Remove Obstacles
• Long Hair: If your hair is long enough to
get in your way, be sure to comb it and
tie it back before you start crocheting.
This helps to avoid getting hair tangled
in your work.
• Jewelry: You may wish to remove your
jewelry, especially rings and bracelets,
prior to crocheting. Yarn can catch on
jewelry and hamper your progress.
• Cats: If possible, keep cats out of the
room when you are crocheting. A cat
can’t seem to resist a moving ball of
yarn. A cat can also ruin a crochet
project without much effort.
Don’t Be Afraid to Experiment
• There are no “crochet police,” and
nothing tragic will happen to you
if an experiment fails. Practice and
experimentation are two of the best ways
to break out of beginner status. Consider
some simple experiments.
• Substitute colors in a pattern.
• Choose different yarns.
• Add or subtract details. If a pattern calls
for fringe you don’t like, substitute an
edging. Add a flower to a plain hat.
• As you learn more, don’t be afraid to try
more complex experiments.
• Add stripes to a plain pattern.
• Vary the stitches you use.
• Improvise customizations. Make long
sleeves instead of short sleeves on a
sweater. Modify the neckline.
• Some of these experiments might not
work out, but each one will teach you
something new.
Don’t Be Afraid to Unravel
If you notice that you made a mistake a
few rows back, rip out the stitches up to
that point and try agai