How to Hold Your Crochet

The Hook

Hold the crochet hook in your dominant hand (the hand you write with).


The Other Hand

Your other hand helps to tension the yarn so that the crochet stitches will look even. It can take a few attempts to get your tension even, but don’t worry, it’s easy to pull back crochet and sort out any areas that need it.


How to Hold the Yarn

To tension the yarn - one option (this is the classic way) is to put the yarn over your first 2 fingers, under the next and over the little finger as shown in the first photo.

A variation on this is to do a circle of yarn around the little finger as shown in the second photo.

However I just put the yarn over my index finger and up and down between the remaining fingers, which is the third photo. As you can see I am right handed so my left hand is the one that tensions the yarn.

Just experiment to find the style you’re most comfortable doing.

Learn How to Crochet Video Tutorial 1

How to Start Crocheting Video

I intend to do a range of short videos showing the crochet basics. It is a lot easier when you can see how the different techniques are done rather than just reading about them!


This video shows how to do the initial first stitch when starting a crochet project. This is usually called either a slip stitch or a slip knot.



Watch out for more videos to help you with your crocheting.

A Guide to the Different Crochet Hook Sizes

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Here is a chart to the different sizes of crochet hooks.

This is handy when –

• Crocheting items from vintage patterns

• Using patterns from another country


It can be a bit confusing trying to work out the size of crochet hook recommended in the pattern.

Remember that this is only a guide. Once you start crocheting the item you will quickly see if you are happy with the result or want to change to a different size of hook.

Everyone crochets with a slightly different tension so if you are unhappy with the feel of your crochet try using a larger hook if it is too hard or a smaller hook if it is too loose looking.

Buying Your Crochet Equipment

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Matching the ‘Right’ Size of Crochet Hook to Your Yarn

Beginners to crochet are often pleased to find that the main equipment is just a crochet hook and some yarn. However when it comes to buying these two pieces of equipment it can be confusing and difficult to know what to buy.

The easiest yarn to start with is the double knitting (or double worsted) yarn. This is widely available and comes in a huge range of colours.

The next piece of equipment is a crochet hook.


Getting the Correct Size of Crochet Hook

If you look on the wrapper of the ball of yarn you will see that there is a recommended size for knitting needles shown, usually beside the washing instructions. I find that using a crochet hook about 0.5mm less than the recommended knitting needle size is about right.

That means that if the recommended knitting needle size is 4.00mm then the crochet hook would be 3.50mm, or if the recommended knitting needle size is 3.50mm then the crochet hook size is 3.00mm

Obviously everyone crochets with a slightly different tension but this is a good starting point for buying your first pieces of crochet equipment.


Granny Squares are Good Practice

For anyone new to crochet I always recommend that they practice their crocheting by making Granny Squares. This allows you to practice your crocheting on something that is a good manageable size and fairly quick to complete. This means that you won’t get discouraged by trying a large project too soon.

The other benefit of crocheting Granny Squares is that you use knitting yarns which are thicker than the crochet yarns. If you are a knitter you will already have yarn left from other projects you can use to start you off.


Do a Test Square

I always do a test Granny Square to check the ‘feel’ of the square. If you think it is too loose try using a smaller crochet hook or if the square is too hard change to a larger size of crochet hook.


Top Tip
If you do your test square in a single colour you will be able to easily pull it back if you decide to change to a different size of crochet hook.

The Differences between the US and UK Crochet Terms

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The different crochet stitch names used in
the United Kingdom and the USA

The crochet terms used in US and UK crochet patterns are not the same. This article explains the differences between the names for the crochet stitches.

In the English-speaking crochet world, the basic stitches have different names. The differences are usually referred to as UK/US or British/American.

Examples of these differences and their usual abbreviations are:

* UK double crochet (DC) = US single crochet (SC)


* UK treble crochet (TR) = US double crochet (DC)


* UK double treble crochet (DTR) = US treble crochet (TR)


* And so on.


US and UK crochet terms


UK - Chain Stitch (ch)


US - Chain Stitch (Ch)


How to do it - Hook through, wrap the yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through to form a new loop.

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 UK - Slip Stitch (sl st)


US - Slip Stitch (Sl st)


How to do it - Insert the hook into the work as indicated, wrap the yarn over the hook, and draw the yarn through the work plus the loop on the hook in one movement.

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UK - Double Crochet (dc)


US - Single Crochet (Sc)

How to do it - Insert the hook into the work, yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through the work only, yarn over hook draw the yarn through both loops on the hook.

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 UK - Half Treble (htr)


US - Half Double Crochet (Hdc)


How to do it - Wrap yarn over hook and insert the hook into the work, yarn over the hook draw through work. Wrap yarn over hook and draw through all 3 loops in the hook.

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 UK - Treble (tr)


US - Double Crochet (Dc)


How to do it - Wrap yarn over hook and insert the hook into the work, yarn over the hook draw through work. Wrap yarn over hook draw through first 2 loops, then yarn over hook, draw through last two loops.

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 UK - Double Treble (dtr)


US - Treble (Tr)


How to do it - Wrap the yarn over the hook twice and insert the hook into the work, yarn over hook draw through work. Wrap the yarn over hook, draw through first two loops, yarn over hook draw through next two loops, yarn over hook draw through last two loops.

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 UK - Miss


US - Skip


How to do it - Do not work the particular stitch.

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 UK - Tension


US - Gauge


This refers to how lose or tight you crochet your stitches. Some patterns list measurements for a certain number of stitches and/or rows. Crochet a sample and adjust your hook size if required.


Top Tip

Always check where the pattern is from so that you know what stitch the pattern really means. Once you start to make an item you will quickly see if you are using the correct stitch for the pattern.