Getting Started Right Handed

Holding your hook: years of teaching have shown me that there are many different ways of holding the hook & rarely do 2 people hold it the same– find your own comfort zone by practicing different ways until you’re comfortable – the following 2 methods are probably the most popular but by no means the only way to hold your hook

A: hold your hook as you would a pencil with hook facing down

B: hold your hook as you would a knife with hook facing down

OK, so let’s get started… The first thing you have to do is make a Slip Knot.

Why, you ask… because it’s neater & more flexible which will make your first chain (ch) easier to draw through.

Leaving about 10/12 cm (4”/5”) tail, make a circle of yarn with the ball end going under the circle, bring yarn through with your hook & pull end to fit hook so that it slides easily on hook – the slip knot loop is not counted as a chain (the loop on the hook is never counted)

Next… Holding your yarn:  & again, in my experience, there is no right/wrong way to hold your yarn. The following two methods are the most commonly used but if you come up with your own & it works for you, then go for it.

Remember what’s important: that the yarn slides easily from hand to hook without being too tight or too loose – I wish there were some magic bullet for achieving this quickly & effortlessly however, only ‘patient practice’, over and over again, will get you there.

Making your chain: Now that you have managed your yarn & hook into a comfortable position you are ready to make your first chain. Remembering that the loop on the hook is never counted, you now draw yarn through the loop to make a chain – to do this you must first do a yarn over (YO) & draw this though the loop, this is your first chain made, continue in this way, following either Method 1 or Method 2 as shown in the diagrams below, until you have the required amount of chains…

Method 1: To maintain tension, wrap yarn around little finger & other fingers as shown in diagram for Method 1 – the middle finger is used to feed the yarn & the index finger & thumb hold your work.

Method 2: To maintain tension, wrap yarn around little finger & other fingers as shown in diagram for Method 2 – the index finger is used to feed the yarn & the middle finger & thumb hold your work

So… there you go… you are now on your way… I hope these instructions help clarify some of the dilemmas of getting started with crochet & that your crochet journey continues to get more exciting with every stitch you make.

For more info please check out the Crochet Tips & Tricks  page & click on the links…

13 thoughts on “Getting Started Right Handed”

  1. Hi Renate
    Thanks for letting me use information from your web site. Can you please email me to discuss how you would like me to give you credit for the information I use.

  2. Hello Alana… that’s perfectly ok… thank you for asking & I’d also appreciate you giving me accreditation… good luck with your venture – kind regards Renate

  3. Hi
    I like your web sight it has lots of useful information for beginners.
    I am thinking of starting beginner crochet classes.
    I like your instructions for getting started right and left handed and the granny square instructions. Can I please print these instructions to give to the students in my classes?

  4. welcome Connie, crochet can certainly be addictive, I hope you’re enjoying yourself so far…. I always try to take my yarn from the centre of the ball. Sometimes the end come out easily, sometimes half the ball come out… it’s a bit of a hit & miss affair, but you’ll find your work flows better when the yarn come from the centre… I don’t wind my yarn into ball unless I have to, like when it’s unravelled for example… 🙂

  5. Hi, I am a real beginner crochet addict. Before you begin, do you always wind your yarn into balls? I just thought there had to be a way to pull an exact thread from the center to crochet from, but have not found one yet. I don’t want to get a few rows into my afghan project and hit a wall!
    Connie

  6. I’m a complete beginner but already totally fascinated with freeform crochet. I’ve been a 2D painter for years, but I’m finding this extremely tactile process positively addictive. Thanks so much for this site, it’s a great help!

  7. Thank you Shar, makes me happy to know it’s been helpful… it’s a bit of a job getting those graphic done but so good to know that it’s all worthwhile

  8. I wish I’d found your site a few months ago! It’s still going to be my fav go-to site while learning to crochet. What awesome graphics! I found you via Pinterest! Someone had liked one of your small granny square graphics and I was soooo glad to see that! THANK YOU for all your work on your site. Shar

  9. Just like to say your website is fab, found ot through a link on pinterest! Clear and easy to understand instructions and i think i may finaly get to grips with crochet with help froms these guides!!! Thanks muchly!!!

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