[NFB-Blind-Crafters] Beginner crochet

Sat May 9 08:02:09 UTC 2026

Becky, I am going to try again to learn and I inadvertently deleted the single crochet directions. Could you repost them one more time, please?

Thank you so much.

Jeanette Kutash

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 10:26 AM
To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org>
Cc: Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly at comcast.net>
Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Beginner crochet

Chain stitch

Set the mood, “chaining is relaxing,” repeat “chaining is relaxing.” The more anxious you feel the tighter your chains will be. So deep breath, relax and let’s make some wonderful even chains. Chains that are even take time, and practice to do well. The goal is to make each hole of the chain relaxed enough that you can get your crochet hook in without much trouble. Each chain needs to be uniform with a relaxed lofty feel with the yarn halo in good shape. So you are relaxed you are not pulling the yarn you are crocheting.

On the crochet hook we have one loop and that is the loop from your slip knot. 

Loosen the slip knot by gently tugging on the loop side attached to your working yarn. We want it so it can go up the slanted portion of the hook up to the top round part of the needle. Note, if the loop is not hugging the needle, then gently pull on the working yarn. Now let that loop come back down and let’s look at the loop. Do you see how it is larger than the narrowest part of the hook? That is how loose and lofty the chain should be. All your chains need to be similarly sized.  

Yarn over. To do this take the working yarn around behind the needle and bring it around to the front and lay it just below the hook part of the hook and above your slipknot. So you have the hook the working yarn next to the hook and next to that is the slipknot. Now you have two loops on your hook. Take the loop from the slip knot over the first loop (the yarn over) and right on over the hook itself. 

First chain made. Notice the loop from that slip knot, how wide it is. Measure it with your nail. I generally can get the tip of my nail through the hole using a K hook.  Use your nail as another way to measure the holes of the chain. Notice as well the hole is indeed round about the size of your needle, hmm; we are on to something great, smile.

Now gently pull or loosen the loop on your hook so it is similarly sized to the first chain, then yarn over once again, and take the loop up and over the yarn over and then the hook itself. oh my, you now have two chains!

Now this will take practice to get them fairly even. Deep breath. 

Before you next yarn over measure the loop you have just completed to see if it is similarly sized and if so, then continue.

Remember the chain stitch is very elastic. It has to be to get the baby blanket in my case square. The stitches stretch out the chains. So part of why the piece is fanning out to answer someone’s question is your beginning chain is way too tight.

Oops, I have a chain a couple chains back I can drive a truck through. Take your needle out of the loop, insert it where the truck hole is and gently pull the working yarn. Those other perfect chains will come out and the yarn will tighten around your crochet hook. That is exactly what we wanted, smile.  Now, loosen that chain a hair, yarn over and keep going. Better to fix a mistake early then have to rip out a lot of chains or, gulp, stitches. 

Oops, found a chain that my tiniest needle won’t go through. Same deal put your needle back one chain beyond the tight stitch, and tare back to where your needle is.   

Oh dear, now you find that the chain has twisted. Now we can’t have that for it would make it difficult to single crochet the first row. Take it out down to the twist and try once again.

This was one of the difficulties I had when learning to chain, so don’t be surprised if it happens to you as well.

Becky Frankeberger

Butterfly Knitting

*	 Ponchos
*	 Afghans
*	 Shawls
*	 Custom Knitting

360-426-8389

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Becky Frankeberger via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 7:15 AM
To: 'List for Blind Crafters and Artists' <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Becky Frankeberger <b.butterfly at comcast.net <mailto:b.butterfly at comcast.net> >
Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Beginner crochet

Teaching a small bag on another list. Let’s make sure we know the slip stitch, then chain stitch, then finally for this project single crochet. With these three stiches we can make most anything: small bag with draw string, scarf, hat, afghan of any size, sweater, poncho. But really other stitches added to these three make more sense for the larger projects.  

Soom coming single crochet.

Becky happy hooker 

From: NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters-bounces at nfbnet.org> > On Behalf Of Afton Harper via NFB-Blind-Crafters
Sent: Friday, May 8, 2026 7:00 AM
To: List for Blind Crafters and Artists <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> >
Cc: Afton Harper <afton5797 at gmail.com <mailto:afton5797 at gmail.com> >
Subject: Re: [NFB-Blind-Crafters] Beginner crochet

Another beginner crochet project could be a trinket bag, or cat toy. 

On Fri, May 8, 2026, 08:57 Tracy Carcione via NFB-Blind-Crafters <nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org <mailto:nfb-blind-crafters at nfbnet.org> > wrote:

Sarah is interested in a beginner crochet class.  Are others interested?  Is there an experienced crocheter willing to teach?  

I’m a beginner+ crocheter.  I can make things, but don’t feel qualified to teach.

I like to make amigurumi—little creatures.  I think, when I was beginning, I made a little purse with a shell pattern.  Also a hat.  What are good beginner crochet projects?

Tracy

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