Crochet Yourself a Cozy Scarf: Crochet Course for Absolute Beginners | Marina Russo | Skillshare
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Crochet Yourself a Cozy Scarf: Crochet Course for Absolute Beginners

teacher avatar Marina Russo, Crochet Designer and Tutor

Watch this class and thousands more

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Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Watch this class and thousands more

Get unlimited access to every class
Taught by industry leaders & working professionals
Topics include illustration, design, photography, and more

Lessons in This Class

    • 1.

      Introduction

      4:20

    • 2.

      Holding your Yarn and Hook: Slip knot and Chains

      10:23

    • 3.

      Single Crochet

      8:15

    • 4.

      Half Double Crochet

      6:11

    • 5.

      Double Crochet

      4:16

    • 6.

      Note on Turning Chains

      3:21

    • 7.

      Join Yarn and Weave In Ends

      9:00

    • 8.

      Creating your Scarf

      10:24

    • 9.

      Let's Keep in Touch!

      0:39

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About This Class

Enter into the magic world of making your own crochet accessories!
In this class, I introduce you to the crochet world walking you through the basics with step-by-step instructions.

What You Will Learn: 

  • What is crochet and what tools are used
  • How to hold your crochet hook and yarn
  • How to make a slip knot and crochet the basic chains
  • How to crochet basic stitches (Single crochet, Half Double Crochet, Double Crochet)
  • How to easily join yarn and finish off your project
  • How to crochet a beginner-friendly cozy scarf

Why you should take this class: 

Being a crochet designer, I'm often asked where to find easy resources to learn the crochet basics.

Many people get frustrated, lose their temper and easily give up if they don't find easy, eye-catching, and interesting resources to get started with this wonderful craft.

This class will show you how to master the basics without overwhelming you with unnecessary information so you'll be able to create your first project in no time!

If you are an absolute beginner with no previous crocheting experience, this class is for you!

Materials:

  • 3 Balls of Super Bulky Yarn (400 gr/225 mt/346 yards)I've used 100% Pure Wool yarn, "Woolpower Big" from Happy Sheep (colour 30)
  • 10 mm Crochet Hook
  • Tape Measure
  • Tapestry Needle
  • Scissors
  • Stitch Markers (You can use safety pins)

Meet Your Teacher

Teacher Profile Image

Marina Russo

Crochet Designer and Tutor

Teacher

Hello, I'm Marina, the crochet designer and natural fiber enthusiast behind Bloodimaryart!
As you might have noticed from my accent, I'm originally from Italy. However, my passion for exploration has taken me to different parts of the world over the past 6 years, including Spain, Australia, France, and Southeast Asia.

Crochet has become a way for me to express my creativity, ideas, imagination, beliefs, and values. It's my medium for self-expression, and I'm thrilled to share my passion with you.

In my crochet work, I aim to reflect my experiences and knowledge, showcasing my personality through my eclectic style.

I started designing one-of-a-kind crochet patterns at the end of 2019, mainly creating designs ... See full profile

