crocheting a sweater for the first time *as a beginner* 

'I consider myself a beginner because I've only made this bag,' me, with a chunky single crochet chain: **hyperventilating noises**

i really wanna crochet a sweater now even though i have absolutely no experience

Hi Melanie! I know that I’m commenting on this pretty late but I have some advice from a long time crocheter to a newbie! This is an INCREDIBLE first project. Mine definitely did not look like this. Newbies, this project is not difficult but super consuming. It is doable though! Cardigan is way easier than sweater bc sweater sizing can get really weird really fast. DO NOT SO A SWEATER VEST!! You’re making it WAY harder than it has to be. A cardigan shape is literally a bunch of rectangles. The shape is much more forgiving especially if your squares are a little big too big or small. I would say to do the entire sweater in either all plain colored, all granny square style (they do look different and use different techniques), or all one style of granny square (all sunflowers, all hearts, etc). That way you only have to make one type of squares for the entire project! General tips (these are some life savers, trust me!) LEARN: - magic ring/crochet in a round - increase/decrease - single crochet all the way up to treble like the back of your hand - magic knot (connecting two strands seamlessly) - the “no gaps at the beginning of the rows” method Once you learn how to do these, you can do pretty much anything (especially stuffed animals) crochet. I’ve been doing it for long enough that I can look things up on Etsy and recreate without a pattern in my head because I understand how all the shapes work. Pinterest is awesome for visual learners like me! RU-vid obviously is a great sourceThe subreddit r/crochet is a great community, but don’t be intimidated by the crazy complicated projects that appear on the sub. Those people have been crocheting for years.. One last thing: gauge/tension are super important and frustrating for beginners. Gauge/tension is how tightly you hold your yarn in the non hook hand. This can drastically change the look and size of your piece, so make sure you learn the “right”/comfortable tension for you to ensure consistently across your work. Good luck everyone! I really hope that Melanie shares more projects with us, I like having a buddy when I crochet.

melanie’s diy skills are honestly so good, i could never

"we're kinda just eyeballing it" me with everything i crochet🤭

the sweater looks SO GOOD. also, i recommend reading the books (shadow and bone trilogy and six of crows duology) before watching the show shadow and bone so it'll make more sense and be more fun to watch :)))

love how melanie is trying new things and challenging herself

Crocheting is really addicting YES

melanie really said my life will be everyones pinterest boards

this crochet sweater is ADORABLEEEEE

This is REALLY cute, I got here from my recommendations! The only thing that bugged me (and that is hopefully helpful and not just annoying tips from strangers.... I didn't see any comments about it yet!) is how you hold the yarn. It looks so slow, and you might end up hurting your hands and wrists if you don't hold the yarn in a good way to get both tension and speed right. Also, it's very common to crochet a lot harder in the beginning and then loosening up and the other way around. You'll get there (to the even squares, that is) and also blocking helps! Lord, now this is becoming a novel of a comment. Love the sweater, and it turned out GREAT!

WE HOLD TENSION THE SAME!!!! I haven’t seen anyone else hold tension in the middle of their pointer and middle finger like that besides myself... so TWINZZ

Girl, you did soo well. I'm impressed!! I've been crocheting for around 15 years now (I'm 19 so the majority of my life) and it honestly felt like I was crocheting with my best friend for the first time (my friends don't crochet). You are so relatable and everything you said about crocheting is so true. I always start a new project in the middle of the night and it's addicting. Pleaseeee make more crochet video's. I absolutely loved this video!!!!

I made the Harry cardigan last summer and I literally binged all of new girl and 5 season of doctor who

It looks really cute. I'm actually in the middle of crocheting squares for my first patchwork sweater. I found your video super encouraging.

this is the most chaotic sweater crocheting video ever and I'm here for it

I agree about crocheting at night can get very addicting, I've done it a lot of times, staying up until 5 am, I don't know if I recommend it because you progress a lot but sleep less

Can we just talk about Melanie's cute little giggle in the beginning of the video and whenever she's excited! I love it!! She starts talking about books and just gives that little giggle and you just know how excited she is! So much love, your videos are absolutely inspiration and so amazing!

