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Dear Crochet Friend,

Picture this: You’re starting a new project, and the pattern calls for a stitch you’ve never heard of, or a stitch you used to know but maybe haven’t used in ages. Your first reaction might be to pick something else. But why not take on that new stitch or that new technique? Or get a little refresher? Let’s take a peek inside Crochet Stitches, Tips, Tricks & More!

Crochet Tips and Techniques

Crochet is fun, relaxing—and sometimes challenging and frustrating. Take the frustration out of the mix by remembering these practical tips. If you’re ready to go beyond hats, scarves and other basic square projects to make yourself a sweater, you’re probably going to need to seam it. The more attention you pay to the details, the better your project will look in the end. Read our tutorial, How to Seam a Sweater, for step-by-step guidance on getting the best finished seam. Close-up photos with contrasting yarn show you just how to do it.

Rather than tossing that old shirt because it’s a little worn or frayed, join the upcycling movement and give that shirt a makeover! In How to Upcycle a Shirt with Crochet, we show you how to breathe new life into your old favorite shirt (or jeans, or jacket…). Refresh and repair in one step!

We also cover Crochet Amigurumi Tips and Tricks, How to Care for and Store Your Crochet, and How to Teach Others to Crochet. And we tackle the continuing crochet debate: Inline vs Tapered Crochet Hook. No matter which camp you’re in, you’ll find some crochet comfort here.

Crochet Basics

Creating crochet starting chains are an essential skill for any crocheter. Whether you’re just beginning your crochet journey or you’d like to see the steps broken down so you can help teach a friend, you’ll appreciate the detailed description and illustrations of How to Make a Foundation Chain. If you’d like to have a review of the basic crochet stitches in one place, we have them for you here: Single Crochet, Double Crochet, Half Double Crochet, and the light and lacy Treble Crochet. Sometimes it just helps to see the stitches in progress to remind you how they’re done.

If you’re crocheting in the round, you need to know how to get your project started off right. This is an important skill to have in your crochet toolbox, so we provide two tutorials: one with illustrations, the other with photos. Read them both, and you’ll be confident the next time you need to crochet a Magic Loop (aka Adjustable Ring). And if you find yourself wading through abbreviations when you’re reading a new pattern, keep our Crochet Master Abbreviations handy to jog your memory of what’s what.

New Crochet Stitches

Any day’s a good day to learn a new crochet stitch. Some projects use special stitches, but that shouldn’t keep you from adding those projects to your list! We’ve chosen an interesting assortment of beautiful and useful stitches for you to add to your “I can do that” list, including Tied and True, Crochet Flower Puff, Crochet Ribbing, Crochet V-Stitch, the fascinating Catherine’s Wheel Stitch, and Crochet Tunisian Cable Stitch. Try your hand at any or all of these stitches and you’ll have so many more creative options when you crochet!

Crochet Stitches, Tips, Tricks & More is packed with 21 fantastic tips, techniques, and tutorials to help you expand your crochet repertoire. Enjoy learning something new or brushing up on some old skills. Just imagine what you can create with these inspiring tips!