Are you new to crochet? Do you have an upcoming baby shower and want to make your own gifts? Then this guide is for you!
Here, we’ll walk through the basics of crochet like how to chain and single crochet, so that by the end of it all, you’ll be able to whip up something adorable for your favorite little one.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Crochet is a versatile and beginner-friendly craft. |
| There are several basic crochet stitches that form the foundation for more complex patterns. |
| Following a pattern is essential for creating well-designed and structured crochet items. |
| To get started with crochet, beginners need a few basic tools such as a crochet hook and yarn. |
| There are many different types of crochet projects, including baby booties, blankets, scarves, and more. |
Materials
You will need:
- Yarn. You can choose the type of yarn you want to use, but it is best if the yarn is made from 100% cotton (so it’s soft against baby’s skin).
- Crochet hook. There are many different kinds of crochet hooks, but for this project you will want a size H/8-5.00mm hook. This means that your finished booties will be about 3 1/2 inches long and 2 inches wide when they’re finished—perfect for little feet!
- Scissors or clippers if you’re going to cut off any stray ends after crocheting!
- Sewing needle (optional), if using contrasting thread color like I did in my sample photos above
Learning new crochet patterns and expanding your skills can be fun and challenging. Take a look at our 10 Easy Crochet Patterns for Beginners to get started on your next project today!
The Chain
The chain is a group of loops, or stitches, that are joined together to form a foundation for your booties.
To make a chain:
Use your crochet hook to hold the yarn at the top of the loop and make a loop with the tail end. The tail should be on the side of the hook opposite from you. Pull this loop through itself so that there are 2 loops on your hook now instead of one.
Repeat this process until you have as many loops as desired for your pattern (or until you run out of yarn). To join these chains together into rows later on in crocheting, simply pull each loop down through its corresponding space in each row below it until they form one continuous line again!
| Chain Stitch |
|---|
| The foundation for most crochet projects. |
| Creates a series of interlocking loops. |
| Created by making a loop and pulling the working yarn through the loop. |
| Used to begin a new row or round of stitches. |
| Can be used to create textured patterns and designs. |
Slipstitch
How to make a slipstitch:
- Insert your hook into the marked stitch, yarn over, and pull through both loops on your hook (you now have two loops on your hook).
- Insert your hook into the next marked stitch, yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook (you now have three loops on your hook).
- Yarn over again and pull through all four of those loops until there are no more stitches left on that row or piece you’re working with!
If you’re looking for inspiration for making baby items, check out our Top Crochet Patterns for Baby Items guide. Our list includes beautiful patterns for booties, blankets, hats, and more.
Single Crochet
Single crochet, often abbreviated as sc or S.C., is a type of stitch used in many patterns. It’s one of the easiest stitches to learn, and you can use it in both rows and rounds.
You’ll know that you’ve done a single crochet when you see half-dome bumps lining your work. These bumps increase in number as you continue with more stitches; they also tend to get somewhat smaller over time.
If you’re working with a pattern that calls for single crochets and have never done them before, try practicing with some yarn and a hook until they feel comfortable before moving on to bigger projects.
Half Double Crochet
The half double crochet stitch is a good one for beginners because it’s easy to remember and adds a nice bit of texture to your work. Half double crochet is done by working into the next stitch, just as you would for single crochet.
To begin, insert your hook into the next stitch from front to back and then wrap the yarn around it (as if making single crochet). Pull the yarn through both loops on your hook so that only one loop remains on it. This will leave two loops remaining on your hook; now, pull this loop through all three loops.
This should create a total of three loops remaining on your needle; one more than before! To close off this half double crochet stitch and make sure there are no gaps between stitches when you’re finished with each row, slipstitch into first available stitch at end of each row using same color yarn being used for current project or new color if desired depending upon project pattern direction needs
As a beginner, it may be challenging to know what crochet tools are necessary. Our guide on The Essential Crochet Tools for Beginners can help you determine what tools you’ll need to get started on your crochet journey.
Doublt Crochet
Double crochet is a bit more complicated than single crochet. It’s also harder to learn and maintain, but it does have its benefits: the stitch produces a thicker fabric than single crochet, so it’s great for projects that need a little extra warmth.
As with any other stitch, you have to learn how to read the pattern before starting your project. Once you’ve learned how to double crochet, there are different types of patterns that will help you get started on making something wonderful!
| Double Crochet Stitch |
|---|
| Taller than the single and half-double crochet stitches. |
| Adds height and drape to crochet projects. |
| Created by making a chain and then yarning over before inserting the hook into the stitch. |
| Used in many stitch patterns and can be worked in rows or rounds. |
| Often used in blankets, scarves, and sweaters. |
Treble Crochet
The treble crochet stitch is a taller and more open version of the double crochet stitch. To work it, you wrap your yarn around your hook twice, insert it into a stitch (the same way as you would with any other crochet stitch), then pull up a loop. You’ll then need to work another chain in order to get started on your next row or round.
