BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CROCHET

(For beginners)

Many people who are new to crocheting stuffed animals or dolls often feel unsure and don't know where to start. Here, I'll share some experiences I've gathered myself.

Written by: Chik-chik handmade (please cite the source if you copy this content)

1. Crochet Hooks: Use Japanese Clover Japan hooks, Tulip Etimo for the best results, or Chinese hooks.

   • Hook size: 2mm - 2.5mm
   • Hooks 2mm - 2.3mm: suitable for YarnArt Jeans, Gazzal Cotton Baby, Kartopu Amigurumi, Susan's Family 4, Catania Schachenmayr, Catona yarns.
   • How to choose: test the hook directly with any yarn, it should glide smoothly without too much friction.

2. Yarn for Crocheting:

   • YarnArt Jeans/Gazzal Cotton Baby/Kartopu Amigurumi/Susan's Family 4:
     • Pros: soft, smooth, available in many colors, easy to mix and match, reasonably priced for most users.
     • Cons: Since they are more budget-friendly, the finished product might not look as nice as with Catania or Catona yarns. ** Catania Schachenmayr, Catona:
     • Pros: Firm, shiny, beautiful, smooth, the details of the animals or dolls are sharp.
     • Cons: A bit more expensive, fewer shops carry them, and there are fewer colors to choose from.

3. Stuffing for Animals and Dolls: Use pellet stuffing (also known as bead stuffing or fiberfill), avoid using fine fiberfill due to its high dust content which is unsafe for children. Pellet stuffing gives a firm and durable feel, minimizing the risk of fibers poking out. Stuff little by little and pack it evenly to achieve a round and smooth finish.

4. Glue: I often use silicone glue for attaching hair, eyes, etc. to dolls and animals. This type of glue is also known as fabric glue (Sili Glue). Alternatively, you can use multi-purpose glue like UFO glue. The purpose of using glue is to shape parts together more easily and reduce misalignment, which is helpful if you are not skilled at sewing.

5. Eyes for Animals/Dolls: You can use either adhesive eyes or screw-in eyes. I aim for perfection in my products, so I often use adhesive eyes because eyes are almost the last step in the process, ensuring the final product is accurate. Screw-in eyes are very secure but once installed, they can't be adjusted if they are crooked or placed too high or low.

   • Commonly used sizes are 8mm (you can also buy 6mm or 10mm sizes if needed). For mini dolls, you'll need smaller sizes.
   • When attaching eyes, they are usually 8-9 stitches apart horizontally and placed in rows 12-14 from the top of the head or neck, depending on the design of each animal.

6. Yarn Needles: Essential because you cannot use regular sewing needles to sew animals or dolls. If you buy individually, you only need one needle, but you can also buy a set.

7. Scissors: Any scissors you have at home will do.

8. Measuring Tape: I rarely use it, usually only when making products for sale to measure the length and width of the product for customer descriptions.

9. Row Markers: You can use row markers or the yarn itself to mark rows. I often use the yarn itself.

10. Row Counter: Necessary for large-sized animals/dolls with many rows, as counting can be time-consuming. For small-sized animals, I think it's unnecessary to buy.

---> Conclusion:

*** Choosing Yarn Colors: From my experience, I look at many sample products and find color blocks according to the color tones. You need to know which color groups can go together to make the final product look harmonious. When you gain more experience, you won't need to refer to samples as much, but when starting out, look at many crochet patterns to learn about color coordination, eye, nose, mouth, hair proportions... of animals and dolls to make your products more harmonious and beautiful.

**** Choosing Materials for Beginners: Based on the above experiences, here are the essentials for starting:

• Crochet hooks: buy just one size 2.3mm/2.25mm if using YarnArt Jeans/Susan's Family 4 yarns, use 2mm for Catania, Catona yarns.
• Yarn: buy one type of yarn, the same size, choose enough colors for the product you plan to make (e.g., for a cat with 4 colors: blue, yellow, white, black, only buy these colors).
• Pellet stuffing: if sold by weight, buy 200-300 grams, enough to stuff one item (if not sold by weight, buy 500 grams).
• Eyes: buy one pair of 8mm eyes (if sold individually) or a pack of 5-10 pairs.
• Yarn needle: buy one needle.
• Scissors: any scissors for cutting yarn are okay.

With these tools and materials, you are ready to start. I will guide you in an advanced lesson when I have time. I hope this is enough to give you an overview of crocheting products. Feel free to ask any questions after I post this guide.

Enjoy your passion and create many beautiful, high-quality products!

-@Chikchikhandmade.