Try This if Your Crochet Skills Aren't Improving!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Got any advice? 👇🏻

[@belantww]

My tips would be to learn how to read patterns. I’m self taught from books and I’m thankful every day that I learned how to read a pattern. It opens up a whole new world for you and will take your crochet to a whole new level when you’re not limited to only crocheting things from KZbin videos. Another tip is to hold your hook and yarn however they feel comfortable for you, but just remember to keep your grip loose. Your hands will thank you. Your project will thank you. And finally… practice, practice, practice! Crochet is probably 90% muscle memory and that only comes through repetition. And have fun. 😉

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Absolutely brilliant tips! Those are all extremely helpful, thank you for posting! 😃

[@aksez2u]

I would definitely recommend starting with video tutorials rather than written patterns. I think it's SO helpful to follow along, stop, pause, repeat, until you get it right. Another tip that goes along with your advice to not rush is to not feel bad about starting over. I'm an intermediate crocheter, and I still often start projects over because I didn't get it quite right. I try to think of my goal as "keeping my hands busy" rather than getting the project DONE so that whether I'm crocheting or ripping back to fix something, I'm enjoying my hobby. I've never regretted going back or starting over to make it right.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s great advice and a great perspective, I love how you look at it!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@aksez2u]

@@ShannonTalksYarn Thanks! 😊

[@elainebuchwald3225]

What a great idea, to change my goal to "keeping my hands busy" rather than producing a finished item.i think this will help me a lot. Thank you for posting this!

[@djmooncheeks1515]

My tips: Don't worry about mistakes. Those are learning experiences and/or artist signatures. Yes, you are a fibre artist. Go ahead and try a harder pattern than you think you're ready to do. You might surprise yourself. If the mistake is that big, there is no shame in frogging/ripping it back and fixing it or starting over. The only one who is the final judge of the project is you. Sometimes, what you make ends up not being for you. Be patient. The right person for it will show up and love it.

[@carigold7673]

My biggest piece of advice is to USE STITCH MARKERS, especially when starting out. Even for something short, I use one in the first and last stitch of every row so I make sure to keep the stitches straight. And I always use one when crocheting in the round. I am not to be trusted to remember where my rows end and begin 😂 great video!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you Cari and great advice!!! I also can’t be trusted to remember my rows either!! 😂😂😂

[@taytaymarie92]

This is so true! Once I understood the purpose of stitch markers and started using them it was a game changer 😋

[@catmumcrafts]

1st and last stitch stich markers was going to be my suggestion too

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Right!?!?! 😃

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

It’s a great tip!

[@koalafan1576]

@17:20 I call it Ramon noodles. When you pull the yarn out of the project, undoing it, it looks like a long Ramon noodle. 😂

[@janetmcnutt4994]

You can use another piece of yarn as a stich marker. Bobby pins and safty pins work too. I suggest a beginner make a dish cloth. They are easy and it is something you can use. They make nice gifts too.

[@mountainjune]

Yes, I do the same thing. I start projects that are easy for me, so that I can just chill out in front of the TV or Shannon Talks Yarn 😉, and just crochet myself something. Sometimes I'll learn a new stitch, like I picked up Amigurumi during the pandemic to make myself a 'Baby Yoda' (I ended up making four of them, when friends and family saw him) I had to learn how to crochet in the Round and a much tighter crochet with a smaller hook then what the yarn calls for to do it. It was fun and somewhat mindless, only AFTER I learned how to do it. But most of the time, when I crochet, I'm doing it to comfort myself, and take a moment for myself to just calm my nerves. 🍁🍁🍂🍂

[@koalafan1576]

I’m still a beginner, I only know single stitch, but these videos help me learn. About to stop my scarf and start a new one with a different stitch to learn.

[@C4L4M1TY]

Great video! I consider myself an intermediate to advanced crocheter. I suggest looking for patterns that contain the skills you need to work on. For example, when I first started, I made a scarf that was completely done in double crochet stitches. By the end, I was an expert! Next pattern was a shawl that had a lot of triple crochets. Then I did a top made of granny squares where I had to learn magic rings and puff stitches. Targeting your pattern search to certain skills that you can repeat over and over will benefit you immensely!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Great tip!! That’s perfect for strategically improving different stitches, I love it!

[@wildflower-spirit-creations]

Always read through a pattern before you start. Sometimes things in parentheses within brackets are really crazy . I find that writing out these instructions in the vernacular makes them easy to understand.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That's a great tip! Thank you for sharing it 😀

[@findingmyway3492]

Thank you so much for this. I am a beginning to intermediate(?) crocheter, and still have so much to learn. I really appreciate that you know your limits and strengths and share them with us.

