How to Crochet Faster
Wondering how to crochet more efficiently? Check out these hints and tips to help you move more quickly while crocheting.
If you're a beginner crocheter you may think that crocheting faster only comes with experience, but, any experienced crocheter will tell you that anyone can be a quick crocheter.
Experience is only a small part of getting your project done quickly. You also need to pick the right weight of yarn, the proper crochet hook, and prepare your yarn beforehand just to name a few things.
On this page, learn tips for how to crochet faster. Below, we will review these factors as well as a few others to help you turn out your yarn project quicker than before.
As an overview, here's what each section entails: Learn how the different types of yarn can affect your speed, along with hook sizes. Learn how the pattern alone makes a huge difference in how fast or slow you can work.
We'll go over how to prep your yarn before you start, the importance of stretching and good posture, and more.
As a bonus, we're also sharing insight from our readers on which stitches they think are the fastest, so be sure to scroll down to see if you agree.
Understand the Different Types of Yarn
Yarn comes in different weights numbered from 0 – 7 (0 – Lace, 1 – Superfine, 2 – Fine, 3 – Light, 4 – Medium, 5 – Bulky, 6 – Super Bulky, 7 - Jumbo). If you want to work up a project quickly your best bet is to use a Bulky, Super Bulky, or Jumbo yarn. You will end up working fewer stitches and have a decent-sized project.
Understand and Choose the Right Hook Sizes
Just as yarn comes in different sizes, there are different sizes for crochet hooks. They come as small as 2.25mm and as large as 25mm. The larger the crochet hook, the quicker you will work. This goes hand in hand with your yarn weight since the bulkier the yarn, the larger the crochet hook you will use.
A lot of people prefer either inline or tapered crochet hooks, which can change how the yarn moves for each person. Learn more by visiting one of these guides from our friends:
Think Wisely When Picking a Pattern
Patterns with textures are always tempting and beautiful, but, if you want to work up a project quickly it’s best to pick a pattern with a simple stitch. Go with something like a chevron or ripple stitch.
It looks complicated but, it’s a pattern that once you’ve got the stitch pattern down you can work on it mindlessly. Save that cable or bobble stitch for when you have a little extra time on your hands.
Prep Your Yarn Before You Start Crocheting
Instead of unwinding your yarn as you crochet, wind the yarn into a ball prior to starting your project. And, instead of letting it roll all over the place as you work, place the ball in a yarn bowl, tote bag, or in a yarn holder. This simple step will prevent your yarn from getting knots and tangles while you work with it.
Remember to Stretch Your Hands and Wrists
Before you sit down to start crocheting it’s important to stretch your wrists, hands and fingers. This will not only help in preventing pain, but it will also help to keep them flexible while you work.
Some stretches that you can do:
- Interlock your fingers with your palms facing away from you and then extend your arms out. Hold this stretch for 5 to 10 seconds. Rest and repeat this a few times. You can also do this same stretch by holding your arms behind your back with your palms facing up.
- Using your right hand stretch the fingers on your left hand by gently pressing them back and holding it for a few seconds. Repeat using your left hand to press back the fingers on your right hand.
- Open and close your fingers as you move your forearms back and forth.
Find a Good Sitting Position
It’s not only important to make sure your fingers and wrists are ready to crochet, but that your whole body is as well. While we are all prone to slouching it’s ideal to have good posture while crocheting. Sitting hunched will not only tire your body out quicker, but you will end up with achy shoulders and neck pain.
Sit all the way back in a comfortable chair with cushioning and make sure you have ample lighting so you can see what you are doing. Avoid sitting on a hard surface or the floor which won’t provide any support for your back.
BONUS! Fastest Crochet Stitches
Although the way you crochet makes a huge difference, when you're crocheting basic or simple stitches, you will naturally move faster.
Single, double, and half double crochet, seed stitch, and similar quick to produce crochet stitches are going to be faster than something that involves more movements and actions, like the shell or v-stitch.
Obviously, the more comfortable you are with a stitch, the quicker it will be to crochet.
We asked readers: Which is the Fastest Crochet Stitch? and they provided a lot of helpful insight to what they think is the fastest and why. Click to read what they had to say!
Now you've got all the information you need now to turn out beautiful crochet projects at lightning speed!
Up Next
The Do's and Don'ts of Crochet >>>
Do you have any tips for speeding up your crochet process?
Let us know in the comment section!
