Get Hooked on Crochet!

After trying to learn knitting and crochet decades ago and failing, I decided I just was not a very "crafty" person. About a year ago, when a close friend started crocheting and seemed to enjoy it so much, I thought I would give it another try. This time I was able to learn the crochet techniques. I purchased a beginning crochet book, a couple of skeins of inexpensive yarn and 3 different sizes of crochet hooks. I could hardly wait to get home with my purchase!

I practiced the basic stitches, the single crochet (sc) the double crochet (dc) and the chain stitch (ch). Using just those three basic stitches I discovered there were many really beautiful items I could make. I practiced diligently for months, making all kinds of simple pieces for use around my own home. Then, I joined a crochet group from church and signed up to make lapghans for cancer patients at a local hospital. By this time, I was totally hooked!

As my skill level began to improve, I knew I needed to purchase a better quality yarn so I started looking at all the various types available. Since I live 30 miles from the nearest shop that would sell crochet yarns and supplies, I decided to see what was available online.

Here are two of my favorite yarn shops online:

1) Knitting Warehouse.com

This store carries a wide variety of yarn brands and other crochet accessories. They also carry crochet kits and patterns, as well as books to help you learn how to crochet or knit. One of my favorite yarns to crochet with is Caron Yarn. This yarn can be purchased in One Pounders which allows you to crochet a rather large piece without ever having to tie off your work and begin with a new skein of yarn. The Caron Yarns come in an array of beautiful colors and the finished piece has a very soft, cozy feel to it. Another nice thing about Knitting Warehouse is they charge a flat delivery fee of only $5.99 no matter how much yarn you order! With today's gasoline prices being so high, it is really less expensive for me to order online instead of driving that 60 mile round-trip to make my yarn purchases.

2) JoAnn.com

This store is probably one of the most well known when it comes to sewing, crocheting and knitting supplies. If you happen to live close to a JoAnn's you already know what wonderful sales they offer. Again, because I live so far from the city, I shop at JoAnn's online. The online store also offers really good sales as well as free delivery from time to time. JoAnn's also carries my favorite yarn, Caron, as well as Debbie Mumm, Vanna's Choice, Bernat, Lion Brand and many more.

Another really great help for me was finding a website that offers all kinds of help and support for crocheters. The site is called Crochetville . Once you register, you can begin to browse through all the different areas of their forums. They offer "online classes", "crochet-alongs", and a wide range of "show and tell" topics where you can post pictures of your finished work and share it with the community.

Another very helpful site for learning to crochet is Nexstitch .This site is great for learning step-by-step how to make a variety of stitches. There is a crochet video to show you exactly how to do it! They also offer an assortment of patterns with complete instructions and a list of all the materials you will need to make each item.

Learning to crochet has been, not only fun, but it has also brought a group of new friends into my life. I feel proud to have learned a new skill that enables me to share my finished projects with friends, family members and even to keep a few items for use in my own home. It has opened up a ministry outlet as well by providing cancer patients with lapghans to keep them warm and comforted during their chemotherapy treatments.

Many ladies (and men) of all ages have taken up this craft and have made some really beautiful and useful pieces. Get hooked on crochet!