Crochet is the art of stitching thread or yarn onto itself to make patterned fabric. The process uses a single tool, called a crochet hook, to make loops out of the thread and pass the loops through each other. While the basic steps are the same, varying techniques result in different patterns. Crocheted material becomes doilies, afghans, curtains, and clothing. It is an art that has existed for centuries, but remains popular today.

Origins

Some researchers speculate that crochet derived from tambour embroidery, but the process is very different. Tambour embroidery requires a taut fabric and a needle-like tool to stitch the thread on the fabric in a design. Some claim crochet came from the convents of France and Italy, and called nun's lace. Many credit the invention to Mademoiselle Riego de Blanchardiere. She designed patterns to make lace without a needle or extra material. There isn't any concrete evidence of these claims. What researchers do know is that crochet gained popularity in 19th century England when patterns popped up in books. Crochet played an important role during the Irish Potato Famine. Women would crochet lace and sell it to help pay family expenses. Popularity grew throughout the world, including evidence of crochet work done by German-Russians in the early 20th century.

What You Will Need

While crochet has many variations with thousands of different outcomes, it generally requires only two tools: Hook and yarn. Crochet hooks come in a variety of sizes. The width of the shaft, measured in millimeters, determines the size. In the U.S., hook sizes are letters ranging from B to Q, although some hooks use numbers. The larger the size hook, the bigger the stitches. The throat on the hook is either inline or tapered, but has nothing to do with the outcome of the craft. Hooks are made from cheaper aluminum, plastic, and steel or more costly hand-carved wood or bamboo. The material does not affect the craft. Some prefer the cheap alternative, while others enjoy the warmth on the hands from wood or bamboo. Browse Paradise Fibers entire collection of crochet hooks for sale here.

Yarns, and other threads, come from natural, animal, and synthetic fibers. Cotton Fleece yarn from Brown Sheep Yarn Company is very popular as well as the Nazli Gelin Cotton Yarn Crochet Number 10 thread. Yarn bought in stores generally comes listed in size 1 through 6, ranging from ultrafine to very bulky. To measure yarn, wrap it tightly around a ruler up to 1 inch. The more wraps per inch (WPI), the smaller the size. Yarn size does affect the crochet pattern. Patterns recommend a hook size for the best outcome.

Besides hooks and yarn, there are a few other optional crochet tools. Stitch markers mark rounds, stitch holders prevent loose stitches from slipping, and cable needles are necessary for the cabling technique.

Types of Crochet

Crochet has a large variety of types. Afghan stitch, or Tunisian crochet, resembles knitting in that several stitches begin on the hook. It requires a special hook, called an afghan hook, because it is longer than traditional crochet hooks. It is one of the easiest crochet types because the work is never turned. Amigurumi is a newer crochet type. It first gained popularity in Japan. Amigurumi is the process of crocheting tiny objects, usually animals, and stuffing them. Bead crochet involves working beads onto the yarn while stitching. While it is an older technique, dating back to the 19th century, bead crochet is gaining popularity today for making jewelry. Lace, especially Irish lace, uses crochet techniques. The thread is tiny and requires a small hook. Filet is also a type of crochet lace using two simple crochet stitches. Doilies resemble lace, but use a slightly thicker thread called crochet cotton.

The Basics

Beginners only need to learn a few basic crochet stitches to create beautiful work. The slipknot comes first and places the yarn on the needle. After that, stitches include single, double, triple, chain, and slipstitch. Patterns that are more complex have harder stitches to learn. The difficulty with crochet is with gauge. Gauge refers to the tightness of the stitches and changes based on the how tightly one holds the hook. Patterns require a certain gauge, measured in stitches per inch, or else the finished project is the wrong size. Patterns use symbols for each stitch, such as a dot for slipstitch and an oval for chain. Patterns always abbreviate to shorten the pattern, such as "inc" for increase or "rd" for round. Most symbols are universal, but always check the pattern for the symbol and abbreviation list before beginning.

Camps and Teaching

Teaching Crochet to kids and teens is very popular at summer camps and workshops.  You can find a complete listing of Arts and Crafts Resources for Camp Directors here and links to craft suppliers.  You can find supplies for craft classes including crochet hooks and crochet thread on paradisefibers.com.


"The Art that Saved the Irish From Starvation"
Crochet Work Among German Russians
Digital Resources From the Knitting Reference Library WSA
Anatomy of a Crochet Hook
Materials
What Size Yarn is This?
Crochet Using the Intarsia Method
What is Amigurumi?
Bead Crochet History
Irish Lace
The Priscilla Filet Crochet Book
Crochet Chart Symbols
How Do I Crochet Basic Stitches?

Wondering if Addi makes a particular size?  We have this handy chart to help you find the perfect size for your project.  Use the knitting needle chart below to help determine if Addi makes the knitting needle size you need.  The sizes shown below are for the Addi Turbo circular knitting needles.  The Addi Turbo Lace knitting needle sizes and Addi Straight and Single Points sizes are different.

