Crochet is one of the oldest fiber arts in the world. It was developed in Persia, where it was known as khilan. Crochet later spread to Europe, where it became known as “filet crochet.” In France, filet crochet became so popular that it was considered a form of high art.
This guide will teach you how to crochet from making your first slip knot all the way through creating an entire scarf for yourself or someone else.
| Takeaways |
|---|
| Crocheting is a handicraft that involves using yarn, thread, and a hook to create different items |
| The basic crochet stitches include chain stitches, slip stitches, single crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet |
| Crocheting requires essential tools such as hooks, yarn, and scissors |
| Beginners can learn how to crochet by reading articles, watching video tutorials or attending classes and workshops |
| There are a vast array of items people can create using crochet, including fashion items, home decor items, toys, and bags |
We’ll cover everything from how to hold your hook and stitch up some projects along the way!
Hold Your Hook
The first thing to do is grab your hook. You’ll want to hold it like you would a pencil or pen the angle of your hand should be similar, and you should have no trouble gripping the hook comfortably.
Make sure to hold it in your dominant hand if you’re right-handed, that means holding the crochet hook in your right hand (lefties may want to mirror these instructions).
With this sizing in mind, keep all fingers on top of the shank (where the needle meets shaft) with your thumb resting at the top point where two halves meet up. Keep your index finger on the bottom half of shank as well; this will allow you more control over what’s happening with stitches as they’re formed.
Learning the basics is the first step to becoming an expert in crocheting. Our Crochet 101 guide will help beginners develop an interest in crochet and also have a better understanding of the terminologies used
Make A Slip Knot
The first thing you’ll want to do is make a slip knot, which is the easiest and fastest of all crochet stitches.
To start, you’ll need to make a loop (you can do this with your fingers or a hook). Then pull it through the center of that loop, hold the end with your thumb and forefinger, and pull tight. This will create two loops on either side of your finger.
Once you have these two loops around your finger, grab each one with another hand and pull them together before removing them from around each other. When you’re finished, this creates one “live” stitch that’s ready for use in any project!
| Steps |
|---|
| 1. Create a loop with the yarn, with the tail end over the ball end |
| 2. Pass the tail behind the ball end and back towards you, then insert it through the loop |
| 3. Draw the ends to tighten the knot, ensuring the loop is not too tight or too loose |
| 4. Place the slip knot on the hook, ready to begin crocheting |
Chain Stitch
You’ll start every crochet project with a chain stitch. This is the most common stitch in all of crochet, and it can be used to make many different stitches.
The chain stitch takes its name from how you’ll begin your project by making a series of chains that will create a foundation for your work.
To make a single chain stitch, wrap the yarn around your hook and pull through until there’s one loop on both sides of the hook.
Single Crochet
The single crochet is a very fundamental stitch in crochet. It is the first stitch that you will learn.
To start, make a slip knot and then insert your hook into the first stitch of your work.
Yarn over (wrap the yarn around your hook). Pull through and keep pulling until you have one loop remaining on your hook.
In future steps, if nothing else is specified, it is assumed that you are working off this last loop; basically, when you pull through with this last loop to complete your single crochet stitches and don’t do anything else with it!
Now we are going to move onto Step 2: Yarn Over & Draw Up A Loop
The beauty of crocheting lies in the different stitches used to create unique patterns. Check out our Beginners Guide to Crochet Stitches to learn different crochet stitches and how to combine them to create beautiful patterns
Double Crochet
To begin, you will need to yarn over your hook.
Next, insert your hook into the next stitch (the first chain from the previous row of double crochet stitches) and pull through a loop.
You should now have 3 loops on your hook: one from when you formed the slip knot at the beginning of your piece and two from when you pulled through two loops in step 2 above.
Pull through all three loops and complete a double crochet stitch by pulling tight.
