Congratulations on your decision to learn to knit!  Knitting is a pastime which has been enjoyed for hundreds of years, and with good reasons.  Knitting not only allows you to make some wonderful garments and household decorative items, but it also allows you to create while you relax as well.

Knitting gives you an amazing sense of accomplishment when you are finished with a project.  Whether you are making a sweater or a scarf, you will be proud to show off your work when you have finished it.

Being new to knitting, there are a few things you need to keep in mind so that you will have the most success possible.  They are:

Knitting Needles

Knitting needles are not all created equal.  By far, the easiest needles to knit on are made from wood.  Wooden knitting needles allow you to knit much easier because your yarn will stay in place on them.  When you use plastic or metal knitting needles you will soon find that your yarns want to slide off the needles if you are not careful in handling them.  When you are new to knitting it really is best to stick to wooden needles.

If you cannot find wooden knitting needles in your area, you can take a dowel of wood and cut it to be about a foot long, sharpen the end with a pencil sharpener to a blunt point, and then rub a bit of candle wax on it.   This makes a great pair of inexpensive and custom knitting needles.

When you are a beginner at knitting you should create your first project with large needles for a couple different reasons.  The first reason is that the large needles are easier to work with and allow you to see your mistakes much easier.  If you drop a stitch you will immediately know it and can rip out and start again fairly easily.  The second reason is that large knitting needles make your projects much quicker to do.  You can very easily finish a scarf on large knitting needles in only a couple days.  This sense of accomplishment is great for newbies.

Yarns and Fibers

When you are new to knitting you will want to start out with natural fibers such as cotton or wool.  The reason you want to stick to the natural fibers is because they will not slide off of your knitting needles quite as easily as synthetic fibers will.  While all those fancy yarns look inviting, they can be a challenge to work with if you are new to knitting.  It is best to start off simple and move you way up.

When you purchase yarn or fibers for your projects make sure you take the time to get all of it from one dye lot.  The packages of yarn will be marked with a number and you want to make sure they all match.  This ensures that all of your yarn is an exact match to each other.

Knit With Others

Being new to knitting offers some challenges.  One of these is trying to learn to knit well from a book or off of the Internet or television.  Knitting is one of those things which appears much harder than it really is.  If you have a friend or relative who knits, ask them to show you how.  If you do not know anyone who knits, then you might want to take a class at your local community college, or join a local knitting group.  While you can learn to knit on your own, and many people have, it is a lot easier to learn when there are people around you who can show you what to do.

Learning to knit allows you to make new friends and to create beautiful works of art while relaxing at the same time.  By taking care to use the right supplies for beginners, and for looking for groups where you can learn new techniques, you will be on your way to knitting complex sweaters in no time.

As a knitter, at some point you might decide that you want to try your hand at knitting a pair of socks.  Because hand knit socks are like no others in their comfort and warmth, it is no wonder that today’s knitters are attempting to make socks in record numbers.  However, you will find knitters who love making socks, and you will find knitters that simply hate making them.  Basically, it all boils down to personal preference and your own knitting skills.

Let’s take a look at each part of the sock knitting process, and things you can do to make your socks easier and more enjoyable to knit.

The Sock Cuff

The top of the sock is referred to as the cuff.  The job of your sock’s cuff is to keep your sock up on your leg and keep it from sliding down into your shoe.  The best way to cast- on to make your cuff is to use a plain backward loop cast-on.  This cast-on method works the best because it will automatically adjust itself to the stretch of the stitch you choose to use.

Your sock cuff will need to be stretchy to hold up your sock.  The best choice here is to do a knit 1, purl 1, rib knit, which requires you to cast-on an even number of stitches.  You can also do a knit 2, purl 2, rib knit, which requires you to cast-on in multiples of four.

The Sock Cuff to Leg Transition

As you move from your sock cuff down to the leg, you will need to increase or decrease your number of stitches to match your sock pattern.  The best way to do this is at the last row of the cuff, or the first row of the leg portion.

The Leg

If you want to make highly decorative socks, the leg is the portion you want to spice-up because it is easily the most seen portion of the socks.  The leg is the perfect place to be creative and use those specialty yarns.

The Heel Flap

To knit the heel flap, you will work on only half of the stitches you have on your needles.  And, you will work back and forth rather than in the round.  You can leave the stiches you are not working with on their needles or you may want to move them to a stitch holder.

The best stitch choice for the heel flap is to do a slip 1, knit 1 on the right side and to purl all of the stitches on the wrong side.  The result will be a tight and sturdy rib-like stitch.

