When following a pattern, it will usually tell you the weight of yarn to use and about how many ounces it will take. These things can be found on the packaging of your skein. I gave an example in the pictures below.
-The first picture shows you where it shows the yards and right below it says NET WT 4.5 oz. It also tells you what the yarn is made from, in this case it's 100% acrylic.
-The second picture shows where you can find the weight of your yarn. All yarn is put into a weight category to try and make it easier to find the right kind for your project. This one is medium. It gives a suggested hook size, but use the one suggested by your pattern and according to your gauge. It's also machine washable, good to know!
It's a good idea to purchase all the yarn you need for a project all at one time, if you don't and go back for more make sure to look for the dye lot from your last skein or the colors may be a tiny bit off. On the wrapper you will find some information that will tell you the color # and the lot# make sure they match. In some cases you will have some they say "no dye lot" This means there will be no change and you don't have to worry about matching the numbers.
Tip: To prevent knotting while you work, you want to pull the tail from the inside of the skein. If you use the outside one, you have to pull your packaging off, it's harder to use as you can't just let it come out and it can sometimes end in a big knotted mess once you reach the middle. Sometimes they're buried inside, but how do you know which end o pull it out of? The easiest way to tell is from the outside tail. If it's still tucked into the end, pull it out and tuck it under your packaging, but the inside tail will most likely come from the opposite end as the outside one. If it's already loose, you can usually tell which end it was tucked in by which side of the packaging it's sticking out of. This doesn't always work, but I've found it to be mostly correct. Still can't find it? Well they aren't always sitting there for us to see. Try to find the center most part of the skein and gently pull the sides apart, making sure not to pull any out, and see if you can find it. Some of them can be tough to find so look for these things when you buy your skeins, it will save you a lot of time later.
Second: Find the Right Hook
Crochet hook come in a couple different ways and made out of different materials. Some have ergonomic handles, and some don't. There is no right or wrong, it's all preference. So start out with one and if you don't like how it feels move to a different one. I like the aluminum with the softer hook, some like the sharper hook on the end, I find that they snag more but do what feels right for you.
If following a pattern they will tell you a general size, which you may have to change depending on your gauge. The size can be found on the middle flat part of every needle. Most will show the American range which is shown by a letter and number followed by the millimeter range. The picture below shows a size H-8 5.00mm hook. G and H are the most commonly used sizes, so if you're just starting out I would suggest one of those sizes for now.
Third: Collect Stitching Tools
In most patterns you will need some tools to assist you while making your projects. These tools will mostly consist of:
-Ruler-any kind will do
-Stitch Markers-these can be found at your local craft store and look like little plastic rings. The ones that disconnect are easier to use and can be reused. If you can't find these your can also use a different color of yarn to keep your place.
-Craft Needle-these can be found with the crochet and knitting needles. They're fat and plastic.
-Stitch Counter-or simple pen and paper will work too, it's up to you.
L-
No comments:
Post a Comment