How To Learn Crochet

Hi I’m Tash of craft brand Ray’s Room and I’ve been crocheting for 30 years. I have over 15 years experience teaching people how to crochet and exploring the best ways to learn to crochet.

If you’re new to Ray’s Room, warmest of welcomes! Everyone's welcome to join, inspire and be inspired in this gorgeous crafty community.

If you’re already a member of the Ray’s Room Community thank you for all your support. And for making this special community what it is!

One of the ways I’ve chosen to celebrate the Ray’s Room 10 year anniversary is by starting the Ray’s Room Blog.  And you’re reading the first ever official Ray’s Room Blog Post.  YAY!

How did I learn to crochet?

My crochet journey began way back in the 90’s when I was a kid and lucky enough to have a big family whose houses I’d often sleep over at the weekends.   One of the houses I’d often stay at was my Auntie Dawn’s house.  She would have me set up with different crafty activities and one day, she got me started with my very own granny square.  When I’d get home my Mum would help me too.  So between my Auntie Dawn and my Mum they started something in me. I didn’t know at the time but it would become one of the most important elements of my life! 

This bit of crochet grew, my bag of odds and ends of donated yarn grew. And through my childhood and teens I’d come back to my crochet and use the yarns to make different yarn crafts like friendship bracelets and pompoms. 

But what next?

One day in my early twenties when my life was dominated by full time employment in ethical banking, socialising with my friends at the weekend and running my own home.  My best friend Sam popped round to chill with me and out came this little bit of knitting she was working on for a support group she was running.  In that moment I realised that I currently had nothing creative or colourful going on in my life. A concept that seems entirely alien to me now.  And I missed it SO BAD!  So, off I went to search mine and my parents lofts for my massive bag of yarn I’d been neglecting in favour of… adulting, blegh!

I found it! Dug out the half a granny blanket I’d started years before, finished it and have never stopped crocheting since.  When I was stuck I used the internet and books to help me.  I continued to perfect my craft and skill, making gifts for loved ones.  Started teaching others to crochet during my lunch hour at the bank.  And while on maternity leave with my baby Raymond in 2014, Ray’s Room was born.  I started out selling lots of handmade items from patchwork quilts to personalised embroideries. And then in 2017 I launched the first ever Ray’s Room 6 week Crochet Course!

 

Here are my best 5 ways – How To Learn Crochet

1. Ask Someone You Know Who Can Crochet To Show You

This can be a great place to start. Hey, it worked for me!  And many crafters journey story will begin ‘my Gran/Mum showed me’ when I was younger.  Totally lush.  But if this isn’t you, and you’ve got a friend or family member who crochets.  Why not ask if you can take them for a coffee and they can show you the basics? Quality time with a friend and a special skill shared.

However, it can be a tricky skill to get your hands around to start with. I often have crafters come to me who’s confidence has been knocked from trying to learn this way.  ‘I’m a lost cause because my Mum said I can’t hold it right’ or ‘so and so said I’m impossible to teach’.  The kind of language that is entirely unhelpful when supporting and encouraging someone to learn a new skill.  It’s not their fault!  It’s just how the human mind works.  They loved the idea of teaching you to crochet.  But it was tricky.  You both got frustrated.  They didn’t want to let you down so their ego made them say something that suggested it was your fault. 

If you’ve been in this situation or find yourself here  - don’t give up!  Simply move on to another one of the following ways to learn how to crochet.

2. Use An Online Video

There are MILLIONS of videos online that will help you learn crochet.  Find one you like the look of and give it a go.

There's a great video on the Ray’s Room YouTube Channel that will show you how to learn crochet.  It’s a recording of a live online event I held during lockdown.  I did this to help give positive focus to anyone stuck at home feeling low at such a scary time.  This video has been used by 10’s of thousands of people all over the world – to help them learn to crochet.  You’ll find it here.  Let me know in the comments if you find it helpful.

