How To Crochet More Efficiently

A lot of crocheters want to know the secret to crocheting faster. The secret is to just enjoy the time you have to crochet. I’ve put together a few ways you can be productive by crocheting more efficiently and in the end, this may help increase your speed as well. If you’re new to crochet, you can’t expect to crochet like Jonah Hands right away (Have you seen him crochet? He’s so quick!). So let’s talk about how to crochet more efficiently.

There’s no question that different types of crochet projects take longer to make than others. I understand wanting to crochet faster. Sometimes we need to hurry to meet a deadline, like the birth of your first nephew or grandchild. Other times we’re just excited to hold the finished project in our hands so we can use it and show it off. No matter your reason to wanting to crochet faster, I hope these tips help.

None of the tips I’ve listed will change the speed of your crochet overnight. That’s why we’re talking more about how to crochet more efficiently, rather than just faster. But if you take the time to improve in some areas, it will result in crocheting a little bit faster.

These tips on how to crochet more efficiently and more came from Week 4 of the Limitless Crochet Everyday project! Head over there for more tips on becoming a better crocheter.

1. Practice

I know. Hearing that you have to practice is the most dreadful thing.. but it’s true. Practice makes perfect. I don’t like saying that often, but in this case it’s true.

The more you crochet, the easier it’ll be to catch your mistakes before you make them. And in the end, this will help you become a better, faster crocheter.

Practicing doesn’t have to be boring though. I’m not telling you to crochet a bunch of squares in order to practice. Every time to crochet something new, you’re practicing. So basically, just keep making beautiful things and this will help you to crochet faster and more efficiently.

Need some beginner friendly patterns to choose from? Try these simple patterns using mainly double crochet.

2. Be wary of your tension

Tension is one of the most frustrating things for beginners and more experienced crocheters alike. The reason why tension is so hard to understand, is because there are a number of things that can affect it.

Crocheting tight can slow you down and it can also cause pain in your wrists. Crocheting too loose can also cause you to slow down. If you can’t get the hang of your tension, here are a few tutorials that might help:

It could also help to use a yarn dispenser (*affiliate link) or a yarn bowl to hold your yarn as you crochet.

3. Limit distractions

As a mother of two, I know that limiting distractions isn’t always easy. But when it’s possible, it will absolutely help. If you want to learn how to crochet more efficiently, then you have to limit distractions. Less distractions means less interruptions and your project being finished faster. Sometimes you might have to turn off the TV and maybe listen to some music or a podcast if the TV is taking too much of your focus.

Also, tell your husband – or wife or partner – to shush right before you start counting stitches (because they always decide to ask a question right in the middle of counting and you end up counting 100 stitches 5 different times 🤦🏻‍♀️).

If you’re working on a more complex project, wait until you’re able to sit in a quiet room and concentrate.

4. Try a different hook

This is the one thing I will say completely changed the speed of my crochet overnight.

I used to use aluminum all the time and I thought I crocheted pretty well with them. Then I switched to Clover Amour hooks (*affiliate link) and it was a complete game-changer. The way these hooks glide through the yarn truly helps me to crochet faster than I did with the aluminum hooks.

If you can’t afford the complete set right now (it’s pretty pricey), try out your most-used hook size first and see how you like it. That’s what I did and I couldn’t believe the difference.

And as much as I love these hooks, this is my personal opinion. If you don’t like these hooks or don’t want to try them, there are plenty of different types of hooks out there. Try different brands and styles to see which ones fit really well in your hands.

5. Hold your hook differently

Do you normally hold your hook like a pencil? Try the knife grip and see if it changes anything. Do you find that your tension is too tight when you wrap it around your pinky and pointer finger? Try holding it between your middle and pointer finger like I explain in this tutorial.

If something isn’t working or feels uncomfortable, change it.

6. Zone out with a show or audio book

I do most of my crocheting in front of a TV, binge-watching my favorite shows (when I’m not stuck watching my kids favorite shows instead 😆).

Of course, the best way to do this is with a project that has a simple pattern repeat. That way you don’t have to think too much about what you’re doing.

There have been times when I get so into my show that I look down and I’m shocked to see how far I’ve actually gotten.

Here are a few mindless crochet projects for you to try:

7. Use bulky yarn or multiple strands

The thicker your yarn and the larger your hook, the faster your project will go. If you’re making a hat with a super bulky yarn, you can be finished in as little as an hour! Here’s a long list of bulky crochet pattern ideas.

For tips on working with multiple strands, read through this tutorial – there’s a video tutorial as well.

8. Get comfortable

I already mentioned that I spend most of my crochet time on the couch so that’s already pretty comfortable. BUT there are times when I have to adjust some things.

If I start to feel pain in my wrists or elbows, I like to place a pillow on my lap with my elbows on top and work that way. This will also help reduce neck pain because your work will be closer to eye level.

Your posture is also very important so make sure that you’re sitting up straight.

I found this video by Littlejohn’s Yarn to be very informative when it comes to hand pain management and I hope it helps you if you’re experiencing pain!

9. Get one of these 3 must-have tools

I’ve already mentioned a few of these, but I believe each of these tools can help you crochet more efficiently.

Yarn Dispenser – I talked a little about this tool in Week 2 of LCE, but it’s one of my favorite tools to use. It helps regulate your tension because the yarn drifts off the spool without any tugging.
Clover Amour Crochet Hooks – I’ve said this a million times but Clover Amour hooks are my absolute favorite. As soon as I started using them I was stunned to see how much faster I crocheted. The way they’re made, the yarn glides right off the hook but in a good way, not a slippery kind of way.
Tension Regulator – This one is more of a DIY and also something I frequently talk about. If you struggle with tension and you’ve tried everything and you just need a win, try making yourself a tension regulator. This will help you to crochet faster than you are now if you’re still trying to get the hang of your tension.

10. Try a different stitch

The single crochet is clearly the slowest stitch because it’s the shortest stitch. It’s going to take you a lot longer to crochet a single crochet blanket versus a double crochet blanket.

Try working on a project that uses a fast stitch. I find that working through chain spaces make for the fastest stitches. Stitches like the granny stitch and the v- stitch.

I’ll be coming out with video tutorials for both of these stitches soon! Subscribe to my YouTube channel to be notified every time I release a new pattern or tutorial.

11. Choose another project that’s more exciting

We’ve all been there. And if you haven’t yet, I guarantee this will happen at least once in your lifetime. We get really excited about a certain project, get halfway through, and it starts to bore us to no end.

If you’re working on a project that you don’t enjoy making, you’re going to dread picking up your hook. And when you do work on it, you’ll only work on a few rows or squares at a time because you’re just not excited about it.

I’ve been there. This is why I’ve never completed a full granny square blanket. I desperately want to because they are so beautiful, but I can’t bring myself to do all the work. It sounds daunting.

Make things that you absolutely love making! Isn’t that the whole point of having a hobby?

Everyone wants to learn how to crochet faster, but instead we need to learn how to crochet more efficiently. I hope these tips helped you to do just that! Some of these tips will help to improve your speed if you’re willing to give them a try.

How do you crochet more efficiently?

Let us know in the comments!

How To Crochet More Efficiently | 11 Different Ways

These tips on how to crochet more efficiently and more came from Week 4 of the Limitless Crochet Everyday project! Head over there for more tips on becoming a better crocheter.