Turning the Heel

Turing the heel is the bane of most knitters.  It is easily the biggest challenge in making socks, but it is also the most appreciated when done correctly.  In reality, turning the heel is all about creating short rows of stitches on either side of a center row of stitches.  This causes your knitting to come together at a right angle and for your heel to be successfully turned.

The Instep Gusset

Once you have turned the heel you will want to start working on all of the stitches again.  To accomplish this start picking up stitches from the side of the heel flap and adding one new stitch per row.  Work on all of those stitches and then pick up the stitches on the other side of the heel flap.  From this point start decreasing stitches where the side stitches meet up with the held stitches from earlier.

The Foot and Toe

When you knit the foot itself you should use a straight knitting technique.  Stockinette stitch works wonderfully here.  Stop knitting the foot about two inches below the toe.  Knit the toe according to your pattern and you are finished with your sock!

While the idea of knitting your own socks can seem daunting, it really is not that hard with a bit of patience and practice.  And, nothing matches your sense of accomplishment when you can wear socks that you made yourself!

One of the most important decisions you must make when you crochet is what yarn to use for your project.  The yarn you choose has everything to do with how your finished project looks and stands up to time and wear.  The last thing you want to do is spend hours making something only to have it fall apart in the wash, or look worn out after the second wearing.  Taking the time to choose just the right yarn will help make your crocheting projects a success.

Here are the answers to your top seven crocheting yarn questions:

1.  How do I learn about all of the different yarns?  The easiest place to learn about yarn is by simply reading and comparing labels.  Yarn labels include such information as the brand name, the fiber content of the yarn, the color name and number, the dye lot number, the number of piles or strands, the weight classification of the yarn, the crocheting and crochet gauge, cleaning instructions, and the length of the yarn itself.  By reading the labels and comparing them to each other, you can easily learn all you need to know about yarn.

2.  Why do I care about yarn weight classification?  The term “yarn weight classification” does not refer to the actual physical weight of the yarn, as you might have guessed it would.  Rather, the yarn weight classification refers to the diameter of the yarn strand.  The smaller the strand, the smaller the weight, and vice versa…

3.  Can I use a different yarn brand than my pattern calls for?  Generally the answer is yes.  You will want to crochet a test swatch and make sure your gauge is correct before crocheting your entire project though.

4.  What is yarn gauge?  Gauge is the number of stitches and rows in every inch of crocheting.  Gauge is specified on patterns to assure that the end project is true to size.  Because everyone crochets differently, it is very important to make a test swatch with your project needles and yarn to check to make sure your gauge matches that of the pattern you are working with.  Gauge is especially important when working with clothing.

5.  Can I substitute one yarn weight for another one?  Generally the answer is no.  Because your yarn weight has a lot to do with the finished size and look of a project, by using a yarn of a different weight you risk your project coming out the wrong size.  Generally you cannot substitute yarn weights unless you are making something like a blanket or scarf where it will not matter as much and you can easily adjust your project for the change in size.

6. What is a dye lot and why do some yarns have one and others do not?  Dye lot numbers refer to the batch a skein of yarn was in when it was dyed at the factory.  Because dying is not an exact science, the same color yarn, from different dye lots, can appear to be two different colors.  This is why you should always purchase enough yarn to complete your project all from the same dye lot if at all possible.
Some yarns and fibers do not list a dye lot number because the fibers are colored first and then the yarns are made.  This means there are no dye lots available for the yarn.

7.  How do I care for my crochet fabrics?  The easiest way to know how to care for a crochet fabric is to check on the laundering instructions on the yarn label.  Generally you will want to hand wash all of your hand crochet items in a mild detergent and then dry them flat.  If you do not have a yarn label, you can sometimes find similar yarn at your local craft store and read that yarn’s label for care directions.

If you are new to crochet, or even a seasoned pro, a crochet group might be just what you have been looking for.  Joining a crochet group can offer you help with a new pattern, help completing a lingering project, new crochet project ideas, and the ability to make new friends with a very similar interest to yours.

You may have investigated the idea of getting some classes to help with your crochet and found that the cost is too high for your budget, or there are no class times which work for your busy schedule.  A great alternative to the structure and cost of crochet lessons are crochet groups.

Crochet groups are simply a collective of people who get together to crochet and teach each other things about crochet.  Whether you have never crocheted anything or if you have a bunch of successful projects under your belt, you can benefit from a crochet group.

Here are four of the top benefits of a crochet group:

Benefit #1 – Learn New Patterns from People Not Books – Have you ever read a crochet pattern and went “huh?”  Most everyone who crochets does that at some point.  The abbreviations get the best of us and we have no idea what a pattern is talking about, let alone try to crochet it.

