If you have to make or do with the little that is left when all the bills have been paid, knowing just how much you have got in the pooled money will help you plan how to make the most of it.

Hence, trying to work out the least, you are likely to have to play around within the coming year. Then list the priorities like new shoes to replace the ones that are hopelessly dated or worn out; a new coat because the one you have got is too short or already falling apart.

Prices change from season to season and it is a pretty safe bet they will increase rather than decrease, so set yourself a realistic limit for whatever items you must buy. Then work out the clothes you will need to sew yourself with the balance or make a new one out of a masterpiece.

For this reason, the ability to make your own clothes is now a trend today. Survey shows that 16 out of the 20 respondents claimed that they would rather make their own clothes rather than buy the expensive ones in the market.

Consequently, when special occasion gets near like the Christmas season, you cannot help but wonder whether making your own crochet scarves that you can give out as gifts is a wonderful idea.

Christmas is that time of year when everybody just wants to give something to each other, even if it means they do not have the means to do so. Hence, if ever you have some yarns left, with some hooks ready to do the job, acquire some free Christmas crochet patterns and start those gifts right away.

One of the best things about crocheting these days is that some people are kind enough to give away crochet patterns. In this way, you get to start making your own crochet scarves or crochet hats to give to the couple upstairs and let them know that someone really cares!

However, getting a free Christmas crochet patterns is not that easy, especially for a beginner. This is because crochet patterns might be very confusing for someone who is not yet familiar with the abbreviations and the terminologies that each pattern entails.

Hence, for better understanding of using these free Christmas crochet patterns, here is a list of some tips to guide you through:

1. Always read every row before starting on it.

The concept of making crochet is based on every row that you each pattern has. It is not advisable not to work on rows because in crochet, what you should be doing is to make a chain of loops. Hence, it is important to read and understand the instructions stipulated for each row before starting on making them.

2. Before starting your crochet, read the whole pattern first

It is extremely important to read the whole pattern first before you start making your Christmas crochet. If you seem hesitant with any portion of the pattern that you have, it would be better to try practicing first before starting on the project.

The point here is that there is no use in starting to make a crochet if you really did not understood it well.

3. Always use a marker

Like cross-stitching and knitting, trying to finish your project without marking on the area or rows that you have already crocheted can be very confusing. Hence, in order to create a smooth flow of the process, it would be better to mark each row every time you have finished making one. In this way, you will not be confused and you will be kept glued to what you are doing.

4. Learn the abbreviations

The only best way to succeed in interpreting and analyzing a pattern is to learn to understand the abbreviations. It is only when you have mastered the abbreviations of the words that you can easily go on with the pattern as fast as you can.

Otherwise, more time will be consumed in stopping once in a while just to refer back to the meaning of those abbreviations.

Indeed, making a Christmas crocheted item is not easy. However, it is not that complicated either once you have learned how to understand the pattern and the instructions that go with it.