Reddit reviews Clover Knitting Stitch Counter Mini Kacha-Kacha

Hi there!


I'd recommend heading over to /r/crochet subreddit if you haven't already. People post about Amigurumi there, too, and their sidebar has some information you can use to learn how to crochet.


Here's a direct link to said sidebar content.



> 1) What should I buy?



You don't need much to get started - a crochet hook or two, some worsted weight yarn, fiberfill (aka polyster stuffing), and a yarn needle. You may also want to get some stitch markers, but if you don't want to spend any more money than the bare minimum, you can use yarn or paper clips as stitch markers. Stitch markers are basically bookmarks, but for yarn crafts. They allow you to mark a certain place in your project so you know where you are, and can easily locate that place again in the future.




For amigurumi, I'd recommend a 4mm crochet hook. This may run on the smaller end (some people may use 5mm or 6mm) but I've read that this is a great hook size to use. The smaller the hook, the smaller the stitches. You want smaller stitches in amigurumi so that the stuffing wont poke through. Otherwise, if you use a hook that's too big, there will be gaps in your toy and it wont look terribly good.



As for yarn - as a starter, I'd highly recommend buying Red Heart Super Saver yarn. This brand is cheap, and it's acrylic, and versatile. It holds up well to time and washing, and it comes in a huge variety of colors. You'll be able to find it at places like Walmart, Joann's Fabric Store, and Michael's (basically, all the big box craft stores will carry it.) It's one of the cheapest yarns in terms of how much yarn you get per unit price.


The weight of the yarn indicates the size of the yarn strand, essentially (in other words, the width of the yarn.) You want something called worsted weight yarn. The Red Heart Super Saver yarn I was talking about before is going to come in worsted weight. Worsted weight is also known as size 4. Take a look at this picture. You see the one image that says 4 on it? That's what you'll see on a yarn label if the size is worsted weight. From that chart, you'll also notice that the recommended hook size for worsted weight yarn is 5.5mm or 6mm instead of the 4 I mentioned earlier. Why the discrepancy? If you're making stuff like blankets, scarves, hats, etc, you'd likely use a 5.5mm or 6mm crochet hook for worsted weight yarn instead of the 4mm. It's okay for these items to be rather "holey" but for amigurumi, since it's a toy, you're going to want to stuff it full of stuffing, and like I said earlier, you really don't want to stuffing to show through - which is why you want to go with a smaller hook. For fun, I'd recommend getting a few hook sizes, though, because I think you'll probably also enjoy making non-amigurumi projects, too.



> 2) Where to buy?


I don't know where you live, but if you're in America, I'd recommend some of the stores I mentioned earlier - Walmart, Michaels, and Joanns.



Of all 3, I noticed Walmart has the BEST prices for yarn. Red Heart Super Saver (RHSS) is $2.50 in Walmarts, but the same item will go for around $4 at Michael's or Joann's. Michaels' and Joann's offer a coupon (just google for "Michaels coupon" or "joann's coupons") - often you can get a 40% off or 50% discount for one item per day, but even WITH this discount, it often comes out to be MORE expensive than Walmart's base price of $2.50. If you don't have any craft stores near you, you can also order yarn online (Amazon.com). As for hooks - prices and availability can vary widely. I got my first set of hooks on Amazon for a GREAT deal - 22 hooks for like $7. (Here's the link). I'm not affiliated with them in any way at all. It's a great deal. I've seen similar sets going for like $60 or $70 at places like Walmart. Just note, I think the silver crochet hooks in this set may be mislabeled, but I haven't ever used them. I don't use this set anymore as I prefer a different (more expensive) type of hook now, but this is a great starter set, and it's cheap!!!


Yarn needles you should be able to find for cheap at any of the stores I mentioned. I'd get a metal one instead of a plastic one because the plastic ones can snap. You want a needle that has an eye thick enough for yarn to go through - not a regular sewing needle for tiny thread! These will go for about $2-$4. Should be pretty cheap.


Note: Joann's and Walmart do PRICE MATCHING. Google it! Walmart will price match with Amazon. I think Joann's will price match with Amazon, too. I've been able to save a ton of money like this. Bring your smartphone and show the cashier the equivalent product online for cheaper, and they'll match the price. If you have amazon prime, SIGN OUT first. Sometimes cashiers will refuse to price match if they see the "Amazon Prime" price (even if it's the same price for regular non-prime users) because they consider Prime a paid membership thing. Just sign out on your phone before showing the cashier, to be safe.