Level: Beginner

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Transcripts

1. Introduction: Hi everyone. My name is Marina and I will be your crochet teacher for this course. As you might tell from my accent, I'm Italian, but I have been working, traveling and living abroad for the past five years. I started designing at the end of 2019, mainly creating crochet patterns for the English crochet community. I also have a YouTube channel where I share tips and tricks about this graft. Without further ado, let's jump into the course. First of all, what is crochet? The term crochet comes from the French World, crochet, which means small hook. And it's the art of creating textile using loops called crochet stitches. Crochet requires the use of a hook, which comes in a range of sizes and materials. Generally speaking, books are made of plastic, bamboo, aluminium, wood, or steel. And they are identified by their size according to where you live. Crochet hooks may be identified by numbers, letters, or millimeters. The other tool you need is obviously yarn. For crochet is usually sold as both skins or cones. Skins and balls are generally sold with the yarn label the tell you the Yan's weight, length, fiber content, washing instructions and other information. The weight of the yarn or its thickness is a determining factor to identify what size of food you might need. The final result might change as well. For example, this top was made using a thin neon, the small crochet hook. While the spinney was made easing a very thick yarn and the beak crochet hook. Thicker yarn generally require larger diameter hooks. Why thinner yarn requires smaller hooks? I say generally because with practice, you can experiment and try new possibility. For example, this top was associated with a thin yarn, but a medium hook to give you this lovely lays trip. Yarns are standardly grouped into categories according to their thickness. Lays offending referred to as categories 0. Super fine fingering or baby weight category one, fine or sport category to light worsted or decay categories three, medium or worsted weight or around category for bulky or chunky, category five and super bulky categories six. Yen fibers are generally divided into animal fibers, natural fibers and synthetic fibers. Animal fibers include silk, wool, angora, Kashmir, alpaca, etc. Why natural fibers include linen, cotton, Hemp, soy, bamboo, core, and tensile. Come on. Synthetic fibers include polyester and acrylic. For this particular project, I'm going to use a bulky yarn with a ten millimeter crochet hook. It's much more easy for you as a beginner to learn crocheting using a big hook. It's easier to hold the hook and it's easier to spot and we're into the stitches. I'll be showing you how to create these super warm, extra cozy scarf. What do you think? It can be worn in different ways? And it features these lovely fringes for a hippie look. But first, let's learn how to hold your hook and you're young. 2. Holding your Yarn and Hook: Slip knot and Chains: Hi, honestly, I've seen so many different ways of holding the hook and the yarn. I believe all of them are valid. It's a matter of finding the most comfortable position for you. I highly recommend you trying, experimenting to see what feels more natural to you. For the moment, I will show you my way of holding the hook and ER. But feel free to check YouTube videos or other resources to find out how other crochet, there's crochet, crochet eaters generally crochet, holding the hooks in one of these two ways. Like a pencil grabbing the hook from below. Or like a knife grabbing the hook from above. I personally grabbed my hook like a knife. But there isn't a wrong way to hold the hook as long as you work nice even stitches and you don't feel pain. Let's try try to hold the hook like a pensive. Your thumb and index finger around the immediate area of the hook. And the third finger near the tip of the hook. To try holding the hook like a knife. Place your hand over the crochet hook around the middle area. Your thumb and third finger gripping the hook while the index finger is close to the top. The crochet hook should be turned slightly towards you, not facing up or down. First, you will find yourself gripping very tightly. Over time. Once you feel more comfortable, you'll relax. I promise you should consider it as if it was an extension of your hand. Again. Play around with these two positions and see what works best for you. Now, let's talk about how to all the young, holding the young in the right way. It's essential to control the tension, which is the stress applied to the yarn when crochet team, that means the way we pull our yarn from the skin as we are crucial. You don't want your attention to be too tight, but you also don't want it to be too loose. Beginner crochet, those have the tendency to work too tight. Meaning they struggled to get the hook through the chains or even through the stitches. The hands cramped easily. What I personally do is holding the yarn in-between my index and middle finger so the yarn can flow smoothly without problems. I have also seen people using this method to smooth out their attention. Wrap the yarn around your pinky, under both your ring and middle fingers. An over your index finger. Try few times and worked with what feels intuitive for you. Do your needs two slides, mostly without obstacles. This is my personal way to hold the yarn that has I said, have seen many different ways of doing so. I have seen people crocheting like this, for example. Just try to find a comfortable way for you. Slipknot and chains. The first technique you need to learn is this slipknot. The slipknot isn't not that allow you to begin any kind of flat project like anything else. There are many ways to make a slipknot. I'll be showing you mind to make his sleep not grab the yarn around five inches from the end and wrap it around your finger like this. Next, cross the yarn. You're all deem above the loop on your finger. You create the X shape. Next, sleep the loop from your finger. Pass the one above in-between. Pinch it with your two fingers and pull. Grab the free end and pull it. Not start to tie up. These easier slipknot. If you pull the other tape, you will undo your note. Let's try again. Grab Deion around five inches from the end. Wrap it around your finger like this. Cross the yarn you are all dean above the loop on your finger. Sleep the