[@bethrobbins4733]

Great tips Shannon! Just a couple I'd add With hook size use the mm size as often as possible. Some brands are off a quarter mm which isn't much but can effect the Guage. Boye hooks tend to run a quarter mm smaller than most other brands. If you're making something a hexi cardi that has identical panels work both at the same time. Doing like 5 rows on one side the 5 rows on the other. Because your tension can change with your mood this helps keep them symmetrical. If your splitting your yarn a lot try a different style. Inline vs tapered, plastic vs metal.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Those are awesome tips Beth, thanks for sharing, that’s super helpful! I had no idea about the Boye hooks, that’s what I usually use!

[@slowcrochet]

Vintage Boye hooks (about 2003 and earlier) go by standard half-mm sizing, but the ones currently available have quarter mm sizing. Sadly, this affects very common beginner sizes, like J/10 (no longer 6mm but 5.75 mm). Hang onto your older hooks if you have 'em! 😉

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

@slowcrochet very interesting Mary!!! You’ve become quite an expert on vintage hooks! 😃

[@FloridasYesteryear]

I know you said you don't really make amigurumi. But some pointers for amigurumi. 1. If you can't get the hang of the magic circle, you can make chain of 4 and join it to make a ring. Or 2. Chain 2 and work your beginning stitches in the second chain from the hook. Using acrylic I have been able to fit 8 stitches into the chain. It doesn't leave a hole where stuffing will show. Also read the pattern and if the amigurumi has eyes the pattern should tell you which row the eyes are on and how many stitches apart they are. Us stitch markers to mark where the eyes go. It helps so much with the amigurumi coming out well.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Those are GREAT tips for amigurumi!! Thanks for sharing 😃

[@barbaramalcolm1621]

Thanks for the good advice. Am excited to see that you are over 5K subs. I think that your videos are refreshing and are filling a niche for the crochet community. I enjoy tutorials, yarn unboxings, but sometimes it is just nice to sit back and listen to you talk about things that we may encounter and read the comments.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much Barbara, I really appreciate that! I’m really enjoying making this type of content and I’m so grateful that there is a community out here for it! ❤️❤️❤️

[@danalynbegin6991]

Simple advice that makes sense. I recently started crocheting and I recognize these situations 😊.

[@Lisbeth_59]

I've just recently (after crocheting for 40+ years!) started really using stitch markers! My gosh, they are such a help! Your videos are always so encouraging!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

It’s it funny how easy they are to use but we don’t!?!?!? 😂😂😂 Thank you for your support and encouragement, my Friend! ❤️

[@taytaymarie92]

Thank you for another great video ❤ My quick tip- If you're new to crochet, watching KZbin tutorials can be overwhelming at first. Try slowing down the playback speed to watch the stitches in slower motion. It helped me a lot starting out! 😊

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s a great tip Taylor!! I know I’ve gotten flustered trying to keep up before and that leads me to making mistakes! 😃 Thanks for posting!

[@karenlevitt7430]

I love this advice! It took me forever to realize I could slow down the playback speed.

[@taytaymarie92]

@@karenlevitt7430 once I learned that trick my KZbin experience leveled up for sure haha 😂

[@shirleyspring4905]

As a long time crocheter, this video was very informative. I can’t think of anything you missed.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you for watching Shirley!!! 🫶🏻

[@alicethiam8713]

I am a averge crocheter n knitter..I listen to 2 tutorials of URS n you really hit the nail on the head n both..❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hello Alice!!! Thank you so much for your kind words of encouragement, I appreciate it! I hope you have a wonderful weekend 🫶🏻

[@meaganstratton1733]

I don't mean to be rude but I think another thing is that not all projects are made for all people. I like fitted shirts both in look and in body hanging feels. Boxy tops are all over the place and are trendy and can look so adorable. If I made a boxy top then I probably wouldn't be completely happy with it because that just isn't my thing. Some people are not comfortable with loud patterns, bright/pastel colors or any number of things. They could make the best item ever but it isn't a match for them. Many brown shades are in my "ideal color palette" and I will say that I can really look great in them. I don't like brown and will make it grey even if it isn't the most ideal color for me because I love grey as my neutral. People have preferences and things they vibe better with. I think avoiding the trends and going with your own vibe sometimes can be a better match.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I don’t think that’s rude, I think that’s a great point!!! You said it perfectly 😃

[@colorjunkie]

I've only been a crocheter for a year, but I've been a knitter for over 20 years. It does get easier. My main problem right now is that I know how to do something in knitting that I don't know how to do in crochet. So I experiment. Sonetimes it works- sometimes it doesn't. But it's all fun!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Having fun is the most important part! But I think experimenting is important too!

