Marion Madel - The New Crochet: A Beginners Guide, with 38 Modern Projects

Lesson 1
Chain Stitch

Lesson 2
Slip Stitch

Lesson 3
Single Crochet

Lesson 4
Half-Double Crochet

Lesson 5
Double Crochet

Lesson 6
Treble Crochet

Lesson 7
Horizontal Ribbing

Lesson 8
Vertical Ribbing

Lesson 9
Chevrons

Lesson 10
Floret Stitch

Lesson 11
Sand Stitch

Lesson 12
U-neckline

Lesson 13
Reversible Stitch

Lesson 14
Filet Mesh Stitch

Lesson 15
Open-Work Stitch

Lesson 16
Shell Stitch

Lesson 17
Hazelnut Stitch

Lesson 18
Picot Stitch

Lesson 19
Finishing a Triangle

Lesson 20
Starting in the Round

Lesson 21
Crocheting a Flower

Lesson 22
Assembling Motifs

Lesson 23
Granny Square

Lesson 24
Attatching Two Different Motifs

Lesson 25
Working in the Round

As with any new skill, if you want to take up crochet, you must first learn the fundamentals. Trust me: If you go at your own pace, step by step, and refer to the advice that we give you in this book, you will have all the tools you need. And youll see that what seems complicated and tedious to you at first turns out, in fact, to be fun and easy. Yes, really! There are certain rules you must follow, but after you learn the basics, the possibilities are limited only by your own imagination.

In this section, well review the essential rules, including how to choose an appropriate hook size for your yarn and desired effect, whether you are working in a basic stitch pattern, three-dimensional textures, or exquisite lace. Well also explore a bit of the vocabulary (chain stitch, double crochet, puff, picot ) and the specific symbols used to produce these patterns. As you move forward in this book, youll have plenty of opportunities to review these methods, and eventually they will be second nature. Every time you crochet a new piece, your skills will continue to evolve. Little by little, you will learn how to polish your technique, tackle more challenging stitches, and nurture your creativity.

BASIC
TECHNIQUES

YARN

All types of yarn can be crocheted. The choice of a specific type of yarn depends on the project and on the stitch that you are considering using. Are you making an article of clothing or a decorative piece? And if it is an article of clothing, who will be wearing it? Would you use the same yarn for an adult cardigan as for a baby sweater? Depending on the project, you will need a specific type of yarn.

Yarns are widely available in local yarn shops, as well as online (). They come a vast range of colors updated by the manufacturers seasonally based on current trends.

There are 4 groups of fibers from which yarn is made:

fibers derived from the plant world,

fibers derived from the animal world,

artificial fibers,

synthetic fibers derived from petrochemicals

Each category of fiber has its own special qualities and characteristics. Yarn may be made of one type of fiber or blended with fibers from the other families.

Cotton yarn is commonly used in crochet, and is perfect for making lace. Worked very finely, it was traditionally used for embellishing undergarments and baby sweaters.

Slightly heavier weight cotton is used to make doilies and tablecloths in the tradition of Irish filet lace. Cotton possesses undeniable qualities: fine strands, plied tightly that offer great strength. Dyed at high temperatures, cotton has colors that do not bleed. You will find cotton yarns under different names, based on the particular treatments that the fiber has undergone to create yarn with a specialized look and feel.