Learn How to Crochet for Beginners the Easy Way

So, you want to learn how to crochet for beginners? Crochet is very ‘On Trend’ now, and with good reason. As with any craft, you need to start right at the beginning and learn all the terminology and the most basic steps, and then move on from there. Continue reading to learn how to crochet step by step, the easy way.

How to Crochet for Beginners

I have just recently read a post on social media that said something along the lines of: “I could not find the long red scarf I wanted for my boyfriend anywhere in the stores, so I taught myself to crochet.” Alongside the post was a picture of her boyfriend wearing his amazing red scarf. Crochet is truly a satisfying hobby! Anything you can make with any type of textile or fabric; you can make with crochet and this is exactly why it is a fantastic idea to learn to crochet.

The popular form of crochet as we know it started in Europe in the early 1800s.  It involves looping some kind of yarn with a single hook, joining all these loops together to form a fabric. It ranges from very fine lacework to thick floor rugs, and everything in between.

Supplies Needed for Crocheting for Beginners

All you really need is just crochet hooks and yarn! This can be a very thrifty hobby. Until you want to start buying handspun, hand-dyed alpaca yarn!

Crochet Hooks

Crochet hooks are made in a variety of materials- for example, bone, plastic, steel, aluminum, and bamboo. They also come in a variety of crochet hook sizes, according to their diameter. You can buy very thin steel hooks for working with fine cotton. These are labeled 00 to 14. (0.4 to 3 mm metric).

More commonly used are the aluminum, bamboo, and plastic hooks, which come in sizes B-1 to U. (2.5 to 25mm metric)

Crochet Yarn

Crochet yarn is generally sold in balls or skeins. Most types of yarn will be labeled with the thickness in grams or ounces and the fiber content. Always keep the yarn's label as it commonly includes washing instructions.

• Yarn Weights
• What is Worsted Yarn
• Types of Yarn
• DK Yarn

Not all yarns are the same thickness. The thickness or yarn weight you will use usually depends on the thickness of your crochet hook. Guidelines on the suitable size hook for a particular yarn can generally be found on the yarn label.

Thicker yarns need fewer stitches and a thicker crochet hook, so are quicker to work up. Fine, thin yarns or cotton are better for more delicate work but require more stitches and take longer to create your crochet ‘fabric’. When starting to learn how to crochet, choose a medium to thick yarn weight.

Crochet yarn is commonly made from cotton, wool, acrylic. Anything you can knit with, you can also crochet. Crochet can, in fact, be done with ribbon, strips of fabric, very fine wire, twine, and anything in between! Anything that can be wrapped around a hook and looped can be used as yarn. Acrylic yarn is generally cheap and easy to use when you are learning. Other Crochet Supplies

Extra Supplies

Also useful are scissors, a tape measure, and stitch markers, which are handy for marking the beginning of round or repeating patterns.

How to Crochet for Beginners: Basic Crochet Stitches Abbreviations

Here are the common abbreviations and different stitches used in crochet patterns. Notice how there are different terms used for the US and UK, so it is important you always know the origin of your pattern. On the Treasurie blog, we use US terminology.

Crochet Conversion Chart Us vs Uk:

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

How to Crochet for Beginners – Learn How to Crochet Step by Step with This Tutorial

Most crochet patterns start with a base of chain stitches and a single crochet stitch. With this one stitch, you can make many different items including clothing, toys, and homewares. Continue reading to learn how to crochet step by step.

Step 1 - How to Hold a Crochet Hook Correctly

How to hold the hook? This is a matter of personal preference. Some people like to hold it as you would hold a pencil, others hold it like a knife. See which feels comfortable for you. I prefer pencil grip.

• It is important to keep the tension of your yarn steady and fairly tight. To do this, wrap the yarn around the little finger of your left hand. If you are left-handed, everything applies in reverse, to the opposite hand!
• Then use your middle finger to control the feed of the yarn, while your index finger and thumb hold your work.

This is just a recommended idea. It doesn’t really matter how you hold the yarn and hook, as long as you are keeping the tension tight enough. If it is too loose your stitches will be loose and sloppy.

Step 2 - How To Crochet a Slip Knot

All crochet projects start with you making a slip knot in order to get the yarn on the hook. This will be the first ‘link’ of your chain.

1. Make a loose loop of yarn,
2. Twist the yarn around the end of the hook (back to front) and pull it back through.
3. You will have a loose knot at the end of your hook.
4. Tighten gently.

Step 2 - How to Wrap the Yarn Over

One of the most basic crochet skills used in every type of stitch is the yarn over technique. Yarn Over is abbreviated to yo in crochet patterns.

