Crochet

Patterns, projects and techniques

Beginner Crochet Tutorials

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cro heart tutorial 0813

 

Beginners are a necessity for our beloved art of crochet!  Without newbies, this yarn work would die out in only a few years.  Enthusiastic beginners bring new life into crochet, redefining how we look at yarns and shapes, how we reexamine stitches, and how we love to inspire one another to new heights in design and stitchery skills.  Tutorials aimed at beginners are essential.  When a seasoned crocheter makes such tutorials a priority, we all benefit.  Even those of us with intermediate or advanced crochet skills can often learn something new or be reminded of earlier skills by paying attention to beginner tutorials.

Tonya over at craftymummy.com has several tutorials on her blog that will assist beginners in learning and improving their crochet skills.  I noticed the heart pattern (and tutorial) because I am a huge fan of the heart shape.  This one is especially attractive to me because it has a lot of dimension – unusual for a beginner pattern.  Tonya creates that visual dimension with a very simple, easy to learn technique. You can get the pattern and tutorial right here.

cro rainbow blanket 0813

 

Even more basic is Tonya’s great tutorial for a beginner striped afghan.  Excellent stitch photos and attention to changing colors make this tutorial (which she calls a crochet-along) even more valuable to the beginner.  While the blanket can, of course, be completed in a single color, this tutorial gives you a good excuse to use up partial skeins to practice the techniques needed to change color every few rows.

Tonya has a few other nice beginner projects on her blog.  Worth a look-see!  She’s also added some special information about what to do if your blanket is curling.  You can read her thoughts here.

Comments

  2. You are so right, JD! Beginners are the lifeblood of our hobby! We need to do everything we can to encourage them! That is why in the past year I’ve devoted a lot of new designs to “easy” or “confident beginner” level.

    Striped single crochet scrap afghans are lying on two of my living room chairs right now! They are “mindless crochet” which sometimes feels just right, and I love the look!

Have you read?

Why Brava Yarn Is a Great Choice for Crochet Projects

If your crochet project needs plenty of colour, easy-care yarn and a sensible price, Brava is one of those dependable acrylic yarns worth keeping in mind. Even better, Brava is the Yarn of the Month and is currently 20% off throughout September, with no discount code required.

Brava is a soft, premium acrylic yarn designed for projects that will be used, washed and loved. That makes it particularly useful for crochet blankets, granny-square projects, amigurumi, children’s clothing, baby gifts and everyday accessories.

Why Crocheters Will Love Brava

One of Brava’s biggest selling points is its generous colour range. Granny-square blankets and colourwork projects can quickly require a surprisingly large selection of shades, so having plenty of coordinating colours available makes planning your palette much easier.

It is also available in four different yarn weights. You can choose a lighter option for garments and accessories, a classic weight for blankets and toys or a heavier yarn when you want a quick and cosy project.

Because Brava is acrylic, finished items are easier to care for than projects made with more delicate fibres. This is especially helpful when crocheting baby blankets, toys, pet blankets or gifts for people who may not want to hand-wash their crochet.

What Would I Crochet With Brava?

I would use Brava for a colourful granny-square blanket, a washable baby afghan or a collection of amigurumi toys. It would also be a practical option for donation projects because it combines softness, durability and affordability.

The current 20% discount makes September a good time to experiment with a new colour palette or stock up for a larger crochet blanket. If you have a project sitting in your queue that needs multiple balls of yarn, this might be the little push you needed to finally start it.