From Needles to Hook: A Beginning Crochet Tutorial

For those of you who are nervous to try a new craft or think perhaps crochet is extremely difficult, I’m here today to tell you that you can do it and also to share with you a step-by-step tutorial on a few of the most basic crochet stitches.

Chain stitch

Abbreviated as ch, the crochet chain is going to be your most basic of all crochet stitches. It will also be your base for just about everything you might ever crochet.

Step 1: Begin by creating slip knot and placing it on your hook. Tighten gently and hold so that your working yarn is on your left and tail is on the right.

Step 2: Wrap yarn around needle clockwise; this is referred to as a yarn over (yo).

Woman's Hands Beginning a Crochet Chain
Step 3: Catch the yarn with your hook and pull through the loop. You have made one chain!

Woman's Hands Crocheting with Purple Hook
Step 4: Repeat this as many times as instructed. You will see that the chains create a series of little v’s.

Woman's Hands Displaying Crocheted Chain

Single crochet

Single crochet is abbreviated as sc. When you are preparing to work a row of single crochet you will prepare by chaining one. This will give your stitch the height it needs.

Woman's Hands Displaying Single Crochet Chain
Note: For the single crochet tutorial, I have already worked a row of sc in the photos.

Step 1: Insert your hook under both loops of the stitch below (those are the little v’s).

Woman's Hands Depicting Hook Insertion on Crochet Piece
Step 2: Yarn over, and pull up a loop. You will now have two loops on your hook.

Woman's Hands Looping Yarn Around Crochet Hook
Step 3: Yarn over and pull through both loops on your hook. You know have made one single crochet and should have only one loop on your hook.

Woman's Hands Showing In-Progress Single Crochet Chain
Step 4: Repeat this across the row.

In-Progress Single Crochet Chain on Table

Double crochet

Double crochet, abbreviated as dc, is a taller stitch than the single crochet. When beginning a double crochet row, you will need to chain 3 before you turn your work.

Woman's Hands and Yarn Wrapped Around Purple Crochet Hook
Step 1: Yarn over and then insert your hook through both loops on the stitch below.

Woman's Hands Demonstrating Yarn Over for Double Crochet
Step 2: Yarn over and pull up a loop. You will now have three loops on your hook.

Woman's Hands Displaying Yarn Loops on Crochet Hook

Step 3: Yarn over and pull through two loops. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Woman's Hands Pulling Yarn Through Loop with Crochet Hook
Step 4: Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops. You know have only one loop on your hook and have worked one double crochet.

Woman's Hands Displaying Finished Double Crochet Stitch
Step 5: Repeat this across the row.

In-Progress Double Crochet Chain on Table

You can see how the double crochets are about as tall as the two rows of single crochets.

Just like with knitting, tension is important to creating even stitches, and this will take some practice. When chaining, I hold the working yarn in my left hand and pinch the tail end and any chains made with my thumb and index finger. This helps keep the yarn taut and keeps the chain steady as I work.

If you’re looking to expand your crochet skills, check out the Craftsy class Crochet Lab taught by Vickie Howell. When I first began crocheting I thought all I could make was afghans, but after taking this class a whole new world of crochet was opened up to me! Though, I still love to crochet afghans.

Have you crocheted anything before? What are you looking forward to making with your new skills?

Share tips, start a discussion or ask one of our experts or other students a question.

One Response to “From Needles to Hook: A Beginning Crochet Tutorial”

  1. Sabrina Molden

    Never crocheted