How to Crochet for Absolute Beginners Do you want to learn crochet, but you do not know where to start? This crochet tutorial for beginners is made for you.This how to crochet for absolute beginner tutorial will teach you the basic stitches and techniques you need to start your first crochet project with confidence . Every step is short and easy to follow. You only need yarn, a hook and a little time. By the end of this guide you will be able to: • Choose the right yarn and hook • Hold your hook and yarn the easy way • Make a slip knot, a chain and a single crochet stitch • Work your first row and count your stitches • Finish a small project and fix common mistakes
Contents 1. What You Need to Start Crocheting 2. Crochet Terms 3. How to Hold the Crochet Hook 4. How to Hold the Yarn 5. How to Make a Slip Knot 6. How to Make a Chain Stitch 7. How to Read Your Chain 8. How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch 9. How to Make Your First Row 10. How to Count Stitches and Rows 11. Common Mistakes Beginners Make 12. Your First Crochet Swatch 13. How to Finish Your Project 14. Easy Crochet Projects for Beginners 15. What to Learn After the Basics 16. FAQ Click any title above to jump to that part. Use "Back to contents" to come back here.
What You Need to Start Crocheting You do not need many tools. Here is the short list.
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Figure 1: Basic crochet tools for beginners
Yarn • Pick a smooth, light-colored yarn. Light colors make your stitches easy to see. • Choose medium weight yarn (worsted weight, size 4). Cotton and acrylic are both good. • Avoid fluffy, dark or very thin yarn for now. It hides your stitches.
Crochet hook • Use a 5 mm (H-8) hook with worsted weight yarn. • Check the yarn label. It shows the hook size that works best. • A smooth aluminum hook with a comfortable handle is a good first choice.
Scissors and yarn needle • Small, sharp scissors cut yarn cleanly. • A yarn needle has a big eye and a blunt tip. You use it to hide loose yarn ends.
Stitch marker • A stitch marker shows the first or last stitch of a row, so you do not lose count. • No marker? Use a safety pin, a hair pin or a paper clip.
Figure 2: Parts of a crochet hook
Ready to learn the words used in patterns? Go to Crochet Terms.
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Crochet Terms Patterns use short words. Learn these first. This guide uses US crochet terms. • Chain (ch): A loop pulled through another loop. It makes the base of your work. • Slip knot: The first loop on your hook. • Single crochet (sc): The most basic crochet stitch. • Stitch (st): One loop or one unit of work. • Yarn over (yo): Wrap the yarn over your hook from back to front. • Working yarn: The yarn that comes from the ball. • Tail: The short yarn end you leave at the start. • Turning chain: The chain you make at the end of a row before you turn. • Foundation chain: The first long chain. Your first row grows from it. • Swatch: A small practice square. • Fasten off: Cut the yarn and lock the last loop. You will use these words again in How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch and How to Make Your First Row.
How to Hold the Crochet Hook There is no wrong way to hold a hook. Pick the grip that feels most comfortable.
Pencil grip 1. Hold the hook like a pencil. 2. Keep your thumb on the thumb rest. 3. Hold it close to the thumb rest, not at the very end.
Knife grip 1. Hold the hook like a knife, with your palm over the handle. 2. Rest your thumb on the thumb rest and wrap your fingers around the handle. 3. This grip often feels strong and steady. Tip: Keep your hand relaxed. A tight grip makes your hand tired and your stitches tight.
How to Hold the Yarn Yarn is held in the hand that does not hold the hook. If you are right-handed, hold the yarn in your left hand. If you are left-handed, switch the hands. 1. Pass the yarn between your little finger and ring finger. 2. Wrap it once around your little finger. This gives gentle tension.
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3. Bring the yarn behind your ring and middle fingers, then over your index finger. 4. Hold the slip knot between your thumb and middle finger. 5. Lift your index finger a little to keep the yarn firm, not tight. Not comfortable? Try a different wrap. Many beginners change this a few times.
How to Make a Slip Knot The slip knot is the first loop on your hook. Every project starts with it.
Figure 3: Making a slip knot
1. Leave a 6 inch (15 cm) tail. Make a loop and cross the working yarn over the tail. 2. Push your hook through the loop. Catch the working yarn. 3. Pull a new loop up through the first loop. 4. Put this new loop on your hook. 5. Pull both yarn ends gently to tighten. The loop should slide easily on the hook. Tip: Your knot is too tight if it will not move. Loosen it a little. Next step: How to Make a Chain Stitch.
How to Make a Chain Stitch The chain stitch is the base of almost every crochet project.
Figure 4: A row of chain stitches
1. Start with your slip knot on the hook.
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2. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front). 3. Pull the yarn through the loop on your hook. That is 1 chain. 4. Repeat steps 2 and 3 to make more chains. 5. Make 15 chains for practice. • Move your finger and thumb up the chain as it grows. This keeps your chain steady. • Keep each chain about the same size. Not sure how many chains you made? See How to Read Your Chain.