When you are a member of a crochet group, you can bring your patterns and crochet projects along with you to the meetings, and get help and advice from others who understand the techniques better than you do.  Learning something like crochet is always better when you learn from another person rather than to try and learn it yourself from a book.

Benefit #2 – Help and Motivation to Finish Your Lingering Projects – Nearly everyone, at some point, finds that they have an unfinished project which they are either stuck on, or that they have become bored with and abandoned.  Crochet groups are great for finding help to finish up the project yourself, or for getting a volunteer who will happily finish it for you.  Sometimes, even the act of showing your half-finished projects to other people can prod you along and get you finishing them up.

Benefit #3 – Make Friends Who Crochet – One of the best advantages to a crochet group is that you will make new friends who also love to crochet.  While crochet is generally thought of as being a pretty solitary art, getting together allows you to learn from each other and also to simply make friends.  At group meetings you can swap ideas and you can even make-up fun contests or community service projects.  Your crochet group is truly what you make it.  So, get involved in a group and help to improve it!

Benefit #4 – Get Ideas for Your Next Projects – It happens to even the best crafters, they run out of ideas for their next project.  Sometimes you can look through a ton of crochet resources and nothing screams “make me” to you.  When you are an active participant in a crochet group, you can see what everyone else around you is making and that can spark something in you.  You might love the new yarn that someone is using and think of something you could make with it, or you might love a new technique and have just the right yarn at home to try it out.

No matter what your motivation is, there is a great crochet group in your area just waiting for you to join.  There really isn’t any reason for you to struggle with your projects or making new friends when you can attend crochet groups and accomplish both goals at once.  If you happen to live in an area where there is not an existing crochet group, maybe you should start one for yourself.  Advertise with free flyers and get some others who love crochet to join you.  Before long you will have a room full of happy crochet lovers in your group.

With the popularity of beading and jewelry making today, there are literally millions of different beads which you can purchase and add on to your crochet projects.  Beads are very readily available and inexpensive to purchase.  They can be found made of many materials and of all shapes and sizes.  Whether you want to add a single focus bead to your crochet projects, or add many of them, it is simple to do and will produce great results every single time.

No instruction about beading crochet would be complete without a warning about babies.  If you are crocheting baby items, they are not appropriate for beading.  The baby’s hands can work beads loose and they are a possible choking hazard if swallowed.  The best way to deal with this is to avoid the issue all together by not adding beads to your baby crochet items.

No matter if your crochet project is simple or complex, adding beads is a simple process which you can learn very quickly.  However, one very important thing is to remember is that your bead holes need to fit over the yarn or fiber which you are crocheting with.  If the bead hole is hard to get on your yarn then you will find the entire process frustrating.  And, the bead, if hard to string, will rub your yarn and cause it to fray.  This fraying will cause your finished product to look less than professional.

The first step in adding beads to your crochet projects is deciding how many beads you need and where you will place them on your project.  Your options are limitless when you are adding beads to crochet.  You can add one bead, you can add just a few beads or you can add many beads.  You also have the option of forming patterns with your beads or making them appear more random.  Once you have decided some of these things then it is time to hit the craft store to purchase your beads.

While you are selecting beads, take care to decide on the quality of the beads and the wear they may receive.  If your item will be machine washed then it is a good idea to stick with sturdy beads.  If your item will be hand washed then you can use more delicate beads.  Whatever your choice in beads, make sure you use quality beads so they will last the lifetime of your finished crochet project.

You will be placing your beads on your project in the reverse, so you will want to line up your beads in reverse order, if they are not all the same.  When you are going to embellish your crochet with beads you have two choices of how to do it.  The first choice is to add your beads as you crochet.  To do this you will want to feed your beads onto your crochet hook when you are at the stitch where you want the bead to be.  Place the bead right where you want it to be, and then make your last yarn over.  This will secure down the bead into place.  If you are working on an open or lacy design, you will need to add your beads as you crochet.

The second choice you have is to sew on your beads after your fabric has been crocheted.  To do this, you will want to use the same crochet yarn or thread to sew on your beads that your fabric is made of.  This will allow the thread to blend in and not stand out on your finished design.  This is a good technique for tightly woven crochet fabrics.

Adding beads to your crochet projects gives you a way to make a simple item really have some sparkle and visual interest.  Whether you choose to add a single bead or thousands, the process is simple and you can do it well with very little practice.

As you foray into the art of crochet, there will be times where you want to add some stiffness to your finished work.  This is the case when you are crocheting items such as handbags, doilies, and certain kinds of lace.  Stiffening your yarns or fibers can easily be accomplished by starching your projects with a variety of different stiffening mediums.  Starching has been around for a very long time and with the different options available today for starching; you can find just the right one for your project.

