How to Crochet // Making a Slip Knot

So, for the past six months, I've started to pick up the art of crochet. It's something that my grandma knows how to do, along with knitting, sewing, making clothes, etc. She's very good. I can't count how many jackets, hats, and blankets I've gotten as gifts throughout the years. She's so good she goes to a hookers club - rug hookers to be exact - where women of all ages sit and talk and share their art; it takes place at a lodge up on one of the mountains in Tennessee.

Along with my grandma's help, as well as my boyfriend's grandma's help, I'm following this handy book:

Title: 150 Crochet Trims
Author: Susan Smith
Publication Date: 2007
Pages: 128
Genre: How-to
K's Rating: 3 bookworms

It offers high-res pictures and instructions on how to create edgings, fringes, braids, motifs, and accessories. In the back is a "Refresher Course" that offers illustrated step-by-step images of basic skills, making buttons, joining yarn, working in rounds, 3D motifs. Unfortunately, the trims don't have step-by-step pictures as well, but once you understand the terms and abbreviations, it's easier to follow.

So, in doing all this, I thought it'd be cool to make a how-to crochet series; as I figure it out, I'll post pictures and my own step-by-step directions to help you figure it out, too. I totally recommend giving it a try! Crocheting not only keeps your mind and hands active, but you can give away your hard work as gifts! It's also a fun thing to do when you're stuck on an airplane. And it's a heck of a lot better than sitting and staring at the wall or, worse, at the little kids drooling and dripping snot around you as you wait at the eye doctor's office (y'all know what I'm talking about).

So...la da! Here's the first tutorial!

Making a Slip Knot

Position yarn behind crochet hook.

Yarn over (yo), leaving a tail.

Keep wrapping, from front to back. Tighten.

Yarn over. Pull loop through by the hook.

Does it look like this? Perfect! That's your slip knot!