How to improve your crochet skills from beginner to pro: 6 crochet fundamentals
There are many many tools available online for beginner crocheters.
But I’ve noticed fewer resources which specifically offer support to crocheters who know the basic stitches and techniques, have some experience (with a variety of projects) and want to get ‘better’ at crochet.
With this article I hope to redress the balance and offer experienced beginners and intermediate crocheters the opportunity to improve their crochet skills.
I’ll do this by highlighting the specific areas that advanced crocheters have a good understanding of. You might even find you know more than you think…
What does progression in crochet look like?
The transition from beginner, to experienced beginner, to intermediate to advanced crocheter doesn’t happen by accident.
It takes practice of course, but it also requires a deeper understanding of the craft. Once you have mastered the way you hold your crochet hook and yarn and got the hang of the basics, it’s time to combine practice (experience) with understanding at a more detailed level.
Sometimes this can be intuitive, but if you want to avoid reinventing the wheel, then getting some help to learn about the things you don’t know you don’t know is the more efficient way to improve your crochet skills.
I like to call this transition ‘the messy middle.’ It usually involves a lot of piles of frogged yarn!
I remember learning about state changes in chemistry at school; when a substance goes from solid, to liquid, to gas, it requires an extra build up of energy to make the change.
You know that bit when you’re boiling the kettle and it bubbles like mad before it clicks off? That’s the ‘latent energy’ it needs before it bursts forth into steam. (Note I am not a chemist and using this as a metaphor only!)
I see building up crochet knowledge the same way. You add tricks and tips and techniques here and there, until suddenly you realise you can crochet an intermediate level sweater without realising you knew so much.
Whilst it’s often only by the doing your realise you’ve internalised all that juicy knowledge, this post is all about pointing you in the right direction to help you break through that barrier sooner.
How to get better at crochet
First off, what does ‘better’ mean? What defines crochet mastery?
On the surface you could say it’s about being able to tackle more complex crochet projects and patterns. But that’s only part of the story. The more I crochet, the more I realise that doing simple things well is just as valuable, and can be just as challenging.
To me, the core of ‘getting better at crochet’ it’s about improving the look and quality of your finished projects.
This means they last longer, fit better and generally serve their function more effectively. This is true whether you’re crocheting a simple washcloth or an intricate tailored garment.
On top of improving how your crochet projects look and function, improvement can also mean that you enjoy crocheting more. If crochet is your hobby it should be a pleasure not a chore. And it’s one of the most satisfying things to learn new skills and succeed at the next step.
Comparison is the thief of joy
Before we get stuck in, I want to flag up the unhelpful mess of comparison, which can lead to imposter syndrome when it comes to creative pursuits.
Although it’s great to be inspired by the skill of other crocheters, please remember to only compare yourself to yourself when it comes to your own development. This goes for crochet and any other area of learning.
Comparing yourself or your progress to others is a waste of energy that would be better spent enjoying your crochet time.
Fundamentals matter, regardless of experience
I talk about crochet skill levels in this post, so I’m not going to repeat that here other than to say this; what beginner means to you may mean something different to me.
For that reason, I’m not going to get too specific with those terms here.
If you’re newer to crochet, have had limited experience, or have been crocheting for years, but always use the same pattern, then this article will give you a great springboard to develop your crochet skills.
I will be focusing on at the fundamentals that you can dig into whatever your level of crochet experience.
So with all that in mind, and based on my experience, I’m going to go ahead and share the 6 foundational areas to work on if you want to become ‘better’ at crochet.
1. Know the language; learn to read crochet patterns
I know that many people love to follow youtube videos when making crochet projects, but learning to read patterns will open up so many more options AS WELL AS those offered through video or photo tutorials.
This includes written patterns and charts or diagrams.
Following a written pattern or crochet diagram along with a video is a great place to start if you’re unsure about reading patterns.
I’ve written a deep dive on how to read (and write if you’re into that) crochet patterns which will help you along.
It includes all the features I think are really important in a pattern and I hope it will also help you to recognise a good quality, well thought-out pattern when you see it.
On top of that I’ve written a guide to how to read one of my patterns.
I design a lot of garments in multiple sizes, which can add additional complexity to reading a pattern, so I wanted to cover these bases too, without overwhelming those who are newer to reading patterns.
There are different ways to write crochet patterns and subtle differences between writing styles can be confusing. I wanted to be absolutely clear about how I write my patterns and why I’ve made the choices to do it in the way I do.
