YARNS

The world of yarn is huge, and one of the joys of crochet is using different types of yarn – there are many fibres, thicknesses, textures and colours of yarn, each one more beautiful than the next! Note that crocheters (and knitters!) call it ‘yarn’: the word ‘wool’ specifically means the fibre spun from a sheep’s coat.

When it comes to deciding on the yarn you need, size does matter. Yarn comes in different weights, or thicknesses, from the finest 1ply lace to the widely-used DK yarn, up to thick super-chunky yarns. The yarn thickness will affect the look, feel and weight of your crocheted fabric. You’ll always get the best results if you use the yarn quoted in a specific pattern, although as you gain confidence, you’ll find it’s fairly easy to substitute another yarn. It’s best if you choose an alternative that’s the same weight and crochet a swatch to make sure the tension is the same (more on this later). Most DK yarn, for instance, can be used in any DK pattern that uses similar fibres.

As a beginner, it’s best to start with a plain wool or acrylic yarn. These are great value and perfect for practising crochet techniques. Both will cope well