-
The materials you should use will depend on the project you are making. For example, socks would be crocheted using thin yarn and a small hook, while an afghan might be crocheted using thick yarn and a large hook. Regardless of the project, choose your yarn first, then your hook.
Most yarns include a suggested hook size on the ball band. The suggested hook will, on average, give the crocheter the gauge listed on the label. However, different crocheters have different gauges; some people crochet tighter than others, while some people crochet more loosely than others. You will not know your general gauge until you have crocheted a few pieces, so the best approach for a new crocheter is to use the hook suggested on the yarn label.
As a beginner crocheter, you may want to choose a yarn that has at least some acrylic content. These yarns typically hold up better than some natural fibers if you have to rip out your crochet. Animal fibers like wool and alpaca can felt under friction, meaning the fibers in the yarn get fuzzy and stick together. Choose a smooth yarn rather than a fuzzy yarn, because a smooth yarn will allow you to see your stitches more easily, which can be helpful to a new crocheter. -
To crochet a chain, you must secure the yarn on the hook. This is typically done using a slip knot by looping the yarn around your finger, then inserting the hook into the loop and drawing out the short end of the yarn. You may need to practice this a few times.
Once the yarn is on the hook, the chain can be started. The chain is made much the same as the slip knot. Start by holding the yarn in your left hand and the hook with the slip knot in your right hand. Hold the hook in front of the yarn, and loop the yarn over the hook by bringing the yarn toward you over the top of the hook, then away from you under the hook. Draw the wrapped yarn through the loop on the hook, and one chain stitch is made.
At first, you should keep the yarn loose so that the hook can work its way through the loop more easily. As you get more experienced, you should be able to tighten the yarn on the hook and still be able to get the yarn through. Don't be discouraged if your chains are not all the same size at first, as practice will make them more even. Once you have mastered the chain, you can move on to other crochet stitches and full projects.