Yesss I’m so obsessed with Melanie’s diys like we love such a creative/artistic queen 🥰❤️

I hardly ever watch people's vlogs but I genuinely enjoyed yours! I am a beginner with learning Crochet, but it felt like I was there with you and going to JoAnn's! I am so ecstatic for you and your sweater! You earned a sub from me Melanie! Keep it up with this content! 💛

I’ve been procrastinating for so long but this video gave me so much joy and inspiration to finish the patchwork top/blouse that i’ve been wanting to do for quite some time. Thank you so much 🫶

Ok but in the thumbnail (havent watched yet) it turned out soooo cute!

watching your whole process made me smile and laugh as I saw the hurdles you went through cause I definitely have gone through similar struggles while crocheting clothing! This was such a fun video to watch :D

Melanie, you have really influenced me to make a sweater almost exactly like this. I don’t know if I would really consider myself a beginner anymore, I started crocheting quite a bit ago. I am so excited to start this project! I’m getting almost the exact same colors and everything Honestly though, I’ve had to had watched this video like 50 in the past month like you did such a great job and you have inspired me deeply I probably just wrote this for you to not even see this lol😢

Melanie, you are awesome. I have so enjoyed watching your journey into sweater land. Your video reminded me of the first sweater I made (50 +) years ago. Trial and error are what makes up our lives. I love your story and your sweater. It is GREAT to see a younger generation working on an old craft. Keep it up. Continue to pass it on. Thanks for the laughs.

Hello! I'm from the Philippines, and this is my first visit to your channel. I had a desire to learn how to crochet but didn't know where to begin. I came into your video by coincidence and was blown away by your crocheting skills. You remind me of Nicole Laeno; both of you are stunning and one-of-a-kind! Thank you for being an inspiration to me!

could you do a video showing how you crochet and how you find the patterns, I LOVE the sunflower one!

Is it just me or the rough sketch she drew in ten minutes will take me 2 hours to do you are so talented Melanie❤‍🔥

If you find that you aren't wearing it you can rip the squares apart and sew them together again. You can take the extra squares out of the sleeves and add them to the length of the body and then put ribbing back on.

Omg !! I just started crocheting and I always am watching new girl! Idk but I find that crazy

You are the first person I have seen in a RU-vid video who holds the hook and yarn exactly how I do it. I don’t feel so alone now. I am glad someone crochets like me. I thought I was doing it “wrong” or something because I am a lefty. 😅

Hi Melanie! I just want to say that seeing a beginner create this amazing project is so inspiring because I have only crocheted 3 things and they were 2 squishies and a pineapple (supposed to be another squishy but messed up), I really have wanted to make a sweater so this is inspiring and seeing a beginner succeed makes it less scary.

You are very talented and I can agree that crochet is extremely addicting so I feel you girl

ahh it looks so cute !! im just about to start my first sweater and im so nervous but also like- really excited. all i've made has been bags so far as well!

i love your energy pls, when I crochet i have so many mental braekdowns in proces

Shadow an Bone is awesome. I’ve been crocheting for 51 years it’s great that you’ve picked it up.

I’m so excited for this🤍

You should get the other end of the yarn (inside the middle of the ball) So that it doesn't roll around. you'll find it easier to work with. So put both fingers in either end and grab onto the middle of the ball, you should find it eventually.

I stumbled across your video when researching crochet. I'm an avid/average knitter, but only knew the basics of crochet and wanted to give it a shot. 😊 Your video definitely inspired me to start my own project, so I'm currently making squares to eventually join up into a cardigan or a sweater, I can't decide which. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year! 🎄

youre so right abt finishing an entire show while crocheting i watched 2 whole seasons of total drama while crocheting a beret 😭😭😭 i even rewatched bad and crazy bc i ran out of shows to watch

one day i was just like, "hey i wanna learn how to crochet", so here i am observing if this is in my capability of handling things

I'm crocheting my first sweater/ cardigan as a beginner 😂 you did great It's so amazing I love it 🤩

this deserves so much more views! i havent watched ur vids in over a year now ngl bUT THIS IS SO MOTIVATIONAL TO GET ME ON W MY CLOTHES ALTERATIONS DIY AHH I LOVE HOW UR SWETAER TURNED OUT!!!

