Guest Post: 10 Crochet Tips You Need To Know

Hi! My name is Rhondda and I am a designer and blogger at Oombawka Design. Here are a few tips I have picked up over the years which might make crocheting a little bit easier for you - whether you are a novice crocheter or have been crocheting your entire life!

Understanding turning chains

Sometimes it can be easy to become confused about how many turning chains you need to crochet for a specific stitch and if those turning chains count as the initial stitch of the row. Click the picture to be taken to my post explaining the turning chains for different types of stitches and includes a handy printable to save for later. This chart is written using U.S. crochet terms.

Guest Post: 10 Crochet Tips You Need To Know

Alternate ways to work into the starting chain

There are many ways to work into the starting chain row of your project. My favourite way is to work into the back bump of the stitch. Click the pic to go to my post outlining three different methods.

Be consistent

When you turn your work at the end of each row, it really does make a difference which way you turn!

Yarn substitutions

This post will help you understand how to substitute similar yarns and how to determine how much you need to crochet a project.

U.S. crochet terms

This handy visual printable shows the stitches, symbols and American crochet terms for basic crochet stitches.

Create a finished edge

Create a finished look on your next project using this simple tip.

Use the same crochet hook for the entire project

There are small differences in the size and shape of crochet hooks - they may each indicate they are the same measurement but the small differences can alter the finished look of your project.

Stitch multiples in patterns

This post outlines how to work with stitch pattern multiples, how they are calculated and how you can apply them to your own projects.

Wash your hook

If your yarn isn't gliding smoothly on your hook it may just mean you need to give your hook a little wash with soap and water to remove some of the residue that may have formed on its surface - a quick and easy solution! Please note I do not recommend washing woods/bamboo hooks - there are special conditioning oils better suited to refreshing these types of hooks.

I dropped my hook!

There actually is a right way and a wrong way to put your hook back into the active loop of yarn. Click on the picture to be taken through to the post.

Rhondda Mol is a freelance crochet designer and a blogger at Oombawka Design. She has been crocheting for more than 14 years and designing professionally for the past three years. Educated at Brock University, she holds a BA in Psychology and English. Her past work experience includes Customer Service Management and Insurance Claims Processing. She currently resides in Ontario, Canada with her husband and two children. You can find and follow Rhondda on Facebook, Google+ and Pinterest. Join her recent Fall Poncho Crochet-A-Long here or browse her free crochet pattern collection here.