1.    How do you learn about the yarn you are choosing?  You should always read and compare the labels.  The labels will tell you the brand name of the yarn, the fiber that it is made from the color name and number, the dye lot, the number of plies or strands, the yarn’s weight classification, the gauge for knit or crochet projects, how to launder the finished product and the length of the ball that you are purchasing.  Some of those pieces of information are simply a matter of personal preference or practicality, for example the color or laundering instructions.  But some of the information, such as the weight classification and the gauge, will determine whether you can successfully use a particular ball of yarn for the project you are interested in making.

2.    What is weight classification and why does it matter?  Don’t be mislead.  The term “weight classification” actually refers to the diameter of the yarn, not to the number of pounds that it weighs.  It is a straight-forward measure.  A smaller strand is a smaller weight.

3.    My pattern was published by a yarn company and calls for their brand.  Do I have to use that brand?  Probably not.  If you want to use a different yarn, though, you should crochet a swatch that is a couple of inches by a couple of inches to test for gauge.  If your gauge is appropriate, you can use almost any yarn.

4.    Yarn gauge?  What is that and how do you find it?  A yarn’s gauge is the number of stitches across and rows up per square inch in a swatch of crochet.  Gauge can vary depending on the weight classification of the yarn, the size of the hook and the tension used by an individual crocheter.  Yarn labels will give you an average gauge for the yarn and the recommended hook size.  Crochet instructions will give you the correct gauge for the pattern.  The correct gauge is crucial when you are crocheting a garment or anything else for which size is important.  Gauge matters less for a scarf, afghan or another project for which getting the size exact is less imperative.   To find your own gauge, simply crochet a swatch that is a couple of inches across and a couple of inches long.  Measure a square inch within the swatch and count the stitches and rows.  Compare the gauge on the yarn label, the gauge given in the crochet instructions and your own swatch to make sure that you are using the right materials.  If your gauge differs, you will need to adjust the size of the hook or choose a yarn with a different weight.

5.    Can I substitute one yarn weight for another one?  Probably not.  The weight classification of your yarn will have an enormous impact on the size and look of your project.  You will also want to change the size of your hook depending on the weight of your yarn.   So by changing the weight you are likely to end up with a finished project that is not the right size.

6.    What are dye lots?  Why don’t all yarns have them?  Dye lot numbers refer to the batch of dye that a ball of yarn was dyed in at the factory.  Differences in dye lots are subtle but can be noticeable in a finished product, so you should always check the dye lots of the yarn as you buy it and make sure you buy enough to complete your project.  When a yarn company dyes the fibers before making the yarns, there is no dye lot number on the label.

7.    How do I launder my crochet fabrics?  Always refer to the laundering instructions on the yarn label.  If the yarn needs to be dry cleaned, it will say so.  Otherwise, hand wash your lovely handmade crochet projects in mild detergent and dry them flat.  A piece of handcrafted crochet work is too special to be machine washed.

Technorati Tags: crochet instructions, simple crochet

Really, it makes sense.  I had had an unused Indian block print bedspread in my closet for some time.  There was one matching decorative pillow cover.  I decided to use the bedspread on my bed and get a pillow insert to use with the pillow cover.  I loved the bedspread on my bed.  It is a green and off-white bamboo print.  It’s cool and refreshing and just lovely.  And I liked the pillow cover.  But I prefer to have a lot of decorative pillows on my bed, not just one.  And this brings me to the thing that I wanted and didn’t have.  I wanted more pillows on my bed.

In the meantime, I had something I didn’t need.  When I bought the pillow insert for the pillow for my bed, I also bought a couple of extra pillow inserts for other decorative pillow covers I have that match my couch.  But I got the wrong size.  And I didn’t notice it until I had unwrapped the pillows.  I don’t know if the store would have taken them back without the plastic wrapper, but I didn’t really feel right trying to do it.  So I decided to keep the extra pillow covers and see if I could find something to do with them.

And of course the answer is obvious.  I should use the extra pillow inserts on my bed.  All I need are a couple of decorative pillow covers that match the bedspread.  That shouldn’t be too hard to do, should it?  I would need to buy some fabric to make the covers, or maybe I could find some coordinating covers online or something.  And then I got the idea that I wanted to crochet them.  I don’t know why I thought that was the answer.  But the bamboo cover is just so springlike that I thought a nice crochet would be just the thing.

Now, I have crocheted before.  I tried to make a bedspread.  I learned all the crochet stitches and did a lot of work.  But I lost steam as I went along and never finished.  I knew I could crochet the pillow covers but I didn’t remember the stitches and would be lost trying to read the pattern.  Single crochet?  Treble crochet?  What was that again?

So I needed a book of simple crochet instructions.  I needed to be taught to do the stitches again.  And I needed a simple but elegant pattern that I could use for my pillow covers.

I looked online.  There are lots of sites that sell simple crochet instructions.  And there are some that even give them away.  But I wanted to find a book that I could hold in my hands (an ebook would do, just so that I could download it and refer to it).  A screen wouldn’t do.  And it needed to be user-friendly.  I wanted to like the look and the tone of it. 

I’m glad I decided on Crochet Mastery.  You can have a look at it if you click on the picture on the side of this blog.  It gives simple crochet instructions, just as I was looking for, based on fundamentals that I never learned the first time I tried to do crochet.  And the crochet projects are great.  They also offer four different books as bonuses.  (You can read more about them by clicking on the sidebar.)  It’s really a great value.  In fact, it’s on sale for a limited time. 

If you want to learn to do crochet for the first time, or to relearn the process, you should read this book.  I’m so glad I did.

Technorati Tags: crochet instructions, simple crochet