Crochet Basics: Single Crochet

After learning how to make a slip knot and chain, you are now ready.

So here's a  step by step tutorial of how to make a single crochet.

How to make a Single Crochet

If you have any questions, kindly leave a message at the comment box.

Happy crocheting!

Oatmeal Cookies

I got this recipe from Facebook but I made another variation by adding oatmeal to make a bit healthier. I bet this is a very simple recipe that even a 5 year-old kids can do this.

You will need:

½ cup butter, metled

½ cup white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

1 tsp vanilla

3 egg yolks

1 cup flour

1 tbsp baking powder

½ cup chocolate chips

Sweet and Sour Bangus Fillet

Bangus’ tail is usually avoided because it was loaded with bones. I used to make this part as boneless daing. But I was already bored doing the said dish every time I bought bangus. I decided to make it fried with easy sweet and sour sauce.

You will need:

2 medium size Bangus tail, large bones removed and fillet

Flour, cornstartch, salt and pepper for breading

Cooking oil for frying

Crochet Basics: How to make a Chain

We are done with making a slip knot.  Now we are ready to make chains.

Please click the photos to enlarge.

Crochet Basic Stitches from famgr.com

It started with a slip knot. Insert the hook into the slip knot. yarn over and pull through. Now, here's how we can work in the chain.

Crochet Basic Stitches from famgr.com

I always do the Method B. I insert the hook under the top two loops of chain. The illustration above is very important in reading crochet patterns. You need to know how to count the chains. For example, when the pattern say make a single crochet in the 2nd chain from the hook, then count the nearest chain to the hook and don't start with the loop into where the hook is inserted.

That's how to make and work in the chain. Next time I will show you how to make single, double and triple crochet. 

Excited? Why not buy your own hook and yarn now? Just a tip, if you are just practicing how to crochet, buy light colored yarns. This is because it's difficult to see your stitches when you work with yarns in dark colors.

Happy crocheting!

Crochet Basics: The Slip Knot

Are you ready? After we have learned about the crochet hook and the yarn, let's move to the crocheting basics.

But before we go on, you must know how to make a slip knot. Slip knot or slip loop is used in crochet to attach the yarn to the needle. It's the first step in crocheting chain and is counted as the first st.

So this is a step by step demonstration in making a slip knot. Please click on the photo to enlarge.

How to make a slip knot

This is the easiest way I can teach you how to make a slip knot. And if you already know how to make a slip knot then you are now ready to make chains. 

Happy crocheting!

Pizza Omelet

Thinking of how to make eggs exciting? Try this one:

You will need:

3 eggs, well-beaten

1 medium sized red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium sized onion, chopped

½ cup grated cheese

½ cup sliced mushroom

Salt to taste

Tomato paste/sauce or pizza sauce, optional

Pork Bistek

One our colleagues gave us a bag-full of red onions from Nueva Ecija. Mommy told me that those are good for Bistek. So here it is.

You will need:

¼ kilo pork, sliced thinly

2-3 pieces large-sized onion, sliced into rings

¼ cup soy sauce

¼ cup calamansi juice

1 tsbp ground pepper

2 tbsp brown sugar

Cooking oil

Crochet Basics: How to Hold and Control the Yarn

After I showed you the different types of yarn, let's us learn how to hold and control the yarn.

Here are illustrations showing how to how the yarn. (Click the photo to enlarge)

At first, it is hard to hold the yarn. The first time I hold the yarn, it will accidentally slip out of my hands so I have to position it again. Until such time I get used to it and I became less conscious about it.

Anyway, here are ways to control the yarn. (Click the photo to enlarge)

Source: how-to-crochet.co.uk

Want to see how we hold the yarn and the hook?

This is me holding the yarn and the hook

This is Daddy Allan holding the yarn and the hook

See, we crochet differently. Daddy crochets a little tighter than I do. There's this one time we try to crochet a pair of booties. I crochet the other half and Daddy crochet the other one. We follow the same pattern then when we try to compare sizes, mine is larger. Lol. So what to do? We have different tension so we can't crochet one same project that's why we have division of projects instead.

Do you still find crocheting hard? Yes at first, but practice makes perfect right?

Happy crocheting!

Butterflies

These photos were also taken by my Canon Ixus 70. When I posted this one in my FB, Mommy thought that these taken using my new toy.

Looks blurry because the butterfly is flying.

Crochet Basics: Different Types of Yarn

Since we already know the anatomy of the hook, the different types and how to hold it, let's move to the yarn. Like the hook, there are different types of yarns. I was actually overwhelmed with the different yarns I am seeing. And I will confess, I am a yarn addict now.