[@sarap6862]

I love listening to you talk yarn. 😊 I don’t have people in my life that crochet and it’s nice to just sit and listen to you talk about all things crochet. My husband says when I talk to him about crochet it’s like I’m speaking a different language. 😂 I enjoyed your average crocheter video and while I am not a beginner we have all struggled with projects not working out for some reason or other. I had to laugh when you mentioned the US and UK terminology because when I first started using patterns I did that very thing. 😅😂

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Sara! Thanks for watching the video, I appreciate it 😃 My husband watches gaming videos and he will tell me he’s about to watch crochet videos because i understand gaming as little as he understands crochet. It definitely sounds like a foreign language!!! So I guess we aren’t the only ones lol 😂 And the UK terminology can get you for sure!!! It’s easy to get confused if you don’t know!!!

[@kristencrochets]

I wish I would have had a video like this at the start of learning to crochet! So helpful! Especially the stitch marker tip. You can never have too many of those! 😁

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I’ve got tons of stitch markers! Thank you Kristen!!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@leilonnihamilton8356]

I think sometimes we just need to get back to the basics of crochet. Learn your own way. Everyone has their own way to understand patterns. Sometimes when we feel frustrated with a pattern, we need to put it down for a while and then come back to it and it doesn't seem as hard to figure it out. It's good to practice new stitches and try them in small projects. I find these things helpful.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I think that’s great advice! It can be easy to give up on a project when we really only need a break. And 100% agree with small projects for new stitches! Great advice!

[@jlklbr56]

I began a pattern recently that was not my usual type of project (a scarf/bandana vs amigurumi). Although the pattern is well written, for some reason it didn't flow for me (there were 6 rows of shell stitches that were repeated). The printed pattern had page breaks that made it tedious for me to follow accurately. I ended up copying the 6-row repeat part of the pattern and reformatting it so it all fit on one page and was easy for me to follow. I also added the row numbers that would apply to each row as the pattern progressed. It made a world of difference in my enjoyment of creating this item... I could follow along easily and put my brain in neutral, while getting the precise results I was looking for. I'm not done with it yet, but because I took a little extra time to rewrite a portion of it in a way that works for me, I'm not dreading working on it and will have it finished before long. Thanks for this topic, Shannon... love these discussions that inspire me to be better! 💙🧶💙

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much for watching and posting your tip Joanne! That’s such a great point! I’ve totally struggled with the format of patterns before and it’s made the experience far less enjoyable. If this happens again, I will definitely take the time to reformat and add notes to it!!! I think I’ll thank myself in the long run 😃

[@sweetmomentsbyjessie]

Thank you so much for mentioning my channel and stitch tutorials, Shannon! ♥️😊 This is another great video! You do such a fantastic job with all of your videos! And I just noticed you have over 5K subscribers now…Congrats!!! 🎉😃

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Jessie, and you’re welcome! You were a natural choice to mention, you’ve got a great library built up of high quality basic stitch tutorials. It’s crazy to see the community grow like that!! It’s very exciting and I’m so grateful to everyone who watches 🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰

[@sweetmomentsbyjessie]

@@ShannonTalksYarn Thank you! 😊 It’s wonderful that the community is growing so quickly! You are helping so many people! 🙂

[@youdeservethis]

I frog 2 for every 3 I crochet. I just can't understand written patterns. So I have switched to mosaic patterns. But even then, I can only read certain mosaic patterns. BUT! I learned how to make an even half double crochet edge--so a little progress. I am also putting a stitch marker at the end of the row. That helps a lot with keeping the edges straight.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I do a lot of frogging too!!! Stitch marker at the end is great!

[@aksez2u]

Here's another tip I've been wanting to share: I'm not a fan of Hobby Lobby, but shop there on a limited basis. Their plastic locking stitch markers in the yarn section cost twice as much as the ones in the jewelry findings section. I don't know why they even have them there, but they do.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I recently saw those in jewelry too and I seriously think they were under $1!!! Crazy, lol!! But that’s a great tip! What crocheter wouldn’t benefit from saving a little money? 😂

[@wildflower-spirit-creations]

Yarn weights are so screwy now. I've had 5's that were more like 4's. Gauge is so important.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I’ve gotten 4’s that were definitely 3’s!!!

