Learn How to Crochet with Basic Stitches: Crochet Beginner

This How to Crochet beginner tutorial and video ebook will teach you how to get started with crochet and what you will need in order to learn the basic stitches. If you have never crocheted before, this tutorial is the perfect way to get started.

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Prepare to learn how to crochet with this complete guide written for absolute beginners! You will learn the most basic crochet stitches and common techniques in easy, step-by-step tutorials.

Such as making a slip knot and how to crochet a chain. You’ll learn how to single crochet, half double crochet as well as double crochet, treble crochet, and double treble crochet stitches.

You’ll also learn the always popular magic circle and about navigating the front and back posts. Each basic stitch is accompanied by a detailed photo and video tutorials, ensuring a seamless learning experience. Trust me, just stick with it, it really will become an easy skill.

This blog post provides a complete beginner guide – known as Crochet 101 – where you learn all the foundation crochet stitches, basic techniques, and general terminology.

Once you have perfected these essential crochet stitches and other crochet basics, you’re ready to look for free crochet patterns to make! You’ll find plenty of fun and practical beginner crochet patterns here on this blog. So keep reading and let’s get you to learn how to crochet. There are plenty of photo and video tutorials to help you every step of the way to easily learn the craft of crochet!

Learn How to Crochet E-book PDF

You’ll soon discover that I have all the basic crochet stitches on different parts of my website. If you would prefer everything in one place when you learn how to crochet, the good news is I have an easy option for you!

To access a comprehensive collection, including all the videos, photos, and extra content, you can purchase the convenient, printer-friendly ebook below!

The convenience to print out the whole step-by-step guide and have the videos all in one spot will make your crochet learning experience so much better. And you’ll learn faster too!

Materials Needed to Learn How to Crochet

You will simply need some yarn, a crochet hook (usually whatever your yarn skein refers you to use or whatever the crochet pattern you use mentions), a pair of scissors, and a yarn needle for weaving in the end. That’s it! Nothing more is needed to learn how to crochet. 

But of course, when you begin crocheting using patterns, you might want stitch markers to make counting stitches even easier.

Crochet Hook Sizes

To crochet properly, you need to know about different crochet hook sizes and how they match with the weight of the yarn you’re using.

Let’s take a look at the table below. You see the metric system sizes of crochet hooks on the left (which I like to refer to in my patterns) and the crochet hook size in U.S. terms on the right. Usually, both are mentioned on a yarn skein information sheet.

Yarn Weight

To choose the right crochet hook for your yarn, refer to the table below as a guide. However, when following a pattern, make sure to use the recommended yarn weight and hook size. Remember that you can easily modify the stitch’s tightness or texture by adjusting the yarn weight or changing to a larger hook size, or smaller.

The above picture was adapted from the Craft Yarn Council’s website.

Learn How to Crochet a Slip Knot and a Chain

Now let’s begin! Grab your yarn and a crochet hook. You will first learn how to crochet a slip knot and a chain as well as what certain parts of a chain are called.

Note: If you find the picture tutorial too difficult to follow, please check out the included video tutorial for a more visual demonstration.

Video Tutorial to Learn the Slip Knot and Chain

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Slip Knot

1. Now, here’s the First Step!

Wrap your yarn around your pointer (index finger) and middle finger. The long end becomes your working yarn. Note in the picture, how the short end is underneath (held in my fingers) and the longer length is crossing over the top. You have made a loose loop!

2. Now, remove the loop while still holding the crossed area together, using your non-dominate hand. Next, you will use your fingers or your hook, and pull the yarn from the longer end (going towards the yarn ball or skein) through the loop (aka circle).

3. Once you’ve done that, it should look like the below picture.

4. Gently pull both strands with your non-dominant hand and opposite, pull the loop with your crochet hook. Now you will see a newly formed knot take shape.

5. To shrink the loop around the hook, gently pull the longer strand of yarn. But don’t make it too small! You still need to be able to move your hook easily inside the loop. You now have created a slip knot! Congratulations!

6. Practise this process a few more times until you feel confident, and we’ll move on to the next step.

Now that you have a slip knot, you will need to make a chain to get started with the basic crochet stitches.