Classic Starching

The oldest form of starching is simply to dissolve ¼ cup starch in ½ cup of cold water.  Take this mixture and bring it to a boil slowly over a low flame.  As the mixture begins to thicken up, gradually add 1 ¼ cups of cold water.  Boil the mixture while stirring constantly until the mixture becomes clear.  This will leave you with a think pasty type mixture.

As soon as your starch mixture is cool enough to safely be handled, dip in your crochet work and squeeze the starch into it thoroughly.  Your goal is to soak your project with the starch but not to have it in the holes or any openwork in your project.  At this point you will want to allow your project to dry in the position you want it to be in when the starching process is completed.

Once your item is completely dry, you can iron it with a steam iron on a medium setting.

Spray Starch

An easier way to stiffen your crochet items is to use spray starch.  Spray starch is readily available in the laundry detergent area of any of your local grocery or drug stores.  To use spray starch you will want to use one of two methods.

Method one is to lightly spray your piece and the press it using a warm iron, on the wrong side, covered with another material in-between your item and your iron.

Method two is to lightly spray your piece and then pin it in place and allow it to dry.  If you choose to pin your pieces, make sure you use rust proof pins so you do not get any staining on your finished crochet work.

Spray starch is perfect for household items and holds up under normal wear.  However, it is not permanent and if you wash your item then you will need to starch it again.

Liquid Starch

Using liquid starch allows you to control the stiffness of your piece very easily.  You have the option of using the starch straight from the bottle, or diluting it with water and having a less stiff piece as a result.  The process is identical to the directions above for classic starching.

Stiff Stuff

There is a great product on the craft market called “Stiff Stuff.”  And, just as the name implies, it is used to starch craft items and handiwork.  The process is exactly the same as using spray starch; however, your resulting item will be very stiff.  And, if you wish to hasten the process you can use a blow dryer to dry the starch faster.  Stiff Stuff is not permanent and will wash out if you wash your piece.

White Glue and Water

If you are looking for a permanent starching option, you can accomplish it by using white glue and water.  Simply mix together equal parts of white glue and water.  Dip your crochet item into this mixture and squeeze out the excess.  Lay your piece on a hard non-stick surface to dry and you will have a permanently starched end product.

Shellac

Shellac is used in the case where you want a very firm finished product.  Simply shape your piece and using a small brush add a thin layer of shellac.  Let this layer dry, and then apply 2-3 more coats on top of it.  Once your item is dry the shellac is permanent and your item will be very hard to the touch.  Shellac is perfect for use on things like crocheted Christmas tree ornaments and bookmarks.

By using these techniques, you can ensure that your crochet projects are starched like a professional and will last for many years to come.

There are many ways in which you can add pizzazz to your knitting projects.  Through the use of colors, textures, and structures you can modify even the simplest knitting project and make it really stand out against the crowd.  And, while advanced knitting techniques can take a bit of time to grasp, they really are not hard once you have learned and practiced them.

Advanced knitting techniques come in four different categories.  They are: color-work, cables/Aran knitting, lace, and structural techniques.  Let’s look at each of these in a bit more detail:

Color-Work

There are three main styles of color-work in knitting.  They are: fair isle, intarsia, and mosaic.  Each of these allows your knitting to have multiple colors knit on the same knitting row.

Fair isle is originally from Scandinavia and involves only two colors.  Each color is carried through each row with one color “floated” behind the other when it is not in use.  Fair isle is often used when knitting in the round and creating such items as sweaters and jackets.

Intarsia in contrast to fair isle, is generally not worked in the round, and is used to create geometric shapes and other decorative items.

Mosaic knitting, otherwise known as slip-stitch knitting, allows you to knit with only one color at a time and is much more time consuming than either fair isle or intarsia.

Cables/Aran Knitting

Aran knitting is a form of knitting where you use one solid color of yarn and essentially make patterns and cables by using various basic stitches and needle techniques.  The Aran knitting technique is also sometimes called sweater knitting, cable knitting, or fisherman knitting, because Aran knitting techniques were used in the past primarily to knit cable sweaters.   Today, Aran knitting techniques are used on a wide variety of hand knit items from the more traditional sweaters to blankets, scarves and bags.

While Aran knit garments and household items may look very complicated to knit, they really aren’t all that difficult to do once you have mastered a couple new techniques.  Anyone with basic knitting skills can learn to do Aran knitting and create wonderful heirloom items for their friends and family.

In addition to traditional knitting needles, for Aran knitting you will also need to have a cable needle which you will use to make the special cable designs with.  Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes.  The shape and size you choose to use in your knitting is mostly about personal preference as they all perform the same function.  Personally, I know that I prefer wooden cable needles because they are less likely to slide out of my projects.

