How to Crochet: Basic Stitches

I am so excited about my new video series!  I first learned to crochet as a child and it’s stuck with me through the years.  Although I now do a variety of yarn crafts I still love crochet and I want to share that love with you.  This summer I decided to put together a “How To Crochet” video series designed with the beginner in mind.

PIN IT! so you can come back later as each video is added.

This series will walk the crochet novice through every step of beginner crochet.  I’ll start with true basics like how to hold a crochet hook and how to manage tension on the yarn.  Then we’ll progress into making a chain and using that as the foundation for your project.  After that we’ll get started with the stitches.

I want everyone that has the desire to learn how to crochet to gain a solid understanding of how to make each stitch.  With that in mind I’ve included some slow motion replay segments in each video so you can clearly see how the yarn and hook move to make a stitch.  I’ll even cover how to fix a mistake.  (Not that I expect you’ll make any, but I sure do!)

What am I going to teach you about crochet?

The first half of the series will concentrate on learning four basic stitches in addition to the chain stitch. After you’ve completed those lessons we will combine these stitches to learn some common crochet stitch patterns.

What supplies do you need to start crocheting?

• Crochet hook – There are a wide variety of crochet hooks available.  They can be made from plastic, wood, aluminum, stainless steel and more.  The material can affect how smoothly the yarn glides across the hook, but you can learn using any hook.  Crochet hooks are marked with a letter (or number) that indicate the size of the hook.  The size is measurement in millimeters (mm) around the shaft above the handle.  The larger the size in mm the bigger the stitch will be.  I used a Furls Odyssey 5.5 mm (size I) hook in this video series. (aff. link)

• Yarn – Again, you can use any yarn you have on hand.  The most important thing is use a yarn that is the right size for your crochet hook.  Look at the yarn label to see the recommended hook size.  You can also use a hook that is close to that size.  If the yarn label recommends a 5 mm hook and you have a 4.5 mm that is just fine!  I used Red Heart Chic Sheep yarn in color Green Tea in this series. (aff. link)

That’s really all you need!  For a full project you will also want scissors, a tapestry needle for weaving in ends and blocking mats and pins to block your work.  For more about blocking see this video on How to Wet Block.

NOTE: This series is taught using U.S. crochet terminology to see the equivalent U.K. terms see my chart.

This entire How to Crochet series is also available as a downloadable PDF including patterns. You can make projects that match the skill level of each lesson. Get the How to Crochet PDF here.

Lesson 1: How to Single Crochet (sc)

Welcome to your first lesson in how to crochet!  I hope you’re as excited about learning as I am about teaching.  Although I’ve listed the first lesson as Single Crochet I’ve a got a lot more for you in this video!  I don’t want to assume that you know anything about crochet yet.

With that in mind I like to start at the very beginning.  On the previous page I talked a little bit about crochet hooks and yarn. It is very important to know the proper way to hold the hook and the yarn so you have good control when making your stitches.  There are several ways to hold a crochet hook and many more ways to control tension on the yarn.  I’m going to teach you how I do it, but if you started learning with a slightly different method, that’s okay.  Just continue with what is most comfortable for you.

Techniques Covered in this Tutorial:

• How to hold a crochet hook
• How to hold your working yarn
• Chain stitch
• Turning chain
• Foundation chain (row)
• Single crochet into foundation chain
• Single crochet into stitch
• Ripping back to fix mistakes
• Finishing your work

The Single Crochet, also abbreviated in patterns as “sc”, is the smallest of crochet stitches.  It is a short, dense stitch and is used in a variety of stitch patterns.  The main difference between the basic crochet stitches (single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, etc.) is the height of the stitch.  Be combining stitches of different heights you can create a wide variety of stitch patterns and textures.

In the video I reference adding an extra chain to your foundation chain.  We call this extra chain the turning chain.  You need a turning chain at the end of the row to achieve the proper edge.  Each crochet stitch will have a different number of turning chains needed to make sure the row is a uniform height.  See my handy chart for the number of turning chains.

Practice your single crochet stitches by making this Easy Basic Washcloth!

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Watch the video below to learn how to crochet the Single Crochet stitch!

Right Handed

Left Handed

Lesson 2: How to Half Double Crochet

Now that you’ve learned how to get started with a foundation chain and the single crochet stitch let’s continue.  If you have any crochet knowledge already you may be expecting to learn how to double crochet next, but you’ll have wait until Lesson 3.  First, I want to cover it’s cousin the half double crochet stitch.

The half double crochet stitch, abbreviated “hdc” is less dense than the single crochet, but still makes a solid fabric.  Just like it’s name sounds it’s shorter than the double crochet.  This stitch provides a great building block for stitch patterns and works up quickly.

Skills taught in this tutorial:

• Yarn over (yo)
• Half double crochet into foundation chain
• Half double crochet into stitch
• Working a turning chain ( See the Crochet Turning Chain Chart for reference!)
• Checking your stitch count for accuracy
• Weaving in tails

Practice this skill by making the Easy Basic Scarf!

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Watch the video below to learn how to crochet the Half Double Crochet stitch!

Right Handed

Left Handed

Lesson 3: How to Double Crochet

Now you’ve arrived!  The double crochet stitch is one of the most widely used crochet stitches. Because it is much taller than the single crochet stitch it works up very quickly.  It is an integral part in many crochet stitch patterns like the classic shell stitch or a granny square. Once you learn how to crochet the double crochet stitch it will open up a world of possibilities!

The way to make the double crochet stitch is similar to the half double crochet.  At this point you may start to notice that each stitch builds on the previous one.  The beauty of crochet is that the basic technique is always the same, but the individual steps for each stitch are just a little different.

Skills taught in this tutorial:

• Yarn over (yo)
• Double crochet into foundation chain
• Work a turning chain (See the Crochet Turning Chain Chart for reference!)
• Double crochet into stitch
• Check your stitch count for accuracy by counting posts
• Fasten off and weave in tails

Practice this lesson by making the Easy Basic Blanket! There’s even a small baby lovey size that’s perfect for mastering this stitch.

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Watch the video below to learn how to crochet the Double Crochet stitch!

Right Handed

Left Handed

 Lesson 4: How to Treble/Triple Crochet

You’re in the big leagues now!  The last stitch for this beginner series is the treble, or triple, crochet, and it is abbreviated in patterns with “tr”.  NOTE: This stitch is also called the triple crochet.  I’ve called it both triple and treble throughout the video since they are used interchangeably.

This is the tallest of the stitches I’m going to cover and it’s an ideal stitch to incorporate into a design to create texture and height.  It’s rare to see the triple crochet stitch used as a standalone stitch, but if you want an open airy fabric it will do the job nicely.  Again, just like the half double crochet and the double crochet we are simply adding to the stitch to create a tall post.  You will see the treble crochet stitch used often in lacework since it’s height naturally lends itself to make eyelets or openings in the work.

Skills taught in this tutorial:

• Yarn over (yo) twice
• Treble (triple) crochet into foundation chain
• Work a turning chain (See the Crochet Turning Chain Chart for reference!)
• Treble (triple)  crochet into stitch
• Check your stitch count for accuracy by counting posts
• Fasten off and weave in tails

Practice your triple crochet stitches by making the beautiful Easy Triple Cowl.

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Pattern: Crochet the Easy Triple Cowl to practice this stitch.

Watch the video below to learn how to crochet the Triple Crochet stitch!.

Right Handed

Left Handed