loop from your finger and pass the one above in-between pin sheet with your two fingers and pull. Once you get familiar with the slipknot, you can then begin crochet thing, grab your hook and inserted into the loop you just created. As you can see, you can tighten or loosen up the knot around the hook. Try to not keep this loop too tight or you have problems later on. My suggestion is to always leave enough room for the hoop to go through easily. Grab your yarn and All the base of this slipknot with the thumb and index finger of your left hand. Bring the yarn over the crochet hook from back to front and hook it fully through the loop of this slipknot. You have now created your first chain stitch. Again, keep your sleep not firmly with your left hand and bring the yarn over the crochet hook from back to front. Pull it through the loop. You just made your second chain. Continue this way to get familiar with the movement and train your muscle memory. Be sure to not Tai Dionne too much. Otherwise you are struggled to make the Crochet going through your loops. As you can see here, I tied up too much and the chain is too small to be able to work into it later. Keep always some room inside your loop to allow the crochet hook to move smoothly. Keep practicing making changes until you are comfortable with this technique. Don't worry if in the beginning your work will be an event, because that's completely normal. You might crochet some changes a bit larger than others. It's okay. Eventually you'll be able to crochet smoothly with all chains even in size. Now, let's take a closer look to the chain themselves. The front of the chains look like a series of V. When you count them, you have to skip the slipknot and the small loop you have on your hook. These two are not chains. So be sure to not get confused while counting. Let's count. If you turn your chains, you'll see the backside. The backside has what is called a deck bar. This one. Now that you know everything about the chains, let's learn how to crochet your first stitches. 3. Single Crochet: Single crochet stitch. You have crochet, your series of chains. These group of chains is often called foundation chain. Because as you can imagine, this is the foundation of your work. Meaning that you will insert your first row of stitches into the chance you just made. Depending on the stage and on the pattern you are following, you will be asked to insert your hook into the second chain. The third chain, or the fourth chain, it really depends. For the moment we are learning the single crochet stitch is the most basic and easy stitch. To begin crusading the single crochet stitch, you must insert your hook into the second chain from your hook, your count 12. Remember that the loop on your hook doesn't count as a chain. Now insert your hook into the V of the chain, going through the back bar as well. Don't take this loop only as it's going to be too loose. Bar gives you a bit of support. Sometimes you might find crochet patterns that has Q to crochet into the back var instead. This is because the final result is more elastic, tidy and neat. For the sake of learning the basics, you're going to insert your hook into the front v. This way is much easier. And I don't want you to get confused. You will eventually learn to go through the backbone later on, if you wish. Once you enter into the chain, grab the yarn with your hook from back to front, and pull it through the chain. Now you have two loops on your hook. Grab the yarn again, and pull it through both loops. Your first single crochet is done. Let's repeat this movement again. Insert your hook into the V of the chain. Grab the yarn with your hook from back to front and police through the chain. Now you have two loops on your hook. Grab the yarn again and pull it through both loops. There you go. Your second single crochet. Keep repeating this until you get to the last, The chain. This line of stitches you have just worked is called a row. In this case, this is the first row. What's important for you here is to understand where is exactly the stitch. To spot a stitch, you need to identify a series of v. You see this fee? Our stitches. The V is made of two loops, the front loop and the back loop. To work and normal stage, you must go through both loops. Be sure not to grab one loop only. Otherwise your cruciate different kind of stitch to begin the second row. So another line of stitches on top of the first one. You need to change one. This chain one is not the stitch is simply a way to give us room to begin our next row. Turn your work. Keeping your hook in the chain stitch. You don't lose your place. You will now be looking at the backside of the previous row to recognize the front and the back side of your world. In which sense you work each row, you must identify the V single crochet. You have just one V8 on the front of the stitch with no horizontal bars. If you turn on the backside, the V is upside down. Make a single crochet stitch in the first stitch. So you work in new stitch on top of the previous one. Grab the yarn with your hook from back to front and put it through. Now you have two loops on your hook. Grab the Yan again and police through both loops. Spot the next teach and repeat. Insert your hook through both loops. Grab the yarn with your hope from back to front and pull it through. Now you have two loops on your hook. Grab the yarn again and pull it through both loops, continue across. Now, the tricky part, make sure to work into the last stage as well. Otherwise your work will not be even. The last v is here you see, that's the last stitch. Make sure to not overboard and try to crochet into other loose that are not stitches like this chain. 