Have you ever thought about trying a new craft? Crochet is one of those crafts that is easy and produces results quickly. The best part is you can create useful items for around the home or even fashionable items to complement your wardrobe. Here are 22 easy and useful crochet projects for beginners plus a few supplies that you will need.
Besides being able to create useful items for yourself like beanies, scarves and sweaters, you can make the kid’s clothes or baby booties if you are expecting or know of someone having a baby. There are also so many useful projects to make for around the home. Dish cloths, hand towel toppers, cushion covers, blankets, throws, rugs and so much more.
Once you get the ‘hang’ of the basic stitches, you’ll be trying new patterns, different types of thread and creating more complex patterns but it really isn’t all that difficult once you can read a pattern.
The best part about crochet is that you’re making something useful and it’s very, very relaxing. You can do it in front of the television, on the bus, when you’re waiting for the kids at soccer practice, on your lunch break at work or whenever.
What You Need to Begin
Crochet hooks come in all shapes and sizes. The finer the hook, the finer the crochet thread you’ll need for intricate work like edges of handkerchiefs or doilies. The larger the hook, the more loose the crochet pattern is and you can get some really chunky, open projects like throw rugs, shawls or scarves.
Thread comes in all forms. You can use the finest silk thread or something like baker’s twine to create something like a plant hanger, a scourer for pots and pans in the kitchen or a door mat. I like to use crochet cotton for edges on face washers and woolen yarn for larger projects like ‘granny squares’ or knee rugs.
Crocheted items make perfect DIY gifts too. Imagine a dish cloth, made by you with a bottle of nice smelling dishwashing detergent for a housewarming gift or a crocheted baby blanket for a newborn. A crocheted edge on a brand new face washer with a gorgeous cake of soap makes a perfect gift.
When you’re starting out, there is always a wide variety of thread available from the thrift shops for not a lot of money.
Until you get the basics covered, there are patterns galore in stores and online to create wonderful projects and designs. The basic stitches are easy to follow in these patterns so never think that the project isn’t achievable. I’ve made intricate doilies and edges on handkerchiefs that I thought I could never do. It’s the same basic stitches and a bit of counting.
The Basic Stitches
There are really only four (4) basic stitches you need to know to begin crocheting. They are:
- slip knot: to create the first loop to begin and to join onto the next stitch when you’re finishing a row
- chain stitch (CH): this is the most basic of all the crochet stitches and allows you to join clusters of patterns and continue your project
- single crochet (SC): with the single crochet stitch you are now forming the basis of your design by pulling the thread through, creating what looks like a vertical stitch
- double crochet (DC): like the single crochet but you are now creating two loops to draw the thread through and it creates a longer vertical stitch.
Here is a video tutorial of me showing how to start, how to master the basic stitches and produce a simple crocheted dish cloth which also forms the pattern for many different, simple projects that are useful and practical.
Once you master these, you’ll be well on your way to creating your own wonderful, useful projects. Below are 22 easy and useful projects I have put together that anyone at any age can do.
Beginner Projects
Modern Crochet Granny Square Blanket
I hope you have fun trying some of these easy and useful crochet projects for beginners.
