If you’re a beginner, it must be daunting to determine which crochet patterns are easiest to start with when given thousands of patterns online to choose from. An intricate pattern with accompanying photo might catch your eye, but if it’s too difficult for you to follow, you might give up before you’ve really started.
It may not sound very exciting, but if you start with something plain and simple until your fingers know what they’re doing, you stand a much better chance of finishing it without getting discouraged. After learning the alphabet, you probably never would have learned to read if you had skipped over Dick and Jane and gone straight to War and Peace. Learning to manipulate yarn and a crochet hook is no different – start in crochet kindergarten.
What crochet project should a beginner start with? Once you’ve learned the basic stitches, choose something in a rectangle or square as your first project. Think scarf before sweater. Work up a few quick dishcloths, graduate to baby blanket and finally a full-sized afghan. Don’t try to crochet anything with appendages just yet. Learn how to read a simple pattern then practice counting the correct number of stitches and figure out how to turn and do the next row.
A dishcloth or scarf is an ideal first crochet project for a beginner to attempt. Make one in your basic single or double crochet stitch in the length and width needed to create a square dishcloth or long, rectangular scarf.
Later, become familiar with any basic stitch pattern and you can create a dishcloth, scarf, blanket or afghan from the same stitch; just make the starting chain as long as the width of the desired finished piece and keep going until it’s as long as you want it. Get creative by alternating rows of various colors and create a whole new look from the same stitch and no one will be the wiser.
What crochet patterns are easy enough for a beginner? The simple stitch used to make these scarves will also make a very nice baby blanket or afghan. It’s the same stitch used in this dishcloth pattern, except the dishcloth is worked in the BLO (back loop only) which forms a very slight ridge. Since two stitches are worked in one space, any item made with this stitch will be very warm.
Another easy project is this scarf that’s made from a stitch that looks woven. If you can make a chain and a single crochet, you can turn this simple yet versatile stitch into a nice blanket. Use a smaller crochet hook if you want a closer stitch that doesn’t have holes like some stitch patterns create, or a larger hook for a more lightweight throw.
Practice Makes Perfect
Most first attempts don’t come out square, and your first pieces probably won’t be an exception. Keep working at it, then enjoy the satisfaction of completing an easy project or two before trying the more advanced patterns. Start with baby steps and cut your teeth on the small stuff; you’ll graduate to intricate heirlooms all in good time.
