A Crochet Guide During Summer Break

As summer break is slowly arriving, there is an excellent amount of time and potential projects to explore and create for your summer collection!

First off, I highly recommend creating something simple to get comfortable with the way you handle a crochet hook to be more efficient. Some projects could include:

Washcloths

Bucket hats

Trivets

Heart keychains

Headband

Of course, the imagination and creativity are limitless, I encourage you to do what interests you the most, so don't feel limited by these options.

Secondly, once chosen a project, you choose your yarns. On each yarn package, it includes the size of the yarn and the crochet hook size they recommend to have you use for this yarn. Usually, a medium size 4 would recommend using a 5-millimeter hook. Take a look at this chart:

Photo via pintrest.com

Now that you have your yarn and crochet hook, and with little to no experience, the next step is to learn these US terms when reading and following a pattern:

ch = Chain

sp = Space

st = Stich 

sl st = Slip Stich

sk st = Skip Stich

sc = Single Crochet

hdc = Half Double Crochet

dc = Double Crochet

There are some other terms that beginner projects most likely may not use, but for a granny square, possibly will. 

Note: granny squares are squares that can be created several times to be sewed together to create a blanket, vest, process of a bucket hat, and more!

tr = Treble Crochet

BLO/BL = Back Loop Only

FLO/FL = Front Loop Only

Magic Circle/Magic Ring - can be used to create granny squares and the top of a bucket hat

Now that you understand these terms, with a simple Google Search or on YouTube, you can find tutorials or websites that introduces your desired project pattern!

Here is an advanced pattern I recommend coming from an animal lover, and if you're interested in jewelry making:

Octopus Bookmark

Details:

- Use any chain length that fits your desired book

- Any two beads

- Four jump rings

- Size 0 lace yarn

- Tools: pliers (long nose, flat nose, bent nose)

Pattern:

Magic circle

10 hdc

8 sl st, then slip stich into next space, repeat until the desired number of tentacles

Afterward, cut the lace and use a needle to sew in the lace tail to hide it.