Learn to Crochet - Basics

How to do different Crochet Stitches

The Double Crochet (UK term) Or Single Crochet (US term) Stitch

This is the same stitch, it just has a different name depending on what country you live in.

Step 1:

Skip the first chain stitch.

Step 2:

Insert hook into centre of next chain stitch. Yarn over the hook. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch. There are now 2 loops on the hook.

Step 3:

Put the yarn over hook, and draw it through both loops on the hook. One loop remains on the hook, and you have just made one double crochet stitch. :-)

Double Crochet (US Single Crochet) - 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.

Repeat the last 2 steps in each of the remaining chains - be sure to work in the very last chain.

You have now completed one row of double crochet.

Step 4:

At the end of the row, make one chain stitch. Then turn the work counter-clockwise, leaving the hook in the chain stitch.

Now you can begin another row, working into the stitches of the previous row.

Step 5:

Miss the first stitch and make one double crochet stitch in each remaining stitch of the previous row. Be sure to work into the last stitch.

Then, 1 Chain stitch and turn.

Repeat Step 5 until the block measures the length you want. If you want a square measure the width of your block and work until the length is the same measurement as the width.

Starting Your Crochet with Chain Stitch

Chain Stitch - Hook through a loop, wrap the yarn over the hook and draw the yarn through to form a new loop

Starting to Crochet

1. Make the slip knot (video posting for this is below) and put it onto the crochet hook,

2. Thread the yarn (long end that goes back to the ball of yarn) through your fingers for tension,

3. And hold just below the slip knot with your thumb and third finger. Hold the crochet hook in the other hand and start the row of chain stitches.

This sounds worse than it is!

How to do a Chain Stitch

Step 1: Put the yarn over the hook.

Step 2: Pull the hooked yarn through slip knot. This makes one chain stitch. Step 3 Repeat to form a row of about 25 chain stitches.

To Practice

Practice the chain stitch until most of your stitches look fairly evenly sized.

Once you have done a length of chain stitches just remove the crochet hook and pull it back to the beginning and crochet the chain stitch again.

Crochet is very easy to pull back. :-)

Top Tip

You will only have one loop on your hook when the chain stitch is completed.

If you have more than one you have made a mistake, so just take out the hook and put back to a single loop. Put the hook through the loop and continue to do more chain stitches.

This video clip shows how to crochet a chain stitch and how to count the number of chain stitches you have done.