Different Types of Crochet

So many hours crocheting and honestly, I'm starting to feel a little Loop - y!

“They say it is made with the hands, but really it is made with the heart”

- knit & crochet stores

Crochet

Crochet is a way of creating fabric by using a special hook to join a single strand of yarn into a textile. This is achieved by looping the yarn in different ways with a crochet hook. You can crochet absolutely anything that can be made from fabric. You can create garments of any type, for any age and any size, accessories, stuffed toys, home decor, appliqué decorations such as flowers, blankets, tote bags, and so much more. Crochet is a limitless skill to have. It's an easy craft to learn because you only have one hook and one strand of yarn to work with. Like learning any new skill, it takes some practice to master the movements required and build up muscle memory to be able to do it quickly and efficiently. Crocheting is often confused with knitting, but the differences between the two crafts are quite clear. In crocheting, you complete every stitch before moving on to the next one. Crocheting and knitting can create the same types of products based on the imagination of whoever is crocheting or knitting. The earliest remains of crochet clothing date back to the 11th century A.D.; it is thought that the skill of making clothes out of cotton and yarn dates back to the earliest of times. Crocheting emerged in the Dutch magazine “Penelope” in 1823 with an exhibit of then-stylish purses crocheted with silk thread. Crochet hooks were given the name “shepherds hooks,” and different materials of steel, ivory, boxwood, and fishhooks were used to make the needles.

Knitting

As a whole, crochet is easier than knitting. Crochet uses one hook, doesn't require the movement of stitches between needles, and is less likely to unravel. After learning the five basic crochet stitches, crocheters observe that their projects work up more quickly. Knitting, the stitches form a "V" shape. In crochet, the stitches are more like knots. Knitting uses a pair of long needles to form the loops, moving a set of loops from one needle to another; the stitches are held on the needle. Crochet uses a single hook to hook the loops together directly on the piece. Knitting is the process of using long needles to interlink or knot a series of loops made by one continuous thread. Each loop or knot connects to another one, and when enough loops have been made, the result is a flat piece of material called a textile.

Tunisian Crochet

Normal crochet has a small amount of curling and can be easily relaxed with steam blocking. Tunisian crochet often has to be blocked more aggressively to keep the curl at bay. If you already know how to crochet, you'll find Tunisian crochet comes naturally. You already know how to hold the hook and make chain stitches. It is about learning where to insert your hook and familiarising yourself with the stitches. Tunisian crochet uses a longer version of a regular crochet hook; the length of the Tunisian crochet hooks is about 10–14 inches. Some hooks are long and straight, with a fixed stopper at the end (similar to a straight knitting needle). Some Tunisian crochet hooks have a flexible cable attached to the end to accommodate a large number of stitches. Tunisian crochet hooks come in a variety of materials (like normal crochet hooks), from aluminium to plastic, wood, or bamboo. And just like regular hooks and needles, Tunisian crochet hooks come in a range of sizes, from 3.5mm to 10mm.

Mosaic Crochet

Mosaic crochet creates colour patterns by working different colours of yarn down into previous rows. You only work one colour per row and do not have to deal with the complications of switching colours every few stitches. Mosaic crochet is a colorwork technique that is easier than it looks. It is a great way to create eye-catching, amazing, and beautiful designs using just basic crochet techniques and stitches. This technique produces a geometric effect, similar to geometric tiled floors. The best thing about mosaic crochet is that it is made with stripes of colours, meaning you can create patterns without changing colours midway through a row. The mosaic crochet design is worked from the front side only, from right to left for right-handed crocheters or left to right for left-handed crocheters.

I've gotta go! Ya, girl is hooked and busy ❤