Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners, 6 Easy Types of Crochet Stitches

Crochet is a wonderful craft! You can easily learn basic crochet stitches for beginners, and be able to make all sorts of items. Once you have mastered these simple, different types of crochet stitches, it is really easy to move on to more complex stitches, which are really just variations on the basics! Continue reading to find out more about the different types of crochet stitches and learn the must-know easy crochet stitches for beginners.

Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners - Different Types of Crochet Stitches

It is worth noting, however, that crochet terms are country-specific. So if you are following a pattern, it is important to know which terms they are using in that pattern. Check before you start! Below is a conversion chart for different types of crochet stitches (abbreviated crochet sts) , which also includes the abbreviations used in crochet.

Simple Crochet Stitches - Converting Different Types of Crochet Stitches US vs UK Chart

USA TERMS	UK TERMS
ch - chain stitch	ch - chain
sl st - slip stitch	sl st - slip stitch
sc - single crochet	dc - double crochet
hdc - half double crochet	htr - half treble crochet
dc - double crochet	tr - treble crochet
htr -half treble crochet	hdtr - half double treble crochet
tr - treble crochet	dtr - double treble crochet
dtr - double treble crochet	trtr - triple treble crochet
yo - yarn over	yo - yarn over hook
gauge	tension
skip	miss
fasten off	fasten off

Crochet Stitches Chart

Here are the crochet stitch symbols that you may find in patterns:

So let’s get started with all the basic crochet stitches you will need to start crocheting anything at all. All the instructions given here for these beginner crochet stitches use US terms.

Best Yarn for Basic Crochet Stitches

When you are learning how to crochet, it is best to use a medium-weight yarn. Try a worsted weight yarn (10ply) with a 5mm hook or a DK yarn (8ply) with a 4.5mm hook. Read more about crochet hook sizes and yarn weights.

Skills You Need for the Basic Crochet Stitches

Before you start learning new crochet techniques, you will need 2 simple skills - the slip knot and a chain stitch.

Slip Knot

While not actually a stitch, a slip knot is used to start your very first row or ring of stitches.

Crochet Chain Stitch (ch)

Chain stitch is the foundation upon which you will form your crochet. It is used as a foundation chain (starting chain) and a turning chain in between rows. You must already have a slip knot on your hook.

6 Basic Crochet Stitches Tutorial

There are 8 basic types of crochet stitches that nearly all patterns are based on.

1. Single Crochet Stitch
2. Half Double Crochet Stitch
3. Double Crochet Stitch
4. Half Treble Stitch
5. Treble Stitch
6. Slip Stitch Crochet

REMEMBER - All the instructions below use US Terms

Here is the crochet stitch guide for each of these with step by step crochet stitches:

1. Single Crochet Stitches (sc)

Single crochet is one of the most common crochet stitches. It is particularly useful for amigurumi, which is the art of making soft toys from crochet. Read the full article: How to do single crochet

• Chain your required length.
• Insert the hook into the second chain.
• *Yarn over, Draw the yarn through the work. (2 loops on hook)
• Yarn over again.
• Draw the yarn through both loops on the hook. (1 stitch left on hook) The single crochet is now made.
• Insert hook into next stitch and repeat from *to make the next single crochet. Continue to the end of the row, or for as many single crochets are required.

2. Half Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)

This is halfway in height between a single crochet and a double crochet stitch. Half double crochet still gives a dense type of crochet stitch but is faster than doing a single crochet.

• Full article: How to do half double crochet
• Wrap yarn over hook, then insert the hook into the work. It must be inserted into the 3^rd stitch from the hook.
• *Yarn over hook, (yo) and draw the loop through the work only. (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over hook again, then draw through all 3 loops on the hook at once. (1 loop left on hook). 1 half double crochet is made.
• Yarn over, insert hook into next stitch, and repeat from * until required number of half double crochet stitches are made.

3. Double Crochet (dc)

This type of crochet stitch for beginners is widely used in many patterns such as crochet granny squares.

