Crocheting is a great hobby for relaxation and fun. Crocheting can be done anywhere and is easy to learn. Once you acquire basic stitches, you can initiate your work with some beginner patterns. If you master the basics, you can try some advanced crochet patterns and stitches. Some of the starter projects are baby or doll blankets, simple purses and scarves. The essential things are a ball of yarn and a hook. Initially, it is ideal to go with an instructional manual so that you can follow the directions and complete a crochet stitch and also view how you can work on the yarn using the hook.

The initial crochet stitch you have to learn is a slip knot. This is making a loop using yarn and pulling your yarn through the loop. You should pull the knot and your hook should slip through that ring. This will make a chain stitch. The chain stitch is the basic stitch for all crochets. Any pattern will insist on making row of chain stitches. Once you master the crochet stitch, you can begin the crocheting techniques. The basic stitches in crocheting are the single, double and the triple stitches. All these stitches are done in a similar manner. The difference is the number of times the yarn is brought around the hook before the completion of that particular stitch.

Granny square is the ideal way of learning basic stitches in crocheting as this pattern teaches you the chain stitch foundation, double crocheting and a slip stitch as it is used to join the rows and these rows are done in rounds. Once you know to make a granny square, you can go on with blankets, scarves, ponchos and purses. Granny squares are versatile and limited in color and design and this is the gateway to other patterns. There are virtually endless projects that you can do with few basic stitches in crotchets. You can use your ideas and creativity in making an appropriate design.

The basic things required for crocheting are yarn and yarns vary in thickness. The labels on the yarn provide all information such as yarn type, gauge, the fiber content as well as the care instructions. In fact, these yarn labels also comprise of free patterns. The other essential tool is the crochet hook. Crochet hooks are available in aluminum, wood and plastic. Knitting needles are also required and circular knitting needles are required for big projects such as sweaters. However, learning basic stitches in crocheting will coerce you to other projects as well.