Using The Art Of Crochet For Babies

By Michelle Bery

Crochet – at its core – is delicate, lovely, and timeless. So it’s no wonder that it lends itself so beautifully to items associated with a baby. A blanket, booties, sweaters, a dress – the addition of crochet to any of these items elevates the cute factor into the realm of breathtaking. Suddenly a receiving blanket becomes a family heirloom; baby booties become worthy of framing; and a special sweater becomes a treasured hand-me-down.

For those looking to create the beautiful gift of crochet for babies, you have a variety of patterns and materials from which choose. If you are a beginner, start with a simple pattern such as a blanket or booties; you’ll find their lines forgiving of any mistakes. For the more experienced among us, more complex patterns such as sweaters, and other projects that contain multi-patterned designs could be good choices.

You can find any patterns that appeal to you at your local craft store or on the Internet. Online resources are abundant with patterns of crochet for babies. Additionally, most are free of charge. Depending on what you want to accomplish, you’ll most likely find all that you need in these online stores.

Next comes the fun part of picking the color and texture of the yarns you want to use for your crochet for babies. There are variety of textures available; just be sure to keep those crochet for babies as soft as possible. Remember that babies’ skin is sensitive and choose accordingly. Also choose those materials that are easily machine washable.

While supplementing the design with buttons, snaps, and other embellishments elevate the crochet for babies, be very careful in your use; remember that small items can be a chocking hazard so secure them with care.

Sizing can be somewhat difficult when it comes to crochet for babies. Instructional manuals will help you measure with accuracy and plan accordingly.

Crochet for babies can be a wonderful way to welcome a newborn to the world. Even better, it can be your unique way to do it and one that will could be handed down from generation to generation.

For easy to understand, in depth information about crochet visit our ezGuide 2 Crochet.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Michelle_Bery

Crochet Stitches - The Linguistics of Crochet

By Jessica Harrison

Crochet stitches are the linguistics of crochet. They are the very essence of the crochet craft and as such are deservedly got their own special "abbreviations" and quirks.

Purpose of Crochet stitches

Crochet stitches and crochet patterns are the blueprint to any crochet project. Just like sewing patterns and instructions are to a seamstress. You need to think of crochet stitches and patterns as you would think about ingredients and recipes.

Like a good recipes, good crochet patterns tell you what materials and crochet stitches you are going to need to complete the crochet project. The just like a good recipe the crochet pattern will tell you in a step by step pattern which type and how many crochet stitches are needed.

How a typical crochet pattern looks

This is an extract of what a basic crochet pattern looks and how the stitches are described.

You will need

Double knitting yarn / 4 mm Crochet hook

Stitches used

Chain ch / Slip stitch sl st / double crochet dc (UK) Single crochet sc (USA)

Starting at the top (Head)

Start with a slip knot on your hook

Make 4 ch and slip stitch into the first chain to form a circle

1. Make 1 chain and work 10 dc into the ring ending with a slip stitch into the first stitch.
2. Make 1 chain and then increase by working (1dc into the first &2dc into the next stitch) repeat this all round finishing with a slip stitch into the first stitch.

Did you notice the ch and dc these are the crochet stitch abbreviations. Saves repeating it longhand in the pattern; especially if it is a hand written pattern.

The crochet stitches abbreviations

Chain - ch
Single crochet - sc
Double crochet - dc
Slip stitch - sl st
Half double crochet - hdc
And so on ...

More Abbreviations

Crochet instructions are also abbreviated ... just to make life interesting
Increase - inc
Decrease - dec
Yarn over - yo
Yarn over hook - yoh

So there you have it ... crochet stitches are the linguistics of the crochet craft. One little twist there is a difference in the crochet stitches names in America and Britain ... what a surprise.

For the next installment of Crochet Stitches visit http://www.craftmastery.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Harrison

Easy Crochet Patterns

By Jessica Harrison

You have just typed "easy crochet patterns" into Google and are scouring the pages to find the first crochet project. Are you wondering if that trip to your favourite craft store was a waste of time? Are you just wondering what else you can do with 12 coloured crochet hooks?
Crochet is the best craft

Crochet is one of those great crafts because you can get started really quickly with nice projects that will not have people asking you "what is that going to be when it is finished?"
By learning a few basic crochet stitches you will be able to make some really nice crochet projects.

How many crochet stitches is a few

Is three stitches ok for a few? You can make a crocheted toy with the knowledge of three stitches and the ability to read a crochet pattern.

So what can you make with four crochet stitches? Does a fashionable crocheted handbag sound good enough? Is that better than what you get to do in a pottery class?

So with a few basic stitches you can make toys, handbags, purses, scarves and yes even a bikini.
So the stitches are easy how about the pattern

Crochet patterns are really easy. All you need to read a pattern is to know how to do your crochet stitches and remember that they are abbreviated in the pattern. You do not have to remember the abbreviations for the stitches as they are repeated in the pattern.

So all you need to get going is to find a pattern that includes the stitches that you know, the materials and the right crochet hook or hooks and you are good to go. Have you found your easy crochet patterns already?

Heard of video patterns. They make the best Easy crochet patterns. Come and have a look around http://www.craftmastery.com/
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jessica_Harrison