Addi Turbo Circular Knitting Needles are some of the best knitting needles in the world.  Whether you are just starting out as a beginning knitter learning the craft or an experienced knitter from the old school you'll love these needles.  Addi Turbo needles are made in Germany and the people at Addi are so proud of their knitting needles they offer a lifetime guarantee.  At Paradise Fibers we offer this guarantee through our shop for fast turnaround if there is ever a problem with the needles ever.  We try our best to make our online and brick and mortar store fun easy to shop.  Being family owned and operated allows us to help our customers personally and make sure our customers get the right tools for their craft project.

We have one of the largest collections of fiberarts supplies for knitting and crochet in the world and at great prices.  Aside from Addi Turbo needles we also have knitting needles and crochet hooks in rosewood and ebonywood.  Checkout our complete line of Della Q bags and needle organizers which will keep all your favorite knitting tools safe and in order so you have the right needle available when you need it.

Have questions on which knitting needles or knitting yarn to purchase for your knit or crochet project?  We are happy to help, just give us a call at 1-888-320-7746 or email us here.

Using Fibers: Wool Roving and Felting

Spinning involves the production of textiles from raw fibrous materials. During the manufacturing process, spinners convert these raw fibrous materials into three products, including yarn, fabric, and textiles. More specifically, it involves physically twisting together oriented strands of fibers to form balls of yarn. Spinners use three industrial processes or multiple hand spinning techniques to create these textiles. Designers create clothing and other assorted apparel from the textiles produced from the raw materials. Craft enthusiasts can purchase each of the three fibers separately to create their own fabric or textiles, which may include roving and felting.

Wool Roving

Spinners use wool roving, a piece of clumped, combed, and slightly twisted wool, to create numerous textiles. They may prepare their own wool roving or purchase them from a specialty supply store. Roving can also be made from a variety of fibrous materials, including cotton and silk. Spinners create wool roving by combing raw wool to remove its impurities. In addition, they wash and orient each of the fibers by carding them in the same direction. Lastly, they gently twist each fiber until forming a solid piece of yarn. Wool roving can be dipped in dyes to create vibrant, colorful yarn and is measures around the length of a hand, although the size can vary. Spinners have the option of looping the wool roving back on itself for compact storage.

Spinners refer to prepared wool roving as a sliver before twisting them into bundles of yarn. In addition, they refer to flattened wool roving as batting, often used as stuffing for certain textiles. Wool roving has a soft, fine, and springy texture. Learning to spin roving takes a great deal of time, patience, and practice to fully understand the processes of creating textiles. While some advanced spinners understand how to process wool, beginners should start with prepared wool roving until mastering their art.

• Wool Processing: Wool processing involves eight intensive steps, including shearing, washing, blending, carding, spinning, weaving, fulling, finishing, and chemical finishing.
• Twisting Fibers (PDF): A spinner's introduction to twisting fibers in the wool roving process.
• Wool Carding and Combing (PDF): A highly detailed document that explains how to card and comb raw wool.
• Llama Wool (PDF): An educational brochure that provides a historical background on wool made from llamas.
• Handling and Marketing Wool (PDF): A comprehensive document that explains the handling and marketing process of wool in the production of textiles.
• How to Create a Flower Brooch (PDF): A tutorial that teaches spinners how to create a flower brooch from wool roving.
• Clothing Fibers (PDF): An introduction to various clothing fibers used in the textile industry, such as cotton, linen, wool, silk, rayon, nylon, polyester, and acrylic.

Wool Felting

Spinners incorporate wool felting, a technique that produces a non-woven sturdy fabric that withstands the natural elements. This fabric is referred to as boiled wool or felt. Spinners can practice making felt at home with relative ease, which will produce quality fabric that can be used for a wide variety of projects. Ordinary shoppers can purchase prepackaged felt at many arts and crafts stores if they have more of an interest in the design of textiles than the felted fabric. Many nations have used felted wool for centuries, which testifies of its enduring composition. In fact, scholars suggest that cultures started felting way before knitting and weaving came along.

Spinners start the felting process by washing and combing raw wool of its impurities before orienting the fibers to run in the same direction. They will layer hanks of wool into large pans and then ensure that each of the fibers run at a ninety-degree angle. To gently agitate each of the wool's fibers, spinners pour hot soapy water over the layered pans. After the water cools, the small scales on the fibrous hairs starts to open up and interlock with each other. As a result, a solid matted materiel forms from the constant heat, pressure, moisture, and friction applied to the fibrous hairs.

• Needle Felting Basics (PDF): A comprehensive resource guide that teaches needle felting basics.
• Needling Felting (PDF): A short tutorial that teaches the fundamentals of needle felting.
• Basic Needle Felting Instructions (PDF): An authoritative document that teaches beginners the basics of needle felting.
• Your Daily Dose of Fiber (PDF): An extensive document that explains the concepts of wet felting, dry felting, and fulling.
• A Guide to Needle Felting (PDF): A comprehensive guide that introduces the basic concepts of needle felting.
• Felting, Fulling, or Boiled Wool? (PDF): An article that explains the differences between felting, fulling, and boiled wool.
• An Overview to Factors Affecting the Felting of Wool (PDF): An authoritative article that provides the most common factors that affect the wool felting process.
• A Chart of Some Wools Used in Wet-Felting (PDF): A reference chart for spinners who wish use wet-felting for certain kinds of wool fibers.
• The Characteristics of Wool (PDF): A fact sheet that describes the beneficial characteristics of wool, including its durability and resistance, absorbency, and resistance to flames.