Welcome to Liziloulovecraft! Whether you’re a creative soul looking for a new hobby, a pet lover dreaming of making cute handmade gifts, or just someone curious about what all this âcrochetâ fuss is aboutâyou’re in the right place. đ
Crochet is a beautiful craft that blends creativity, practicality, and comfort. Whether you’re a crafty newbie, a lifelong pet lover, or someone looking for a new creative outlet, this post is your cozy invitation into the world of yarn, hooks, and handmade magic.
Iâm Lizilouâan artist, crocheter, and dog mum from South West Englandâand Iâll walk you through everything you need to get started.
What Is Crochet, Anyway?
Crochet (pronounced crow-shay) is a textile art where you use a single hook to loop yarn into fabric. Unlike knitting, which uses two needles, crochet gives you a bit more flexibility and is often seen as easier for beginnersâthink of it as the cousin of knitting.
It is super versatile, and you can make a range of items from blankets and decorations, to hats, accessories, and cute animal plushies.
What Youâll Need to Begin
Getting started doesnât have to cost a lot, and you don’t need a lot of tools to begin. We recommend you small and grow your collection as you go, once you’re more familiar with the tools and can find yourself having favourites. Hereâs your beginner crochet toolkit:
- A crochet hook â Size 4mm (G) is a great starter size. There are inline or tapered hooks which can make a difference depending how you hold your hook. I’ll post more about types of hooks soon.
- Yarn â Choose a DK (Double Knitting) or Worsted weight yarn in a light colour (easier to see your stitches). Go for smooth acrylic or cottonâfuzzy or dark yarns are tricky for beginners.
- Scissors – Any pair will doâyou’re just snipping yarn. We don’t bite our yarn…yuck…also ouch.
- Tapestry needle â Some are plastic, others are metalâboth work fine! We’re just weaving in our ends.
- Stitch markers â These are little clips that help you keep track of where you started a roundâespecially useful when crocheting in circles like for plushies or pet hats.
- Tape measure – For checking the size or gauge of your work, which is important for size related projects such as clothing.
âš Lizilou Tip: You donât need to buy everything from a fancy shop right awayâmany budget craft stores or even charity shops will have starter materials. If youâve got a ball of yarn and a hook, you’re ready!
Learning the basics
You should get used to using your hook and practice with the core stitches. It is important to note that abbreviations vary according to US vs UK, so check all patterns or videos you use for information on which they are following.
Chain Stitch (ch) â The foundation of almost everything, begun with a slip knot.
Single Crochet (sc) â The bread and butter of many simple projects, known in the UK as Double Crochet (dc). This is the basic stitch used in plushies, scarves, and more.
Slip Stitch (sl st) â Used for finishing off or moving along a row. Think of this as the sneaky way to move your yarn without adding height.
Magic ring (mr) â Another main foundation method for starting a project, usually when working on rounds.
Want to learn visually? There are tons of free video tutorials out there ( Iâll be sharing my own, too đ). You can check my upcoming YouTube series on basic stitches, or follow me on Instagram for stitch reels and patterns (@liziloulovecraft).
Why Crochet is Paw-sitively Perfect for Pet Lovers
Crochet and pets are a match made in cozy heaven. They don’t talk back (totally talk back) and they let you test your products on them with little effort. (Loki and Thor disagree when they’re sitting on my yarn or trying to running off with my projects.) Iâve made:
- Snuggly pet jumpers.
- Dog bandanas with themed motifs (Pawvengers Assemble!.)
- Cat hats with Egyptian themes (yes, I made a headdress).
- âPug-thulhuâ plushies (yes, reallyâcheck my upcoming posts! Might have Cat-thulhu too!)
Handmade items are more than just cuteâtheyâre made with love, washable, and totally customisable. Plus some of our fur-babies love that texture and benefit that warmth in the winter months.
đâđŠș Bonus: Crochet is a calming craft to do with your pup curled up beside you. I find it greatly helps my mental health issues, just not when they’re sitting on my project bag or using my arm as a pillow!
Ron loves his Dogpool custom made sweater!
3 Easy projects to get you started
If youâre new to crochet, these are some good starting ideas to practice your yarn tension and turning chains with. You could find patterns for granny square bags or just want to practice making spheres for practicing increases and decreases.
1. Granny Square
You can simply start by using a chain and single crochet stitches to form a square. It helps you in gaining speed in your stitches, relax your yarn tension, and practicing holding your hook. I started making several squares and turning them into a bag as a gift.
2. Balls
Now, you could try your hand at balls to get used to increasing and decreasing. If you want to stuff it with an old sock or newspaper, it’ll be out little secret. Though if you add polyester stuffing and use it as a dog toy, be prepared for rips and never leave the dog unattended due to swallowing risks.
3. Cup coasters
Similar to the ball, you can practice working in the round, but this time a simple flat circle shape. There are plenty of free patterns for simple cup coasters online if you want to check them out (Youtube, Ravelry, etc). Just be aware that fibres hold heat differently, so using cotton vs acrylic matters in kettle covers or oven mitts!.
I will be releasing free/paid patterns right here on the blog, so subscribe or bookmark me for updates.
Finally, before you begin
- Donât stress about perfection. The flaws are what makes it unique!
- Keep your first projects short and simple. You want to finish it.
- Learn at your paceâno oneâs grading your work.
- Don’t compare yourself to others, just focus on improving yourself.
- Ask questions! Leave a comment or tag me with your WIPs.
Enjoy the craft, and continue your journey as we all do. The magic is in the making. đ
đŁ Join the Liziloulovecraft Community!
Iâd love to see what youâre working on! Whether youâre stitching your granny square or just finished your 10th plush, tag me on Instagram @liziloulovecraft or comment below.
If you want more crochet ideas, behind-the-scenes, or to stay ahead with the latest news, join my mailing list. There may be early access to patterns, freebies, and project launches…or just occasional updates for what the year shall bring. We also have a Discord community, link on my blog.
Happy hooking, and give your pets a squish from me! đ§¶đŸ
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