1. Beware the fuzzy yarn

(Lion Brand Yarn Go for Faux Bulky Yarn in Pink Poodle on amazon.com)

You may want to make that cute teddy bear or that super fuzzy sweater, but be cautious! Super fuzzy yarn offers little to no stitch definition. That means you cannot see where your previous stitch was and where the next stitch goes.

Even the more experienced crocheters miss stitches or accidentally crochet multiple times in the same stitch when using super fuzzy yarn. 

You need to be confident in your sense of touch to work with fuzzy yarn.

Otherwise, you are stuck hyper-focusing on the project and run the risk of having 29 stitches at the end of the round when you should only have 26 stitches.

2. Multiple strands of yarn aren't always better

(Lion Brand 24/7 Cotton Yarn in Amber, 3 pack on amazon.com)

Using multiple strands of yarn is a great budget-friendly crochet hack -- but you have to be careful to catch each strand of yarn on the hook.

Without paying attention, you can easily check your row progress only to see a mistake 5 rows down.

Crocheting with multiple strands of yarn requires consistent yarn tension. But this skill takes time to learn and months to correctly implement.

3. Stick to the basic yarn colors

(Lion Brand Yarn Basic Stitch Anti Pilling on amazon.com)

It may be tempting to want to make a white sweater or a pair of dark blue socks but certain colors can cause trouble for beginners.

In my experience, black and white yarns tend to affect stitch visibility. It's hard to see each standalone stitch in a sea of black yarn. The same goes for multi-colored yarn. If you aren't careful, you can easily miss a stitch or double count.

Of course, using an anti-pilling yarn helps with maintaining stitch definition. However I've noticed really pale, super dark, or multi-colored yarns can still be a challenge.

4. Value your fingers over your fiber content

(Lily Sugar n Cream Yarn, Pastel Solids on amazon.com)

The bottom line, 100% cotton yarn is not the most playable yarn. Cotton yarn doesn't offer a lot of stretch or slack. It can be brutal on your hands and easily show any mistakes and inconsistencies in yarn tension. I suggest taking breaks when using cotton yarn but also staying clear of it until you understand the basics of crocheting.

Trust me, your hands will thank you.

5. Don't use super bulky yarn

(Bernat Blanket Ombre Ocean Teal Ombre Yarn on amazon.com)

While super chunky yarn builds very quickly and makes it easier to see stitches, manipulating that large of yarn can be taxing on your hands. That's why I recommend using a Medium weight 4 or a Chunky weight 5 yarn for your first couple of patterns.

Medium and Chunky yarn is great for crocheting smaller projects like beanies and mug cozies and larger projects like pillow covers, blankets, and sweaters.

6. Start with a medium crochet hook

(Boye 6226 3-Piece Aluminum Crochet Bonus Hook Set, Size Ranges H-8 to J-10 on amazon.com)

Crochet stitches are as big or as small as you choose. That being said, the smaller the stitch the harder it is to see, so be careful when first learning to crochet.

Check the pattern hook size in the pattern. If the hook is below 5mm, you better make sure you know the basics of crocheting or it can get frustrating really quick.

I recommend finding patterns with hook sizes between 6mm and 8mm. Anything larger than that can cause hand fatigue from overmanipulating the larger weight yarn.

7. Use pastel-colored yarn

(Red Heart Super Saver Yarn on amazon.com)

Think Easter colors -- magenta, teal, green, yellows, pinks, blues, and purples are great beginner yarn colors to get started crocheting. They tend to be easy to see and nice on the eyes, plus there are so many lovely hues!

8. Go for the self-striping yarn

(Lion Brand Yarn Mandala Baby Yarn in Honeydukes on amazon.com)

Maybe it's just me, but I easily get bored crocheting a one-color project. Sure the more complex stitches are fun, but those can be daunting when you're a beginner. You just learned how to triple crochet and you probably still aren't the best at switching between yarns.

Enter self-striping yarns! There is something oddly soothing about watching one color slowly transition into another color. And the color change is always a good stopping point.