Hand Crochet Made Easy

It’s unlikely that you missed the trend of arm knitting that has taken the yarn world by storm over the past couple of years, but did you know we crocheters have our own version? Extreme chunky yarn is quite readily available online these days, with some shops such as Woolly Mahoosive selling this size of yarn exclusively. It’s so easy to have a go at – if you can crochet with a hook, we promise you can crochet with your hands! Although a regular tension is harder to achieve, when you are making something like a throw for your home, the tension doesn’t matter as much as with toys and garments. Follow our easy steps to get a hang of the technique, and make a small tester throw with our pattern. If you are crocheting by hand, be sure to take regular breaks so your muscles don’t get too sore!

Yarn used

Woolly Mahoosive Mahoosive Chenille, 3cm
4 skeins in Dove Grey (MC)
2 skeins in Bright Pink (CC)

Available from www.woollymahoosive.com

Tension

1 dc = 8x7cm

Sizing

Approximately 92x140cm

How to

Step 1 – Make a slipknot by wrapping the yarn around the palm of your hand twice.

Step 2 - Lift the first loop over the second, and again, taking it over your fingers to make the knot.

Step 3 – Place the slipknot on your preferred wrist.

Step 4 - To chain, grab the working yarn and pull your hand through the loop on your wrist, while using your other hand to hold the slipknot steady. Place your hand and wrist back in the loop. Repeat for as many chains necessary.

Step 5 – To create a dc, place your hand through the middle of the chain, or stitch, as you would with a crochet hook.

Step 6 – Grab the working yarn, and pull through the st as in Step 4. 2 loops on your wrist

Step 7 – Grab the working yarn again, and pull through both loops on your wrist.

Step 8 – Any stitch can be replicated this way, using your hand just as you would a hook. To create a treble stitch, simply wrap the working yarn round your wrist before you go through the indicated st.

Start crocheting

With CC, chain 14 by hand.

Row 1: Starting in 2^nd ch from hook, dc across. Turn. 13 sts

Row 2: 1 ch (counts as st), dc across. Turn.

Row 3: As Row 2.

Break CC. Change to MC.

Rows 4-15: As Row 2.

Break MC. Change to CC.

Rows 16-18: As Row 2.

Fasten off. Weave in ends by hand.

Top Tip

These chunky ends are hard to weave in, so secure them with a few small sewn stitches with a needle and matching thread

Happy hooking,

Jenny