I’ve had a lot of people asking me about how to crochet and knit; which could mean that they either want to make a Pinterest-famous crop top or want to start a small business of their own.
It’s the “COVID era” that has introduced so many new people to the crochet and knit community, and I’M LOVING IT!
I’m here to share my take on what makes you ready to crochet a top or knit a bulky cardigan!
LET'S START WITH WHAT IS WHAT!
Even though I have a detailed blog about this here, let’s start this discussion with some basic differences between the two crafts.
Crochet is done with a single hook while Knitting is done with two or more sticks known as needles.
Yarn used to crochet or knit may be the same but there is always a difference between design and stitches with the same yarn.
Tension of both projects may be different for the same person. You may crochet too tight and knit loose and that's completely normal.
Techniques used to crochet are completely different from the ones used to knit.
Now that you know the differences between the two, let’s move on to choosing the tools.
PROPER BEGINNER TOOLS
I always recommend using 3 ply to 4 ply acrylic yarn for beginners. It does not slip off the hook/ needles and helps you practice a proper tension.
Although acrylic yarns are synthetic - which means they’re not sustainable or comfortable for hot weather; when you are at the beginning stage, you should always start small and acrylic yarns are CHEAP!
Once you have your yarn, it’s time to choose suitable hooks/ knitting needles.
For crochet hooks, I recommend 4mm ergonomic ones with a plastic grip.
For knitting needles, I recommend 4mm circular bamboo ones because they are light, easy to hold and don’t let the yarn slip away easily.
If you don't want to spend much time researching everything, I also offer beginner Crochet and Knitting Tools Kits.
WAYS TO HOLD HOOKS AND NEEDLES
There are different ways and styles of holding a crochet hook and knitting needles. I’ll share some of them below.
Crochet: The two styles to hold a crochet hook are the pen style and knife style. I switch between the both as my fingers start to ache during a project. (Disclaimer: Your hands might hurt in the beginning. For some reason for me, it was my muscles in the line of the left hand ring finger.)
Knitting: There are many ways in which you can hold the yarn and knitting needles but the two basic methods are continental knitting and English knitting. (I started with English knitting at first as learnt by my grandmother. But now I know and have completely transitioned to continental.)
Tip: If you are just starting out to learn knitting, I would recommend practicing continental technique only. It is much faster than English!
Okay isn't it just AWESOME that within these 3 minutes, you now know what tools and yarns to use to crochet AND knit? You even know what way you would choose for your preferred craft form. Drop a comment below later to tell me how cool is that!
PRACTICE YOUR TENSION
Next thing you should do is practice your tension. Now, you must have read this term a couple times in my blogs now.
Tension simply means how tight or loose you hold the yarn while working on a project. It determines the look, texture, and sometimes size of your project.
It is important to reach a standard tension in both crochet and knitting. Otherwise, you will keep changing throughout the project and it may turn out mis-shaped.
SOME TIPS FOR YOU!
Here are some pointers that are good to know when you are starting your first/ new project:
Make a ball of yarn from the skein or maybe buy pre-made yarn balls. We can all find them easily available everywhere now.
Tie up your hair before starting to work on a project. A few of them will always find their way into your project and it doesn't look nice.
ALWAYS MAKE A GAUGE SWATCH! I cannot stress this enough; especially if you want to design patterns one day.
Try to keep your tension and tools same throughout the project so that it doesn't distort along the way.
The main advice I would like to give you is “DON’T GIVE UP!” If you feel the overwhelm of not being able to complete a project or maybe you are stuck in it somewhere. Drop a comment below and I’ll contact you as soon as possible.
Before Social Media, bloggers used to communicate through blogs only and this is why I have put up my Services for newbie crocheters/ knitters, beginners, and makers that are stuck between their projects. Go check out them out and book a call with me in whichever way comfortable.
I’m here for you!