Welcome to the wonderful world of crochet! If you’re looking to pick up a relaxing and rewarding craft, you’ve come to the right place. Crocheting is not only incredibly accessible and fun, but it also allows you to create a wide array of beautiful and practical items. Once you master the basics, you’ll be amazed at what you can make, from cozy blankets to stylish accessories and adorable amigurumi.
Getting started with crochet is easier than you might think. It primarily involves getting comfortable with holding your crochet hook and yarn, creating a simple slip knot, and mastering the basic crochet chain. This tutorial will guide you through these initial steps and introduce you to the fundamental single crochet stitch, setting you firmly on your path to becoming a confident crocheter.
Like many who start this crafting journey, you might find yourself drawn to online video tutorials to ensure you’re doing everything correctly. It’s natural to want your first projects to mirror the flawless examples you see. Remember, though, that practice is key. Creating sample squares is an excellent way to get a feel for holding your hook and yarn, and to understand your yarn tension. Don’t worry about making too many practice pieces – you can always join them together to create a unique patchwork blanket later on!
In this comprehensive written guide, we will walk you through each essential step: how to properly hold your hook and yarn, create a slip knot, crochet a chain, execute the single crochet stitch, and finally, how to finish off your work and weave in the ends neatly. Let’s get started on your crochet adventure!
Getting Ready to Crochet: Essential Supplies
The most important things you’ll need are yarn, a crochet hook in the recommended size for your yarn, scissors, and a yarn needle (also known as a darning needle).
When you’re just beginning, it’s best to choose a thicker yarn and the corresponding hook size suggested on the yarn label.
But how do you decipher a yarn label when you’re browsing the craft store? Yarn labels include a number that indicates the yarn’s weight or thickness. This sizing number is usually displayed prominently.
This yarn label shows the yarn weight number. For beginners, look for yarn labeled as size 4 or larger for easier handling.
The yarn label will also typically recommend a hook size. For a size 4 medium weight yarn, a 5.5mm (US size I-9) hook is often recommended.
Mastering the Hold: Crochet Hook Techniques
There isn’t one single “correct” way to hold a crochet hook; comfort is key!
However, two common methods are widely used: the knife hold and the pencil hold. Experiment with both to see which feels more natural and comfortable for you.
Knife Hold
Pencil Hold
Many crocheters, including myself, find the knife hold more comfortable and intuitive. Ultimately, the best hold is the one that allows you to crochet smoothly and without strain. Try both and see which feels right for you.
The Foundation Knot: Creating a Slip Knot
Before we can even think about holding the yarn, we need to create a slip knot and place it securely on your hook.
The slip knot is the fundamental starting point for almost every crochet project. Most patterns assume you know how to make one and won’t explicitly instruct you to do so at the beginning. While there are alternative starting methods like the magic circle (used often in amigurumi), the slip knot is the most versatile and essential to learn first.
Here’s a step-by-step guide to creating a slip knot:
- Start by measuring out about 3 inches of yarn from the yarn end. Hold the yarn in your non-dominant hand, securing it with your pinky, ring, and middle fingers, while pointing your index finger outwards. Imagine you’re making a finger gun! 🙂
- Bring the yarn over your index finger, wrapping it once around to create a loop. The short end of the yarn (tail) should be at the front of your finger.
- Wrap the yarn around your index finger a second time, so you now have two loops encircling your finger.
- Secure both yarn ends – the short tail and the long end connected to the yarn ball (the working yarn) – between your thumb and middle finger.
- Take the back loop (the one further from your fingertip) and gently pull it over the front loop, but don’t pull it off your finger completely yet.
- Now, take that same back loop and pull it completely off your finger. Gently tighten the knot by pulling on both yarn ends. It’s important not to make it too tight; the slip knot should be able to slide easily along your hook.
Ta-da! You’ve successfully made your first slip knot!
Now, insert your crochet hook into the loop of the slip knot. Gently pull on the working yarn to tighten the knot around the hook. Ensure the tail end of the yarn is facing away from the hook.
Controlling the Flow: Holding Your Yarn for Crochet
With the hook hold and slip knot mastered, let’s move on to how to hold your yarn while crocheting.
This might sound simple, but how you hold your yarn has a significant impact on your crochet tension – how tight or loose your stitches are. Whether you are right-handed or left-handed, the key is to keep your yarn hand relaxed. Avoid holding the yarn too tightly or too loosely.
Again, there’s no single “right” way, and personal preference plays a big role. This is how I typically hold my yarn:
- With the slip knot already on your hook, and holding the hook in your dominant hand, take the working yarn in your non-dominant hand. Place the yarn between your middle and index finger.
- Wrap the yarn down and around your pinky finger, then bring it back up and over the front of your index finger. Finally, wrap it around to the back of your index finger again.
Experiment and find a yarn holding method that allows the yarn to flow smoothly through your fingers as you crochet. Comfort and consistent tension are the ultimate goals.
The Crochet Chain: Your First Stitches
You’ve come a long way already! Making your first crochet chain can feel a little awkward at first, but with a bit of practice, it will become second nature.
