Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2

Blossom Lady
Oct 30, 2020 07:24 AM
Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2

Hello, my dear crocheters! I keep answering some of the most common questions you have and to anticipate some questions you didn’t know you had. Today I invite you to learn more about how to deal with tight stitches, how to read the instructions correctly, what exactly is the row below in the pattern, how to work into a slip stitch with no mistake, how to decrease and increase correctly, and more. I hope that this information will lead you down the road to gaining the confidence needed for good crocheting.

What does it mean when the directions say to “sc into each sc” or “dc into each sc”?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
This is just a reminder of the nature of the stitch pattern in the previous row, combined with instructions about what to do in the current row. Knowing that you are making a single crochet row over a previous row of single crochet (in the first instance) or a row of double crochet over a row of single crochet (in the second instance) assures you that you are working the stitch pattern as intended.
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Do I have to put my hook into the top of the next stitch as I crochet?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
Certainly not! Exploring new territory with your hook makes crochet endlessly intriguing. There are many places you can put your hook other than into the “next stitch.” Once you’re familiar with the basic stitch patterns, you can go on to explore those other places. Here are a few options:
Work into just the front or just the back loop of the next stitch.
Skip stitches, work between stitches, around posts , in spaces, in rows below, or into the sides of existing stitches.
Work into previous stitches on the same row or into stitches on previous rows.
Take your hook out of your work and insert it into a different spot altogether!
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What is a post?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
The post is the vertical part of the stitch. Single crochet stitches have a post, but they are hard to find! For that reason, many front post and back post stitches are worked into double crochet and taller stitches.
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What is the row below?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
Sometimes, instructions tell you to work into a stitch in “the row below” or “two rows below,” rather than into the top of the next stitch. This can be confusing, because you are already working into the row below your current row. However, in this case the instruction probably means to work into the next-to-last row you completed — in other words, the row below the row you would ordinarily work into. Therefore, “two rows below” would mean to work into the stitch that is two rows below the stitch you would ordinarily work into. With any luck, there will be a symbol crochet chart to help you understand where to put your stitches!
Sometimes stitches worked into one or more “rows below” are called spike stitches. These “spike” down into the fabric, partially covering previous stitches. A spike stitch will produce a spike on the front and the back of the fabric. Let me know down in comments, if you'd like to learn the spike stitch, and I'll make a tutorial for you.
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How do I work into a slip stitch?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
First, be sure that you are indeed supposed to work into it. Most commonly, slip stitches are used to move the yarn inconspicuously to a different spot in the work without intending to work into the stitch at a later time. Other times, slip stitch is meant to join rounds. In either case, you are not meant to work into the slip stitch. If you are certain that you are supposed to work into the stitch, take care to work loosely enough when making the slip stitch so that you are able to insert the hook into the stitch on the next row or round.
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My stitches are so tight I have trouble getting the hook into them on the next row. What should I do?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
It shouldn’t be difficult to put the hook into the stitches. If you are struggling to maneuver your hook, consider the following:
- Is the size of your hook appropriate for the yarn or thread you are using?
- Are you keeping too much tension on the yarn? Some crocheters use a tight tension in an effort to make their stitches even. Not a good idea!
- Is there tension on the yarn between the ball and your hand? Pull out some extra yarn so that the only tension comes between your yarn hand and the hook. Concentrate on allowing the yarn to flow through your fingers.
- Are you making the stitch on the throat of the hook instead of on the shank? Make sure your loop finds the full diameter of the hook before you begin the next stitch. You may find it easier to use a hook with an inline head and a straight shank.
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How do I make a decrease when I have to make a turning chain at the beginning of a row?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
Work the turning chain first, then work the decrease over the next two stitches in the row.
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How do I increase stitches within a row?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
Just work more than one stitch into the same stitch, giving them a common base. You can do this at the edge of a row or anywhere in the middle of a row or a round. You may also work one or more chains between stitches as an increase. The chain increase creates a hole, so it is most commonly used as a part of a larger stitch pattern. You may work these chains as stitches on the next row or round.
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What if I need to increase a large number of stitches at the beginning of a row?

Crochet for Beginners: Common Questions & Answers. Part 2
Chain the required number of stitches at the end of the previous row to act as a foundation chain, plus enough to act as a turning chain. Work the first stitch into the chain as you would on a foundation chain, then work into each chain as a stitch and continue on across the stitches from the previous row.
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3 comments
connie jennings
00
Oct 30, 2020 10:15 AM

i amtrying to crochet a shawl 

 i am left handed i  got about 10 rows 

 i looked at it an it looked funny     pic shows its suppose to be in like a v pattern  well mine is backwords

 pattern is upside down  very wierd    can u tell me how to fix it 

   ty

Camillecoe@yahoo.com
00
Oct 30, 2020 05:47 PM

crochet 

Mrudul Shirgurkar
00
Nov 01, 2020 07:51 AM

I would like to know how to crochet asymmetric granny square on a base of solid granny square. I tried it several times but the ages do not match and the square does not remain a perfect square. I am trying to crochet a shawl pattern with shaded asymmetric granny square.  Thank you.

Mrudul shirgurkar