If you find yourself gushing over yarn colors and materials, but don’t actually know how to start with creating your own project, it’s time to finally get the (yarn) ball rolling. Maybe you have a little bit of an understanding of how to crochet, or maybe you’re completely new to the process. Maybe you were taught how when you were young and want to get back into it and even improve.
No matter where you’re coming from, it’s easy to learn the fundamentals of crochet. As you improve, you can try out more advanced and intricate stitches and amaze yourself with the things you can make. For beginners, there are tips on reading crochet patterns that can be very useful to learn the lingo and understand how to visualize a project for crochet.
In this post, we’ll cover the very basics of crochet. By the end, you’ll know everything you need to know to get started with a beginner crochet project.
Slip Knot
The slip knot is the first thing you’ll do when you want to start working a skein of yarn. Many people have different preferences on how to actually make the loop — some people use their hands while others do it on the crochet hook.
Regardless, the knot is quite simple. Start out by making a loop at the end of your yarn ball, leaving a few inches of the tail that will eventually hang off the hook. Once you’ve got your first loop, pull another loop through it then tighten it gently and slide the knot up the crochet hook.
Chain Stitch (CH)
You’ll see chain stitches represented in patterns as “CH” while the shorthand “YO” stands for “yarn over,” which is when you grab onto the yarn with your hook. To make a chain stitch, start by yarning over and then draw the yarn through to create a new loop. You don’t have to tighten the last one. You can start chain stitching early in a project since it is typically the foundation row for crocheting.
Single Crochet (SC)
To create a single crochet stitch, insert your hook into the work you’ve already done (in this case, the starting chain) and then yarn over the hook and pull the yarn through your work only. You’ll have two loops on your hook at this point. From there, yarn over the hook once more and pull the yarn through both of the hoops to create your single crochet stitch. To continue, keep working in the chain stitch row, always working from right to left.
Double Crochet (DC)
A more robust stitch than the single crochet, double crochet is a piece of cake once you’ve mastered the single. Before you insert the hook into your chain stitch, yarn over. Then push the yarn through the stitch, yarn over again, and then pull the work through so that there are three loops on your hook.
Then, yarn over again and draw through only the first two loops on your hook. Yarn over once more and draw through the final two loops on your hook and you’ve got a double crochet stitch! It won’t take more than a part of an afternoon to teach yourself how to master these basics. You’ll then be able to understand simple crochet pattern shorthand and start making your own creations. Happy stitching!