With your slip knot on the hook, hold the slip knot area gently between your thumb and middle finger of your non-dominant hand, close to the hook. This provides stability as you form your chains.
- To make a chain stitch, bring the yarn over the hook from back to front (this is called a “yarn over” or YO). Catch the yarn with your hook. Pull the hooked yarn through the loop (slip knot) already on your hook.
That’s it – you’ve made your first chain stitch! Yay!! Repeat this yarn over and pull through step to create a chain. For practice, try making 21 chains. Remember that the loop currently on your hook does not count as a chain stitch. Your chain should look something like this:
Practice is crucial for creating even chain stitches. Your chain should be loose enough that you can easily see the loops that form each stitch. If your chains are too tight, it will be difficult to work into them in subsequent rows. If you find your tension is consistently too tight, try switching to a slightly larger hook size, which will naturally create looser stitches.
Examining Your Chain Stitches
Let’s take a closer look at your chain. The picture below shows you how to count your chain stitches, which is important for the next step where we’ll work into these stitches.
Still feeling a bit unsure?
For a more visual demonstration, check out this helpful YouTube tutorial that covers everything we’ve discussed so far in a quick 8-minute video! Click here to watch!
Don’t forget to subscribe to the YouTube channel and hit the notification bell to be alerted whenever new crochet tutorials are posted!
Mastering the Single Crochet Stitch
Okay, now for the next fundamental stitch: let’s learn how to crochet the single crochet!
For a video demonstration of the single crochet stitch, you can also refer to this YouTube Tutorial: Single Crochet Video Tutorial.
Pay attention to how to hold your chain with your middle finger and thumb as you work down the row. As you progress, gently slide your fingers down your chain to keep your work supported.
- To begin the single crochet, skip the first chain stitch from your hook (this is the chain stitch closest to the hook). Insert your hook into the center of the second chain stitch from the hook.
- Yarn over (bring the yarn over your hook from back to front) and pull the yarn through the chain stitch and up onto your hook. You will now have two loops on your hook.
- Yarn over again, and this time, pull the yarn through both loops on your hook. Only one loop will remain on your hook. Congratulations, you’ve just completed your first single crochet stitch!
- Continue to repeat the single crochet stitch in each chain stitch across your foundation chain. If you started with 21 chains, you will make 20 single crochet stitches. Your row of single crochet stitches should look something like this, and you should have a total of 20 single crochet stitches:
Starting the Next Row:
- To begin crocheting the next row on top of your single crochet row, you first need to make a “chain 1” (yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook). This chain 1 acts as a turning chain. The turning chain helps to ensure the edges of your work remain straight and even.
- Turn your work. It’s important to turn your work in the same direction at the end of each row to maintain consistency. It doesn’t matter if you turn clockwise or counter-clockwise, just be consistent.
- To continue working down the row, insert your hook into the very first single crochet stitch of the previous row (the stitch right next to the chain 1 turning chain). Look closely, and you’ll see it.
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Notice in the picture above how the stitch looks. You should insert your hook under both the front loop and the back loop of the stitch – you’ll see that together they form a “V” shape.
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Yarn over and pull through the stitch. You will have two loops on your hook.
- Yarn over once more, and pull through both loops on your hook. You have now completed a single crochet stitch in the second row!
And that’s essentially it! You can now crochet! If you are using this practice square just to learn the basics, you can now also practice finishing off and weaving in your ends. Below, we’ll show you how to do just that!
Finishing Off and Weaving in Your Yarn Ends
Cutting the yarn to finish your project can be a surprisingly satisfying step (second only to admiring your completed creation, of course!).
Crochet patterns often use the abbreviation “FO” or “Finish off,” which simply means to cut your yarn and secure the last loop to prevent unraveling. Here are the steps, with accompanying photos, for both finishing off and weaving in the yarn ends. (It’s truly easier than it might seem!)
At the end of your last row, yarn over as if you were making a chain 1.
Pull the loop on your hook out to be about an inch long.
Keeping the loop on your hook, lay your project down and measure about 2 inches of yarn from the loop. Cut the yarn at the 2-inch mark.
Now, use your hook to pull the yarn tail completely through the loop, creating a knot.
Weaving in the Ends
To weave in the ends, thread the yarn tail through the eye of your yarn needle.
Pull enough yarn through the needle so you have a good length to work with.
I usually start by going through the back of the first stitch of the bottom row to bring the needle to the back of the work.
Insert the needle under a stitch on the top of the row, going downwards, making sure not to push the needle all the way through to the front side of your work.
Pull the needle through gently but firmly – you want to secure the yarn end without distorting your crochet piece.
Weave the needle back in the opposite direction, inserting it into the row where your yarn tail just emerged.
Pull the needle through again, being careful not to pull too tightly.
Remove the needle from the yarn, and cut the yarn tail close to your crochet work. If a tiny piece still peeks out, gently stretch the surrounding stitches, and it should disappear.
And that’s it! You’re done! 🙂
Now you can continue practicing the single crochet stitch by making more squares – you can eventually join them to create a blanket or throw.
In conclusion, I sincerely hope you enjoyed this beginner crochet tutorial! If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment below. Happy crocheting, and welcome to this wonderfully addictive craft!
