Crocheting can be a hugely therapeutic and satisfying hobby. It is very accessible but it can be tricky to get started if you have no knowledge at all. The following top tips are designed to give you some basic tips, however, to help you get started as soon as possible.

Use crochet kits

Consider starting out using crochet kits, available from companies such as //www.woolcouturecompany.com/collections/crochet-kits. These offer an extremely simple, fuss-free way of getting started.

Buy cheaper yarn

Mistakes are common when you first start getting creative with crocheting and so there is no point spending a fortune on yarn that can fray and stretch when reworking projects.

Keep it simple

Start out with non-variegated, medium-thickness, light-coloured yarn with no beads, sparkles or waves. This will make stitches easier to see and the yarn as easy as possible to work with.

Find your style

Practice and learn about the most comfortable way to hold your hook and yarn. There are lots of internet tutorials around, so test things out to find your style.

Get the basics right

Don’t be tempted to move onto patterns too soon. Practice basic stitches first and then move on to simple single crochet projects to start with. When it comes time for patterns, pick those labelled as suitable for beginners for your first projects.

Use a bigger hook

As a beginner, use a slightly larger hook size for the foundation chain to prevent you making this too tight before you’ve mastered tension.