Crochet Beginnings Part 1: The Yarn

Over this past week, I have been working on crochet patterns. But before we jump into crochet patterns, we should talk about supplies. Just like how the type of fiber is important, so is yarn type. The type of crochet hook matters as well, as some can be easier to use than others. There are also additional tools that can be used, such a stitch marker, row counters, and darning needles. I am going to discuss these topics over the next few posts. Today, we deal with yarn type. 
First, I should mention what a gauge is. A gauge is how many stitches and rows there are in a 4-inch square. Most brands will tell you what the gauge is for their yarn with a suggested hook. For example, the hobby lobby brand I Love this Cotton’s gauge is 13 stitches and 14 rows with a 5.5mm hook.
Yarn weight and gauge:

When it comes to yarn weight and crochet hook size, some people don’t seem to realize the importance. There are yarns about the size of a thread to the size of your wrist. Obviously, what size of yarn you crochet with will affect your gauge and the finish projects size. In theory, each weight of yarn has a corresponding hook size. Worsted weight is usually a 5.5 mm crochet hook. If you crochet with a normal tension (more about that later) you will produce a very even fabric. It is somewhat thick and open, but not to the point of being considered holey. The same is generally true of every other yarn weight to crochet hook size suggestion.
However, if you switch either the yarn weight or hook size, this will change. Going up in hook size will make your work more open and lacier, while going down will make it tighter and denser. The same is true in yarn size but going the opposite way. Going up in weight will produce a denser fabric and going down will make the product lacier.
Knowing how this affects you work is important when you are crocheting things like amigurumi (which is a fancy Japanese word for stuffed animal that the crochet community uses). Most people don’t want the stuffing to show, so if your using worsted weight yarn, the 8mm hook is not going to work. I personally feel that even the 5.5mm hook is too large and produces a tacky looking amigurumi. The largest I have gone for amigurumi was 3.75mm, but I really prefer the 3.5mm.
The tension with which you crochet is also very important. I feel that I crochet with a “normal” tension. Rarely do I have stiches that are too tight or have large gaps. Some people crochet very loosely. Others crochet very tightly. This also effects your overall gauge. By going up or down a hook size, you can achieve the desired gauge for that project. It can also help if your stiches are too tight or too loose.
Yarn Texture:

As you can see, there is a great variety in yarn. I’ve noticed beginners often want to use textured yarn. There is nothing wrong with this, however there is usually little definition of stitches once crocheted. Obviously, this makes it hard to see where the stiches are and can be troublesome for beginners. I’ve even known some who quit because this was the type of yarn they chose.The fuzzy ones and the faux fur can cause problems too. While they work fine when you first crochet with them, if you need to rip your work out the fibers often tangle and make it difficult. Also, because of all the fibers, they too can lose definition making it hard to crochet. Supper smooth yarn also means supper slick. This makes it hard to hold onto and get the proper tension. Despite the difficulty of textured yarn, the results can be worth it. For beginners, I suggest sticking to the plain stuff. Once you feel confident, then try branching out.

You can save a lot of frustration by understanding gauge, yarn weight, and yarn texture. It is also a good idea to have some understanding of fiber type, which you can learn more about at my post here. Next time we will discuss crochet hook material and types.