• Wrap the yarn from back to front over the hook. If it feels easier, you can keep the yarn still and move the hook. As long as your yarn is wrapped around from back to front, you will have correctly done a yarn over.

Step 3 - How to Do Chain Stitch Crochet

All crochet pieces need a chain stitch to start off. It gives the first crochet row something to anchor into. This chain will be the width of your required fabric. Chain Stitch is abbreviated to ch in patterns.

1. Create a slip stitch so your yarn is on your hook.
2. Wrap your yarn over (yo)
3. Pull this loop through your original loop. Don’t pull it too tight! This is your first chain.
4. Repeat this movement to form as many chain stitches as required.

Chain stitch tips:

1. Keep your loops fairly loose, as you will need to get your hook into the holes in the next step. 
2. The length of your chain will be the width of your crochet fabric. If you are following a pattern, your pattern will present this as, for example, ch50, which means you must create 50 loops.
3. Do not count your slip knot as a chain stitch.
4. Most crochet patterns will require you to count the number of chain stitches. When counting chain stitches, don't count the chain on the hook. You can see below where to start counting.

Step 4 - How to Do Crochet Single Crochet (Sc)

Now you know how to do a slip knot and a chain, it is time to learn your first stitch. Single crochet is the smallest, simplest stitch in crochet. It is written as sc in patterns. Read a more in-depth article on single crochet.

How to Single Crochet the First Stitch & Row

• Chain your desired number of stitches and 1 extra for turning stitches.
• Insert hook into the second chain from the hook.
• Yarn over (remember it is back to front).
• Draw the loop through the work. You will now have two loops on your hook.
• Then yarn over again.
• Draw the hook through both loops at the same time. You will have one loop on the hook. You have now created the first stitch of single crochet! Well done!
• Insert your hook into the next stitch and repeat.

How to Turn a Row

When you have reached the end of your row of single crochet stitches, you should have one less single crochet stitch than you have chain stitches. This is because you started crocheting into the second chain from your hook.

• To continue, turn your work around so that the wrong side is facing you.
• Make 1 chain stitch (ch) as your turning chain stitch.
• Insert your hook into the second sc and repeat, making sc stitches all the way along, into your newly created row of sc. Insert the hook through the whole of the top loop of each stitch. The last stitch of each row must go into your sc turning stitch of the previous row.
• Keep doing this, turning your work around each time, until your crocheted fabric is the required length.

Step 5 - How to Finish the Ends

To finish off your crochet work, and stop it from unraveling, cut your yarn and pull it through the last loop on your hook, and then pull it tight. Use a large yarn needle to weave the ends through a few inches then cut any excess.

With just this simple stitch you can make almost anything. It will not look especially decorative and fancy, but that is coming soon! Single crochet will give you a strong, firm fabric with no big spaces in between stitches. If you are longing to make lacy, airy creations, follow along here, and we will get there!

Step 6 - How to Crochet Different Colors

Whether you want random color changes or stripes, it is important to learn how to change yarns. If you read the full tutorial on changing yarns in crochet you will learn 4 different methods you can use but here I will show you how to do the simplest knot.

1. Finish so you have 2 loops left on the hook at the end stitch.
2. Yarn over with the new color of yarn.
3. Pull through to finish the stitch. If you leave a long tail there is less chance of it pulling out.
4. Continue your crochet as normal and this will hold the color change in place.

Step 7 - How to Crochet Increases

You can easily increase the number of stitches in a row by crocheting 2 or more stitches into the one stitch below. This will be abbreviated in your pattern as "inc" or "2sc in the next sc". The same method can be used for other crochet stitch types. Some patterns will have you increase at the beginning or end of the row and some may have it happen at a designated point along the row. It will depend on the nature of the shaping of your item.

Step 8 - How to Crochet Decreases

The easiest way to decrease the number of stitches you have is to simply skip a stitch. This will result in a small gap that is barely noticeable. In patterns, this is generally abbreviated to "dec" or it may tell you to skip (sk) one stitch. There are other methods to decrease but this is by far the best way for beginners.

Step 9 – Learn to Crochet the Magic Ring

Another important skill to learn when crocheting is the magic ring. This starting technique results in small or invisible holes in the center when crocheting in the round.

1. Loop an e shape with the ball end of the yarn on top.
2. Insert your hook into the "e" and wrap the yarn over.
3. Pull through keeping the loop loose.
4. Chain 1, keeping it loose still.
5. Crochet your desired stitches in the number indicated on the pattern. In this photo it was a single crochet stitch.
6. Pull the tail to tighten the center.

How to Crochet - More Stitches for Beginners

There are countless more stitches to choose from when learning how to crochet. 3 of the most common besides single crochet are:

1. Half Double Crochet
2. Double Crochet
3. Half Treble Crochet
4. Treble Crochet

In the photo below you can see the increasing height of the stitches. All of these samples were in a single row.

Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Half double crochet (hdc) is a stitch that is between single crochet and double crochet in height. It has medium-density that is between single and double crochet.

• Crochet a foundation chain with 2 extra chains for the turning chains.
• Yarn over and insert into the third chain from the hook.
• Do a yarn over and pull through 1 loop (3 loops on hook).
• Yarn over and pull through 3 loops (1 loop on hook).
• Repeat for the rest of the row.
• To turn a row you will need to chain 2 for the turning chain.

How to Crochet Double (dc)

Double crochet is abbreviated dc. It is a popular stitch as it is easy to do and makes up a little quicker than single crochet.

• Create a slip knot and chain your desired stitches. This is called your foundation chain.
• Yarn over and insert the hook into the third chain from the hook.
• Yarn over and pull through (3 loops on hook).
• Put the yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (2 loops on hook).
• Yarn over and pull through 2 loops on the hook (1 loop on hook).
• To turn a row you will need to chain 3 for the turning chain.

Half Treble Crochet (htr)

Half treble crochet is halfway between double and treble stitch. It is useful when you need stitches of various sizes and makes up very quickly.

• Do a foundation chain with 3 extra chains for turning.
• Yarn over twice
• Insert the hook into the third chain.
• Yarn over and draw up a loop (4 loops on hook).
• Do a yarn over and draw through 2 loops (3 loops on hook).
• Yarn over and draw through 3 loops (1 loop on hook).

How to Crochet Treble (tr)

Treble crochet is open and lacy and one of the quickest stitches to make up the fabric. It is abbreviated tr.

• Do a slip knot then create a foundation chain. Chain 4 extra stitches for your turning chain.
• Wrap the yarn around the hook twice.
• Insert the hook into the 5th chain.
• Yarn over and pull through (4 loops on hook).
• Do a yarn over and pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook).
• Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook).
• Yarn over and pull through 2 loops (1 loop on hook).
• For turning rows. you will need to chain 4 for the turning chain.

Learn to Crochet More Fancy Stitches

• Shell stitches
• Diamond stitch
• Moss stitch
• Wave Stitch
• Cluster Stitch
• Crocodile Stitch
• Chevron Crochet
• Puff Stitch
• Puff Stitch
• Popcorn Stitch Crochet
• Slip Stitch
• V Stitch Crochet

How to Crochet Different Shapes

You can use different stitches to make circles, rectangles, squares, and even hearts. As well as being the foundation of different items, these shapes can be used to adorn and embellish.

Crocheting Hearts

Crocheting Circles

Crocheting Granny Squares

Crocheting Rectangles

Crocheting Flowers

Crocheting Triangles

Crocheting Ovals

Crocheting for Beginners - Projects

Your imagination is the only barrier here. Once you have mastered the basics of crochet for beginners, you can create anything, from fine cotton wearables to heavy and thick rag rugs. Examples of crochet projects are:

• Crochet blankets
• Baby blankets using granny squares or simple stitches
• Crochet Hats
• Crochet Scarves
• Clothing, including crochet tops, and crochet dresses

How to Crochet Scarves

One of the best projects to start with is learning how to crochet a scarf. A scarf is essentially just a long rectangle that can be made from any stitch you like. It can be simple or quite fancy.

The red scarf below was made using chunky wool, and a double crochet stitch so was really fast to make. One word of advice - count your stitches occasionally to make sure your scarf is not getting smaller or wider. I crocheted this scarf while watching TV and ended up redoing it a bit as I forgot to double-check my width.

How to Crochet Practice Squares

It is a good idea to practice a little before starting on any ambitious projects. So that you don’t feel that you are wasting any time, plan to make a dishcloth or a face scrubbie with your practice squares. It won't matter if your stitches are a bit too tight, loose, or wonky at first. Practice will make perfect!

• Choose a pure cotton yarn in a thick size. Double knit/worsted weight is ideal for practice squares. For this, you will need a G-6 (4mm) hook.
• Start with about 25-30 chain stitches, depending on the size you want to make.
• Crochet your rows of single crochet until you have made a square shape.

How to Crochet Headbands

Crocheting for Beginners - In Conclusion

Although these are only the most basic stitches in crochet for beginners, you can make so many different things using them. If you are a fan of Amigurumi, those cute little stuffed animals, are made using single crochet.

You could make a scarf, fingerless mittens, or even a warm baby blanket using these basic stitches. Give it a try, build up your skills, and eventually, you will be creating that beautiful long, red scarf that you cannot find anywhere in the stores! It is extremely easy to get ‘hooked’ on this hobby!