[@kalenreichert]

Excellent tips and advice! I learned to crochet from a booklet (“Learn to Crochet in Just One Day”) in the 90s and I didn’t know anyone besides my grandmother who crocheted and she passed when I was almost 7. So I made a lot of mistakes (primarily from not counting chains, stitches, using the wrong yarns, etc.) but I learned from doing, making tons of mistakes, and figuring things out on my own for 20+ years. Since discovering the “craft tube”, my skills and confidence have grown so much and I look forward to working on something each day and seeing what other crocheters are doing because they inspire me to keep expanding my skills. But when I’m tired or stressed, I always revert back to my comfort zone and that’s ok, too. I can’t think of any tips that you missed other than keeping your yarn and supplies as organized as possible because I know that would’ve saved me so much time and money if I was more organized. ❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s is a great tip! I mean seriously, I know I’d save money being more organized!! I’ve definitely rebought things I had because I couldn’t easily find them!!! The duplicates will get used eventually so it’s not a waste but it wasn’t necessary. Great point! And thank you for sharing your personal story too! ❤️

[@martyc7746]

Very helpful. I’m a beginner for the second time in my life and I need help distinguishing between a chain from a stitch when beginning and ending a row. Doing a granny square blanket and not sure where to join at the end of a round. I do have stitch markers.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s awesome that you’re giving crochet another try! I understand where you’re coming from. I fell like it took me a while to really be able to distinguish the loops, chains and stitches. For me it just took time and experience seeing what the edges looked like on my projects before I consistently felt confident I was putting the hook in the right spot. Keep practicing, it will get easier!!! 🫶🏻

[@koalafan1576]

@11:40 no…. Just doing a basic scarf or patch of flatness is easier to learn. I started with a scarf with single stitch. I’m now decent with single stitch, I’ll cut my scarf and start a new one with a new stitch until I’m good with it then start a new one until I’m good with it. I’m not doing anything fancy until I have mini scarves (for lack of better words) with various stitch types I have learned. Trying to do this smartly.

[@youdeservethis]

I just can't read a pattern. So I started mosaic crochet. I only use certain pattern makers because some mosaic patterns are confusing too. I still frog 2 for every 3 I crochet, but on I trudge :D

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s smart to follow the designers that you know produce patterns that work for you!

[@donnabessey136]

You can also, make a row , wider or narrower, by how big or small (tension) is.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Great tip, thanks for sharing!!! 😃

[@cocoscrochet6380]

Hi Shannon 🤗 excellent advice! Thank you! 🥰🧶🤩

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hello Litsa!! Thank you my friend! ❤️

[@maryb8150]

I read through the pattern. If it’s in British terms, I go through and hand note the US term. If it has multiple sizes, I’ll print out the pattern and highlight the one for the size I’m making.

[@danamiceli4948]

Great tips, Shannon! I seem to be have issues with counting - I have avoided buying stitch markers, using yarn bits, but I think it is time to invest as I am venturing into more complex stitches and designs - which I am really enjoying the challenge, but there are definitely times for the repetitive less complex designs, too.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Well said Dana!! The more challenging ones keep me more involved and interested but sometimes I need a “comfort” project!

[@TheNMDavis]

Great advice and tips as always!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you so much Nancy! 😃

[@aprilbatley6738]

Bernat Maker Yarn ( with a light color ) would be good to learn stitches when making a square when just starting out

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That is a great tip! I haven’t used bernat maker before but it’s got a good stitch definition right? I love learning about different yarns 😃

[@vegangelist]

​@ShannonTalksYarn it has a wonderful stitch definition. It would be a great yarn for making stitch swatches for a class to really enable the students see the stitch detail and learn stitch anatomy. I'm a big proponent of learning stitch anatomy as you learn to crochet. It's a useful skill.