Knit Lace

One of the most decorative and intricate types of advanced knitting is making lace.  Lace is simply made with a specifically ordered, decorative increases and decreases in stitches.  However, because if the specific order, lace can vary from fairly simple to make to very advanced.  The smaller the lace will be sometimes the harder it is to make.

Structural Knitting

Structural advanced knitting techniques involve those such as entrelac and mobius.   Both of these structural techniques involve inverting and modifying the rows and structure of a piece.  Entrelac is used to make faux woven fabrics, while mobius makes flipped but connected circles which resemble mobius strips.

Some knitting projects combine one, tow or even three of these techniques into one finished piece, while others simply show off one individual technique.  Some of the most exciting uses for these advanced knitting techniques are in making unique sweaters and shawls to be worn.

One of the best things about knitting is that you can try new techniques and keep those which you like the results of.  If you don’t like something, you can simply pull it out and start again using a different pattern or technique until you get one you like.  By experimenting with the more advanced knitting techniques, you can make some amazing and unique knit items for yourself, your home and for gifts.

Finding the perfect gift for new parents can often be a challenge.  Many times new parents have either already shopped for their babies, or they have other children and have many of the things they will need already in their homes.  One perfect gift option in this case is the gift of a handmade knit baby blanket.  By presenting the new parents with a handmade blanket you can show that you took the time to make something special with their baby in mind.  The blanket will be appreciated and likely treasured for years to come.

With the recent popularity resurgence in knitting and crocheting, there are limitless options available for yarns and fibers which you can quickly and easily knit into an heirloom baby blanket.  And, the best thing is that many of today’s yarns and fibers are dyed colors which lend themselves well to making a baby blanket.  With the soft pinks, light blues, and mellow yellow yarns, you can be sure to match any nursery decorations the new parents may have done.  Or you can create a wonderful unisex design appropriate for any baby regardless of their gender.

A handcrafted gift is one which can be passed down through generations and appreciated by everyone.  It shows the receiver that you spent a lot of time and effort to make just the right gift for them.  And, because of the time you have invested in the gift, it will be one of the best received.

When you are going to knit a blanket for a baby, there are a few important things which you need to keep in consideration as you find your pattern and buy your supplies.  A few of them are:

Pattern Selection – You should choose a knit pattern which is tightly woven if the blanket will be used by a very young baby.  Often designs with any open-work allow for the baby’s fingers or toes to get caught up in the blanket and cause discomfort.  This is both a health and a safety risk.

Yarn Selection – When you are knitting an item for a baby you want to find a yarn or fiber which is both soft and machine washable.  New parents are often too tired and over-extended to spend time hand washing items.  And, because babies can be very messy, it is essential that anything they come into contact with can be successfully washed.

Blanket Color – If you know the color scheme of the nursery, or even the sex of the baby, you can better match your blanket colors to them.  If not, use your imagination and create a wonderful unisex blanket.

Blanket Size – When you are knitting for a baby, your first inclination might be to make a very small blanket.  However, babies grow very quickly into toddlers.  And, babies move around a lot and require decently sized blankets to keep them covered up and warm.  Your blanket will get much more use if you make it a bit larger than your first inclination to allow it to be used as baby grows.

No Beadwork – While beadwork is popular in today’s knitting and crocheting patterns, beads are never appropriate for a baby item.  A baby can loosen them and they can become a choking hazard.

By keeping these simple considerations in mind, you can be well on your way to knitting a keepsake baby blanket which will be cherished for years to come.  As with any baby gift, you want to insure that your blanket is safe and secure for the baby who will be using it.  However, by using your imagination and creativity you can come up with the perfect and safe design for the new bundle of joy.

Aran knitting is a form of knitting where you use one solid color of yarn and essentially make patterns and cables by using various basic stitches and needle techniques.  The Aran knitting technique is also sometimes called sweater knitting, cable knitting, or fisherman knitting, because Aran knitting techniques were used in the past primarily to knit cable sweaters.   Today, Aran knitting techniques are used on a wide variety of hand knit items from the more traditional sweaters to blankets, scarves and bags.

While Aran knit garments and household items may look very complicated to knit, they really aren’t all that difficult to do once you have mastered a couple new techniques.  Anyone with basic knitting skills can learn to do Aran knitting and create wonderful heirloom items for their friends and family.

In addition to traditional knitting needles, for Aran knitting you will also need to have a cable needle which you will use to make the special cable designs with.  Cable needles come in various shapes and sizes.  The shape and size you choose to use in your knitting is mostly about personal preference as they all perform the same function.  Personally, I know that I prefer wooden cable needles because they are less likely to slide out of my projects.