• Full article: How to do double crochet
• Yarn over hook, from back to front.
• Insert hook into work. It must go into the 4^th stitch from the hook.
• *Yarn over, and draw through work only. (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, and draw through the first 2 loops only. (2 loops on hook)
• Yarn over, and draw through the last 2 loops on the hook. 1 double crochet made.
• Yarn over again, insert hook into next stitch and repeat from * until required number of double crochet are worked.

4. Half Treble Crochet Stitch (htr)

This stitch gives you height halfway between a double crochet and a treble crochet.

• Full article: How to do half treble crochet.
• Yarn over twice.
• Insert hook into 3^rd chain from hook, YO, draw up loop. (4 loops on hook)
• *Yarn over. Draw hook through 2 loops. (3 loops on hook)
• Yarn over. Draw hook through all 3 loops. (Only 1 loop on hook) This is your half treble stitch.
• Yarn over twice. Insert hook into next stitch.
• Repeat from * until required number of half treble stitches are worked.

5. Treble Crochet (tr)

Treble crochet stitch (also called triple crochet stitch) has an open texture that makes blankets and larger items fast.

• Full article: How to do treble crochet
• Wrap the yarn around the hook twice, from back to front. Insert the hook into the fifth stitch from the hook. The first four chain stitches form the equivalent height of a treble crochet.
• *Yarn over again and draw this loop through the work only. (Four loops on hook).
• Yarn over again and draw through the first two loops only. (Three loops on hook.)
• Yarn over again and draw through the next two loops. (two loops on hook.)
• Wrap the yarn over once again and draw through the last two loops on the hook. (You are now left with one loop on the hook.) You have made your first treble crochet stitch.
• To continue, wrap your yarn over twice, insert hook into the top of the next stitch and repeat from* all over again.

6. Slip Stitch Crochet (sl st)

This is the shortest crochet stitch out of this set of easy crochet stitches for beginners. It is not used to make up fabric, but rather to join chain stitches, or to move the yarn along to another part of the fabric, without adding any height. Slip stitches are also often used for shaping the crochet fabric.

• Full article: How to do slip stich crochet
• Insert the hook into your work (top of the second stitch from the hook).
• Wrap the yarn over the hook, from back to front.
• Draw this new loop through both the work and the loop which was already on your hook. All in one movement.
• If you are joining a chain ring, insert hook into first chain that you made, yarn over hook, draw the new loop through both the first chain and the yarn on your hook, all in one movement.

Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners - Increasing and Decreasing Different Types of Crochet Stitches

These basic stitches will give you a good foundation for crochet and will see you through the most simple patterns. To follow a pattern, you may also need to be able to increase and decrease your stitches, for shaping your garment.

How To Increase In Crochet

You simply work more than one stitch into the stitch, space, or chain in the row below. Easy! So if you need to increase 1 stitch, you will work 2 stitches into one space. Read more about how to increase in crochet.

How To Decrease In Crochet

Here you will be working a crochet stitch over more than one stitch, space, or chain.

This is the simplest method: You simply skip one stitch and work your next stitch into the following stitch, space, or chain. This can, however, leave you with visible openings in your crochet. Read more about how to decrease in crochet.

More Crochet Stitch Tutorials

• Popcorn Stitch
• Puff Stitch
• Cluster Stitch
• Bobble Stitch
• Waffle Stitch
• Crochet Shell Stitch

Advanced Crochet Stitches

Here are some different crochet stitches for advanced crocheters:

• Crocodile Stitch
• Diamond Stitch

Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners - Conclusion

Once you have mastered these eight easy crochet stitches for beginners, you will be able to crochet almost anything! A lot of really fancy decorative crochet stitch patterns are just combinations of the different types of crochet stitches described above.

Here are some popular crochet patterns and crochet projects:

Things which sound advanced and intimidating are actually pretty simple once you have mastered these basics. For example, puff stitch is formed in much the same way as a half double crochet, just with a few extra YO’s and pull-throughs!

Things like moss stitch and seed stitch are made by alternating single crochet with chain stitches or single and double crochet stitches. If you take some time to experiment with stitch combinations you will soon be creating your own decorative stitch patterns.

Combine the different types of crochet stitches using different colors or yarn types, and you will be designing your own crochet items in no time at all! Enjoy building your crochet confidence with these easy crochet stitches for beginners.