The 10 RULES That Made Me a BETTER Crocheter & Knitter

The most important rule for me is number one (all are great btw) I'm a perfectionist and every single time I pick up new craft I start looking for inspiration online like one does... and I quickly get discouraged soon after. So this time with crocheting I took different approach, I've been practicing a few basic stitches, now I'm ready to try crocheting a simple granny square. I have to take it slow, otherwise I'm doomed to fail and give up. Thank you for all your advice, you're actually one of the people who inspired me to try❤

thank you so much! im trying to knit a scarf right now!! love all of your videos!!

Prioritize your wips and remember theres not one right way to crochet; i.e , not one rightvway to hold hook and yarn,fir ne a goid rule to follow woukd be, dont start something new until ive finished my current orojects( im not goid at following this rule!(, also its ok to be ok with what you know or dont know

well said. one weapon against comparison is this- only compare like with like. Comparing yourself to someone else is an apples-and-oranges scenario. My styles, abilities, and expertise are apples to their oranges, and vice versa. Even if our skill levels are similar, how I got here may differ entirely from how they got here. the same for where we're going.

Excellent video Elise. I found it very inspiring. Thank you for sharing. I love your work

Olive is telling you she loves you by slow blinking at you. ❤

Nice list: I would add: only gift projects for people who appreciate a hand made gift... There's something so satisfying in gifting a personal creation than having that appreciation back at you, maybe with a cute picture or something like that. Greatest feeling!

Miss olive is very pleased with your progress as evidenced by the eye squeezes. ❤❤❤

Ironically I can’t seem to do patterns very well I always seem to get it entirely wrong or use half a pattern and figure the rest out I technically only have 1 pattern I followed to the letter and that was a lace pattern I did for my second project a giant crochet cloak which I had to undo the hood for and redo that a few times and ended up with a MASSIVE hood which I love but it is very big and VERY deep for my second project as that took me….6 months at least to complete. My third project which is almost done have to sew on the fan fin tails after I iorn them out (only reason they aren’t on yet.) that was entirely my own free hand pattern and I couldn’t begin to tell you how I started it as it was just a mash up of random things I threw together to crest a koi fish for my niece and now my fourth project is goikg to be a red headed agama (lizard) for my nephew. I tried following a similar pattern for the head but it just WASNT working for me. On day three I gave up and opted to try my own way after I looked up a bunch of ball videos and eventually I landed on one on how to make a home hat I saw a move that they did to round it then did my own twist to that since I wasn’t about to go back and undo the work I did and so far it’s working out alright. They won’t be the best looking project out there but considering these will be my first amigaarumi I think I’m doing ok. My first project were some fingerless gloves that taught me I need to count what I’m doing their super stretchy though since I did back loops or front loops only so there that at least. I 100% just jumped right in at a project and just hoped it would work out and so far they have 🤣 I’ve learned something new from each project but despite what I do the first base chain is ALWAYS super tight even when I size up 2-3 hooks bigger. I know the way I keep my yarn makes it super tight but I don’t have any other way that comfortably for me I wrap the string around my insect finger 2 x on my left hand and I crochet with my right I in short feel like a spider as I crochet since it kinda looks like that with how the yarn feeds out 🤣

Great Video Great tips Love Mr Pickle and Miss Olive include them more

I don't like making swatches either. It seems like a waste of time and materials. I like weaving in ends as I go because it is such a chore to do it at the end! I love those bunnies!

I have two things that have really helped me with my crocheting. First - I had to change my mindset that it was okay to frog. When I started crocheting I never wanted to undo my work - even if it was only several rows. I now have the attitude that if something is not quite right - it's okay "I can stitch it again.".
Second - I count my stitches - A LOT! I have gotten burned so many times by having to frog rows and rows of an item because I didn't have the right amount of stitches that I now count my stitches through most of my projects. I may skip a row now and then if it's an easy repeat pattern - but I count the next row to make sure I'm on track.

Does anyone have got the pattern for this super cute bunny on Hand???

