Crocheting is a craft that involves making lacy patterns from thread or wool. The needles that you use in the projects are called crochet hooks because they have a hook at the tip of the needle that enables you to catch the yarn to pull it through the loops you make. You only work with one loop at a time. Even though you see intricate patterns in doilies, scarves and hats that are made by crocheting, you can make many of these projects quite easily with only a few basic stitches once you learn how to make them.

It is easier to use wool for your first projects and a larger crochet hook because it makes it easier to see the stitches as you go along. Weight worsted wool is the best to use because it doesn easily ravel and you can wash the things you make in the washing machine without having to take any special care with them. To get started hold the crochet hook with a firm grip and make a small loop with the wool. Use the hook to draw the wool through the loop to form a knot, but the secret is not to have this knot too tight. You have to be able to insert the hook through this knot in order to keep working, so it should be loose enough to accommodate the size of the hook.

Bring the hook through the knot and wrap the wool around the hook. Draw the wool through to make another stitch ?this is called a chain stitch and is the basic stitch you need to know for crocheting. All projects start with a row of chain stitches and the number you need to make depend on the size of the project you are making. For example, for a dishcloth, you will need to make 35 chain stitches, whereas if you are making an afghan you will need a much larger number.

The stitches that you need to know to complete any crochet projects are:

* Single crochet. In this stitch, you insert the needle through the second chain stitch so that you now have two loops on the hook. Wrap the yarn around the hook and pull through all three loops at the same time.

* Double crochet. You wrap the wool around the needle and then insert it through the stitch. Wrap the yarn around the needle and draw through two loops on the hook. Warp the yard around the needle again and pull through the remaining loops on the needle.

* Treble crochet. This makes an even longer stitch than the double crochet. You have to wrap the wool around the needle twice before you insert it into the next stitch and them work the same way as for the double crochet wrapping the yarn around the needle and drawing through two loops at a time.

When you start any crochet project, always leave a length of yarn dangling at the end so that you can pull the yarn tight and keep it from ravelling out. When you finish a project, you also leave a length of yarn. You sew in these ends when you are finished by weaving them in and out through the stitches.