Double Crochet Stitch Instructions
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1 | Yarn over the hook, then insert hook into the fourth chain or stitch from the hook |
| Step 2 | Yarn over and pull through the chain or stitch. You should have three loops on your hook |
| Step 3 | Yarn over the hook again, and pull through two of the three loops on your hook |
| Step 4 | Yarn over the hook again, and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook |
| Step 5 | Continue the pattern by repeating steps 1-4 until you reach the end of the row |
Half Double Crochet
The half double crochet is a combination of the single and double crochet stitches. It’s taller than the single, but a little bit wider than the double.
The abbreviation for this stitch is hdc. Before we can make it, though, you’ll need to learn how to do both of those stitches!
Nothing compares to handmade crochet for babies. Check out our Top Crochet Patterns for Baby Items article for a list of patterns suitable for making gorgeous baby items.
Treble Crochet
This stitch is similar to single crochet, but with more loops. You’ll use the yarn over again, only this time you’ll draw up 3 loops on your hook. The result will be a row of four stitches in total.
Once you’ve completed the first three loops, you can draw through all three at once to complete the stitch.
Slip Stitch
To make a slip stitch, first insert the hook into the indicated space and then bring it back out. Next, yarn over (pick up a loop with your hook) and pull through both loops on the hook. You’ve completed one slip stitch!
Slip stitches are used in amigurumi to join rounds of single crochet or increase/decrease stitches.
They can also be used as a way to start or end each round of crocheting, which is what we’ll do here today. Slip stitches are also useful for making button holes (which we will not be covering today).
Starting a crochet project can be stressful for some beginners. Our 10 Easy Crochet Patterns for Beginners offers a variety of patterns that are stress-free and easy to crochet.
Fasten Off
You can fasten off by tying a knot, weaving in the end, or cutting it.
Tying a knot: Take your working yarn and make a loop around your hook. Pull through that loop, then tighten the knot so that it doesn’t come undone.
Weaving in the end: After completing your last stitch and leaving a tail of about 6 inches (15 cm), pull this end through one stitch at the edge of your work. Weave it along to where you want to fasten off (this will hide most of it).
Then take the tail up through its own loop from inside out, so that it lies flat against all other stitches on top of your work; if necessary, adjust this by pulling gently on one end or another until all ends are even again (see image).
Weave in any loose ends with fine embroidery floss before cutting them away close to their final position without actually touching them with scissors since they might snag something!
Adding a personal touch to home decor can be done with Crochet. Explore various ideas in our Crochet Your Way to Beautiful Home Decor article, and learn how to turn ordinary home items into beautiful pieces
Conclusion
This is just the beginning of your crochet journey. You can use these stitches to make all kinds of wonderful things, from blankets and scarves to baskets and hats!
If you want to learn more about crochet, there are a lot of resources available online. There are also many books on how to crochet written by experts in the field who can teach you everything they know about this beautiful craft.
Further Reading
Crochet for Beginners: Tips and Trick: Offers tips and tricks for beginners on how to crochet.
Discover the Joy of Crochet with These Simple Tips: Provides simple tips on how to crochet for beginners and also provides step-by-step tutorials to follow.
How to Crochet: This Martha Stewart article is a beginner’s guide to crochet, including different stitches and techniques.
FAQs
What is Crochet?
Crochet is a handicraft that involves the use of yarn, thread and a hook to make various items including blankets, scarves, hats and other fashion items.
What are the Basic Crochet Stitches?
The basic crochet stitches include the chain stitch, slip stitch, single crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet.
What Tools Do I Need to Start Crocheting?
The essential tools needed to start crocheting include hooks, yarn, and a pair of scissors.
How Can I Learn How to Crochet?
The best way to learn how to crochet is by watching video tutorials, attending crochet classes or workshops, reading crochet books or online articles.
What Can I Make with Crochet?
You can make a wide range of items using crochet, including fashion items such as scarves and hats, home decor such as cushion covers and blankets, and items such as toys and bags.
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!