I went from woobles to pica pau 1 and 3. So far I've made it through the seagull and fox. Sooo challenging being that I'm new but I'm loving the struggle.

Thank you. Loved the video, great advice!

Great tips! Number #6 is brilliant! I’ve tried to design an amigurumi animal but after I put the safety eyes in I realised I didn’t like it 😕, so I might just take it out even though it would be a waste of a pair of eyes. By the way Mr Pickle and Miss Olive are so adorable! 😊

Hi Elise. I absolutely do weave in my ends as I go which includes my domino baby blanket and stripey socks. I was wondering if you remembered which green yarn you were using on that cute sweater ornament, it’s a long shot but I thought I would ask because I’ve been looking 👀 for that color to pair with magenta.
Take care
Rosy
Yes, I’m binge watching your episodes 😊

My best tip is Rome wasn’t built in a day so not expecting a project to come to fruition in a day and setting time aside to knit each day/week

I just found your channel and love it! This video has such great advice and I love your gorgeous cat and your craft room looks so cozy with all your finished products :o) I would love to learn knitting, but it is much harder then crochet to find slow knitting tutorials, even when they say it is for beginners, most of them go to fast. You see many crochet tutorials that show you in a very slow way, I wish there where knitting tutorials like that. Thank you for sharing your wisdom and tips, I have subscribed and hope to learn more from you :o)

The story about the bunny patterns really hit me emotionally because I felt like a bad crafter for getting upset when I couldn't understand something quickly- so hearing it from someone who has a lot of skill and experience (and not just as a formative lesson) is really reassuring! Thank you for sharing these tips :)

Sometimes, it really is best to take a break from a project that isn't working and coming back to it later with fresh eyes😌

I’m teaching myself to crochet again after years of carpal tunnel syndrome. It’s been amazing to finally start seeing things come to life.

Learning to set things down and come back when I’m feeling frustrated has saved so many projects from the WIP cemetery. 😅

I totally agree with weaving in ends as you go and choosing colors. I am terrible at choosing colors on my own. I have gotten the color wheel and researched color theory, but still I struggle. Would love a video on how you choose your colors.

Your tips are helpful and your cat is so pretty!

Something that’s been helping me recently as I’ve started picking up a few new techniques (tatting, knitting, bobbin lace) is that mistakes are not the end of the world, they’re helping you learn. I had to completely undo and restart a bobbin lace project because I completely messed up the beginning. But now I know what I did and how to avoid it in the future! It doesn’t have to be perfect right away; give yourself the grace to make mistakes. Learning new things becomes a lot more fun that way!

I always have at least 5 projects going at one time. I start the first row then do another one in a different color. That way it's faster for me too finish them. I've been working on the messy bun frozen hat and twisted ear warmers. And I buy x- larger zip handled bags too store all finished items. I made 10 twisted ear warmers,5 messy bun hats, baby hats, and 3 cocoons ,Santa,elf,and snowman. For granddaughter to sell for extra Christmas cash. And same for my great niece but her bag had purses not cocoons. They both have had new babies a few months old.

Thank you! I agree with every single statement. And I think your videos are very helpful and truly amazing.

My number one rule is not to commit to making something for someone else. I pick projects that interest ME and when I’m done with it I can decide to gift it to someone or keep for myself. Committing to knit for others creates all kinds of stress for me.

I guess my one tip would be to be happy with your work no matter what it looks like. I remember i was crocheting one time before my college math class and i kept messing up and i was getting so frustrated and a friend told me this story she had seen on the news or something about a group of women who crochet lace. Every time they mess up they just add to the design and were happy with it. Like Bob Rose sad happy accidents

I'm a quilter, but almost off of these rules apply! I enjoyed seeing your super cute projects and Miss Olive is gorgeous :)

This is an excellent video, thank you for sharing.

Thank you for this video and these rules!! You have a knack for making videos, you are so pleasant and encouraging to watch.
Your kitty Olive loves you so much she can't help but do that big slow blink at you!