Chain (aka “ch”)

1. Using the longer yarn strand, hold it with your non-dominant hand^§ like I do in the below photo. Wrap your yarn around your hook. This is called yarn over (aka “yo”).

This is a personal choice, but for me, I like to provide tension control for my ‘lead’ or working yarn through my pinky and ring finger. The yarn strand should be neither too loose nor too tight to easily pull.

^§ Usually the ‘dominant hand’ is the right hand, and the ‘non-dominant hand’ is the left hand. But if you are a leftie that would be reversed.

2. Now pull the yarn through the loop. You have created your first chain!

3. Repeat steps 1 and 2 until you have a good number of chains created. Keep practicing until you consistently have the chains all about the same size. You want to prevent having some larger chains and then some smaller chains. Try to make them all about equal in size.

4. Now that you have created a long chain and feel you’ve practiced enough, you can start learning how to crochet the basic crochet stitches.

Difference between the Front and Back of a Chain

1. The front of a chain looks like the picture below. You see stacked “V”s. One against the other. When looking at one single V, the loop that is closest to you is always known as the front loop. So sometimes a pattern calls for a stitch being made in the front loop only (“flo“). The loop behind it is called the back loop. Therefore, if a stitch needs to be made into the back loop only, then the pattern would say “blo“. If you need to crochet through both loops (front and back), which is the most common way, then it is just considered a stitch (aka “st/sts“).

2. The back of a chain looks a little bit different. You can see horizontal bars that are known as the back bump or hump. I usually crochet into the back bump instead of the front and back loop together as that makes the finished piece a lot easier.

Learn How to Crochet all of the Basic Crochet Stitches

To learn all the basic crochet stitches, click on the links below. I suggest following the list from top to bottom, starting with the easiest and smallest stitch, and progressing towards larger and more advanced stitches. The below-mentioned basic crochet stitches are in U.S. terms only. To learn how to convert to U.K. terms, please check this translator.

Stitches are also sometimes written as symbols which are also known as the Universal language.

Single Crochet (aka “sc”) vs a Slip Stitch (aka “sl st”)

Single Crochet (aka “sc”) vs Slip Stitch (aka “sl st”) <– Click for the Video Tutorial

Single Crochet

1. Start with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Insert your crochet hook into the second chain from the hook.
3. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) from back to front.
4. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating two loops on the hook.
5. Yarn over (yo) again
6. Draw the yarn through both loops on the hook, leaving only one loop.
7. Congratulations! You have completed one single crochet stitch.
8. Repeat steps 2 to 7 for each stitch across the row, to make a row of single crochet stitches.
9. When you reach the end of the row, chain one (for your turning chain) and turn your work.

Slip Stitch

1. Start with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Insert your crochet hook into the second chain from the hook.
3. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) from back to front.
4. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating two loops on the hook
5. Draw that just pulled-up loop through the first loop on your hook, leaving only one loop.
6. Congratulations! You have completed one slip stitch crochet stitch.
7. Repeat steps 2 to 7 for each stitch across the row, to make a row of single crochet stitches.
8. When you reach the end of the row, chain one (for your turning chain) and turn your work.

Half Double Crochet (aka “hdc”)

Half Double Crochet (aka “hdc”), plus Increases (aka “inc”) and Decreases (aka “dec”) <– Click for the Video Tutorial

1. Begin with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) from back to front.
3. Insert your crochet hook into the third chain from the hook.
4. Yarn over again.
5. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating three loops on the hook.
6. Yarn over once more.
7. Draw the yarn through all three loops on the hook, leaving only one loop.
8. Congratulations! You have completed one half double crochet stitch.
9. Repeat steps 3 to 8 for each stitch across the row.
10. When you reach the end of the row, chain two and turn your work.

