Crocheting, in itself, requires very little- a crochet hook, and some yarn.  While some of the more complex patterns call for additional sewing notions or decorations like beads, many patterns involve nothing more than the yarn itself and the effort you put into the project.  If you’d like to learn to crochet, and you are finding the search for a great yarn intimidating, you aren’t alone.  Most beginners give up before they even begin because they can’t seem to figure out how to match a yarn to a pattern, let alone begin the project.

But crochet, like anything, gets easier with patience and time, and once you have the basics down you will find getting started a lot easier.  Here’s what you need to know:

Weight 

Every yarn has a weight.  To put it crudely, the weight of the yarn basically indicates how bulky a strand of it is.  Super fine weight includes lace, fingering and sock yarns.  These are the yarns with very small strands that might look more like string.  Fine weight includes thicker baby and “sport” yarns.  Light weight yarns include DK and the thinner worsted weight yarns.  Medium includes regular worsted and aran weight yarns.  Bulky includes rug and “chunky” yarns, and super bulky includes yarns labelled “bulky” and roving yarns.

Each yarn weight corresponds with a size of crochet hook.  Don’t worry if you don’t understand the specifics of each yarn.  There is plenty of information available if you’d like to get in depth, but every retail yarn will have a yarn label of some sort, and on that yarn label will be all you need to know.

The above label is from a skein of Caron Wintuk yarn.  From it, you can learn several things about the yarn right away.  First, the weight is given.  Then, you see the knitting needle size, followed by the crochet hook size, recommended for use with the yarn.  Last, you see care directions when washing items made with the yarn.

Crochet patterns will usually call for a certain weight of yarn (such as sport or aran) and a certain size crochet hook.  The crochet hook requested in the pattern may not correspond to the crochet hook recommended with the yarn you buy.  That’s all right.  Big hooks can be used with small yarns for a loose crochet, and small hooks can be used with big yarns for a very tight crochet.  The point is to be comfortable.  However, it’s best to follow the pattern’s chosen yarn and hook size to make sure the item you make comes out the size you are aiming for.

Crochet Hook

Crochet hooks range in size, from #14 or 0.9 mm steel hooks (used with crochet thread) to size S (19 mm) hooks.  Many projects that use worsted or medium weight yarn will call for G-K hooks.  For beginners, a good idea is to experiment with different size hooks and different weight yarns, to see how they interact with each other.

For example, here is a Vanna’s Choice medium weight yarn, used with an I hook (which the yarn calls for) on the left and an N hook on the right.

As you can see, the yarn fits well with the I hook.  It’s a safe bet that if you used that, it wouldn’t feel clumsy.  However, the N hook could provide a loose, holey look that might be interesting for shawls or bags.

Now, let’s look at some Wool-Ease Thick & Quick yarn, a super bulky weight, with an I hook and an N hook.

In this case, the I hook looks unwieldy- the yarn is practically the same size!  But with the N hook (which the yarn calls for) it fits comfortably.  Again, while the N hook is the best match for the yarn size, the I hook could provide a very tight, solid pattern- although you may have some difficulty using a  comically smaller hook with a very bulky yarn.

Fiber

Every yarn is made of a certain type of fiber.  You can find bamboo, soy, nylon, polyester, rayon, and different types of wools like alpaca, cashmere, angora, and even bison.  Let’s take a look at the pros and cons of the three most common fibers: cotton, wool, and acrylic.

Cotton – Pros

• Works great for items that will frequently get wet, like washcloths and towels
• Easy to wash
• Relatively inexpensive
• Cool; can be used for summer clothing
• Most common fiber for doilies and filet crochet

Cotton – Cons

• Not much variety in weight
• Not very warm
• Not as many brands/colors as other fibers
• Difficult to shape

Wool – Pros

• Many varieties and weights
• Combines well with acrylic and other fibers
• Good for warm items like mittens, scarves, sweaters
• Holds color/dye well
• Holds shape well

Wool – Cons

• Can be expensive
• Pure wool can be difficult to wash
• Some varieties irritate the skin
• Not good for summer wear

Acrylic – Pros

• Very inexpensive
• Combines well with other fibers
• Easy to wash
• Many colors/styles/weights available
• Works with most patterns

Acrylic – Cons

• Can be low-quality and have problems like splitting or fraying
• Can be abrasive to the touch
• Difficult to shape
• Sometimes less attractive than other fibers

Some large craft shops will often offer knitted samples of many yarns, so you can touch the yarn and see how it feels.  A cheap acrylic yarn may work great for a crocheted purse, but not as good for a baby blanket.  A soft mohair yarn may make a great scarf, but might look a little silly as a beret.  Next time you go shopping and see a crocheted item like a hat, check the label to see what it’s made out of.  You’ll get to where you can recognize wool or cotton almost immediately.

Remember, crocheting is about creativity most of all.  Yarn weight and hook guidelines are just that- guidelines.  For beginners, it may be a good idea to stick to recommendations, but as you learn, you can branch out and try your own patterns.  There’s no limits to the combinations available, and the best part is that you- the creator- have the luxury of creating however you please.