How Can You Crochet Really, Really Fast? Plus What are the Ups and Down Sides of It?

by poppalina

How Can You Crochet Really, Really Fast? Plus What are the Ups and Down Sides of It?

Hello crocheters,

When browsing through patterns and crochet web sites, I feel like crocheting very fast. In moments like this, I just want to pick up a hook and yarn and start crocheting the pattern I’m looking at, straight away. I’m sure you too would have felt the same sometime. This got me thinking if there really was a way to crochet faster.

Well, some people anyway work with the speed of light. Others are slow workers. What one can complete in an hour, another person may take one full day to crochet. What makes the difference, there are some things to be considered to crochet faster:

•    Use stitches that add height to the project. For instance, a treble stitch adds more height compared to a single crochet. Using such stitches you can be done crocheting simple objects such as bags, afghans, dishcloths and scarves in no time. While the type of stitch chosen does not matter in some instances, using these stitches only with the aim of crocheting an article faster is not a bright idea. Lengthy stitches will also restrict the types of objects you can crochet in the sense that height-adding stitches may not be appropriate for small projects such as baby booties or amulet bags. Select the stitch wisely so it matches with the type of project.

•    Use chunkier yarns. It takes ages to crochet something from fancy delicate thin yarns. Having said this, I’d also like to advise you to not feel restricted by thick yarns only. This way, you’ll keep yourself away from the pleasure of crocheting dainty articles including doilies, bed covers, cushion covers and party bags.

•    Try holding the hook and yarn in different ways until you determine the grip and style most comfortable for you. Don’t get hung up on the right technique you read in a book or on a web site. Discover what works for you.

•    If you hold the yarn too tightly, loosening it a bit may help.

•    Pay attention to the way you roll yarn into a ball, if you are one of those who prefer to buy skeins. Yarn wound too tightly will come off the ball with some difficulty adding minutes to the actual crochet process. Hold the yarn lightly when making a ball.

•    Play some music. Without realizing it, we usually crochet or perform other activities according to the rhythm of the background music. The downside with playing music is that we tend to get too engrossed in the activity to take a break. Frequent long episodes of continuous crocheting can injure the hand muscles and other body parts. Read more about the importance of taking breaks when crocheting in another issue of this newsletter.

•    Choose simple patterns, at least when you are beginner. Even advanced crocheters should avoid complicated patterns they are not sure about completing. This is so because intricate patterns usually generate more errors and therefore frequent unraveling. This not only spoils the yarn being used but also plays havoc with your confidence and enthusiasm.

•    Concentrate more on getting the pattern accurate instead of crocheting it faster. Paying more attention to the time it takes to crochet an article increases the probability of errors thereby calling for repeated unraveling. Focusing however on accuracy reduces the chances of errors so you automatically end up finishing the project in time or ahead of time.

•    Believe the saying, “Practice makes a man (read crocheter) perfect”. As you crochet more and more, you will unknowingly become speedy at it.

Cheers!

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