Building a smooth relationship between the crochet hook, the yarn and me can be challenging, but learning how to crochet can also be a lot of fun too. Today, I will share some of the ways that have taught me how to crochet.

Learning to hold the hook and yarn feels awkward at first, but by building a real bond with these tools – you will soon be engrossed in the beauty of this craft. Once you have learned these skills, you can make much more crochet projects for yourself.

MORE BACK TO BASICS WITH CROCHET:

*note all crochet techniques are in UK Terms*

Holding the yarn & making a foundation chain (ch)
 1. Rest the slipknot on your right middle finger, which also supports the movement of the hook. Bring left hand (palm facing you) to same level as your right.   Guide the hook with long yarn end and wrap around ring and little fingers (moving away from you), continue to move under your middle finger then to the back of your middle and index fingers, resting the hook on your index finger.

 2. Hold the slipknot between your thumb and index finger on your left. Stretch your left middle finger out to control the flow of yarn, while keeping the ring and little fingers slightly closed.

 3.  When you are ready, take hook, go under strand of yarn on your left middle finger, wrap it around the hook, then catching the yarn with the tip of the hook and draw it through the loop on the hook, not the (slipknot). One chain made.

 4.  Repeat this process until you have the correct number of chains needed for your pattern.
How to count foundation chains?

5.  Start from the slipknot and count upwards until you reach the top. Each ‘v’ shaped loops at the front of the chain will count as one chain.  The loop on the hook does not count as a chain.

Although there are several ways to hold the yarn, the method here I find gives a better control that helps to create even stitches.

Happy crocheting!