplies spread all over the house, you will never have what you need when you need it. Try to establish a specific spot in the house where you will work on your projects, and designate a basket or box for all of your supplies so you will know where everything is when you are in the middle of working on a project.
#6 - Care for Your Neck
It is easy to find yourself in a hunched over position while working on a crochet project - and you could wind up with a neck ache as a result. Be careful to sit with good posture while you are working on any project, and avoid burying your chin down into your neck while looking down at your work. Poor posture can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, so this is an important point if you want to be able to work on crochet projects on a regular basis for years to come.
#7 - Practice!
You won't get better at anything in life without practice, and that is certainly true when it comes to crochet. The skills that you have at the beginning of your crochet experience will likely leave something to be desired, but you will improve as you go. Keep taking on new projects and eventually you will develop a range of skills that enable you to make more elaborate projects than you ever imagined.
Ben Wayne writes for CIT Studios, a 3,800 square foot studio and retail space in Woodsboro, MD, featuring supplies for arts and crafts such as sewing, crochet and knitting, as well as papercraft.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/expert/Ben_Wayne/2221015
