Free Crochet: Knitting: Crochet for Beginners (Sewing Hobbies Quilting) (Crafts Crochet Needlepoint) by Dorothy Smith Page A

to cut off a piece of yarn. You will be working straight from the ball.
     
    Begin the slip knot by laying the thread on the table. Make a loop with the thread, measuring about five inches from the tip. You have to make sure that the shorter end is on top of the longer end. Hold the loop together using your fingers. Your less dominant hand can do this for you.
     
    Then, with your dominant hand, take the longer piece of the yarn, which is the yarn attached to the ball under the loop, and then into the loop. This will make a new hoop which is more secure. Pull it tight.
     
    You are now ready to place this completed slip knot on to the end of your crochet hook. Place the yarn to hang over the needle as you work.
    You can also decide to make a small simple knot to make things easier. You can then attach this to your hook so you can start working right away. The knot should be a little smaller than the circumference of your finger.
     
    The Chain Stitch
     

     
    Now that you have made the knot, you can begin making your first stitches. The chain stitch is the most basic stitch in crochet. In many crochet pattern books, this will be abbreviated as ch. You should practice this stitch until you get it down right, because for many beginners, it is still hard to control the amount of tension placed on the yarn. Keep practicing the chain stitch until you develop a technique you are comfortable with. It will also help you get acquainted with which way you hold a hook. People hold hooks in different ways. Some people hold the over the hook like pencils, and some do an under the hook technique as if holding a frying pan. Any one is okay, but it is completely up to you to decide which technique is the best for you. To be comfortable, hold the needle at the middle. This part is flat, so you can hold the needle comfortably and securely.
     
    To start making your chain stitches, make sure that your knot is attached to the hook. Hold the short end of your slip knot using your middle finger and thumb. Keep your index finger free, as this will be the one to place the yarn around your hook’s handle. Use your hook to take the yarn through your loop. This will create your first chain link. Repeat this process to make successful chain stitches. Keep going until you find the right way of holding your needle. You can practice on this for as little as fifteen minutes per day. If you make any mistakes, it will be easy enough to unravel by simply pulling on the yarn.
     
    Remember that with as little as six chain links, you can begin with another kind of stitch, which is the slip stitch.

Chapter 4
Learn The More Difficult Stitches:
     
    The Slip Stitch, The Single Crochet Stitch, and The Double Crochet Stitch
    The Slip Stitch
     

     
    The next thing you can do once you have mastered the chain stitch, is the slip stitch. Slip stitches are very easy to do, though you would need a little bit more dexterity in your fingers to accomplish this. In crochet pattern books, the slip stitch is usually abbreviated as an (sl st.). This is a stitch that makes very little height, and you can use this to join stitches together or to strengthen the edges of your work. It can also help you change directions when working without leaving any visible traces of stitches.
    You will need to make at least six chain stitches to start a good slip stitch. With your hook, slip into the first secure chain that you made. This is the chain you can find the furthest from your hook. You will see that it will make a ring. Then, with your free hand, wrap the hook with the yarn from back to front. You may also want to rotate the hook so that its tip is pointed towards you.
     
    Finish off your slip stitch by pulling the yarn with your hook through the stitch and into the loop you made on your hook.
     
    Making a Single Crochet Stitch
     

     
    Performing a single crochet stitch will be your next step in learning how to make all those crocheted goodies. This stitch is a tight kind of