As this project uses only trebles, we won’t go into too much detail here but if you want to learn more about this stitch, check out our beginner guide to treble crochets!
Turning Chains and Counting Rows
Once you’ve got your stitches in place, it’s time to begin crocheting. As you work, you will count rows and stitches (among other things), so you’ll want to make sure that as you go along, you are always counting the same number of rows as stitches.
The first row of every project is usually referred to as “foundation chain” or “foundation row.” The foundation chain is simply the number of chains before working into the first stitch.
In this case, we have 20 chains for 24 stitches total – 5 chs per st around. If this sounds confusing at this point don’t worry! In future lessons we’ll learn how to count them easily!
To begin working into a project like baby booties:
Turn work 90 degrees clockwise so that what were previously 2nd loops are now on top (these will become 1st loops).
This is called rotating your work 90 degrees counterclockwise which can be done by moving hook from right hand side over left hand side then back down onto hook again all while holding yarn with left hand fingers (see below diagram).
If you’ve mastered making baby booties, why not expand your skillset to making baby blankets? Follow our step-by-step guide to create a beautiful and cozy blanket for your little one or as a gift for a loved one
Increasing Stitches
You can increase stitches by working into the back loop only, or into the front loop only. To do this, you will insert your hook through both loops of a stitch but only complete one stitch in each row. This is an easy way to add more stitches without adding more rows!
Decreasing Stitches
You may have noticed that there are fewer stitches on the right needle than on the left after you complete a row.
This is because stitches are decreased when they come together. Decreases reduce stitch count and make your work smaller, so they’re used in many patterns.
There are many ways to decrease stitches, but this guide will focus on three popular ways:
Single Crochet Decrease (sc2tog): Insert hook into first stitch, yarn over with both strands of yarn and pull through loop; insert hook into next stitch (you should now have 4 loops), then repeat step 2 for second half of this stitch; do not pull through all loops at once; instead, pull through two loops at a time until only one loop remains (this means it’s just like single crochet).
Half Double Crochet Decrease (hdc2tog): Yarn over hook twice before inserting into first stich as normal for hdc3tog except do not finish off with slip stich or chain 1 after pulling through last 2 sts on hook. Instead continue working around by doing another hdc3tog between each pair of decreases in previous round until desired number of stitches remain
| Decreasing Stitches |
|---|
| Used to narrow the shape of a crochet project. |
| Often used to shape hats, mittens, and amigurumi. |
| Done by working two stitches together or skipping a stitch. |
| Creates a smooth and gradual decrease or a sharp point depending on the technique used. |
| Helps maintain the overall shape and structure of a crochet project. |
Sewing Yarn Ends. Invisible Join. Working In The Round
In the last section, you learned how to crochet the booties. Here’s a list of things to know about sewing and finishing your work:
Sewing yarn ends. When you are done with your project, all of those loose ends have to be woven in or crocheted together. Invisible joins are an easy way to do this – it looks like there is no join at all!
This blog post has detailed instructions on how to finish off your projects with invisible joins.
Working in the round. Sometimes when working in rounds (or spirals) you may want each decrease/increase, etc., point exactly where it should be around the circumference so that your work stays even and regular along its entire length (or width).
Looking for more crochet patterns for baby gifts? Check out our Handmade Love: Crochet Patterns for Baby Gifts guide for a variety of patterns for booties, blankets, and more.
Conclusion
I hope you found this beginner’s guide to crochet helpful! There’s nothing more satisfying than creating something new, and I hope that you’ll keep learning and practicing until you find the perfect project for yourself. Have fun 🙂
Further Reading
Tips and Tricks for Crocheting Baby Shoes – This article is a great resource for anyone looking for tips and tricks on crocheting baby shoes. From choosing the right yarn to sizing, this article covers it all.
How to Crochet: A Complete Guide for Absolute Beginners – This comprehensive guide for absolute beginners covers everything from the basic stitches to reading crochet patterns.
Kimono Baby Booties Pattern – This free crochet pattern for Kimono-style baby booties includes step-by-step instructions and photos to help you create these adorable booties for your little one.
FAQs
What is crochet?
Crochet is a needlework technique that involves using a hook and yarn or other materials to create various stitches and patterns.
What are the basic crochet stitches?
The basic crochet stitches include the chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, half-double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet.
What do I need to get started with crochet?
To get started with crochet, you will need a crochet hook, yarn, and a pattern to follow.
Can I learn to crochet as a beginner?
Yes! Crochet is a beginner-friendly craft that can be learned easily with practice and patience.
What are some popular crochet patterns for beginners?
Some popular crochet patterns for beginners include scarves, hats, dishcloths, and baby booties.
My name is Hellen James, and I’m a crochet and knitting expert. I’ve been crocheting since I was just a kid, but I started taking it seriously when I realized that it was a great way to de-stress and relax. Now that I have kids of my own, I love teaching them how to do it too!