How to Single Crochet (SC Stitch for Beginners)

The single crochet stitch is one of the most important beginner crochet stitches and creates dense sturdy crochet fabric. Because it is simple, versatile, and easy to learn, single crochet is commonly used for blankets, scarves, amigurumi, baskets, and many beginner crochet projects. Although it is one of the shortest crochet stitches, how to single crochet is usually the first technique beginners learn because many advanced stitches are built from it. This tutorial will show you how to single crochet step by step.

What is Single Crochet?

The single crochet stitch is a basic crochet stitch created by pulling yarn through loops on the hook to form short compact stitches. Single crochet creates firm textured fabric with very little stretch, making it ideal for blankets, toys, bags, and structured crochet projects.

• When reading a crochet pattern, single crochet is written as sc. Some people refer to it as an sc crochet as well.
• If you are working from a crochet diagram, single crochet is shown as x or +

Learn more beginner stitches in the complete crochet stitches guide.

Single crochet stitch is used in numerous patterns. Everything from stuffed toys to complicated sweater patterns will probably have some single crochet somewhere in the pattern!

How to Single Crochet (Step by Step)

For this tutorial, you will basically just need a hook and yarn. Beginners should try a worsted-weight yarn and a 5mm hook.

This tutorial will show you how to single crochet for the US. The UK calls this stitch a double crochet.

1. Foundation Chain (First Row of Single Crochet)

Before you can start with a basic single crochet stitch, you need to be able to do a foundation chain. To start the foundation chain, you need to make a slip knot. Do not make this foundation chain too tight, as you will need to be able to push your hook through each loop.

2. Insert Hook into 2nd Chain

Now you have the foundation chain, it is time to do the actual stitch. Insert the hook into the second chain from the hook.

3. Yarn Over and Pull Through

Wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front.

And pull through the first loop. You will now have 2 loops on your hook.

4. Yarn Over Again and Pull Through 2

Wrap the yarn over again from back to front.

Pull it through both loops on the hook. You are left with one loop on the hook.

Well done! You’ve made your first single crochet stitch. Continue repeating steps 2 to 4 into each chain stitch. Here is a completed row.

5. Next Row (Turning Stitch)

When you reach the end of your first foundation row of chain stitches, it’s time to turn to continue with the next row.

• Turn your work around so that the wrong side is facing you, and your last loop is now on your right.
• Chain 1 to make a turning chain. This is called the turning chain because it allows you to turn your work around, and it gets your hook up to the level of the single crochet stitches, which will follow.

Now insert the hook under both loops at the top of the last stitch in the previous row. It will be the stitch below your one chain. Here is a close up photo where you can see the hook being inserted under both loops.

Create a sc into that stitch. Wrap the yarn over and pull up a loop. Yarn over again, and pull through 2 loops. This is the first stitch of your second row. Repeat these steps at the top of every stitch from the previous row.

Continue in this way until you have made your crochet piece as long as you need it to be. Do not work into your turning chain, because if you do, you will in effect be increasing a stitch in every row, and your square will get wider and wider, and turn into a rhombus!

6. End of the Row

When you come to the end of the final row you will want to finish off your crochet work.

• Cut the yarn 6 inches from the hook.
• Pass the end of the yarn through the final loop and pull tight.

Basic Single Crochet Techniques

Swatch Size & Tension

Sc stitches are generally the same width as height. So, for example, a piece of single crochet 10 stitches wide should also be 10 rows long to make a square. If this crochet gauge is not working out for you, try changing the size of your hook.

• Larger hook = looser gauge = larger fabric.
• Smaller hook = tighter gauge = smaller fabric.

How to Increase Single Crochet

You simply work more than one single crochet stitch into the stitch, space, or chain in the row below. Easy!

How to Decrease Single Crochet

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

• Decrease by Skipping – 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.
• Single Crochet 2 Together (sc2tog) – This method is called single crochet 2 together and is the most common decrease method.

Single Crochet Back Loop Stitches

It is very common to use single crochet back loops to create a ribbing used for beanies. Instead of inserting the hook under both loops of the row previously, you will only insert under the back loop.

Single Crochet In The Round

If you wish to make anything with a circular shape rather than squares or rectangles, you need to work ‘in the round’. This basically means to crochet in circles. To do this, instead of turning at the end of a row, you keep working in a spiral or a circle, without turning your work. When you are working in rounds, if you keep the same number of stitches all the time, you will form a tube shape rather than a flat circle. If you want a flat circle, you will need to increase every few stitches to increase the area of your fabric.

Troubleshooting

When learning how to single crochet stitch, you may come across these common problems:

• Uneven edges – Uneven edges is common when you are starting to learn crochet. The most common reason is that you have inadvertently increased or decreased the number of stitches. Think ahead and periodically count the number of stitches per row. If your stitch count is correct, uneven stitches may be caused by starting or ending a row in the wrong spot. Don’t forget that the first stitch of a row is made into the last stitch of the row below.
• A fabric that gets larger or smaller – This is often caused by the same reason as uneven edges. Check you have the correct number of stitches.

Projects to Make with Single Crochet?

Pretty much anything that you can make with a crochet fabric! If you like to crochet back and forth in rows, you can make facecloths, dishcloths, headbands, table runners, placemats, and blankets. Once you master the increasing and decreasing crochet, you can make backpacks, baby clothing, and sweaters. Amigurumi used for soft toymaking also uses single crochet.

If you enjoy crocheting in the round, you can make hats, mittens, round coasters/mug rugs, or placemats. You can create tiny rounds from soft cotton yarn and make eco-friendly, re-useable makeup remover pads. This makes a lovely gift if you make up a few rounds and pack them into a pretty box.

• Crochet Blanket Patterns
• How to Crochet a Scarf
• Crochet Sock Patterns
• How to Crochet a Coaster
• How to Crochet a Basket
• Crochet a Ball

If you already know how to single crochet quite well, mix it up a bit and use fancy yarns, like a chenille yarn, or just change colors every few rows and make stripes!

Single Crochet FAQs

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In Conclusion

The single crochet stitch is one of the most important beginner crochet stitches and forms the foundation for many crochet techniques and patterns. Its dense sturdy texture makes it ideal for blankets, baskets, toys, scarves, and practical crochet projects. Once you become comfortable with how to single crochet, you will be ready to learn many more beginner and advanced crochet stitches.

• More Single Crochet
• Single Crochet Foundation
• Back Post Single Crochet
• Front Post Single Crochet
• How to Crochet for Beginners – Step by Step
• Types Of Yarn – For Crochet and Knitting
• Crochet Scarf Patterns – 21 Best and Trendiest