2. Know your stitches; Learn the structure of crochet stitches
Once you know how a crochet stitch is built, you can bend them in any direction you choose.
An understanding of crochet stitch anatomy is one of those things that sometimes comes intuitively as you learn the craft. But sometimes it is slower to click, or a case of not knowing what you don’t know.
Once you do understand how stitches are constructed, you can more easily see the different ways you can use them.
Whether this is to make sure you start each row in the same place, without loosing or gaining stitches, or to create some intricate textured crochet project, it will absolutely move your crochet skill to the next level.
So if back, front and third loops or stitch posts elude you, or you want to get creative with new and inventive stitch patterns, then check out this post which breaks it all down.
3. Know your tools; learn about crochet hooks and yarn
So often overlooked, getting familiar with the tools you use to crochet is a great way to elevate your skill.
Understanding your crochet hook
Choosing a crochet hook that works for you (and knowing there are different options and styles to choose from) can massively impact how enjoyable your crochet sessions are as well as the look of your finished project.
Understanding how the structure of your hook influences the way your stitches work up is just as useful as understanding how the stitches themselves are built.
On top of that, the ease with which your yarn moves over the hook will have a direct impact on the consistency of your stitches, both in terms of tension and neatness. A catchy hook that splits the yarn is never going to make for a fun use of time or a great looking crochet project.
Get familiar with your yarn preferences
When getting to know your yarn, and deciding which options you like to work with, there are two significant factors you’ll want to look at; The yarn weight and the fibre. (There are others too, but we’re looking at the fundamentals here!)
I have a very in-depth post on yarn weight which also goes into some detail about the impact of fibre, and how the yarn is spun.
Once you understand yarn weights and crochet hook styles you will get better at combining different crochet hook sizes with different yarn weights to achieve your specific goal. (Note that an understanding of drape will help here too.)
In the interim you can find a general guide to what crochet hook to use with what yarn weight here.
Substituting yarn
If substituting yarns has been a bit of a downfall for you, then my guide to choosing a suitable yarn has lots of extra information. It’s a great introduction to the kind of things you’ll want to think about when assessing a yarn.
Also, yarnsub.com is a fabulous resource you’ll want to add to your favourites.
When it comes to your preference for fibres; for wool vs cotton vs acrylic and so on, well, ‘suck it and see’ is really the only advice I can give you there.
There is no substitute for experience when it comes to deciding what you like. Play with anything you can get your hands on (allergies aside of course!) and enjoy the process of discovery.
4. Know how to start and finish a project; making crochet look good and last
As with any building project, and I love to use building as a metaphor for a crochet project, laying good foundations is essential. Just as paying attention throughout matters as well as ensuring the quality is there for the finishing.
Keep your eye on the ball (no yarny pun intended).
The foundations of a crochet project
The foundations, the concrete base and the first bricks you lay, will so often influence how the rest is going to turn out, so starting well matters.
Whether you have an issue of your starting chains being too tight, and giving an arc to the rest of the project, or your magic circles lack fairy dust (spoiler; weave in the ends properly), practicing ‘starting well’ will get you ahead from the get go.
So take the time to practice and learn the different ways to start a project. From crocheting into chains (so many people’s nemesis), to working chainless foundation rows (no more crocheting into chains!) or keeping the magic alive in your magic ring, working on these skills will ensure you’re setting yourself up for success.
And never avoiding an opportunity to encourage you to swatch… swatching is a really good way to practice the start of a project with a low time commitment if you go wrong.
Keep track of how your crochet project is progressing
A good foundation is essential, but you also want to keep track of your gauge and progression as you work as well as making sure those finishing touches are ‘just so.’
If you get to the end of a crochet project and aren’t happy or find yourself asking ‘why does my crochet look bad?,’ then I have some suggested solutions / answers for you, and it’s almost all in the finishing.
I said almost all, because pausing and zooming out to take stock of how your project is progressing is really important and easy to leave out.
So take five minutes to change your perspective and check and there are no obvious mistakes.
- Eyeball your project to see if anything looks off
- Is your tension is still consistent?
- Are your dimensions on track?
- Has your stitch count changed?
- Have you joined a new ball of yarn that’s a different dye lot and you haven’t noticed the colour difference when looking close up?
- Are you working with the same hook you started with? (It’s surprising how many times I’ve been caught out by this one!)
On a big project, I recommend giving it a check like this every couple of hours or so.
Finish your crochet project properly
Finishing a crochet project well, in my view, comes down to a few key features; seaming neatly, sewing in your ends properly, and blocking if needed.
