Once you have mastered the six basic stitches of crochet, you probably have a good grasp on creating basic square and rectangle projects and hopefully have completed a washcloth, scarf, or blanket.
This point is where crochet can transform from a fun pastime to a super-creative artform. It’s so exciting!
But how do you transition into more challenging techniques and projects without getting overwhelmed?
I have five strategies for leveling up your crochet game to help you improve as a crocheter, maximize the creative benefits of crochet, and advance along your crochet journey.
1. Try New Things
First and foremost, trying new things is the best way to grow.
There are tons of resources available for crocheters, and many of them are FREE. For example, YouTube and Pinterest allow you free access to thousands of creators’ collective knowledge and experience.
Search for “crochet stitches” or ‘crochet techniques” and peruse the endless stream of results that pop up.
I love Pinterest for visual ideas, but YouTube is perfect for practicing with a tutorial.
I like to learn a new stitch or technique and then try it out in a project. Then, putting it to use seals it in my mind, and when I am getting creative, I can pull from my memorized stitches and techniques to create new things.
Learning a new stitch or technique each week will propel you quickly forward on the fast track to mastering crochet.
2. Crochet something outside of your current skillset
The first time I created an amigurumi, I bought a pattern. The first time I made a basket, I bought a pattern. My first scarf…a pattern.
Today, I can sit down and make a basket in many different shapes from several techniques and stitches from memory because I learned how to make them from a pattern first.
I still purchase patterns for things I want to learn. Then I take the skills I learned and apply them to various other projects.
For example, find a pattern and work through it if you want to learn how to crochet a tank top. Most tank tops use a similar set of techniques. You can take the skills you learn from that pattern and use them to get creative and branch out into other tank tops or shirts.
Suppose the pattern looks complicated; that’s ok! Work through it slowly, a row or two at a time, until you complete it. Expanding your skill set will not happen all at once. Instead, growth comes from continually trying new things and more advanced skills until you master them through practice.
3. Crochet in small Chunks of Time
On my very first cowl, I purchased a pattern with a beautiful design. However, once I started stitching, I quickly realized this pattern contained several techniques and stitches I did not know how to do.
The pattern relied heavily on counting, and I couldn’t stop in the middle of a row, or I would never be able to find my place and pick up the pattern again. I got super frustrated!
But I wanted that cowl!
The third time I started over, I decided to limit myself to completing one row a day in one sitting, so I didn’t lose my place.
After a couple of weeks of working one row a day, I felt more comfortable with the stitching and moved along faster. I upped my limit to two rows a day, and then eventually, I could sit down and work on a few rows at a time.
It took me two months to finish the cowl and the hat that matched. But they turned out beautiful! Even though I don’t wear them often anymore, I keep them in my hat and scarf box as a reminder of the growth they gifted me early in my journey.
Using this same technique, you can avoid frustration and feeling overwhelmed by a project. Limit your time, or limit the amount of work you will complete in one sitting. Limits allow you to stop before you get frustrated.
If you find feelings of frustration creeping in before your time is up, put the project aside and work on something simple and easy for you. There are no hard and fast rules! Make sure you return to it the next day and keep taking small steps forward.
4. Find a Crochet Community
Another gift of the Internet is the opportunity to find a community of people who share your interests without ever stepping a foot outside.
You don’t need to find a crochet group that meets up in person (even though they are enjoyable if you can swing it!). Instead, look for groups or other users who love to crochet if you use social media. Please get to know them, comment on their posts, and start to build relationships with them.
Then, when you have questions or need support, reach out and ask. In my experience, fellow stitchers are eager to help each other, and we all LOVE to see what everyone else is working on!
5. Practice crochet
Above all, the best way to improve as a crocheter is to practice, practice, practice.
Spending time each day practicing a new skill or technique is going to offer more value to you than anything else as a crocheter. It doesn’t have to be hours…just 20-30 minutes a day will radically improve your crochet skills.
If you struggle to find the time to crochet, check out these 7 Tips For Making Time to care for yourself through crochet.
I always recommend that new crocheters create a sampler to work rows of the same stitch over and over until they master it. Then, start the next row in a new stitch. You can keep this sampler as a record of the progress you are making as a crocheter, and it’s fun to watch it grow and change as you add new stitches, new techniques, and improved quality of stitching along the way.
A sampler is just a collection of various stitches, originally for embroidery (if I’m wrong on that, let me know in the comments). Girls used to start a sampler at a young age, and they would learn how to embroider various stitches and techniques on one tapestry. I love this idea, and we can adapt it to crochet. To start your sampler, chain a row of 50, single crochet into the first row, and then work ten rows of whatever stitch you are learning. Once you have mastered that stitch, work ten rows of a new stitch. Just keep building your sampler with new stitches and techniques. If you run out of yarn, switch in a new yarn…it makes the sampler even more fun.
Whether you practice on a project or use a sampler, spending time practicing crochet each day is guaranteed to help you improve and advance as a crocheter.
Jack of all trades
Even if you never reach the heights of a master crocheter, you can still grow and improve while HAVING FUN.
After all, the quote” A jack of all trades is a master of none, but oftentimes better than a master of none” was first used to describe William Shakespeare. He wasn’t considered an expert at anything, yet his works have lived on as literary art for centuries. He became a master through learning various skills and trades, not just one.
So, if you’re like me and want to learn and grow in many different areas, you can apply the above strategies to various subjects. This can include knitting, sewing, drawing, painting, pottery, website building, organization, business, and finance. This list goes on and on. I know because I have used these strategies across many areas, even those that are not craft related.
The most important lesson from learning any craft is to enjoy the learning process and to have fun on the journey.
Pick one strategy to start and let me know how it’s going down in the comments, or DM me on Instagram. I love to hear from you ❤️
🧶 Happy Stitching! 🧶
xo —Lavena
P.S. Grab your copy of The Ultimate Guide to Crochet for Mental Health and tap into the benefits of creativity so that you can become one of many amazing women who have unlocked the secret to experiencing joy, peace, and calm in their everyday lives by becoming renewed and revitalized while having fun with crochet.
