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What crochet projects will help you learn to crochet for absolute beginners? Oftentimes absolute beginners are eager to make a blanket or even amigurumi, but there are a couple of basics you need to practice first. First is your tension. This means keeping the same tightness or looseness across your stitches as you go. Trouble with your tension will cause your project to curl or roll up around the edges.
When your tension tightens, it pulls on the stitches which causes them to lift up creating the curl effect. If you haven’t mastered your tension before you start a big project like a blanket, you won’t be happy with the results when the edges don’t lie flat.
The next thing to master is the edges. Beginners often ask, “why are my sides narrowing?” This is caused by losing stitches. Counting stitches is important. Not only does it keep your sides straight, but soon you will see how that last stitch tends to hide. That is why so many beginners have narrowing edges, they miss the last stitch every row!
When you start with a smaller project, you are able to work on these 2 skills without getting in too far over your head or ending up discouraged. So lets look at a few projects beginners should start with and free patterns for them!
Stitch Swatches are great crochet projects for beginners
Crochet swatches are simply squares (or circles!) of practicing stitches. This is what makes them such a great way to learn to crochet for absolute beginners. Of course, this isn’t an item you will be gifting, but it’s a great learning piece. You should do a swatch of at least a few rows for every new stitch you learn. Once you get the hang of it you will see your tension even out and you are practicing counting your stitches as you make your rows. Start with the single crochet, then the double crochet, then the half double crochet, and finally the triple crochet. Master these before you move on.
Most patterns will tell you the gauge of the pattern. This means it tells you how big your stitches should be. Swatches are how you check your gauge. You may not crochet as tight or as loose as the person who wrote the pattern so you may have to adjust your stitches or hook size for your item to turn out the size intended by the pattern.
Easy crochet Scarf free pattern
Crochet scarves are great projects for beginners for several reasons. First of all, did you know you can make a scarf with just basic stitches? I made the scarf pictured below with just double and triple crochets. You can also easily design your own easy crochet scarf!
Hint #1: If you make a swatch of stitches that you really love, keep going until that swatch is scarf length and you have a scarf! It is really that simple.
Hint #2: If you do hint number 1, you just “designed” something you can write your own pattern for!
How many chain stitches does it take to make a crochet scarf?
How many chain stitches you need will depend on a couple factors. First you need to decide if you will start from the short end of the long side. Typically I start from the short end. You will decide how wide you want your scarf and that is how you know how many chains. Crochet ever how many until you reach your desired width.
The same is true if you would rather start with the length or the long side. Choose what your length will be and simply chain until you reach the desired length.
What size is a crochet scarf?
This is another question without a specific answer. Basically your scarf can be whatever size you want it to be. Generally scarfs are between 3 and 10 inches wide, and then length can be measured by either the wingspan of your arms, or your height. That being said, make whatever size you want!
What is best stitch for crochet scarf?
Honestly the best stitch for a crochet scarf is whatever stitch you like. You can choose a fancy stitch, or you can stick with basic stitches if you are still learning.
Half double crochet scarf free pattern
Very simple, beginner friendly pattern for a half double crochet scarf:
Ch 16, (or whatever width you prefer, plus 1 ch for a turning chain) hdc in 2nd hook from chain, continue to hdc in every stitch across. Ch 1, Turn.
hdc in first stitch and every stitch across. ch 1, turn.
From here you simply repeat the last step until you reach your desired length.
Hint: For a ridged texture, you can do all the hdc in the “back loop only”!
Crochet Hot Pads are great crochet projects for beginners
Crochet hot pads are another perfect crochet project for beginners. Hot pads are small enough to not take forever, they have edges you can practice maintaining, and you can give them as gifts! You can master one pattern and change up the yarn to have several different ones for yourself or others, just make sure you use 100% cotton yarn.
Can you crochet a hot pad?
Yes! Crochet hot pads are a lot of fun to make.
What type of yarn is best for a crochet hot pad?
The best yarn for a hot pad, or anything you crochet for the kitchen, is 100% cotton. Other yarn types may melt if they get too hot.
how big is a crochet hot pad?
The standard size of a hot pad is anywhere from 5 X 5 inches to 10 X 10 inches.
Crochet Hot Pad Free Pattern
This pattern is not by me, but she learned from her grandmother, the same way I learned from my aunt, how to make a hot pad, or pot holder. I remember doing this as a kid and I can’t wait to do it again soon. As soon as I get some more 100% cotton yarn!
Check out the YouTube video that goes with the instructions as well!
Crochet Washcloth Free Pattern
Washcloths are another great crochet project for beginners. Like the hot pad it is a small enough item that won’t take forever, it has edges you can practice maintaining, and it’s another great gift item! Keep reading for a crochet washcloth free pattern.
This is another item where you don’t really have to have a pattern. You simply decide how big you want it and pick the stitch you want to use. The washcloth below is done completely with single crochet stitches (It might have been hdc, I can’t remember. I literally made this washcloth about 10 years ago). Even the border is single crochet stitches.
Ch 21, turn, sc in each stitch across. Ch 1, turn. Sc in each stitch across until desired size is reached.
For the border, ch 1, sc in size of first stitch (not the row you just finished, the side) sc each side of stitch until you reach the end. Once you reach the bottom, sc in each stitch across to the other side. Sc in side of each stitch until you reach the bottom. Sc in each stitch across, then tie off and weave in ends.
Wash cloths aren’t just Christmas gifts, crochet washcloths are also great baby shower gifts! They can be done for boy or girl just by color scheme. I recommend 100% cotton yarn, though.
What is the best yarn for a crochet washcloth or facecloth?
The best yarn for a crochet washcloth, or facecloth is 100% cotton.
How big is a crochet washcloth?
A standard washcloth is 12 inches x 12 inches square
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