I love how she is so optomistic when starting and then slowly starts not wanting to do it *ME EVEYTIME I START A PROJECT*

Wow! You were all over the place.😄 All that energy.😯 Crocheting is the perfect craft for you. It calms me down and distracts me . You are a Beginner and was able to do a 3 color square, put a rib on and stitch all that together, no pattern or guide?😲 Fascinating! It actually had the form of the sweater you shower us. Great job.😂

You are absolutely adorable and your sweater is adorable too!! My daughter just picked up crocheting and she is frustrated with the fact that that the piece she is doing seems to shrink more Everytime she adds to it so she's already talking about quiting so I'm watching videos to try and help her. I want her to be as determined as you are because quitting gets us nowhere far right. I think you can inspire her. Thank you!!

OMG you are so cute. My bff learn from a book and it took one whole afternoon for her to teach me to make one granny square. Yes it was back in the dark ages before RU-vid. I loved the sweater. Keep crocheting. The best stuff will always be what you create from your imagination.

NEVERTHELESS SHE PERSISTED ‼‼

I'm so obsessed with this sweater, I'd wear it every day! you did amazing!! I'm going to crochet a sweater too so looking at inspo

So proud of you I know that it takes time to crotchet a sweater especially cause I am currently crotcheting a sweater❤

When I make anything patchwork I do the square connect in rows so add the next colour after the first square so there is less sewing and they are all the same size.

I haven't even started watching but ik ima leave smarter😂

Now this is the definition of hard work pays off and she stayed through it I could never

I'm currently trying to learn to crochet and I can't wait til I can make my own sweater!

"idk apparently I think I'm invincible now" literally me after I successfully crocheted a little pumpkin 🤣 now I wanna make full on clothes all of a sudden lmao

A show I would recommend is "The Lying Game", literally awesome. P.S. sweater looks absolutely great!!

I know this is late and I saw one other person comment this but next time if your squares are a little bit funky in size try blocking them! Blocking makes your pieces hold their shape and size much better, it’s totally worth looking into :)

I obsessed with crocheting I tried a couple years ago, never finished what I was making but now I want to try again but I can’t find my hook and I have about 3 laying around somewhere TwT

THAT LOOKS SO GOOD ON YOU OMGGG i think i’m gonna start crocheting a sweater THIS IS A SIGN

ok seriously everytime I see something on pinterest then a few weeks later Melanie makes a vid about it! it’s so aesthetic and nice! please make a tutorial on simple crocheting it looks super fun!!

You did such a great job on it! As a bit of a suggestion, leave longer ends for your weaving in. If they are long enough, you can even use them for some of the sewing up, therefore saving some yarn.

Can confirm that New Girl is a good show to watch while crocheting. It’s what I’ve recently been obsessed with.

I'm making a sweater (or cardigan, haven't decided yet) right now. I've been working on it since the beginning of the year and it's my first project as a new crocheter. I was just planning on making the same square over and over in different colors, laying them on the floor, laying on top of the patter to see if it will fit, and then put it together. Haha. You have more planning than I do. I hope I can finish by the end of the year and that it looks good.

This is amazing!!!! I’m a seasoned crotchet girl and you absolutely nailed it. You should be so proud of yourself. Subscribed to see your journey. Love from 🇬🇧 UK x

I crocheted a tank top while watching this lol and it’s my first price but I struggled so much with making squares as well 🥲

If that was actually the first sweater you have made you are a talenttt

SSOOO you inspired me to make a patchwork sweater! I have only made a scarf and I jumped full, head long into it! I am at 39 squares so far (2 days in) and I had to run out after work to get more yarn! I am actually making 2 not just one, a pull over sweater and a cardigan... so yeah, I'll be slowly loosing my sanity in Oregon hahahaha

I SWEAR MELANIE IS SO TALENTED IN EVERY ASPECT OF LIFE

the sweater turned out super cute and I kinda wanna make my own now! was the sweater comfortable to wear? and if it wasn't what materials do u think the yarn should've been made of to make it softer/more comfortable? thank you!!

