Crochet Starter Kit or Gift Set for Beginners

Have you been thinking about learning to crochet?  No????  Oh!  I get it - it's because you already know how ;)

Well then, maybe you know someone else who'd like to learn?  The holidays are a perfect opportunity to put together a gift set for yourself or for any beginning crocheter!  

I remember when a friend told me she wanted to learn and asked me what she would need to get started crocheting.  You don't need a lot, but it certainly can help to have a little guidance.  So here's what I would include in a "Starter Kit" for someone who'd like to learn how to crochet.

(1) a good hook

It took me a while to find the hooks that I LOVE, but I now they are what I recommend to everyone, even beginners.  Maybe especially beginners.

My favorite crochet hooks are the Clover Amour Hooks, with grippy handles.  The handles feel fabulous while working, not slippery, or too skinny to hold.  And they are a bit longer than many other handles so you have better control over them since they fit in your hand better... I think :)

If you're a veteran crocheter, just do yourself a favor and go buy the 10-size set now!

But for the purposes of a starter kit, I recommend the size H/5.oo mm hook or the size J/6.oo mm hook.

(2) a worsted weight, light-colored yarn

It is best to learn to crochet with an acrylic yarn that isn't too slippery... but isn't too scratchy either.  For beginners, I think Lion Brand Vanna's Choice yarn is a great place to start.  It's a great yarn - soft, easy to use, great colors - and it meets my not-slippery, not-too-scratchy recommendation.  

I recommend a lighter color yarn for learning because it's easier to see individual stitches.  The Vanna's Choice line has many colors, so you'll probably have a hard time picking just one :)

(3) a tapestry needle

A large-eye needles is necessary for weaving in the ends of your project (the yarn tails that hang from your work at the beginning and end of a piece, and any place you changed color).  I find steel needles work much better than plastic ones, and recommend a set like this...

(4) stitch markers

Stitch markers may not be a necessity for a beginner, but they can be very useful when learning to count stitches in a row or count rows themselves.  These stitch markers are inexpensive and easy to use (they close like a safety pin so they won't easily fall out of your work) ...

(5)  how-to materials, tutorials, and guides

In addition to the essential tools, a beginner may also need some learning materials if there is no handy friend/teacher nearby :)

Some learn best with a physical book, with pictures and descriptions.  Although I haven't seen this book firsthand, I previewed several books on Amazon and this one looks like a great beginners tool to me.  I think it would be a wonderful addition to a starter crochet kit/gift :)

How to Crochet: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners

Some may prefer the audio-visual approach, in which case I have two words for you:

YOU. TUBE.

There are a gazillion learn-to-crochet tutorials on youtube.  You may just have to jump in to one or two to see if they're suited to you.  Some may go to slow or too fast.  Or maybe you need a left-handed tutorial.  Poke around, I guarantee you'll find one that you can learn from.  I previewed this tutorial and it was well done :)

And don't forget about Pinterest for pictorial instructions on how to do basic stitches as well as charts of common abbreviations, and instructions on how to read a pattern.  If you were preparing a gift set, you certainly could print out and laminate some of these to include <3

So, what do you think?  What other tools, materials, or information would you include in a gift set for a beginner crocheter???  I'd love to hear about it in the comments.  

You may also like:

Rainbow Crochet Dishcloths ("pattern")

Crochet Hook Size Reminders (a tutorial)

Snow-on-Snow Chunky Cowl Pattern

Crochet Basket Pattern

Defending Crochet (to Myself and the Masses)

Crochet Afghan Repair

I Crocheted My First Blanket!! (and then took a lot of pictures of it)

two bed-heads under a blanket :)

I finished my first large-scale crochet project!!  It's the car play mat blanket based on this idea and pattern from The Purl Bee.  

I am so proud of myself and I'm so pleased with how it turned out. Every time I wrap up in it (often with a little one tucked in next to me!) I'm cheered by the colors and my accomplishment.  I love this blanket!

For the most part, I followed the instructions offered at the blog post I linked to above.  I only made a few changes.  Firstly, although I would love a yarn budget that would allow for the gorgeous wool used in the original, I settled for soft acrylics (my favorite to work with was Bernat Satin).  This made the blanket very heavy.  It's no bother to me, because I'm always chilly, but if you want to make this blanket and you live in a warmer clime, you may want to consider using a different type of yarn.  The other big change I made was that I put a border around the outside of the entire blanket.  I very much like the look of the finished edges. (It also strengthens the whole blanket by putting a barrier between real life and the "weak" seams where all the squares were joined.) I put three rows of single crochets around the outside.  (I did not turn my work, just joined the rows and continued working around.)  This is getting a bit technical, but just in case one of my readers is seriously thinking about trying this project and you want to know what I did...  While I was crocheting the first row around the edge, I "built up" the "ditches" (?) where the individual squares come together.  At each "ditch" I did a half double, then a double in the very center of the "ditch" and then another half double.  Then I continued on with singles until the next "ditch".   The second and third row I just crocheted singles the entire way around (except at the corners where I ghetto-guessed at the increases I needed to make the turn.  Sorry I can't be more specific.) (check out a mini tutorial on this "ditch filling in" at the end of the post.)

So, you've seen how my kids use this blanket.  Allow me to show you its proper use...