Yarn selection is probably the most important step in knitting anything.  I know I started out with a cheap and just “okay” yarn.  I ended up with a just okay looking finished project.  When you are putting a lot of your time into something, you are well advised to use the best materials you can afford to use.  This is so that you can be proud of the way your finished project turns out and to insure that it will stand the test of time.

The absolute best yarns to use for Aran knitting are wools and cottons.  You also only want to use a yarn which is a single color.  The trick to Aran knitting is that you want the patterns you knit to stand out – not the yarn itself like in many other knitting projects.   You do not want to use a yarn with a lot of fluff or extra bulk to it for Aran knitting.  Stick to the easier yarns for your first couple projects and then branch out from there into the more creative yarns and fibers if you so desire.

While the cables and designs of Aran knitting look terribly daunting, they are created by moving stitches over to the cable needle and then back to the main project surface again.  You will be varying the order in which you knit the stitches and this forms the cable designs.  The process of Aran knitting really is that simple.

If you want to learn Aran knitting I would suggest picking up one of the many books on the subject or even better have someone show you how it is done.  By learning a few basic techniques you can create some intricate looking patterns to add to your garments and blankets.  As with any knitting project you will have the best results however, if you have someone show you how to do the techniques and can be there to assist you if something doesn’t look right.  It will take a few rows of knitting before Aran knitting starts to look right or wrong.

Similarly to knitting, crochet has been seeing a nice resurgence in popularity in the recent years.  Crochet is generally thought of as being quicker and easier than knitting.  While the two are similar they require entirely different skills to master.  But, the good news is that both are fairly easy to do once you learn the basics.

Items made from knitting and crochet are all the rage today.  And, for those who do not have the skills or time to create them themselves, they are willing to pay you to make handcrafted items for them!

There are three ways you can make a business out of your crochet work.  The first is to make items to sell, the second is to teach others to crochet, and the third is to sell crocheting items online for other crafters to use.

You can easily sell your crochet items at local craft fairs or online.  And, the best thing is that all you need to get started is a ball of yarn and a crochet hook!

Whether you choose to sell your items, teach, or sell retail, there are a few basic business guidelines that you will need to follow to be successful.  Some of them are:

The Business Plan

No matter what business you decide to start, you 100% have to have a solid business plan.  There is no way possible to have a successful business venture without one.  The best way to develop your business plan is to think about all of the variables which go into your unique business, and what your ultimate short-term and long-term goals are for the business.  With all of this information, you can sit down and formulate a business plan without it taking you a lot of valuable time.  You can easily make a business plan with a pencil and a piece of paper.

Financial Records

The best thing you can do for yourself is to keep good business records from day one of your business.  Start with the fees to get a business license, and start recording every single business expense that you have.  By doing this as you go you will save both yourself and your tax preparer a ton of headaches come tax time.

Setting Your Prices

The number one mistake many home-based crochet businesses make is to charge too little for their services.  You need to make a living, and you need to be pricing your items and services accordingly.  Whatever you do, do not sell yourself short!  Ask a going rate for your items and services and expect that people will pay you what your time and product is worth.  This allows you to work smarter and not harder!  And, it allows you to stay in business because you are seeing some profits from your time investment.

Marketing

Marketing is simply getting the word out and letting others know your business exists.  You can market online, through a press release sent to your local newspaper, flyers, brochures, craft fair booths, etc…  Anywhere you come into contact with potential customers you can market your items and services.  You can even do simple things like always carry business cards, available these days very inexpensively online, and hand them out to everyone you meet as you go through your days.

The absolute best way to market your business is through word-of-mouth.  Once your business gets going, if you treat your customers well, then they will tell their friends and family about you; this will bring you more customers without having to pay a dime to advertise.

As you can see there are a lot of things for you to consider when you are thinking about starting a home-based crochet business.  However, your business can be very successful and profitable if you take the time to make it so.  Your options are only limited by your imagination and the time you invest in your business venture.

One of the fastest growing trends today is teenagers learning to crochet.  While the word “crochet” used to make you think of grandma sitting in her rocker knitting a baby blanket or baby clothing for some distant relative, this is just simply not the case anymore.  Today, millions of teens and young adults everywhere are learning to crochet.  And, they are creating some amazing garments and decorative items as well!

Today, there are many crochet books published which are targeted specifically at teens and young adults.  These books are flying off the shelves in record numbers.  Many of the crochet books today come with some really hip and colorful projects which appeal to teens and young adults.  Add to that the amazingly cool yarns and fibers available today, and you have a winning combination.