4. Half Double Crochet: As double crochet. The US double crochet is in the middle. It's not as short as a single crochet, but not as tall as a double crochet either. Many patterns will tell you to insert your hook into the third chain from hook. But I personally crochet into the second chain from hook, like I do for the single crochet. Before inserting the hook into the chain, you must Yan hover like you have previously done for the double crochet. Now, you can insert the hook into the chain, always including the back bar as well. Draw it through the chain stitch in now have three loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all three loops. This is your first half double crochet. When working the half double crochet, you can also use this stitch marker to mark your first stitch. This way in be sure to work into the last teach in the next row without getting confused with the beginning chains. Again, yarn over, insert the hook into the chain, grab the yarn and joy through the chain stitch. You now have three loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all three loops. The second stitch is done. Again, yarn over, insert the hook into the chain, grab the yarn and draw it through the chain, stitch, yarn over and draw through all three loops. The front side of the half double crochet is similar to the single crochet. So you can spot the VIP, but there is an extra bar at the top. To work. Row two, I personally chain one like I do for the single crochet. Even though many patterns will tell you to chain to. Previously said this chain is not a stitch but only a way to turn and work the next row. Spot the first stitch yarn over, insert the hook through both loops. Grab the yarn and pull it through the loops in now have three loops on the hook. Yarn over andrew through all loops on the hook. Continue this way to practice your half double crochet. Half double crochet back loop only. I want to show you the main character of this show. We choose the half double crochet back loop only. This is going to be the stitch you'll be used to make your scarf all along. I chose this teach for two reasons. The first reason is that it's a simple stitch, meaning that even complete beginners like yourself can learn how to work it relatively fast. The second reason is that despite being such a basic stitch is truly versatile because it allows you to introduce extra texture and spice up a simple project. Your work exactly as explained in the half double crochet chapter. But instead of entering through both loops, you insert your hook through the back loop only to work row two, I personally chain one like I do for the single crochet. This is the front loop. This is the back loop. Let's practice a little bit. Spot the first stitch, yarn over and insert the hook through this loop, only. The back loop only grab the yarn and pull it through. Now have three loops on our hook. Yarn over and drove through all three loops on the hook. Repeat all along. Chain one. Spot, the first stitch, yarn over, insert the hook through this loop only. The back loop only yarn over and drove through all three loops on the hook. It gives a very special effect that I personally loved so much. 5. Double Crochet: Double crochet. Now it's time to learn how to crochet another basic stitch, the double crochet stitch, as the name sad, is about twice as tall as a single crochet. Many patterns will tell you to insert your hook into the fourth chain from hook. But I personally crochet into the third chain from hook. Before inserting the hook into the chain, you must yarn over from back to front, which is the movement of grabbing and Huike the yarn. Now you can insert the hook into the chain, always including the back bar as well. Grab the yarn. Droid through the chain stitch. You now have three loops on the hook. Over and drove through the first two loops. Now have two loops on our hook. Yarn over again and drove through both loops on the hook. In a double crochet stitch, the front side is characterized by two fees. We then horizontal bar right in the middle. Let's try again yarn over. Insert the hoop into the chain. Always including the back bar as well. Yeah, moreover, through the chain stitch. Now have three loops on our hook. Yarn over and drop through the first two loops. You now have two loops on the hook, yarn over again and drop through both loops on the hook. To work row two, I personally changed too, even though many patterns will tell you to chain three. As previously said, these chains are not stitches, but only a way to give the correct height to the next row. Spot the first stage yarn over, insert the hook through both loops, grab the young and pull it through the loops, yarn over and drop through the first two loops on the hook. Yarn over again and draw through both loops on the hook. For absolute beginners, it might be a good idea to use a stitch marker to mark the first teach. This way, you'll be sure to work into the last teach in the next row. Especially for double crochet that require you to chain two or three at the beginning of the row. You might get confused and work the last teach into the chain with the stitch marker. This problem disappears because you know that your last teach needs to be worked into the stitch marker. Make sure to work into the last teach as well. The last fee is here you see That's the last stitch. I also suggest you to count the number of stitches after each row. You know you are working correctly. If you get distracted and you skip or work once teach mark, your work will not be straight and your total stitch count will be off. Continue to repeat this movement and practice the double crochet stitches. 6. Note on Turning Chains: Note on turning chains. As we have seen so far, when turning your work, you must chain and X amount of chains. To begin the next row. This beginning chains, which are called turning chains given their purpose, may sometimes we consider as a stitch except for the single crochet. This depends on the pattern you are following. If a pattern tells you the beginning chain, thus not count as a stitch, then you would work as we have worked so far. So placing your first stitch into the very first stage. The last stage is in the last stitch of previous row. You would ignore the beginning chains when counting your stitches. If the pattern tells you the beginning chain counts as a stitch, then you would consider the amount of chains as a stitch and skip the very first stitch of the row to work into the second one. This means that the last stitch is also changing. Because if the turning chain counts as stitch means that the last stage of the row needs to be placed in that top chain of the beginning chain. Why is that? Well, this is mostly for aesthetic purposes. For example, when you change two or three and skip the first stitch for a double crochet for example, it leaves a gap. Lot of designers, me included, don't like this gap. So they normally choose the beginning chain that doesn't count as a stage. The first double crochet is placed into the very first teach to eliminate that gap. Sometimes it's even because of the stitch pattern itself. Some