* * * * * *

Here's a quick photo "tutorial" on edges at the "ditches."

the joining "ditch" before I filled it in with the noted stitches

after I filled it in with with a half double crochet - double crochet - half double crochet

continuing on with single crochets

what it looks like after the second row of single crochets was finished 

7QT - Beverages and Baby Stuff

I don't think I'll ever be one of those SQT contributors who has these things done on Wednesday and is just waiting to hit publish at the stroke of midnight early Friday morning.  On Wednesday I think I was still sorting through Tuesday...

But, here they are... my little-bit-late Seven Quick Takes (comprised mostly of baby photos that probably only interest me and some postpartum humor, because if you can't laugh about life with little kids you're in trouble.)

(1)

Hehe.  Thanks, Mom, for finding this one for me!

(2)

Well, Mom, you actually found this one too...

Do you know about Savage Chickens?  Check out these awesome cartoons - drawn (by Doug Savage) on yellow post-it-notes! - at savagechickens.com.  They never fail to amuse.  In fact, I'm considering giving you an entire Quick Takes worth of Savage Chickens next week :)  (lucky you!)

(3)

(4)

(5)

You know I love to crochet.  So, what do you think about my next project??  

(Kidding.  Even though this is hysterical, I wouldn't waste my time or yarn.  Plus, a wine glass around the neck would only get in the way while nursing, and that's prime wine-drinking time...)

(6)

Saturday morning sweetness...

(7)

And you may recall a certain little quilt I made "in case" we had a boy??  James is putting it to good use. 

Last quick take is...

 Cute Baby with Quilt-y Background:

(Bonus Take)

Even though I'm late to the party, I'm linking up with Jen.  You can head over there too to check out more Quick Takes!  Have a happy weekend!

Nesting in Technicolor

It started after all my Christmas crafting was done.  Nesting in high gear, I mean.  This third trimester has been like none other.  In the past, nesting for me has meant lots of cleaning around the home (with a very brief foray into painting wooden things when I was expecting Clare.)  This time around, I still want a clean house, but I just don't want to be the one to clean it!  During this pregnancy I've been unusually attracted to color, and my recent nesting has been about how much I can sew and crochet before the baby is born... and how colorful I can make it.

Some projects are still in the works, so these are mostly just cheery, colorful sneak peak pics of the big things I've been working on:

I'm crocheting this throw blanket according to this pattern from Whit's Knits.  But since I wasn't going to spend the $800 for the same wool yarn that she used (insert spitting out of coffee in shock here), I just started using whatever soft acrylic yarn I had on hand and have bought additional colors to round it out. I can't wait until it's done!  It's my first large scale crochet project.  

* * * * * *

I started crocheting the above blanket after a short-lived sojourn into crocheting baby clothes...

I got one bootie done and quit.  I realized that (1) it was super tedious and time consuming, (2) they were blue and we don't even know if it's a boy or girl, and (3) boy or girl, s/he would grow out of whatever I made in a matter of weeks... so, it wasn't worth it to me to spend the time and mental energy on little slipper and sweater patterns.  I'd rather stick with blankets that can be used for as long as they hold together (!) and hats that are simple to whip up and don't require a lot of squinting at patterns and watching bizarre crochet stitch tutorials on youtube :)  So, feast your eyes on the this lone blue bootie, because I don't think I'll be making any more...

* * * * * *

  

This quilt started out as a non-rainbow doll quilt.  But once I got rolling, I realized I had so many scraps of fabric I could make it much bigger.  And I happened to have a crib size batting hiding under a pile of stuff.  So, now I'm in the middle of a Scrap Bag Rainbow Crib Quilt.  If we have a girl, this is hers. But I'm still not certain how I'll feel wrapping a bouncing baby boy in this beauty.  If we have a boy, I may claim this for my own - a lap quilt for while I read and crochet???  (I'm starting to sound like a little old granny... it's too early for that!  help!)  The thing I love about the front of this quilt is I can remember almost all the original projects that the scraps are left over from!  

* * * * * *

And this is the only project I've actually finished recently...

needs to be ironed apparently.  sorry about that.

Once I realized that I was crafting a lovely baby quilt that I may not actually use with the sweet baby we'll soon be holding in our arms, I started to panic.  I set the rainbow quilt aside to put together a smaller quilt (it's about 35" x 35") that's a little more appropriate for a boy.  This is another one I managed to complete using scraps and fabric from my stash.  Most of the blocks on the front were left over from the crib quilt I had made my nephew in the fall, and the animal print I used on the back - well, I've had that forever and figured it was time to stop "hanging on to it" and just use it. 

I cheated a little on this quilt, but I'm proud of my thriftiness.  I didn't have any batting for it, but I did find an unused, thin fleece blanket that I had bought years ago for a different project.  I used it for the batting with much success! The weight feels great, and although I real quilter may balk at my shortcut, I feel like I ended up with a decent quilt for tucking a little one into his car seat or bassinet!  

* * * * * *

It's my hope to spend some time crocheting in the hospital (because they might not look too kindly on me hauling my sewing machine in!)  I have fond memories of creating little hats for Clare while she was laying on my lap in our hospital room and I've been daydreaming that it will be the same this time around.  I'm fairly certain that once we're back home my crafting time will be severely limited - replaced by the infinitely more rewarding duties of nursing, diapering, cuddling, and caressing.  But if I finish any other lovely projects, I'll work on getting some pictures up here!  (I think I can guarantee pictures of the  new little one nestled in these blankets, if nothing else!)