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Crochet is officially one of the coolest textiles around right now. Thanks to social media trends like cottagecore, old-time crafts such as crochet are weaving their way across our feeds – 2.5 billion people have watched crochet videos on TikTok – while avant-garde fashion designers and brands, like Ella Emhoff and 2 Much Pressure, are creating high fashion from the textile, incorporating crochet into everything from bandeau tops to bucket hats.

Over the pandemic, people have turned to lulling, repetitive crafts like crochet to beat the boredom of being at home and give their hands something to do other than tapping their smartphone. “Crocheting was like therapy over the pandemic,” says Laura Hall, a knitwear technologist who runs Instagram page Hook and Chains. “I used to go to the gym to clear my mind. So when gyms were shut, crochet gave me something to focus on.”

Unlike regular knitting, which uses two knitting needles, crochet involves one hook. The stitches are created by looping and threading yarn over the hook. Laura, who has a degree in fashion knitwear and knitted textiles, taught herself to crochet at the end of her university course. She began by making baby blankets for her nieces and nephews, eventually going on to make bags, intricate Christmas baubles and now crochet commissions.

“Knitting is in my bones, but crochet still takes a long time to master,” says Laura. “If you’re patient and start off slowly, once you know the basic stitches you can pick up a lot.” It can take hours to craft things from crochet, but the results are worth it. “A lot of effort goes into it, but people appreciate the results a lot more. The blankets I’ve made for my family are something they’ll be able to treasure forever.”

If you want to try your hand at hooking yarn, Laura has shared her tips on everything you need to know when you’re starting out, as well as a step-by-step guide to creating your very own crochet blanket using intricate granny squares. 

Chain stitch (ch)

• Wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front.
• Pull the hook carrying the yarn through the loop already on the hook.
• One chain stitch completed.

Slip stitch (sl st)

• A slip stitch is used to move across a stitch or finish a round.
• Insert hook in stitch, wrap the yarn over the hook and draw through both loops at once.

Double crochet (dc)

• Bring the yarn over the hook from back to front before placing the hook in the stitch or space.
• Wrap the yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through the stitch.
• You now have 3 loops on the hook.
• Wrap the yarn over the hook again and pull through the first two loops on the hook.
• You now have two loops on the hook.
• Wrap the yarn over the hook for the last time and pull through both loops on the hook.
• One double crochet completed. 

What materials you’ll need:

• Double knit weight 100% cotton yarn
• 4mm crochet hook (or a hook that suits your yarn weight)
• Tapestry needle
• Scissors 

Choose the right yarn

If you’re a beginner, Laura suggests choosing a basic yarn to start with like cotton or wool. “I wouldn’t go for anything that’s shiny or fancy because it will be slippery and tougher to handle.” You can buy yarn at most craft shops.

The size of the yarn is also important. Laura advises using a thicker yarn to start off with: “That way you can see what stitches you’re making and it will mean your yarn moves quickly so you feel like you’re progressing.”

The yarn size will also determine what hook you use. A basic yarn for beginners will usually take a 4mm hook. When you buy yarn it should say what size hook will work best with it, so it’s worth having a number of different sized hooks at home.

Master your tension

In crochet, tension is the amount of stress you apply to your yarn as you use it. It affects the size of the stitches you make. Learning to master tension is important for making your stitches look consistent and neat.

“Tension is all about holding your yarn in the right way so when you’re crocheting it flows to the hook evenly and your stitch stays the same throughout,” says Laura. “I usually twist the yarn around my finger to control it. People have different tensions, which is what makes people’s projects look unique.”

Be patient

“Stick with it and don’t be defeated,” says Laura, stressing that crochet is learned through practice and definitely doesn’t come instantly. “It didn’t for me,” she adds. “My mum tried to teach me when I was younger and I could not get the hang of it. Later, I taught myself and it just clicked. Go really slow and take your time. Once you’ve got the hang of it, it’s a skill you’ll have forever.”

Use books and online tools

Laura taught herself to crochet using a guidebook. She recommends The Ultimate Granny Square Sourcebook: 100 Contemporary Motifs to Mix and Match and 300 Crochet Stitches by Collins and Brown. 

 “Social media is also good for picking up tips and tricks,” Laura says. “Tutorials on Pinterest and YouTube are a good place to start learning.”  

You can find out more about Laura’s crochet on her Instagram page. Find more arts and crafts tutorials on The Curiosity Academy, or sign up to the newsletter. 

Images: Laura Hall