Double Crochet (aka “dc”)

Double Crochet (aka “dc”), plus Increases and Decreases <– Click for the Video Tutorial

1. Begin with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) from back to front.
3. Insert your crochet hook into the fourth chain from the hook.
4. Yarn over again.
5. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating three loops on the hook.
6. Yarn over once more.
7. Draw the yarn through the first two loops on the hook, leaving two loops.
8. Yarn over (yo) again.
9. Draw the yarn through the remaining two loops on the hook, leaving only one loop.
10. Congratulations! You have completed one double crochet stitch.
11. Repeat steps 3 to 10 for each stitch across the row.
12. When you reach the end of the row, chain three (for your turning chain) and turn your work.

Treble Crochet (aka “tr”)

Treble Crochet (aka “tr”), plus Increases and Decreases <– Click for the Video Tutorial

1. Begin with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) twice, from back to front.
3. Skip the first three chains from the hook.
4. Insert your crochet hook into the fourth chain from the hook.
5. Yarn over again.
6. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating four loops on the hook.
7. Yarn over once more.
8. Draw the yarn through the first two loops on the hook, leaving three loops.
9. Yarn over again.
10. Draw the yarn through the next two loops on the hook, leaving two loops.
11. Yarn over again.
12. Draw the yarn through the last two loops on the hook, leaving only one loop.
13. Congratulations! You have completed one treble crochet stitch.
14. Repeat steps 4 to 12 for each stitch across the row.
15. When you reach the end of the row, chain four and turn your work.

Double Treble Crochet (aka “dtr”)

Double Treble Crochet (aka “dtr”), plus Increases and Decreases <– Click for the Video Tutorial

1. Begin with a foundation chain of the desired length.
2. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook) three times, from back to front.
3. Skip the first four chains from the hook.
4. Insert your crochet hook into the fifth chain from the hook.
5. Yarn over again.
6. Draw the yarn through the chain stitch, creating five loops on the hook.
7. Yarn over once more.
8. Draw the yarn through the first two loops on the hook, leaving four loops.
9. Yarn over again.
10. Draw the yarn through the next two loops on the hook, leaving three loops.
11. Yarn over again.
12. Draw the yarn through the next two loops on the hook, leaving two loops.
13. Yarn over again.
14. Draw the yarn through the last two loops on the hook, leaving only one loop.
15. Congratulations! You have completed one double treble crochet stitch.
16. Repeat steps 4 to 14 for each stitch across the row.
17. When you reach the end of the row, chain five (for your turning chain) and turn your work.

Magic Circle or Magic Ring

Magic Circle or Magic Ring <– Click for the Video Tutorial

The magic ring allows you to create a tightly closed center for projects such as amigurumi or circular motifs. It provides flexibility in adjusting the size of the center opening.

Click the title above to learn the steps to create your own magic circles in an easy tutorial.

But there is also an Alternative Magic Ring that uses chains and looks exactly the same way in the end.

Chainless Foundation Chains (sc, hdc, dc, tr)

Chainless foundation chains create stretchy and adjustable rows, allowing you to directly work sc, hdc, dc, or tr stitches. They offer better tension control, smoother edges, and most importantly – save time!

Click the title above to learn a whole lot more about chainless foundation chains, with helpful photos and videos!

Front and Back Post Stitches (aka “fp” or “bp”)

Front and back post stitches, or “fp” and “bp,” add texture and dimension by working around the post of stitches. They create raised or recessed effects for apparel borders and unique crochet designs.

Click the title above to learn a whole lot more about front and back post stitches, with helpful photos and videos!

Once you have learned and practiced all of these most commonly used stitches, you can begin to crochet patterns and learn even more Beginner Crochet Tips to improve your crochet life! All of my patterns here on the blog are free! Find something you’d love to make and start crocheting!

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Explore my website to find a wide range of basic crochet stitches. However, if you prefer having everything in one place for your learning to crochet journey, consider purchasing the all-inclusive, printer-friendly ebook! It provides convenient access to step-by-step instructions, videos, photos, and additional content. This will improve your learning experience and result in faster progress.

FREE First Pattern Ideas for Beginners

1. Easy Beginner Scarf
2. Butterfly motif
3. Beginner Beanie
4. Granny Square [Granny Squares make a great first project for beginners!]

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I hope you’ve enjoyed Learning How to Crochet with me? Drop a comment below or message me via the Contact tab. And, Happy Crocheting!

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