I love the music in the sped up bits

Excellent! So stinking cute! I'm a grandma and I've been crocheting hats scarfs and blankets for a long time. But, just in the last couple of years I have been making sweaters. They get easier. The first one I made I put the sleeve on inside out 😣😏 I left it. Who cares ? Just keep going and don't worry too much. Have fun

This video is quite inspiring and I can't wait to try my own sweater!

melanies creativity is amazing ✨

This sweater is so cute omg. I'm in love with his wow

Now go to Joanns wearing it 💛😂

I think it came out beautiful! Sweaters are a lot of work to crochet, but soooo incredibly satisfying when they’re done!

omg i loveeeeee this sweater !!!! this makes me really wanna crochet again 🥺 well done !! 💞

Well done! That sweater looks fab. I'm in the middle of crocheting a granny square bucket hat and I can't wait to finish it.

this was really encouraging because it shows that its possible for a beginner like me to make a sweater. Love the sweater by the way!

It just made me so happy when she said it was done!

This was such a fun video to watch ☺️☺️❤️❤️ Also your outro is one of my favorites of the RU-vidrs I watch 💯💜

Definitely do more of these loved the crochet vlog watching all the way in England 😊

In comparison to many of these that I see... I would say that your colour choice and combination worked out THE VERY BEST..!! I actually loved the full wide bell sleeved look too..Anyway well done..Your end result totally suits you!💖💋

this is basically me thinking that I could finish an amigurumi rat for my partner in like two days, so I could definitely make two, and then taking almost a week to finish and in the end giving up on sewing the eyes altogether bc it just looked wrong lol i feel this video, but congrats on persevering!!

you did such a great job! it helps inspire me to work on difficult projects like this as a beginner crocheter as well!

slay but just so you know when the lighting is all flashy on your camera it's because the shutter speed isn't right for the specific lighting - im sure if you search it up with your camera brand you'll be able to fix it easily :]

I'm obsessed with this video. I'm trying to make the sweater!!! I'm so excited!!

OK THAT BAG IS SO CUTE I LOVE THE COLORS

Yess Gilmore Girls I love that show!!! Your sweater came out amazing!!!

I’ve been wanting to try crocheting a sweater for the longest time (with my experience being the same as a 6 year-old’s) and this video is not helping me suppress this urge at all. Thanks

NEW GIRL IS THE BEST

omg stop, this is the cutest thing I've ever seen

I would suggest a smaller crocheting hook. It'll help with making your stitches smaller and neater, especially for the patterned stuff like the sunburst

it looks so cute! and please give it another try to Shadow and Bone!! the books are awesome and the show is goood!

That sweater was BEAUTIFUL! 🥰🌺💐🏵 Great job! I want to make one just like it now. 😀 Also, since your work seems to be all facing the same direction (the squares) you should learn how to do color change on the yarn and it would save you a whole bunch of time, you wouldn't have to sew the squares together except maybe the granny squares. Excellent work you did though!

I crochet to I've made a sweater bag hat scarf and right I have to work on a baby blanket for a baby shower (I think you did great ) fun fact for my first sweater I didn't measure it i dis use patterns either

Omg, I am crocheting a pink yarn for a sweater while watching the new girl, literally right now

It turned out so cute!! Also the same thing happened to me when I was making a sunflower cardigan, I had to make wayyy more granny squares lol! ✨❤️

Baby the worst part of crocheting a sweater (or anything with detached parts) is assembling all of the parts😭😭 I swear!! (Btw!! You should get a stretcher for your granny squares, it helps out a lot to keep them the same size

I was so intimidated by making a sweater but I really want to make one. I'm definitely going to try this!! Thanks for sharing!