I’m trying to design a couple patterns this year for my shop but I’ve had this question for a long time : How do you figure out how to make certain shapes. Like I know your supposed to try things out, but is there any resources that help you? Or do you just completely guess?
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it really just depends on the shape. and sometimes like you said just trying stuff out
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Well, I’ve crocheted ALOT and so I’ve used the techniques ive learnt from crocheting alot and experiment to make different shapes!
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Gosh that’s a good question. Confusing, but good 
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yeah i’m the same
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ComplicatedKnots on Youtube is amazing. She has some videos on shaping, and I think this might apply to you :) (Part 1 is for customizing existing patterns, while this is for custom ones)
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There probably are some resources out there but also just the more experience you gain through practice and trying things out, the more you’ll just start to know what kind of inc/dec you need to get a desired shape. If that makes sense 
I guess my advice here is just keep crocheting!! lol
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I sort of approach it like sculpting. You visualize the shape that you want in your mind and start trying to build it with stitches. With experience you get an idea of what stitches might work to create certain shapes, but there is still often a lot of trial and error to work out exactly what combination (and number of rows) will give you what you want.
This website has a lot of information about shaping:
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Learn how to make a ball, an egg, a cylinder, and a curve (up to 90°) and you’re pretty well done honestly - the vast majority of animals can be simplified down to those shapes.
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