If you’re like me, quarantine is not something you ever planned for. Luckily, I have a fun way to past the time! I’ve been an active crochetier for several years and I’m so glad I have it now. Crochet has been a sanity saver for me.

I learned how to crochet through YouTube videos. I like this because you see and hear what they are doing. You can also learn lots of different stitches and projects. Here are some crochet projects and things to consider for beginners. 

Crocheted stuffed animals are some of my favorite and some of the cutest things to do! I’ve done these before for commissions as Christmas gifts. This could be a fun way to get ahead for holidays and birthdays! I love the site Amigurumi To Go for these because they have a ton of different projects. I’ve done the monkey, giraffe and little teddy bear. They are super fun! The larger animals may take a few hours, but the smaller ones can be done in only a couple.

The site has the written patterns as well as video tutorials, which can be extremely helpful for beginners. Check out the teddy bears and monkey for some beginner projects. Another quick but enjoyable project would be the site’s mini safari animals!

To make any of the stuffed animals, you’ll need yarn, the matching hook and stuffing. If you don’t want to leave your house, you can order it on Amazon. For these, I like to use the Red Heart yarn brand. It’s a good quality yarn for a good price. It’s a long-standing brand and used by many in the crochet world. Personally, I haven’t found any preferences for stuffing. 

Hooks are sized by letters and millimeters. Standard Red Heart yarn usually uses an “I” hook. This is a medium sized hook. For beginners, consider using a slightly larger hook than suggested because it makes it a little easier for learning. When you buy yarn, check out the label. It will have the suggested size for knitting needles and crochet hooks.

When you’re looking at crochet hooks, check out ones with a rubber or wood handle. The less expensive all-metal hooks can be harder to work with. I have a set with rubber handles, and they are great because they give you a better grip. It can be hard to crochet with smaller hooks when they don’t have a handle. 

Other projects I like are scarves, and beanies. These can be a great starter project. If you’re looking at videos on YouTube, check out ones for beginners. These will go slower and explain things more, like the hook and yarn types. My biggest tip for beginners? Take your time and go slow. 

This is the video this YouTube channel has for absolute beginners. This video explains the most basic crochet stitch, and how to start your work. 

This video shows how to make a winter hat. In the beginning she goes through the yarn type, as well as the hook size on the label. She also talks about taking yarn from the middle.  This would be another good video for a beginner. 

This video is the first in a series of basic stitch videos. This video starts off super slow, but she goes through a lot of things that would be good for a beginner. She also shows how to make a coaster, another great thing for a beginner to make!