I found some really incomplete patterns on etsy. One pattern the designer asked me to send my alterations on her design. I avoid her patterns now. You don't know about this until after the purchase. Your suggestions?

I would also add one thing from my own experience. Don't always use the size of hook recommended on the yarn you purchase of use. Too many times, the stitches end up way too large and the work is just ugly. I was at a flea market the other day and one vendor was selling her crochet with oversized stitches. Her granny square jackets were all stretched out and were quite frankly not attractive. I personally only have four cheap metal hooks and they just do the work perfectly. A paper clip also does the job for a stitch marker. Great video! Merci, Petit Saint.

Never stop creating is the rule.

Rules? There are no rules - we crochet and knit the way WE want to - when someone starts telling you about their "RULES" you need to run the other way

I've got nothing to add. I'm on day two of beginning knitting. My daughter is teaching me to knit a tea cosy for my Betty Blue Teapot. I insisted on pink beads (the cosy is purple). I have a total of two straight needles (no idea of gauge) and I'm so thrilled. When raising my daughter I told her about one group of friends sitting around talking and how one woman in the group was just knitting away and that every now and then, she'd pop on a bead, and all the while keep talking as part of the group. So on day two of my very first time knitting, I told my daughter, (who taught herself so that she could teach me) that a lifetime goal is being achieved after 40 years! We're both so excited and happy.

My biggest rule for myself is to remember to take time. I have a tendency to try and rush to see how quickly I can get it done. It causes me to get really stressed about the project. I've started trying to be more conscious about that and reminding myself to take my time. My work has come out a lot better since

I've been only crocheting and knitting for about two years but I try to have two projects max cast on at the same time (sometimes three) because otherwise it just feels overwhelming and like I can't finish anything. It's been working well so far and I don't have a stash of unfinished projects yet :) I also set timers to remember myself to take breaks when I get in the flow so hopefully I won't destroy my joins haha

I love how these rules work for you! I used to keep similar rules, but a few years ago I burned out hard on knitting, partly from pushing myself too hard at it. It was only after picking up crochet and doing nothing but mindless granny squares for a long time that I found my way back to knitting. Now my number one rule is "If it's not fun, f--- it."

If I'm not enjoying a project, I don't have to finish it. If I don't like the yarn I ordered for that sweater, I can use something else. If an old WIP hanging around is making me feel guilty, I frog it. When I learn a new skill these days, it's out of joy and curiosity, not obligation. Me of 10 years ago would be HORRIFIED. XD But priorities change, and everyone needs something a little different out of their crafting. Keep the rules that help you enjoy your hobby, and leave the rest!

Thank you for the video! The information is so useful, great quality video production, and your cat looks just like one of mine!!

Can you make a video about how to weaving ends the right way and how to take care of your finished project?

Agree 1000% about the right tools. There's a lot of 'hack' videos out there with ideas to substitute tools, which is fine in a pinch but not sustainable. Same goes for your crochet hook, you don't need a fancy one but you need one that is comfortable. Your hands and wrists shouldn't hurt, ever, and if they do experiment with ergonomic hooks!

One major rule for me is that I no longer guilt myself for starting over on something when I don’t like how something is turning out. If I’m not satisfied with it, there’s no point in continuing as I am when I can frog what I have and start over. I will typically try to determine what it is that dissatisfies me first, then start over and try something different, even if it deviates from the pattern (if I am working from one), to see what *does* work for me.

You are right on spot.

Comparison is an interesting aspect for me. I started on a knitting board, slowly learning to crochet with how you close projects made this way. Getting the hang of that taught me the basic slip stitch, which I used in all of my beginning projects. Mainly baskets, where I changed colors every round. So crazily enough, when I look back on them I always think; "This is so intricate. How did I do this?!" 😅

It's just knitting/crocheting, don't fuss about it, and don't be stressed if you don't finish it. It's ok.

This video goes well beyond crochet. I’m a programmer and many of these tips apply to programming along with many other hobbies/skills.