I get a lot of the same questions asked so I thought it would be a good idea to collate the answers all into one place for you........I hope you find it useful!
What yarn do you use?
That's a big question but in a nutshell I use the yarn that is right for the job! A good quality acrylic yarn is what I use most often for my blankets. Brands I favour are Scheepjes Colour Crafter, Cygnet DK and Yarnsmiths Create DK. Acrylic comes in a huge range of colours, it's hypoallergenic, keeps its shape, is usually budget friendly and perhaps most importantly easy to care for as blankets made with acrylic yarn can be popped in the washing machine on a normal cycle. It can even be tumble dried (on a low setting!) however acrylic air dries really quick so save your pennies!
Acrylic isn't always the best option though. For example if I was to make a bag or perhaps a pot holder I would use cotton yarn. Cotton doesn't stretch like acrylic can and it is more heat resistant. So the most important thing is to select yarn that suits what you are making.
What hook and size do you use?
I've tried lots of hooks over the years and always seem to go back to my Clover Amour ones. They just suit my grip and technique really well and I find them comfortable to use.
I also have a few Tulip Etimo hooks and again they are very nice hooks but not quite as comfy as my Clover ones! I can't get on with the hooks with the big chunky handles or the polymer clay chunky handled ones, they look nice, good for photo props, but I just don't find them particularly ergonomic for my own personal technique.
There is no right or wrong way to hold your hook and yarn (don't let anyone bully you into thinking there is!) and one type/brand of hook may suit one person but not the next. If you are finding crocheting uncomfortable or are getting achey wrists it could actually be the hook that's the blame, not you! It's definitely worth experimenting with the type of hook to find one that works best for your own technique.
There are many variables with hook size.......stitch, yarn weight, natural tension, project.....all things to consider and the hook size I use for a project might not be right for you as my natural tension may differ from yours. Some stitches work up tighter than others so again experimenting with hook size is worthwhile. If your stitches are working up looser than you'd like go down a size, if they are working up tighter than you'd like then go up a size. It's not unusual for me to use 3 different hook sizes on one project!
Do you block your work?
On the whole......no
I haven't ever found the need to block blankets made with acrylic yarn. Acrylic holds it's shape and if your tension is even, you are using the right hook size for your tension, yarn and stitch then there shouldn't really be a need to block. The only time I would block something I've made with acrylic yarn is if it's got a lacy edge that needs the stitches accentuated.
If you are making squares to join to make a blanket then the process of joining will naturally block the squares. Perhaps controversial but for me blocking squares that are going to be joined anyway is kinda blocking for the sake of blocking. I'd much rather spend the time crocheting than blocking! It's nice for aesthetic purposes....I lightly blocked with steam these rainbow squares for photographic purposes but as a rule I just don't bother!
Natural fibres like cotton and wool can behave a little different though, they don't tend to keep shape quite as well as acrylic so blocking can be beneficial particularly if you're making a garment where it is often essential
Do you take on custom makes?
No, sorry I don't take on any custom work. I'm not able to commit to deadlines and to be quite honest it takes the joy out of crocheting for me. I do every now and then sell what I have made and if I have something available you can find it here
Do you sell patterns?
Yes, I do have a few written patterns available and you can find them in my Etsy shop here
Do you have a You Tube channel?
Yes, I do. You can find lots of crochet video tutorials on my channel, here's the link
Little Dove Crochet You Tube Channel
Don't forget to SUBSCRIBE so that you get notified about new videos!
Where can I find information about what you've made?
You can find loads of information about things I've made in the past here on my blog. There isn't full written patterns on the blog but there are lots of free links and resources included in my blog posts. You can also find Little Dove Crochet on socials - Instagram and Facebook
How can I support you?
All the info I provide on the blog and on You Tube is FREE! I'm not affiliated with any yarn brands or include any third party advertising on my blog out of choice....I like to be a free spirit! There is no obligation to support me in any way financially, I write the blog and share my makes on socials because I choose to, I am passionate about crochet and it brings me joy!
If you would like to support me though there are several ways you can do it, all FREE!
- Follow me on socials
- Interact with my socials posts
- Share my socials posts
- Share my blog posts
- Subscribe to my You Tube channel
- Watch my video tutorials
- Share my Video tutorials
Simply by sharing and commenting on my socials posts is hugely helpful to me
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If, however, you would like to support the time involved in producing the blog and videos you can do so by 'buying me a coffee' via my Kofi page. I am always extremely touched anytime anybody chooses to do this, thank you.
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I hope you have found these FAQ useful....I expect they'll be things added to it over the course of time and I remember other things that crop up so check back regularly for updates!
Faye