[@joannunemaker6332]

Great advice! Thanks for sharing. Many good ideas.😊❤

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Thank you Joan!! ❤️❤️❤️

[@thursaziegler2351]

Thank you so much for your video. Very good advice.😊

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

You’re welcome, and thank you for watching and commenting! 🫶🏻

[@gaylescovel7308]

Stitch markers used to be expensive. For a long time i used a scrap piece of yarn or a bread tie or paperclip or saftey pin. Then my hubby gifted me a sum of money n i bought alot of yarny stuff i wanted. Like stitch markers, yarn winder n umbrella, tunusian hook set n cables, n books galore! Nooking hooks n those blocking pins, a pattern holder, soft pastels for crochet flowers (yes some get color dusted with makeup/paint or dipped in water colors) oh n yarn i wouldnt normally buy.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s so awesome!!! It’s sounds like you were able to get great tool for about anything you can create! 😃

[@gaylescovel7308]

@@ShannonTalksYarn , i did! Lol. The one thing i didnt get were those inter locking blocks for blocking. I bought some foam board instead. What i found out was they do work but they also warp. So im keeping my eyes out for a sale on those.

[@Nancy-SF]

Very valuable advice that I wish I had known when I was starting out. I have made just about every mistake you describe in your vlog. The most important one to me now (as an intermediate crocheter) is to read the pattern before you start. I recently bought a pattern from Sheepjes for a beautiful sweater and it has a numerical abbreviation that I cannot figure out. All of the other instructions are clear, I understand the other abbreviations but there is one in there that has no explanation in any of the notes. For that reason, I am not going to start that sweater until I can find an explanation. For those who are curious, take a look at the Mischa sweater pattern. If you know what (3:6, 4:9) might mean, please let me know!!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Hi Nancy! Obviously I’ve made the mistake of jumping in to a pattern without really comprehending it! It’s easy to do, especially when we’re excited lol. But I think you’re smart and waiting to find out the detail!!!

[@deborahthomas3539]

You shares very valuable tip with us. I thank you for that. I wish I had found you earlier! I have a question. When I’ve been making the starting chain, for blankets, I’ve made them shorter than I want because by the second or third row the work can be at least 5 inches longer. What can I do to make sure the blanket stays the same size as the starting chain?

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

This is pretty common! It’s easy to accidentally use a much tighter tension on the chain then we do with the stitches. I suggest use a larger hook for the chain then you use for all the other rows. If you’re going to use a 5MM hook on the blanket, use a 6MM just for the chain (just an example). For me it’s easy to accidentally add extra stitches so I place a stitch marker ever 20 stitches to keep my count accurate too. Hopefully that helps!

[@penguineeee6440]

making my dad a sweater for Christmas in 3 days lets see how this goes

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I hope it went well! 😃

[@aprilbatley6738]

i also find that even now when i make some new , ill make it and that very first one is always messed up but i complete it ( those make good dog toys lol ) but the 2nd o e i do i perfect because i stuck it out

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Yes!!! I think doing a “prototype”, especially for an important project, is such a great idea!!! You learn the project better and it takes the pressure off! I love it!

[@dskej]

My gauge is always off no matter if I adjust my tension or switch my hook size. I gave up on crocheting bc I can’t get tension right no matter what I do and tips I follow. I even buy the exact same yarn for the patterns :(

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I totally get that! TBH, I avoid patterns that need to match gauge. I have had a lot more satisfaction and better results from patterns where it doesn’t really matter like a scarf or shawl. And for projects like cardigans, I like ones where it is sized by inches not rows. Craft and a Cuppa has really great ones if you ever want to give it another go!

[@FloridasYesteryear]

If you are following a crochet pattern from the Victorian Era, even if it is an American pattern it is probably written using UK terms. If you don't know if something is written in UK or US terms. Read the directions if you see single crochet then it is US terms. UK doesn't have single crochet.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

That’s an AWESOME tip! 😃

[@FloridasYesteryear]

@@ShannonTalksYarn thanks I learned that one from the Just Vintage Crochet channel. She does patterns from the Victorian Era all the way to the 1980s.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

@LyrasStitchery that’s such a cool channel! I’m almost done with a cardigan from here, I just need to add fringe 😃

[@FloridasYesteryear]

@ShannonTalksYarn I have the pattern and purchased the yarn for the 1935 crochet dress. It was seeing that video that got me interested in crochet. Just have to learn the Solomon's Knot. I even found another pattern for elbow gloves also from 1935.

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I’ve never done the Solomon’s knot but it looks so cool!!!

[@Ocean.DreaMz]

Some coffee shops are far from a quite corner lol

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

Haha very true!

[@dorisenderle5857]

My MIL taught me to crochet by making a lace doily. Thread and a small metal hook will teach you all the stitches and a lot of patience. Not recommended for beginners. 🤪

[@HookedOnWishing]

🧡🧶

[@youdeservethis]

I tried to comment twice but the web is eating them!

[@ShannonTalksYarn]

I got em! 😃