As the popularity of crochet grows, there are even starting to be after school clubs dedicated to the art of crochet.  In these clubs, teens get together and learn new crochet techniques, share ideas, and show off their latest completed projects with each other.  While crochet is usually seen as a very solitary craft, joining a crochet club allows you to share your works with others and gain inspiration.  Crochet clubs also bring a social aspect to the art of crochet which has never been there in the past.

While teen crochet is the most popular with girls, an amazing number of boys are learning to crochet as well.  It is no longer considered taboo for a boy to learn to crochet.  And, if he is interested in girls there are plenty of them at the local crochet club.  Many a teen romance has started over a crochet hook and yarn.  Many boys are making laptop covers and gifts for the special people in their lives.  What teen girl wouldn’t love to get a hand made item from her boyfriend?

Why is crochet popular with teens today?  Some believe it is the affordability and ease of acquiring the supplies necessary coupled with the popularity of simple items such as iPod cozies and cool hats and scarves.  Others credit the Internet and the availability of really cool patterns which designers today are aiming at the teen and young adult markets.  Where crochet books and magazines tended to be marketed for older people in the past, the Internet and today’s books and magazines are aiming for a much younger market.

For many years past, crochet was seen as something your granny did.  Now, as we move on in the twenty-first century, it has become cool among young women and even young men.  The recent introduction of the Internet into everyday life has made crochet an easy skill to learn and gives you something to share with others all over the world.  Even when you are brand new to crochet you can create some great items with all of the new and exciting yarns and fibers on the market today.

Hand crochet garments are seeing a resurgence in popularity, and this fact is fueling the crochet trend even more.  Everyone wants to have a special hand made item that they can say that they made themselves.  With the popularity of crochet came crochet clubs which offer a great venue to show off your latest creations and gain ideas for more crochet projects to come in the future.  Thankfully, the trend of teen and young adult crochet is expected to continue for years to come.

Most everyone who crochets appreciates all of the variation in the yarns and fibers available on the market today.  Even in a large store like Wal-Mart, you can discover many different kinds of yarns to work with.  As you move to craft stores and yarn shops your yarn selection options go through the roof.  At these specialty shops you can find yarns made of some of the most exotic fibers such as alpaca and cashmere.  For someone who crochets, browsing through all the options in a store which carries yarn can take hours and is a very enjoyable pastime in itself.

Yarn selection for your crochet projects is a much more complicated process than simply selecting a color which appeals to you.  While yarn color clearly matters, the most important thing about the yarn you select is that it matches your project and that it is the highest quality available in your price range.  The product you end up with is a direct result of the yarn you choose; if you choose quality you will have a quality end product, if you choose a lesser yarn it will show in the quality of your finished work.

If your crochet pattern calls for a very lightweight smaller yarn and you use a larger chunky yarn, then you can count on your end project being a very different size than the pattern states.  While this is easy to adjust for in the case of scarves and blankets, it is not as easy when you are making things like socks, hats, and sweaters.  It is important to keep this in mind when you are selecting yarn for your crochet projects.

Some of the highest quality yarns available are made from natural fibers from animals and plants.  These yarns are: cottons, alpaca, mohair, cashmere, and wools.  Each yarn has a different feel and thickness that should be considered when you are deciding how you want your finished project to turn out.  A small yarn will yield a smaller finished project and vice versa.

Another consideration when you are choosing a yarn is how it can be cleaned.  If you are crocheting a baby blanket or baby garment, then you will want to insure that it can be machine washed and possibly dried.  Dry cleaning just won’t do in the case of items for babies; they need to be able to be machine washed.

When you are looking at yarn for a particular pattern, make sure that you understand the fiber content and structure as well as the gauge of the suggested yarn.  If you are going to substitute another yarn it is important to match the fiber content, structure and the gauge of the new yarn to the one suggested in the pattern.  If you do not do this, then your end project will not come out as you expected.

While no one particularly loves crocheting a swatch to check for gauge, it is vital when you are looking at substituting a different yarn for a pattern.  This quick check will show you if your gauge is correct for the pattern or if you will need to switch hooks or adjust your yarn tension in one way or another.

As you can see, yarn and fiber selection is very important for all who crochet to consider.  If you choose the wrong yarn for your project it will be blatantly obvious in your finished project.  However, if you choose the correct yarn, your project will be as fabulous as you set out to make it.  By always using a high quality yarn you can assure that you end up with high quality finished projects.

Traditionally, handicrafts were born out of invention and necessity.  People needed warm blankets for their bed so they learned to weave threads and eventually how to make quilts; they needed clothing so they learned to make fabrics and sew them together.  Today’s handicrafts are similar for many of the people who believe that sustainability of our plant is a big issue for those living in our current times.  The idea of recycling is often practiced in craft work through the reuse of yarns, fibers and fabrics.