Fiberfill stuffing - super expensive at Michael's. Look at the price per unit if you have to go to Michael's. One time, I saw a huge bag for a certain price. There was another smaller bag, identical brand, identical product, just half the amount, for the SAME price. Such a ripoff, but they can get away with it in places that don't have Walmarts. Get it from Walmart, or Joann's. Brand doesn't really matter for a beginner. I think Fiberfill is a brand name, and is what a lot of people call it, but it's basically polyester stuffing. (Sort of like how people call tissues "Kleenexes.") You're looking for white polyester stuffing. A store associate can probably help if you're confused. Feel free to get store brand if you want. You can also order it online.


I found it ultra cheap at Walmart - $5 for 1 whole pound, which will be enough for multiple amigurumis.


> 3) What's the price range?


For the starting materials above? Well, I'd just buy a few colors of yarn, basic colors for what you want to make. Pick a really easy project first - something with simple shapes, without small details or small parts. Let's say you need 4 colors for your project (one skein of RHSS yarn will go a long way, by the way):


Crochet hook set: $7 from Amazon
Yarn Needle: ~$3
4 skeins of yarn from Walmart: $10
Fiberfill stuffing: $5


Total: $25

Optional:


Stitch markers $5 (BUY THESE ONLINE from Amazon! You'll likely get ripped off buying them in the store. I got like 100 stitch markers for something like $5 from Amazon, vs paying Michael's $6 for like 12 stitch markers that sucked.)


Stitch counter: $6 I use this one but some people just use a pen and paper. This basically helps you keep track of which row you are on in the project, so that when you put the project down for some time (a few hours, or a few days) you'll remember where you last were. Pen and paper worked fine for me in the beginning. There are also free apps that help you count stitches for Android and iPhone.


Total with optional items: $36

It doesn't have to be expensive to get started at all. Though, to get the best deals, you may need to wait for some things to arrive in the mail (like the crochet hook set.) If you don't want to wait for the hook set, just use the tips I gave you to find a good deal. Check the price of things online before you go out (Walmart, Michaels, and Joanns all have websites that list their prices and availability), check for Michael's Joann's coupons, and price match if you can.



> 4) How do I learn/where do I learn
I was in your shoes last year - didn't know how to crochet at all, but I taught myself from free online resources. If you have a local library, that's a great place to find crochet books, too. There are tons of videos on youtube that'll teach you how to crochet, and you can also find a bunch of links to show you the basic stitches. You'll probably want to start off with finding a guide on how to put the yarn on your hook first, and make a few practice squares just to get the hang of it. Your first few projects will likely look a little lopsided but that's okay. With practice, you'll get much better! My third amigurumi looked leagues better than my first one.


You can always post questions here or /r/crochet if you have any. I'd recommend posting to both for higher visibility.


Search for tutorials online. You'll come across a ton. I'd recommend watching and following alone with some "how to crochet" videos on youtube first. Get to know how to make chain stitches, and single crochets. Then learn how to increase single crochets and decrease. Learning is part of the fun! Then after that, head on over to a site called Ravelry.com - this is basically a huge collection of crochet patterns (many of them free!). They also have forums over there that you can use for questions.



Best of luck! And don't be discouraged if you don't understand something. I'd consider myself a decent crocheter now but when I started, I made a TON of hilariously silly mistakes, and yes, at times it was challenging. Some of the simplest things that I can do now without even looking took me days, or WEEKS to figure out on my own. If you get fed up, just put it down, do something else, and come back to it later. You don't have to master the craft in a day, and if you try, you'll just burn out and get discouraged. We all had to start somewhere. Luckily, I've noticed the community is very supportive and helpful, so don't be shy to ask questions!

Two cents off! :(

Here are some greenie items for you.

Nail Polish

Stitch Counter

DVD

A Kacha-Kacha? I love these things!

https://www.amazon.com/Clover-Knitting-Stitch-Counter-Kacha-Kacha/dp/B000WUXO4W I got myself one of these, or when I have a computer around, I use this https://gschoppe.com/projects/knitting-row-counter/ This one is nice because it'll remember different projects + show current completion status.