Making a Slip Knot

Making a Slip Knot 
1. To make the first loop,begin by crossing the yarn coming from the ball over the yarn end (the tail) to form a circle of yarn.
2. Insert the tip of the hook through the circle of yarn.
3. Then use the hook to grab the ball end of the yarn and pull the yarn through the circle.
4. This forms a loop on the hook and a loose, open knot below the loop.
5. Pull both ends of the yarn firmly to tighten the knot and the loop around the shank of the hook.
6. Make sure the completed slip knot is tight enough on the hook so that you can barely slide it along the hook’s shank.
7. The yarn tail on the slip knot should be at least 10 cm long so it can be threaded onto a blunt ended yarn needle and darned in later. However, your pattern may instruct you to leave an extra long tail for sewing seams.

Holding the Yarn

Holding the Yarn 
1. In order to control the flow of yarn to your hook, you need to lace it around the fingers of your free hand. This can be your left hand or your right hand. Which works the best for you.
2. Method One - Left Hand - Start winding the yarn around your little finger, then pass it under your two middle fingers and over your forefinger. With this method the forefinger is used to position the yarn.
3. Method Two - Right Hand - Wrap the yarn around your little finger, then pass it behind the next finger and over the top of the middle finger and forefinger. This method allows you to position the yarn with either the forefinger of middle finger, whichever is more comfortable and gives you more

Basic Stitches

 Basic Stitches
1. First get to know your hook and how to hold it.
2. The Pencil position - To hold the hook in this position, grip it as you would a pencil. If the hook has a shaped thumb rest, position your thumb and forefinger on this part. 
The centre of your thumb will be about 5cm from the tip of the hook. If your hook does not have a thumb rest position your thumb and forefinger here.
3. The Knife Position - To hold the hook in this position, grip it as you would when using a knife. If your hook has a thumb rest, settle your thumb and forefinger on this part. 
The centre of your thumb will be about 5cm from the tip of the hook. Grip a hook without a thumb rest the same distance from the tip.