10 Essential Skills to Master Miniature Crochet
PROFILE
Hi! I’m Bing. I am a fine jewelry designer living in Melbourne, Australia. My making journey started when I was 12. Crochet, knitting, sewing, embroidery, wire and bead work, carving, drawing…
Making is a big part of my life. Not only it provides a sense of achievement but also a process of discovery. Working with metals is fascinating. But working with threads provides me a different arena to play with soft constructions. I constantly study how to apply colors to projects; how to present texture; how to improve durability; how to feel good when touch…so to discover the true beauty of pure thread art. Another challenge I wish to conquer is how to simplify the process. There are always better ways to make! Here I am, to share and to learn alongside you.
crochet basics mini series #2
What are the essential skills to crochet? How to crochet better?
Yes, a quiet corner, plenty of natural lights, a comfy chair, be confident… external settings do affect your mood for making. But in this article I’d really like to put this question in a technical perspective. Let’s dive in.
10 Essential Crochet Skills
1. Master basic stitches
Miniature crochet doesn’t require many fancy stitches at all. Fancy stitches add characters to 2D projects but not so much to 3D. Think miniature flowers as sculptures. The display of structures and layers is the key. Sometimes fancy stitches do more harm than benefit. If you learned the “6 Most Useful Crochet Stitches” and put in the effort to get an even and smooth finish, it will greatly improve the outcome of your 3D projects. Click on the link above it will take you to a set of goals for mastering these stitches.
2. Even grip, consistent tension
It can be a preference or a habit. Some people crochet tighter, some looser. Generally miniature crochet tends to be tighter made. However the true beauty is consistency. Evenly release the amount of thread to ensure each stitch is a repeat to the previous one. The more you practice the better you get. It will eventually become your second nature.
3. Gestures
I personally prefer to keep the hook in one direction for the entire course. But I noticed a lot of crocheters turn the hook a 180º in every stitch. You will not feel it as a hassle when it becomes a habit. However that’s a lot of extra energy to put in especially we are talking about tens of thousands of stitches over the years! Furthermore, it could be harder to maintain consistency when there is a swing motion. A hook following a straight line compared to a hook following a circled line, has much better chance to keep a single orientation of every stitch.
4. Level of details
To be successful at miniature crochet you have to let go some details thoughtfully. If you have read my “About”, this seems to be in contrary to my philosophy. Details give a soul to a project. But not all details are possible in a small scale. For example, this David Austin rose in the picture. What you create will be an artistic impression of the object: focus on the core features and let go some non-essential details.
5. Transition of stitches
Each stitch does two things to your work: shape and texture. A double crochet is taller and thicker than a single crochet. It also has a tilted length of thread wrapped in front. When you use different stitches think about the shape they create, as well as texture variation. For example, when I make a camellia leaf I would choose just single crochet for a smooth transition. But for a dandelion leaf it needs to be sharp and bumpy so there will be a combination of long and short stitches.
6. Accurate stitch height estimates
This is super important when you try to create a desired shape. There are different ways to control a curve. A sharp tall curve has different stitches to a low gradual curve. Understand the heights of the stitches and apply accordingly.
7. Crochet texture
Surface textures are very hard to express in miniature crochet. I have been working on it a lot but learned so little. I find a very neat and clean finish too rigid. I prefer softer yarns over waxed thread. I think flower petals should curl, just like them in nature. Yarns have a softer and slightly hairy finish. This feature makes them look cozier and more delicate. They are also comfortable to touch. If you are interested in this topic, in my mini course “Crochet Threads Selection” there is a comprehensive comparison of commonly used materials.
Another big part of natural flowers is veins. They are beautiful to watch but extremely hard to re-create. Making the effort to add these components into your works will take your crochet to the next level.
8. Color management
Color is the first thing eyes react to, followed by shape and texture. Think of a color scheme instead of an isolate color. Nature is our best teacher. Take notes of the sceneries you like and break down into a range of colors. This will help you to come up with color ideas. You can click on my course “How to manage color variations” where you can learn how to apply color change techniques to projects.
I am not a big fan of dyes. I feel nervous to apply dye paints onto a beautifully crocheted piece. It’s like the makeup on the face:) I’d rather challenge myself to make/crochet a pretty face than patching up imperfections. The best thing is these flowers can be washed like normal clothes. Dyed flowers won’t last and they may lose their glory after a few washes, or even leave stains on the outfit.
9. When to expand and when to reduce
Natural flowers are rarely perfectly smooth edged. It adds a lot more characters if you capture this in your making. Take a look at these two calla lilies I made. The one with natural wave lines is certainly more interesting. Your audience will appreciate your thoughtful move in taking this extra step. One key method to achieve this fluidity is to know when to increase, when to decrease and how much. In my “Realistic Crochet Mini Series” I have extensive discussions on this topic. This is also considered an essential skill to master.
10. 3D curve control
A crocheted surface is very forgiving. With suitable treatments you can curl up or flatten components to your desire. However in my courses I try to eliminate any treatments at all, because most of them aren’t permanent. But if you can create natural curves by using crochet techniques, they are the ones to stay. These flowers can be washed and look as new. Curve control is an essential technique, as you would imagine all parts of a flower are curved!
Another approach to this is, your crochet project is a unique handcrafted artwork, not just a commodity. Each creation represents a valuable learning curve. So join me and discover new techniques today!
HANDFUL LIST OF COURSES TO MASTER CROCHET
- How to crochet natural curves
- How to manage shapes
- How to crochet textures
- Understand structures
- How to manage color variations
- Art of arrangements
- Crochet threads selection
- Crochet treatments and finishing
- How to estimate cost of crochet projects
- How to crochet a bell shape
- How to crochet frills
- How to use recycled materials
- Crochet packaging design
PROJECTS FOR SHARPENING UP YOUR SKILLS
1. Daisy (Level 3)
[Daisy Crochet Pattern] buy it now
[Daisy Step by Step Video Tutorial] buy it now
Daisy has a simple structure but impactful appearance. They will bring a lot of joy to you as a beginner project. Starting from something like this you will build up your confidence undoubtedly.
2. Dandelion Flower (Level 1)
[Dandelion Flower Crochet Pattern] download here
[Dandelion Flower Step by Step Video Tutorial] download here
Wild flowers tend to take the formation of repetition. Dandelion flower, like its famous “sibling” the dandelion, is an excellent example. Rather than a challenge for crochet skills, it’s more of a work of structure. Use the finest thread you could handle for the best result.
3. Lavender (Level 2)
[Lavender Crochet Pattern] buy it now
[Lavender Step by Step Video Tutorial] buy it now
Like the many varieties Lavender has, there are many crochet styles of this romantic flower. This beginner pattern is really simple to follow. The unique color combo and simplicity make it an eye-catching decoration on any blouses.
4. Lily of the valley (Level 3)
[Lily of the Valley Crochet Pattern] buy it now
[Lily of the Valley Step by Step Video Tutorial] buy it now
These adorable tiny blooms are hugely popular amongst crocheters. The best advantage of white flowers is they are the perfect complement to any outfit. You can try out this pattern to practice how to crochet a bell shape. Bell is one of those basic but very useful shapes constantly found in more complicated patterns.
