The Crochet Handbook: Learn What Equipment You Need to Crochet, The Basics of Crochet, How to Read Written Patterns, Graphs, Charts and Diagrams, and More

125 Pages·2015·3.11 MB·English

THE CROCHET HANDBOOK
LEARN WHAT EQUIPMENT YOU NEED TO CROCHET,
THE BASICS OF CROCHET, HOW TO READ WRITTEN
PATTERNS, GRAPHS, CHARTS AND DIAGRAMS, AND
MORE
BY FLORENCE SCHULTZ

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Chapter One – Equipment for Crochet
Chapter Two – Choosing the Correct Yarn
Chapter Three – Crochet Stitches, Abbreviations, and Symbols
Chapter Four – Written Patterns
Chapter Five – How to Read and Crochet a Diagram and Chart
Chapter Six – How to Read and Crochet a Graph
CHAPTER ONE – EQUIPMENT FOR CROCHET
You don’t really need a lot of equipment to begin to crochet. A nice set of hooks,
a good pair of shears, some clip on stitch markers and you’re ready to go. In this
chapter we’ll learn about the crochet hook, the different types of hooks used
today, and how to hold the hook.

ANATOMY OF A CROCHET HOOK

Most crochet hooks are constructed in the same manner. The handle can vary in
length and most hooks are either five or seven inches long. The flattened out
portion of the handle is the grip and this is where you grip the hook to have
control over it. Moving toward the head of the hook you will find the shaft, and
then the throat of the hook leading up to the head of the hook. Besides the
material such as aluminum, plastic, wood, and bamboo used to make the hook,
the major difference in hooks is the length of the throat and the style of the hook
head.
Inline hooks have a sharper more angular hook head. Tapered hooks have a more
rounded and smooth hook head. Both types of head produce the exact same
stitches, which one you choose is a matter of preference. Some crocheters say
they like inline hook (such as a Susan Bates hook) because the grab the yarn
better than tapered hooks, while others like tapered (such as Boye hooks) hooks
because they feel they don’t spilt the yarn as much as inline hooks. Try each type
and see which one you prefer.
You can also find crochet hooks with cushioned handles. These handles can be
made of polymer clay which has been baked, plastic, and large ergonomic
handles for people who has trouble holding a crochet hook.

CROCHET HOOK SIZES
In the US most crochet hooks have a
letter and number size designation. For example, one of my favorite hook sizes
is I/9 (5.50mm). Most patterns call for hook sizes between E/4 (3/5mm) and
K/10 ½ (6.5mm). You may also find hooks with only the millimeter sizing. Use
this chart to help you choose the correct size hook for your pattern.
US Size Millimeter Size
B/1 2.25mm
C/2 2.75mm
D/3 3.25mm
E/4 3.5mm
F/5 3.75mm
G/6 4mm
7 4.5mm
H/8 5mm
I/9 5.5mm
J/10 6mm
K/10 ½ 6.5mm
L/11 8mm
M-N/13 9mm
N-P/15 10mm
P/Q 15mm
Q 16mm
S 19mm

You may also find hooks with metric or UK/Canadian size designations. The US
sizing corresponds to the number on US hooks. For example, a US I/9 (5.50mm)
hook is equivalent to a UK/Canadian size 5 hook. Use this chart to help you
translate US to UK/Canadian sizing.
US Sizes Metric Sizes UK/Canadian
0 2.0 14
1 2.25 13
2 2.75 12
- 3.0 11
3 3.25 10
4 3.50
-
5 3.75 9
6 4.0 8
7 4.5 7
8 5.0 6
9 5.5 5
10 6.0 4
10 ½ 6.5 3
7.0 2
-
7.5 1
-
11 8.0 0
13 9.0 00
15 10.0 000
17 12.0
-
19 16.0
-
35 19.0
-
STEEL CROCHET HOOKS
Steel hooks have very small hook
heads and are used for crocheting with thread. Steel hooks are sized differently
than other types of hooks. The smaller the number, the larger the hook. Some
steel hooks are so fine that they are almost as sharp as needles.
STEEL CROCHET HOOK
CONVERSION
Metric (mm) US UK
3.5 00
-
3.25 0 0
2.75 1 1
2.25 2 1 1/2
2.1 3 2
2.0 4 2 1/2
1.9 5 3
1.8 6 3 1/2
1.65 7 4
1.5 8 4 1/2
1.4 9 5
1.3 10 5 1/2
1.1 11 6
1.0 12 6 1/2
.85 13 7
.75 14
-
TUNISIAN CROCHET HOOKS
Tunisian crochet hooks, also
called afghan hooks, are longer than traditional crochet hooks. This is because
when you crochet using the Tunisian method the stitches are held on the hook as
you work across the forward pass and then the stitches are worked off of the
hook when you come back across the row. You can find single hooks which are
quite long, and hooks with cables attached to them to hold the stitches.

HOW TO HOLD A CROCHET HOOK
There are two main
schools of thought when it comes to holding the hook; the pencil hold and the
knife hold. As the names imply with the pencil hold you grip the hook like you
would a pencil. With the knife hold you grip the hook like you are going to cut a
piece of food with a table knife. Both holds give you the same stitches, and it is a
matter of personal preference on which hold you use. Use the one which feels
most comfortable to you. Personally I use the pencil hold for the majority of my
crocheting, but if I’m working with a very thick yarn I may use the knife hold to
give me more control and leverage to pull the yarn through the stitches.
Pencil Hold
Knife Hold

SHEARS, STITCH MARKERS, AND ROW
COUNTERS
Every crochet artists needs a nice high quality pair if shears
which are only used on yard and thread. Guard your shears carefully and don’t
let anyone use them on paper. Paper will dull the blades and make the yarn or
thread fray when you try to cut it. A nice set of clip on stitch markers is
important to have, also. Stitch markers are used to mark the beginning and end
of a pattern repeat, the beginning of a round, and to hold your active stitch when
you need to lay your work down. Row counters can be as simple as a piece of
paper and a pen or pencil, or you can find row counters which slip onto your
finger. When you start to work charts and graphs a row counter will help you
keep on the right track and not get confused.
That is really all you need to start to crochet. As you gain experience you will
find the types of hooks you like the best and branch out into different types of
crochet such as Tunisian and Hairpin Lace. If you’re just starting out invest in a
nice quality set of aluminum hooks ranging from size E to K. These will serve
you for many years. I still use my first set, and I’ve been crocheting for many
years.