So here are the different types of yarn. (Click on the photo to enlarge)

Types of Yarns and the Recommended Hook

Actually, there are different categories and types of yarns that falls into each category. Generally, the yarn is categorize by weight and labelled from 0 to 6, 0 being the thinnest and 6 the thickest. You can also see in the above table the recommended hook for a particular type of yarn. This is what I am telling you before that using the wrong hook will make you insane =)

My yarn stash includes mesmerized cotton yarn, classic cotton yarn, light worsted yarn, and of course the most common acrylic yarn. I thought before that the only crochet yarns are the mesmerized cotton and the acrylic yarns since these are available in bookstores, sewing supply stores, mall, and anywhere :)

Even with a big stash already, I still want to buy more yarns. I am always panicking when I see that my stash is slowly disappearing (because we are using them to make cute handmade accessories).

So that's the different types of yarn. Next post will be about how to hold a yarn and control it.

Happy crocheting!

Source: Crochet Spot

Choco-Peanut Dip

Here is another experiment that leads to other recipe. I am trying to make my own peanut butter cups but it lead into a dip. It didn't hardened even I placed it in freezer. Can anyone help me on how to make the chocolate mixture solidify even at room temperature?

Floating Gelatin

I was about to make some “crystals” for the fruit shake but upon opening the fridge, I found some pineapple tidbits and “pasas”. So I decided to make floating gelatin.

You will need:

1 pack clear gelatin, unflavoured

Pineapple tidbits, syrup reserved for the gelatin

Pasas, dried grapes

½ cup sugar

4 cups water

Crochet Basics: How to Hold a Crochet Hook

I am figuring out what is the right way to hold a crochet hook. This is because Daddy and I have different ways to hold a crochet hook.

I hold my crochet like a knife and daddy hold his hook like a pencil. Which is the right way? That's what I try to find out.

There are two basic ways to hold a crochet hook. Most of the crocheter I have seen  is doing this method.

Pencil Method from Crochet Spot

As I already said, Daddy Allan holds  his hook like a pencil. I tried holding my hook like a pencil but I had a hard time crocheting. The yarn keeps on slipping and I can't control the yarn. That's why I just hold my hook like a knife.

Knife Method from Crochet Spot

For me, the knife method is easier and I can crochet faster. Downside for me is when I crochet too long, I feel a sore in the upper part of my palm. So I have to know when to stop, which is by the way hard as crocheting is so addicting. Promise, you will have hard time stopping your self until you have finished a masterpiece.

Actually, there's no right or wrong way to hold a crochet hook. Choose the method you are comfortable.

So how do you hold a crochet hook?

Macro Mode

I still have some photos taken by my 5-year old Canon Ixus 70 in macro mode.

Herbal Serpentina (Andrographis paniculata)

Photos Up Above

Finally, here are some shots using my new toy.

Immaculate Concepcion Church - Sta. Maria, Bulacan

Produ Feed Mill, Sta. Maria, Bulacan

The Grid

The Tank

Crochet Basics: Types of Crochet Hook

As I have said in my previous post about the anatomy of crochet hook, there are different types of crochet hooks to choose from. And here are the most popular hooks.

Steel Hooks from Crochet Spot

Steel Hook is the first hook we bought. I remember it was the hook I used when I did my mother did my crochet project in my home economics class way back in my Elementary days. I think this hook goes well with cotton yarn for making appliques and laces. 

When we are just starting our crocheting business, I practice crocheting using steel hook that Daddy bought. I used it with acrylic yarn and its an epic fail, haha. Since I use the smaller steel hook, the acrylic yarn keeps on slipping out and I can't even make chains properly. It's so hard to yarn over then pull through the stitch. That makes me want to quit and not go on with crocheting. I just thought you can use any hook with any yarn but it's not.

Aluminum Hooks from Crochet Spot

Aluminum Hook saved my crocheting. One day, after work, I went to a sewing supply store and asked them if they have larger hooks. The sales lady showed me a larger size of steel hook but still that won't give me an easy time with acrylic yarn. So I asked her again, I said I want a larger hook. She looked around and found an aluminum hook. I showed that to Daddy and the rest is history =)

I am planning to buy either Bates or Boyes aluminum hook. These are much expensive than what I bought at that store but the quality is much better. The cheaper aluminum hook has a problem with the fading cover/surface paints making the hook rough and so the yarn will not be held smoothly.