I know that the temptation to fasten off that last end and declare a project finished can be tempting, but these few small steps that can really make a finished item look just a cut above the rest.
I have tutorials on all of these topics if you have a bit of a mental block when it comes to finishing.
Care for your crochet items
Once you’ve put all of that effort and love into creating a crochet project you’re proud of, it’s time to learn how to care for it.
Hand made items can outlast many cheap high street equivalents but they will often need treating with a little more care and attention.
This is particularly true with wearables which get pulled around here and there as they are used.
Taking a little time to treat your finished items with the respect they deserve is well worth it. And I know this from experience of doing the opposite… you can see the sob-inducing downside of shrinking a handmade garment in my guide to caring for your crochet clothing.
5. Practice, experiment and make mistakes (so you can learn how to fix them)
This is the part that’s harder for me to write a guide for. The instruction is simple; practice, experiment, make mistakes, notice what went wrong, pay attention.
There’s the adage that to be an expert requires 10,000 hours. But it’s not any hours, it’s hours of directed practice.
I’m not saying you need to have crocheted for 10,000 hours to be good. I’m reminding you to pay attention and keep learning as you go.
If you get stuck on it to work with guidance and find resources that can help you through.
If you’re a curious crocheter like me, you might like to work things out for yourself – whilst this may take longer, it’s a sure way to really internalise what you’re learning. Though getting a third party perspective is always helpful – there’s not always one right answer in crochet!
Learn to love frogging. There’s an expression I’ve heard used in personal development that ‘if you’re not failing you’re not trying hard enough.’
Whilst this might seem extreme for a hobby you want to enjoy, I think the principle of experimenting in order to learn is solid. Also my cat loves it when I unravel…
6. Crochet what you love to crochet
This last one is down to you. And the only way to do it is to play with different options. This is the really fun bit!
When you’re new to crochet, it can all feel a bit overwhelming, but as you start to grow accustomed to the basic crochet stitches and simple patterns, you’ll probably find yourself getting drawn to certain projects.
Once you know how to read patterns, you can try more things. At this stage, you’ll probably find there are some projects that you enjoy more than others and some that just don’t resonate.
For me, a great example was amigurumi. I love how these look, they are so cute and clever… but the truth is I do not enjoy making them. Sewing the bits on just isn’t for me and working on small tight fabric makes my hands ache!
On the other side, I always thought sweaters with shaping and lots of bits would be really hard and drilling, but I love making those.
Finding what inspires your crojo
If you’re not sure what you like, or want to break out of a rut, here are some questions to ask, or prompts (and ideas) to get the crochet project inspiration flowing…
- Do you love to make the same pattern over and over?
- Could you make granny squares until the end of time? (Hello motif blankets and granny garments)
- Do you like to change it up? (Make 5 different projects in 5 months)
- Do you love learning new stitches? (Make 100 wash cloths all in different stitches)
- Do you love amigurumi and small scale projects or garments and bigger, items??
- Do you have a penchant for hats or mittens?
- What crochet item do you love and use / wear the most?
- Browse through a stitch dictionary to see what textures take your fancy (my favourite crochet books are here)
And last but not least…
What is it that gives you that feeling of satisfaction once you’ve completed it?
What brings you the joy?
If you don’t enjoy the project you’re making, you’re less likely to finish it, or more likely to finish it without the care you might take for something you enjoy.
This is why it’s such an important question.
Who knew crochet would be so much about getting to know yourself?
Never be afraid to abandon and frog a project that you’re not feeling.
Make what you love. And remember, of course, that this can change with time and experience. We are never the same river!
Also, what you love doesn’t have to be about making a perfect finished object. It can be all about learning something new. I love to experiment, regardless of the outcome. As a result I have also learned to love unravelling (You win some you loose some!)
And there we have my firm favourite foundations list.
I do hope you found this useful and would love your feedback – is there anything I’ve missed? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
I know that this guide covers a LOT, so please don’t feel overwhelmed. Add it to your favourites or save to Pinterest and come back to it as needed.
If you know you have a bit of a blind spot in one area, start shining your light there (Always do the tricky bits first!).
Or if you want a quick foundational ‘do i know this’ check list then start with my list of 10 things I wish I had known as a beginner crocheter.
Just take one thing at a time and remember, crochet is meant to be enjoyable, so take that pressure off!
Happy Hooking
Dx
Wow. What a wealth of wisdom for an intermediate crocheter! Thanks for sharing!!
Thank you – I’m so glad you found it helpful! 🙂