Rewards
So you've decided to join the honorary club of crocheters? Congratulations! You've made an excellent choice. Grab your crochet hook and let's get started. Crocheting is a wonderfully laid-back fiber art--all you need is your hook and your yarn, and maybe a stitch counter or two. With only one working stitch, you don't have to worry as much about something coming unraveled, as you might with knitting. So now that you're ready to get started, it's time for a nice, bland first project, right? Wrong.
Don't listen to anyone who tells you that beginner projects have to be boring. In fact, say it with us. Beginner should not be boring! Even if you've only learned a few basic stitches, you are more than ready to make projects that are beautiful and practical without being frustrating.
Whether you're into accessories or wearable, there are tons of fun projects you can practice your skills on. We put together some of our favorite learn to crochet kits that are easy enough for crocheters just starting out, and so pretty that even advanced crocheters won't want to miss them.
These kits come with the pattern explaining how to create your project, plus just the right type of yarn to work with in the quantities you'll need. Most of the yarns are also available in a range of colors to suit your personal style.
Which one will you start with? (Here's a hint: you can't go wrong!)
Silk Waves Shawl
No one would ever guess this was a project designed specifically for a crochet starter kit! This beautiful shawl is worked in lace weight yarn handmade from Anamika silk, and though there are lots of different color options to choose from, the yarns are hand-dyed, so even if you order the same color twice, you'll still see subtle variations in shade and pattern. It means knowing that every single shawl will be a unique work of art before you even start to crochet.
The finished shawl is lightweight and silky soft, but large enough to wear as either a scarf or a wrap. The Silk Waves shawl gets its intricacy not from its shape--it is, after all, a basic rectangle--but from the complexity of the lace pattern. Created to mimic rolling waves or the curves of a seashell, it doesn't get much beachier than this.
But isn't lace hard to crochet? Especially for a beginner? Not when it's well designed! The trick behind the beautifully, wave-like scallops of this pattern is the repetition. Designed by Corrine Freeman, not only do the stitches work up fairly quickly once you get the knack of it, but the repetition means that you really get the chance to focus on getting just the right tension and forming all your stitches the same way. Consistency is a crucial skill in crocheting, and picking up a few crochet kits for beginners like this one is the perfect way to get your practice in!
Easy Breezy Top
Sunshine, a warm breeze, the sand between your toes...the minute you finish crocheting this relaxed and beachy top, you'll be instantly transported to a tropical paradise. Well, okay, perhaps not literally transported, but you get the idea. Whether you've actually got the weather to match, or you're just dreaming of warmer days to come, this top is the perfect project for the beach-loving crocheter.
The pattern was designed by Sierra Tosner (catch her at @SweetEverlyBIts) and is one of our favorite crochet kits for beginners because it's got just the right sense of understated fashion without being too tricky to create. The square-cut fit provides a great introduction to measuring and fitting for crocheted garments, and it even comes with instructions for how to adjust the pattern to fit. Of course, the loose stitch style is wonderfully forgiving if you don't quite nail those measurements on the first try, so don't stress too much if that part is new to you.
The crochet kit also includes DK weight yarn that's made from recycled silk. There are a range of color palettes available, each one featuring several different hues. They all have two things in common, however. One, they're absolutely gorgeous. Two, each yarn is colored using all natural dyes--we're talking dyes made from herbs and flowers like rose petals, indigo, and eucalyptus! What better choice for a beautiful top to wear on a beautiful day enjoying the great outdoors?
Market Tote
This is more than just a crochet starter kit--it's a work of art! The Market Tote crochet kit can be made with either Reclaimed Chiffon Ribbon Yarn or Silk Chiffon Ribbon Yarn, and you can't go wrong either way. The silk yarn is wonderfully soft and strong, with bold vibrant colors that are hand-dyed. But if you really want to go bold, opt for the reclaimed chiffon yarn, which is made from reclaimed textiles, like lightweight saris. You'll find yarn that's patterned, yarn with subtly shifting colors and hues, yarn that's unashamedly monochromatic and proud to flaunt it--and that's just in one package! No matter which kind of yarn you choose, your finished bag will be one of a kind.
The stitch work here isn't terribly elaborate or difficult (which is why it's one of our recommended crochet kits for beginners), but chiffon yarn does behave a bit differently from spun fiber yarn. It's not tough to learn how to work with it, but it's easier if you opt for a project like the Market Tote, where you don't have to worry about learning complex stitches AND deal with a new type of yarn. This is also a great pattern for learning how to shape projects while working in rounds, and how to create clean breaks in color as you switch from one skein of yarn to the next.
And, just in case you've decided crocheting isn't your thing (it's okay, it can't be everyone's favorite), there is a knitting pattern for the Market Tote that is also available!
These are just a few of the great kits that we've got on offer for crocheters of all skill levels, from those just picking up a hook for the first time, to those who could probably crochet in their sleep (we don't recommend trying that, by the way).
Hopefully that quick rundown of kits is enough for you to realize you're not stuck with plain projects while you're still honing your skills. Learning to crochet is a lot of fun, and the projects you're working on should be, too!
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