Bamboo Hooks from Crochet Spot

Bamboo Hook is getting popular nowadays. This is because compared to aluminum hook, about 60% lighter. When you are used to using aluminum hook then you will surely encounter tension problem using this.

Acrylic Hooks from Crochet Spot

The acrylic hook is new to me. This is said to be weighed as light as the bamboo hooks.

Aluminum, bamboo and acrylic hooks have the same sizes. Aluminum and acrylic hooks comes in different colors just like the photos above.

Also, I just learned that hooks have two structure, the inline throat and "not inline" (tapered) hook.

This is an inline hook. The width of the throat is the same all the way down the hook. You can see that the head of the hook is in line with the body. This design helps crocheter to keep more even gauge.

Inline Hook from Nerdigurumi

And this the "not inline" hook. You can see that the "not inline" (tapered) hook has a much smaller head compared to where the throat meets the shaft.  

Not Inline Hook from Nerdigurumi

I look at my hook and I have "not inline" hook. Though most of the crochet patterns I see don't specify an inline or not inline gauge. I have yet to try an inline hook and see the difference. Most Bates hooks are inline hooks so I will buy one set of this to know the difference.

So that's the different kinds of crochet hooks. Next post will be about how to hold a hook.

What's the hook you are using now? Please share.

Happy crocheting!

Mommy's Shots

The following photos were not taken by yours truly, I just did some editing. I would like to give the credits to Mommy who took these photos while inside the car.

Tuna-Penne Pasta

I just want to share another experimental pasta dish we had last week. I just called this one as Tuna-Penne Pasta. This is easy to do especially on those who are always on the go.

You will need:

500 grams Penne pasta, cooked according to direction tossed with butter or oil

1 can tuna flakes in oil

2 tbsp. butter

¼ cup all-purpose flour

¼ cup all-purpose cream

¼ cup condensed milk

¼ cup Del Monte Cheesy Cream

1 medium sized red bell pepper, chopped

1 medium-sized onion, chopped

1 cup sliced button mushroom

Salt and pepper to taste

Craft-piration: The easiest way to be creative

Source: Crafty & Creative Quotes via Pinterest

Be courageous and take the risk. You will never know what will be the outcome until you turn your ideas into reality.

Crafty morning!

Crochet Basics: The Anatomy of a Crochet Hook

Even if I am very much into crocheting, I am not that familiar with the parts of a hook. So let's look at the anatomy of a crochet hook.

Anatomy of a Crochet Hook

Aside from that, hooks have different sizes too. Just like the crochet pattern terms, there's also crochet hook conversion chart.

Crochet Hook Conversion Chart

I frequently use the size 5 and 6 hooks. You need to determine what size of hook to use in a specific type of yarn so your project will appear good and sturdy.

There are so many things to learn about the basics of crocheting. Hook is just one and there are types of hook as well. Next time we will discuss about the types and kind of hooks available.

Happy Crocheting!

Crochet Basics: The Anatomy of a Crochet Hook

Even if I am very much into crocheting, I am not that familiar with the parts of a hook. So let's look at the anatomy of a crochet hook.

Anatomy of a Crochet Hook

How to Break Out of a Creative Rut

Source: infographiclist.com

=)

Day's End 4

I really can't stop taking photos during sunset. Though I cannot directly shoot the sun, there are some views that made more dramatic by the rays of the setting sun.

Here are two more photos with sunset:

Craft-piration: Creativity Takes no Excuses

Source: Crafty & Creative Quotes from creativesomething.net via Pinterest

Makes no excuses. Create.

Crafty morning!

Flower Power: Yellow

Here are some of yellow flowers I gathered in our vicinity. I took these photos when either in the morning or late afternoon. These are the best time to take a shot of flowers since the color is not yet affected by direct sunlight.

Buttercup Flower or Golden Thrumpet
(Allamanda cathartica)

Gallant Soldier - Galinsoga parviflora
(taken using macro mode with my photo buddy)

Craft-piration: Are you Creative?

Source: Crafty & Creative Quotes via Pinterest

Are you creative?

Crafty morning everyone!

The White Collection

If you love the Purple Collection, then I am sure you will love this White Collection too.

Crochet White Boots, Flower Headband and Hat

This is perfect for baptism. You can see more designs at Momaye's Shoppe on facebook.

Happy crocheting!

Craft-piration: More ideas than time :(

Source: Crafty & Creative Quotes from designeditor.typepad.com via Pinterest

I agree. I have so many crafty ideas in mind but I don't have enough time to do it or at least start it. I failed to do what I supposed to do during the long vacation. But I will not submit to failure and I will still do it, come what ma :)

Have a crafty day!