3. Buy A Beginner Crochet Kit

A beginner crochet kit should provide you with everything you need to get started.  It's important to distinguish between a beginner crochet kit that’s meant to help get a complete beginner, get started.  And a crochet kit that’s classed as beginner level to make a specific project.  The latter might include the materials and a basic crochet pattern. But assume you already know how to form basic stitches.

To learn from scratch, you’ll want a kit that provides the materials and instructions to start having a go at beginner stitches.  Like this one in the Ray’s Room Shop.

If you’re using a beginner crochet kit to get started – you might find it helpful to combine it with one of the other ways to learn.

4. Book A Group Crochet Course

This is a fantastic way to learn how to crochet.  I think this might be my total favourite way to learn.  Firstly, it will often come with all the materials you need to get started.  Plus, you also get a built-in group of crafty friends you can meet up with when your course is over.  I’ve taught lots of courses over the years where the members still get together now.  It creates community which research shows is one of the key factors in living a happy life.  And one which our busy, modern-day lifestyles are often lacking.

This way you’ll get regular instruction and demos. Hopefully from someone who is patient and uses language that builds you up and makes you feel fabulous about your new hobby.  No matter how tricky you find it at the start.  

Ray’s Room hosts regular 6 week Beginner Crochet Courses in the Bristol / South Gloucestershire area.  You can book your place here.  If you don’t see a date to suit you, be sure to join the email newsletter.  This way you’ll get to know when new dates are announced.

5. Book A One to One Lesson

You might not be able to make the dates of a course running at the same time every week.  Maybe you’re not too keen on working in a group.  Or you might find this kind of thing a little tricky and want some good quality one on one instruction.  All of these are reasons why finding one to one crochet lessons in your area might be the perfect way to learn.  Timings for the sessions will be more flexible to suit you and you can tailor the session to learn exactly what you want to learn.  Then go away, build and practice what you learned. Then book in again whenever you feel you’re ready for more instruction on a new technique or specific pattern.

Ray’s Room offers one to one Studio Sessions at Ray’s Room HQ in BS15, UK.  Book yours here.

What materials will I need to start with?

Honestly. Just a hook and some yarn.   Yes sure, once you get going you might find yourself reaching for some scissors and a darning needle.  And indeed, there’s a whole world of notions and accessories you might like to indulge in when you’re fully immersed.  In fact, some people say that buying yarn and crochet stuff is an entirely separate hobby all together!

But really to get started a hook and yarn are the only things you couldn’t do without.  Your hook and yarn need to match up to some extent.  So your hook size should match up to or be close to the recommended hook size for your yarn.   This will be stated on the label of your yarn.  If you don’t have the label, take it to your local yarn shop.  They’ll happily advise and will also have what you need if yours aren’t compatible with each other.

How To Learn Crochet - What kind of crochet to start with? 

You can start with any kind of crochet you love the look of.  But I recommend starting with a crochet granny square.

The reasons I believe that this is the best way to learn to crochet are as follows:

• Granny squares are forgiving. So even if your stitches aren’t perfectly neat the overall effect of your finished project won’t be compromised.
• With a granny square you learn some basic stitches and techniques that you then get to repeat over and over again while you get your hands around it, relax into your own natural tension.
• While you do all of the above learning you’re also growing something that you can actually use and love or gift to someone else.
• There are techniques and challenges in other types of crochet that can go wrong when you’re first learning. There's less of that with a granny square meaning you’ll have something you can be proud of when it’s finished.

This is how we start off in the Ray’s Room 6 week Beginner Crochet Course. Then moving onto amigurumi crochet in week 3.

But if you don’t love the look of a granny square then you might not feel inspired and excited by your new craft.  In which case I’d recommend doing some research and finding a beginner crochet pattern you love the look of.  Something that you feel totally inspired and excited to make and start there.  Happy crocheting!

Until next time. Thanks for reading.

With love

Tash 💖