How to Read Your Chain Before you crochet into a chain, you need to know what it looks like.
Figure 5: The front and the back of a chain
• The front of the chain looks like a row of V shapes. • The back of the chain has small bumps. • Do not count the loop that is on your hook. • Make sure the chain is not twisted before you start your first row. You can put your hook under the top of the V, or into the back bump. Both work. The back bump gives a neat edge.
How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch Single crochet (sc) is the easiest stitch. Most beginner projects use it.
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Figure 6: The four steps of a single crochet stitch
1. Put your hook into the stitch (or chain). 2. Yarn over and pull up a loop. You now have 2 loops on the hook. 3. Yarn over again. 4. Pull through both loops. You now have 1 loop on the hook. That is 1 single crochet. Tip: Always end a stitch with 1 loop on your hook. If you have 2 loops, you missed the last step. Now use it in How to Make Your First Row.
How to Make Your First Row Let us make a row with 10 single crochet stitches. 1. Make a slip knot, then chain 11 (see How to Make a Chain Stitch). 2. Skip the first chain next to your hook. Put the hook into the second chain from the hook. 3. Make 1 single crochet. 4. Make 1 single crochet in each chain across. You should have 10 stitches. 5. At the end of the row, chain 1. This is the turning chain. 6. Turn your work so the other side faces you. Congratulations. You made your first crochet row! Not sure if you have 10 stitches? Go to How to Count Stitches and Rows.
How to Count Stitches and Rows Counting keeps your edges straight. Check your count at the end of every row.
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Figure 7: A swatch with 6 rows of 10 stitches
• Each V shape at the top of a row is 1 stitch. • For single crochet, the turning chain does not count as a stitch. • Each full line of stitches is 1 row. Count rows on the side of your work. • Place a stitch marker in the last stitch of your row. Move it up each row.
Common Mistakes Beginners Make Everyone makes mistakes when they learn. Here are the common ones and the easy fix. • Stitches are too tight: Relax your grip. Try a bigger hook. • The work gets wider and wider: You made 2 stitches in 1 spot. Count after every row. • The work gets narrower and narrower: You skipped the last stitch. Look for it at the end of each row. • The chain is twisted: Straighten it before you start your first row. • You lost count: Use a stitch marker. Count V shapes at the end of each row. • The yarn splits: Go slowly. Use a smooth yarn and a hook with a round tip. Need to undo? Pull the working yarn gently and the stitches will come out. Then try again.
Your First Crochet Swatch A swatch is a small practice square. It builds your skill before a real project. 1. Chain 16. 2. Row 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook and in each chain across (15 stitches). 3. Chain 1 and turn. 4. Row 2: Single crochet in each stitch across (15 stitches).
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5. Repeat Row 2 until your swatch is about 15 rows long. Count your stitches after every row. If the number changes, find the mistake in Common Mistakes Beginners Make.
How to Finish Your Project When your project is done, lock the last loop. This is called fastening off. 1. Cut the yarn, leaving a 6 inch (15 cm) tail. 2. Pull the tail all the way through the last loop. 3. Pull tight to close the loop. 4. Thread the tail onto a yarn needle. 5. Weave the tail in and out through your stitches for about 5 cm. 6. Cut the extra yarn. Do the same with the starting tail.
Easy Crochet Projects for Beginners Single crochet and chain are enough for all of these.
Figure 8: Easy first projects
• Dishcloth: a square. It is a great swatch with a use. • Coaster: small and quick. You finish it in one sitting. • Scarf: a long rectangle. Just keep going in rows. • Headband: a short, wide rectangle that you join at the ends. • Blanket square: make many squares and join them later.
What to Learn After the Basics When single crochet feels easy, you are ready for the next step. • Half double crochet (hdc): a taller stitch that works up fast. • Double crochet (dc): a taller stitch again. Many patterns use it.
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• Working in the round: start with a magic ring to make hats and toys. • Increasing and decreasing: change the shape of your work. • Changing colors: add stripes to your projects. • Reading patterns: use the terms table as your guide. Need a refresher? Go back to How to Make a Single Crochet Stitch any time.
FAQ Is crochet hard to learn? No. Crochet uses just one hook and a few basic stitches. Most beginners can make a simple swatch in a few hours.
What hook size is best for beginners? A 5 mm (H-8) hook with medium weight yarn is a great start. See What You Need to Start Crocheting.
Which yarn is best for beginners? Choose smooth, light-colored, medium weight yarn. Cotton or acrylic is fine.
How long does it take to learn? You can learn the slip knot, chain and single crochet in one or two days of short practice.
Can left-handed people crochet? Yes. Hold the hook in your left hand and the yarn in your right hand. Work in the same steps, but mirror the pictures.
Why are my edges uneven? You may have added or skipped a stitch. Count each row and mark the last stitch. See How to Count Stitches and Rows. Keep practicing. Every row makes you better. Happy crocheting!
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