They’re small, sparkly circles of creativity that have been used as a method of decoration for hundreds, if not thousands, of years. Originally made from metal or glass, today’s plastic sequins come in near-infinite possibilities, and can be used to adorn anything from hair accessories to practical covers for tablets and phones. If you like a bit of sparkle, a flurry of sequins is a simple way to upcycle and add glamour to an old sweater or dress.
Hooking with sequins is very easy, especially if you’ve previously worked with beads. The process is very similar, although there are some extra details that you need to know.
Once you've mastered using sequins with your crochet, why not check out our Free crochet Christmas tree sequin patch pattern.
What sort of sequins are there?
You’re spoilt for choice when it comes to sequin types.
Texture
Sequins come in two basic varieties: flat discs and domed bowls. Both create gorgeous bling, but the domed bowls tend to add more sparkle by reflecting the light in several directions from their many facets.
Effect
Not all sequins are made to sparkle, however – as well as the shiny versions you’d expect, you can get sequins with various surface effects including matt, hologram sparkle, transparent, embossed, printed patterns, and many more.
Size
From tiny dots to big statement features, sequin size can vary hugely and is measured in diameter – the distance from one side of the sequin to the other, across the central hole. On the middle row in the picture above you can see 3mm, 5mm, 8mm and 12mm sequins.
Holes
Most sequins have a central hole, with the yarn of a stitch stretching from the hole to the edge to secure it. With larger sequins, look for a hole near the top instead (known as spangles), which creates a more even look.
Shapes
Once you’ve mastered round sequins, you can try all sorts of novelty shapes, including squares, stars, flowers, hearts or snowflakes. If your sequin has jagged edges, take care that they don’t damage the yarn.
How to crochet with sequins
Get started with a hook, some yarn and a few sequins.
To start off, we suggest you use a 4ply yarn and a 3mm hook. This is because no matter what size your sequin, the hole at the centre is usually 1mm. This limits you on the weight of yarn that can thread through a sequin – 4ply creates the best results, although you can use a heavier or lighter weight, such as DK or 2ply, but you may find the sequins hang too stiff or too loose rather than flat against the fabric. Alternatively, you can now buy sequins with a larger hole, around 6mm, for use with thicker yarns. We’re going to focus on standard sequins here.