specific stitches in fact, require the beginning chain to be a stitch simply because it can be otherwise. I'm not talking about that right now as it's something you might find complicated. For the sake of this course, I just give you a brief introduction to the topic. And you can always dive deeper on your own later on. 7. Join Yarn and Weave In Ends: Joining JAR and waving in the ends to join two balls of yarn. There are many methods, but I personally use more often. The one called magic note does not, is stronger than a standard naught. And it's unlikely to undo. Lay the end of your old yarn parallel to the new tail. The yarn tail ends should overlap about ten centimeters. Look one of the tape above the other. Then under guarding to the left and over itself. May cannot pulling tightly. This yarn is knotted around the other life that do the same thing with the other tail, but going in the opposite direction, loop it under the other yarn and then above, over itself. Make it not pulling tightly. Now have two notes. Make sure to put both of them very tightly. Pulling these two knots together will create a double naught that is almost impossible to undo. Pull on the lung ends of both the new and old yarn. Slide the knots together. The stronger you tag when they meet up, the stronger than not will be the short hands of the yarn very close to the knot. Waving the ends, hiding the loose tails within the work so they become invisible chain. One good thing to remember is to leave yourself enough Yan to work with. If you leave a short tail, is going to be hard to secure it. And your work might grab the yarn and pull it through. When weaving in the ends, I personally go back and forth a few times, the backside, changing directions as well. This means going in vertical and horizontal directions. I also add an extra step to secure the piece by going back on the same direction. But skipping one loop. This loop create a sort of light back. When you are happy about defining the results as close to the project as possible. Very exciting emotion. You so much. 8. Creating your Scarf: It's now time to begin our scarf. You'll need your super bulky yarn. It ten millimeter crochet, hook it, tape measure, Caesar's stitch markers. I personally use safety paints. You don't really need to purchase fancy stitch markers. The tapestry needle, make a slipknot and chain 13. It should measure around six inches, 15 centimeters. Chain one more. Insert a single crochet in second chain from hook in each chain across. Remember to go through the back bar as well. Don't worry if your work curves, it will straighten as you go along. Okay. Let's count our stitches. 12345678910111213. This is the first stage. We work at the beginning. Chain one and turn your work. I said before, you need to work half double crochet back loop only from now on. These are the two loops of the stitch. You need to insert the hook into the back loop. Only. Yarn over. Insert the hook through the back loop. Grab the yarn and pull it through the loop. It now have three loops on the hook. Yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook. As previously mentioned, you can mark your first stitch to be sure to not skip it when working the next row. Continue this way, working off double crochet back loop only if in each stage across the second row is complete. And as you can see, you can already start to notice the interesting texture given by the use of half double crochet back loop only to be extra sure, you can always count your stitches and make sure you have 13 stitches. Begin row three by chaining one and turning your work. Spot the first stitch, yarn over. Insert your hook through the back loop. Grab the yarn and police through yarn over and draw through all loops on the hook. Mark the first stage. You will always use to stitch markers at the same time. One in the first stitch of the current row, one in the last stage of previous row. Continue to crochet half double crochet back loop only in each stitch across until you reach the stitch marker. Your last stitch. Your last ditch needs to be placed in there. Third row is complete. Repeat the same pattern for RA, for as well. Let's see it. Keep repeating row four again and again, always making sure you have 13 stitches each row and your work is straight. I see you again at the end of your 95 row. Your scarf should be around 67 inches or went under 72 centimeters long. Feel free to add or remove rows if you prefer another length. Too fast enough. Meaning to finish off your work, cut a long tail around ten inches, 25 centimeters. Chain one, and put the yarn through to make a small not thread the yarn into a tapestry needle and start to wave in the end, like explained in the corresponding chapter. Going back and forth a few times in different directions. Once you are happy, cut the yarn as close to the project as possible. Do the same with the other tails. Now, it's time to have fun with the fringes. Cut a piece of yarn that measure around 12 inches or 31 centimeter and use it as a template to cut many others. Once you have a few, take the first trend and fold it in half. Insert your hook into the first stitch of the last row and hook the piece of yarn, police through about a third of the way. Now, open up the loop and sleep the ends of the yarn through the loop. Gently pull it tight. Repeat with the other strands. Dan, with the firsthand of my scarf. And now I have to do the same on the other side. Instead. Once trend into each chain. You have chains and not stitches here because that's the beginning of your work. Done with all my friends dress, isn't it? So pretty. Now I'm going to trim the ends so they are even in length. Feel free to cut them as long as you wish. I personally like fringes of around 5.5 inches or 14 centimeters. And your scarf is complete. I hope you had fun and you are satisfied with your crochet project. This is truly such a rewarding project for a beginner, isn't it? 9. Let's Keep in Touch!: If you'd like my class, let's keep in touch. You can read more about me on my website, bloody marriott.com, or connect with me on Instagram. You can find my free patterns and video tutorials on YouTube and purchase my written patterns on my website. Etsy, rather early or Lovecraft. If you want to support me further, you can offer me a coffee on coffee.com. For any concerns. You can write me at bloody Marriott at Outlook.com. Happy crocheting and see you soon.