All About Crochet

Looking for a fun and productive hobby to start? Crochet may be your answer. In recent years, crochet has become increasingly popular across generations. It used to be considered a hobby for elderly only, but many teenagers have started to pick up the craft. There has also been a sharp increase in the number of teenagers starting crochet businesses. However, you may be wondering what all the craze is about. Let me give you a quick introduction to the wonderful world of crochet.

Crochet, according to the Oxford dictionary, is “a way of making clothes, etc. from wool or cotton using a special thick needle with a hook at the end to make a pattern of connected threads.” Crochet can be used to create a range of items, from plushies (known as amigurumi in crochet), to blankets, clothing, and even bags! Crochet is extremely versatile, and is perfect when you need a quick last-minute gift for someone. Crochet can range from taking less than half an hour to several weeks of work, depending on the complexity and intricacy of the pattern. It is most commonly used for making plushies, and are the most popularly sold at craft markets or fairs.

If you’re interested in making crochet your new hobby, here’s a simple guide on how to start!

First, you’ll want to buy materials. For a simple start, one could be able to find everything they need under a total of $10 SGD. However, I would recommend investing in higher quality materials, which may total up to about $20 SGD. Yarn is of course essential, and I would recommend getting a yarn of weight size 4, also known as Aran weight yarn. The most commonly used brand is the one with the cow on the label, and is great for a quick start. Known as milk cotton yarn, one ball usually costs $0.80 to $1.20, with about 50 grams each, and 90-100 metrage. I would suggest starting with a lighter colour, as it would be easier to see the stitches. Next, you’ll need a range of hooks. The general range is 2.0mm to 6.0mm for starters, but for milk cotton yarn, 3.0-3.5mm hooks are recommended when making plushies. High quality hooks are the tulip and clover brands, or anything with a good grip. You’ll also need a pair of scissors, a few stitch markers, a darning/tapestry needle, stuffing, keychains (optional) and safety eyes. For the safety eyes, the size would depend on how big you want them to be, but a generally safe guide for a keychain plushie is 6-8mm eyes. Usually patterns will state what materials they use, so you can also use that as a gauge.

Next, you’ll want to find a simple crochet pattern. It is recommended to start with a free beginner-friendly YouTube tutorial as a starting point. There are many simple and easy to follow tutorials online for you to pick and choose from! You may want to start with a beginner guide to pick up the basics, or jump straight into a tutorial where they explain each step. I would highly recommend watching the whole video first before starting, as it may become too complex later on. A little tip would be to add the words “no sew” to your search, as sewing is often difficult to pick up right off the bat if you have no experience.

Following this, you will want to practise your craft often. Try a simple, repetitive pattern to begin. Aside from YouTube, websites like Ribblr and Ravelry often provide free and easy patterns to start out. When starting out, put more focus into making your stitches regular and even. Over time, you will find a way that works for you, and can continue to improve your skill. If you are unable to figure out why something keeps going wrong, I would suggest asking someone who is more experienced in the art of crochet.

I hope the above has given you some insight into crocheting! It may be rather challenging at first, but is incredibly rewarding after the initial start. Perfect when you need a quick gift or to unwind and reduce stress. If you try to pick up crochet, don’t give up!

Christabelle

Secondary 3 Unity

2025