Crochet is a hobby enjoyed by millions of people. The motivations for getting into this hobby are varied: some people want to make big projects that they can give away or keep to enjoy, while others simply want to do something while relaxing at home at night. No matter what your personal motivation is, the seven tips below will help you maximize your enjoyment of this activity.

#1 – Forget about perfection

There’s almost no chance you’ll be perfect on any of your first few projects, so don’t worry about it! Mistakes are common in crochet, especially among those just starting out. If you try to stay at a perfect level, you won’t enjoy the hobby because you will be stressed by your mistakes. Relax, accept the imperfections that are going to show up in any project, and have fun.

#2 – Take your time

Don’t put a deadline on any of your crochet projects, especially at the beginning. For example, it’s not a good idea to plan to give away one of your projects as a Christmas present if you’re just starting out on December 21. As you learn this trade, give yourself enough time to complete each project and don’t force yourself to rush to meet a specific deadline.

#3 – Give yourself a break

Taking breaks while crocheting is important because this activity can be taxing on your hands as the hours add up. Make it a habit to take regular breaks to relax and stretch your hands and forearms. It’s possible to develop a repetitive stress injury from spending hours upon hours working on a crochet project, so taking breaks is an important part of the process.

#4 – Consistency is key

Maintaining constant pressure on the yarn is one of the most important skills you’ll need to develop when learning to crochet. If you want the finished product to have a consistent appearance, you must pull the thread with a constant amount of pressure throughout the entire job. Too much pressure, or not enough, will have a negative effect on the final appearance of the work.

#5 – Stay Organized

As with anything in life, crocheting becomes easier when you’re organized. If you have project supplies scattered around the house, you’ll never have what you need when you need it. Try to establish a specific place in the house where you will work on your projects, and designate a basket or box for all your supplies so that you know where everything is when you are working on a project.

#6 – Take care of your neck

It’s easy to find yourself in a slouched position while working on a crochet project, and you could end up with neck pain as a result. Take care to sit with good posture while working on any project, and avoid dipping your chin into your neck while looking at your work. Poor posture can lead to a variety of negative health outcomes, so this is an important point if you want to be able to work on crochet projects on a regular basis for years to come.

#7 – Practice!

You won’t get better at anything in life without practice, and that’s true when it comes to crochet. The skills you have at the beginning of your crochet experience will probably leave a lot to be desired, but you’ll improve as you go along. Keep taking on new projects and you’ll eventually develop a variety of skills that allow you to make projects more elaborate than you ever imagined.