Stitches

I am looking for an easy way to crochet a scarf...?

I bought this kit with really confusing instructions and some bad yarn. (its this fuzzy stuff that makes it almost impossible to see what i am doing). I have mastered the chain stitch but my chains come out really small so I can not insert my hook into them for a double crochet stitch. Is there a way I could make a scarf with out using the double stitch? or what is an easier way to learn the double stitch?

Public Comments

1. First of all, fuzzy yarn is a horrible yarn for beginners let alone someone that has been crocheting for years so don't feel bad. There are some really good double crochet tutorials on http://www.lionbrand.com/cgi-bin/faq-search.cgi?store=/stores/eyarn&faqKey=115&language=En and http://www.nexstitch.com/v_double_crochet.html . It would also be a good idea if you bought a skein of Red Heart Super Saver yarn in a solid color to practice on. I did and it was very easy to see my stitches and mistakes on. And in regards to a simple scarf you can just chain how thick you want the scarf and follow these instructions http://www.crochetcabana.com/tutorials/double-crochet.htm . Happy crocheting!
2. Your double stitch is wrapping the yarn around the needle once. You could use a larger needle that might help you Since you are having a problem getting into the chain to make the double stitch it would not help to give you another stitch to use as you would still have to get into the chain. Use a larger needle. I don't know what size your needle so I cannot suggest a larger needle so will go with about 2 or 3 larger than you now have.
3. You did exactly the same thing I did when I crocheted my first chain many, many years ago--pulled the yarn too tight and made neat, tiny chain loops that won't work for crocheting into. That was more years ago than I care to talk about--but I remember the lesson still! The purpose of the chain stitch is to act as a foundation for the crocheted project. You have to be able to insert your crochet hook into the chain. One thing you can do is loosen the tension you put on the yarn when you pull a loop through the chain to make the next loop in the chain. Another thing you can do is go up two or three sizes in crochet hooks to make the chain, then go back down to the recommended size for working your piece. After you get more experience and loosen up your tension naturally, you won't have to do that anymore. You might want to put the fuzzy yarn aside or give it away. The best yarn for a beginner is a smooth worsted weight yarn. I'm torn between suggesting cheap yarn so you can learn without feeling apprehensive of making mistakes on good yarn and suggesting good yarn so you can get the feel for "the good stuff" from the get-go. Perhaps the compromise would be to check out the "reduced for quick sale" bin at your local yarn store and look for a half-price ball of name-brand worsted yarn. The one I prefer for most projects is Plymouth Encore, but you will have to use your own judgment about that. Lion Brand has some good yarns, and I've had good experiences with Vanna's Choice, which is an inexpensive yarn available in a wide varietty of colors. My other suggestion is to make your scarf "the long way" instead of horizontally. By the time you have chained 250 chains, you'll have the tension down. Then you can crochet an interesting vertical pattern by doing "half double crochet" through the *back loop* only. By the time you have done 250 of them (about 50"), you'll have the hang of half double crochet through the back loop. The difference between your first one and your last one won't be noticeable when they are that far apart, the way it will be if you chain 30 and make 30-stitch rows (which will likely get wider or narrower as you gain experience and relax more). Then keep on making rows of 250 half double crochets until your scarf is as wide as you want it.
4. If your stitches are too small, and tight, then you need a larger hook. They come in different sizes, and there is a reason for that. Get rid of that fuzzy yarn -- it is of no use with crochet at all. You need a good quality yarn (does make the work nicer, honest) -- I would suggest a solid light colour so you can see your stitches, in a smooth yarn, cotton or wool work best. I like dishcloth cotton for a lot of my work, but search for crochet cotton (it's not the same as knitting yarns) but you want the larger size so that you can easily see what you are doing. The size of hook should be a little larger than the size of the yarn. For a scarf, you may want to even be larger than that for a softer fabric. Look for yarn at thrift shops. Sometimes you can get nice stuff, but usually only a ball or two. At this point, that is not important. Check frequently, and you may sometimes find hooks too. May I suggest that you start with the single crochet stitch. it's nicer looking, and more solid. As you progress, you may need the double and the treble crochet, but it will be easier to do them if you know how to do the single first.