How To Improve Your Crochet Skills

I don’t know about you, but I am quite competitive with myself. It’s not enough to learn to crochet simple patterns, I wanted to push myself further and see where I could go with this fascinating new skill. In fact, it took me less than six months to decide that what I wanted was not to follow other people’s patterns, but to make my own. And you know what, it wasn’t an unrealistic aim!

Today I am going to share the ways that I levelled up my crocheting skills, so that you can too. And it’s not even difficult, it’s all about going at your own pace, rehearsing fundamentals and experimenting a bit outside of your comfort zone.

Practice

I know it’s not what you want to hear, but practice really is the key to getting better at almost anything you do. And practice doesn’t have to mean repeatedly making the same thing over and over again, although this does help! Practice can be rehearsing different skills within the same project, like a granny square blanket, or making a series of small amigurumi toys with a spherical body, but different eyes and ears to represent different animals.

Don’t take giant leaps

Although it’s tempting to dive straight into the deep end once you’ve got your toes wet, it’s not actually a good idea. Going too complicated too soon is the absolutely best way to destroy your enthusiasm for your hobby.

Instead, increase your skills incrementally. Pick your next project with one aspect that you’ve not tried before, like surface crocheting or making irregular rather than regular increases in the round.

Frog freely

Frogging is an official crochet term for a reason, because it happens a lot. We use it to describe the process of undoing part or the entirety of a project we were working on.

The great thing about yarn is it can be reused several times before losing its structure, so you can unravel and crochet a project with no lovely (pricey!) yarn lost.

Try a different yarn weight for the same project

Yarn weight, which is in reality the thickness of the yarn, has a huge impact on your project. Thicker yarn requires a bigger hook, which makes wider stitches. And working the same pattern using a chunkier yarn weight* feels different too.

You’ll find the fine motor movements of your hands change, with how you hold and move your hook. You’ll also need to subtly change how you create the same level of tension. It’s a really fun way to level up because you are doing something familiar, but with a new material.

Experiment with different yarn fibers

Yarn fibers don’t just look different, they feel different and create varying amounts of friction on your hands as you work. Coarser cotton* will be harsher on your skin, silky smooth merino wool* will slide through your hands and yet be more challenging to grip. It all really changes the experience you’ll have while crocheting, and teach you some important lessons about tension and hook manipulation.

Switch focus

Every time I go outside my comfort zone and crochet something new, I learn something. Often unexpectedly. If you are a casual granny square maker, why not try your hand at amigurumi? If you love crocheting accessories, why not dive into a delicate doily pattern.

I have frequently found that working on new blanket techniques has provided me with a new skill that I then go and apply to my crochet toy patterns.

Learn a new stitch a week

I wish I had this much time, but this is totally my goal. In reality it happens a few times a year, but we can all aim high! Learning a new stitch is a great way to gently expand your repertoire. And you don’t need to make a whole blanket of it, you just work up a sampler, or frog and repeat until you are confident.

Change styles

I tend to get very stuck in my own personal styles, but I love what happens when I push outside of those boundaries and attempt something I wouldn’t perhaps be naturally drawn towards.

If you love traditional crochet, go for something ultra modern. If you’re a bold designs person, try out some subtle florals. Just mixing up the style can take you up a level, and

Get a friend to critique your work – no, really critique it

If you’ve got a very honest, preferably arty, friend, then get them to critique your work. My husband is as truthful as they come, and although that can be a bit of a challenge on occasions, it means that several patterns which would never have reached fruition without him turned out really well.

Try designing

Nothing stretches your skills like going solo. If you’ve not tried to design before, why not give it a go? Use simple ideas the first time, sketch it out first on paper, and think in shapes. Imagine what you want to make, decide what individual shapes come together to make one, and then create them! You’ll never regret giving it a go, and who knows how far it will take you!

*The products linked in this pattern were carefully selected by Lucy Kate Crochet. If you decide to purchase using the links provided, we may earn a small commission on that sale. This is at no extra cost to you.