12 FREE Crochet Projects to Take You from Beginner to Expert

No matter where you are in your crocheting, there’s always an opportunity to grow and learn new things. Here, we’ve gathered a dozen patterns that start at the beginner crochet level and work up to an advanced level.

Crochet Beginner to Expert

Work you way up from beginner to total crochet expert with this collection of patterns.

If you’re starting from the beginning, get a couple of basic skills under your belt, like chain stitch, single crochet, and double crochet. Then follow our patterns as we take you from beginner to expert at whatever pace you’d like. You can do it!

For any other crochet level, jump in wherever you feel comfortable. Maybe you want to work on your shaping, or maybe you just want to challenge yourself to try something a little different than your usual cowl.

No matter where you’re starting, we hope you’ll use this as an opportunity to challenge yourself to try something new and expand your crochet skills.

Bridgitt Cowl Crochet Pattern

Photo via The Little Bucket Boutique

1. Bridgett Cowl

The perfect place to start your crochet career is usually a scarf. Make things a little more interesting with this cowl that uses basic stitches. There’s no shaping to worry about, so you can also practice making those rows nice and even. Plus, the cowl uses bulky yarn so it works up quickly for eager beginners!

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His and Hers Crocheted Beanie Pattern

Photo via Krityum Designs

2. His and Hers Crochet Beanie

Now that you have the hang of working flat, try working in the round. (We promise it’s easy!) You’ll learn some shaping as you work your way through the crown. This pattern also throws in one more simple new skill: working in the back loop only to get that cool ridged texture.

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Owl Coaster Crochet Pattern

Photo via ColorfulEasyCrochet

3. Owl Coaster

Take your new in-the-round skills one step further by learning how to change colors. Get ready to be BFFs with your tapestry needle, too. This is a great opportunity to practice weaving in ends, as well as following a pattern.

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Shiny Happy Plant Pot Holder Crochet Pattern

Photo via Recoverista

4. Shiny Happy Plant Holder

If you’ve been browsing crochet patterns, you already know that crocheters love the crocodile stitch. Learn the crocodile stitch to make this plant holder, and you can even make your own T-shirt yarn too! If you fall in love with the crocodile stitch, be sure to also check out more crocodile stitch patterns.

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Hoot Owl Crochet Pattern

Photo via Sheila Zachariae’s Pattern Store

5. Hoot Owl

Amigurumi is a big part of crochet, so get your feet wet with this simple little owl. The pattern will get you started with amigurumi basics like adding eyes, embroidery, stuffing and more.

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Strawberry Cover Phone Sleeve Crochet Pattern

Photo via goolgool | Objects of string

6. Strawberry Cover Phone Sleeve

Build onto the basic stitches you already know, plus learn two cool new techniques: tapestry crochet and overlay crochet. This is also a chance to broaden your design skills. You can turn this into anything from a phone sleeve to a little pouch.

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Handbag Barboletta FREE Crochet Pattern

Photo via Luba Davies Atelier

7. Handbag Barboletta

The granny square is a classic in a crocheter’s repertoire. This handbag will teach you the ways of the granny square, as well as handbag construction techniques like lining and straps. You’ll find that techniques like these come up in other intermediate-level projects, too.

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Movie Night Cocoon Cardigan Crochet Pattern

Photo via Two of Wands

8. Movie Night Cocoon Cardi

You’ve mastered basic stitches, shaping and enough techniques to get you through practically any pattern. Now is a great time to start thinking about garments! Start with a loose-fitting cardigan like this one to get accustomed to reading garment patterns and trying different construction methods.

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Tessel Shawl Crochet Pattern

Photo via Zomaar Een Dag

9. Tessel Shawl

Now that you’re knee-deep in the crochet garment world, start combining all the techniques you have under your belt. This shawl features crochet cables, plus a fun pom-pom border. You’ll also practice patience — the shawl is stitched with a fingering-weight yarn, which takes a bit more time to work up since it’s so thin.

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Homecoming Sweater Crochet Pattern

Photo via Abigail Haze Designs

10. Homecoming Sweater

You are SO ready for sleeves. This sweater is made in two pieces, then seamed together. You’ll practice everything from different stitches to shaping and seaming. You’ll also be able to practice choosing the right size for garments, as this pattern comes with instructions for five different sizes.

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Attleboro Sweater Crochet Pattern

Photo via ChristineGuestDesigns

11. Attleboro Sweater

You know your stuff. You can shape, you can read a pattern, you can crochet with different yarn weights. Now combine all those useful skills into stitching this lace-yoked sweater.

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Moss Lace Shawl Crochet Pattern

Photo via Zomaar Een Dag

12. Moss Lace Shawl

This shawl is just as challenging as the sweater, but the challenges are a little different. You’ll work with a delicate fingering-weight yarn and a small hook, so patience is required. You’ll find, though, that once you get the hang of these beautiful open stitches, the project will work up quickly and beautifully.

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

2 Responses to “12 FREE Crochet Projects to Take You from Beginner to Expert”

  1. Sky Brook

    Aww me too!

  2. Sara Smith

    I tried several of the links and they don’t work. Rather than taking you to the free pattern, it just takes you to the Craftsy home page. It would be nice if this was fixed!