While it is fun to browse around your local craft or yarn store looking at all the variations of yarn skeins you can buy, it is also important to take the time to look around you own house, and your ever growing yarn stash, and use up those left-over yarns from previous projects.  Each of those skeins of yarn at your local store has had to be grown, processed, created, shipped, etc… and each task has taken its own small toll on the earth we all live on.

While buying yarn is a necessity for those of us who choose to knit or crochet, it is important also to use the yarns we already have, and those others have cast off at the local thrift and charity shops as well, when we can.  It is just as important to also use knitting needles and other supplies to their fullest usefulness as well.

Wasting your scraps of yarn is simply throwing money out the proverbial window.  A much better option is to find a project where you can best utilize your scraps and make them into something beautiful and useful.  What this is depends on what scraps you happen to have lying around the house.

Start by sorting your yarns by color.  This can help you to make new project such as scarves and blankets where you can mix and match colors in new and unique ways.  Look at each color combination and think about the projects you could make with them.

Dealing with yarns of different weights can be an issue if you attempt to knit them using techniques like stripes.  However, you can knit them in other patterns where they will flow nicely together and the variation in weight is an added bonus.  One of the best stitches you can use for combining variations in weight is the granite stitch.

Take your scrap yarns and make some quick swatches.  Combine colors and techniques to get ideas about what you could make with all of the scraps you have of one color or another.

Another fun way to deal with yarns of different weights, colors, and textures is to knit granny squares and then combine them all into a blanket or shawl. With this application your variations will enhance your project and not take away from it.

As you become more and more skilled at knitting and crochet you learn that free-form projects allow you to craft and create new and exciting items which are 100% unique and one-of-a-kind.  Use a free-form technique and see what you come up with.

Whether your ultimate goal is frugal living or saving the plant, you can make great strides by shopping in your own yarn stash before you hit the craft store or yarn shop.  Challenge yourself to use up your odds and ends and see what you can come up with!

The art of crochet has been around for thousands of years.  People in earlier times who had means would purchase hand crocheted and knitted laces and fabrics for their opulent garments and décor.  Having these items showed others that you were a person of means and you led an opulent lifestyle.

Over the years, through industrialization and mass production of lace and fabrics, items made with crochet and knitting have gained popularity in the lower to middle classes and the upper classes started showing their wealth in other, more material, ways.

Today, crochet and knitting are the craft art of choice for many people all over the world.  They are both handicrafts which are challenging to learn yet affordable for nearly everyone.  Supplies are easy to find to create some very amazing hand crafted items with the emergence of new yarns and colorful fibers.

As a beginner to the art of crochet, there are some simple things to learn to be successful.  Here are ten steps to get you started on your road to crochet success:

Step #1 – Gather Up Your Supplies – To crochet you will need a crochet hook, yarn, scissors and a large-eye needle.

Step #2 – Holding Your Crochet Hook – You will want to hold your crochet hook in your dominant hand.  Create a slip-knot and place it over the end of your hook.

Step #3 – Create a Continuous Stitch – Slide the hooked yarn to the slip-knot on the hook.  This will create a chain of stitches.  Continue to make this chain by brining your yarn to the top of the hook and pulling it through the slip-knot.

Step #4 – Move Up The Chain – Move up the chain allowing the first chain stitch to knot on the hook.  This allows the yarn to stay in place and not loosen.  It is generally a good idea to make this first knot tight rather than loose.

Step #5 – Creating Two Loops – Next, insert your crochet hook into the hole of the next chain stitch and slide the passing yarn through its center.

Step #6 – Bring Your Yarn Back – Bring your yarn back on the hook from back to front and slide your knot in the center of the loops which you have already created on the crochet hook.

Step #7 – Making Rows – From your second yarn loop, create another single chain stitch and make a counter-clockwise loop.  Start again and create the same loops as the previous stitches.

Step #8 – Crochet Until Done – Continue this basic crochet technique until you have a swatch of fabric.

Step #8 – Cut your Project Off – Once you have completed a swatch of fabric, it is time to remove it from your ball of yarn.  Cut it with about a 6” tail left at the end.

Step #9 – Fasten Your Project so it won’t Unravel – Bring your tail of yarn back through the last stitch to fasten it.

Step #10 – Cut the Excess – At this point you are finished and can cut off the excess tail of yarn.

Using these simple ten steps you can learn to successfully complete a basic crochet fabric.  Like any new skill, crochet takes time.  You will want to practice a lot at first and see what techniques and hand holds are the most comfortable for you.