Learn to Crochet the Basics.

The beginners guide to crochet.

I am so glad that you have chosen to learn to crochet. You are going to love it as it is a great way to bring out your creative side as well as being relaxing.

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So lets jump right in. Firstly, you will need some yarn. Any yarn will do to start off with and secondly, you will also need a crochet hook. The yarn you have chosen will have a recommended hook size on the ball band. I get most of my yarn either at LoveCrafts or Deramores. Both places offer great choice on yarns and all price ranges.

In this section we will cover the following topics:

• Terminology
• Create a slip knot
• Foundation chains
• Single crochet stitch
• Half double crochet stitch
• Double crochet stitch
• Treble crochet stitch
• Why US terms make more sense to me.
• Reading crochet patterns

Terminology.

There are two different versions of crochet stitches. There are UK terms and there are US terms. Confusing right? What’s even more confusing is that they share stitch names but the actual stitches are different.

Most patterns will state which terms they use. You will find that you will prefer one version over the other, for example, I prefer US terms even though I am in the UK. To me the stitch names make more sense and I will explain more about that later.

In the table above you will notice that there are abbreviations in brackets at the end of the stitch names. These are really helpful to get familiar with if you want to learn how to read patterns, which we will talk about later on.

Lets start.

People hold their hooks and working yarn in many different ways and there is no right or wrong way to hold them. It is what feels comfortable for you. For instance, I hold my hook like a knife, yet some people will hold it like a pencil. Similarly, some will have the working yarn wrapped around fingers to help with tension, while some will have it running between two fingers. The images below show examples of how you can hold your hook and yarn but ultimately its what works best for you.

There are the basic stitches that you have with crochet which are shown below. Once you can make these stitches you can create any stitch pattern. Its is just about where you place the stitches that changes the outcome resulting in some absolutely beautiful textures and looks.

Each section will have step by step written instructions as well as photos to help.

Creating a Slip Knot.

I am right handed so I have the tail end of the yarn in my left hand and the working part of the yarn in my right hand.

1. Create a loop with the working yarn going over the top of the tail end and down behind the loop
2. Place your hook under the strand in the middle
3. Pull your tail end and working yarn down together. This will tighten your slip knot.

You do not want to pull your knot too tight as this makes it difficult to work with.

Here is a short video showing how I make a slip knot which is using the above method.

An alternative way of making a slip knot is HERE

Foundation Chains.

Now you have your slip knot on your hook to create your foundation chain:

• wrap your yarn around the hook, from the back, over the top to the front.
• pull the wrapped yarn through the loop

That was one chain created. Now continue to wrap it round and pull it through until you have created as many chains as you need.

Single Crochet Stitch.

The single crochet (UK double crochet) is the smallest of the main stitches.

To complete one single crochet:

1. insert your hook into the 2nd chain from your hook. The stitch on your hook is not counted
2. wrap your yarn around your hook once
3. pull your hook back through pulling the loop with you. You will have two loops on your hook.
4. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through the two loops, leaving one loop on your hook

The stitch is complete.

Half Double Crochet Stitch.

As you move through these stitches you will notice that they gain height with each one. So, the half double crochet (UK half treble crochet) is a little taller than the single crochet.

To complete one half double crochet:

1. wrap your yarn around the hook once
2. insert the hook into the 3rd chain from the hook. The stitch on your hook is not counted
3. wrap your yarn around the hook once
4. pull your hook back through pulling the loop with you. You will have three loops on your hook
5. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through all three loops leaving one loop left on your hook.

The stitch is complete.

Double Crochet Stitch.

The double crochet (UK treble crochet) is again taller than the half double crochet.

To complete one double crochet:

1. wrap your yarn around the hook once
2. insert the hook into the 4th chain from the hook. The stitch on your hook in not counted
3. wrap your yarn around the hook once
4. pull your hook back through pulling the loop with you. You will have three loops on your hook
5. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through two loops leaving two loops left on your hook
6. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through two loops leaving one loop left on your hook.

The stitch is complete.

Treble Crochet Stitch.

The treble crochet (UK double treble crochet) is again taller than the double crochet.

To complete one treble crochet:

1. wrap your yarn around the hook twice
2. insert the hook into the 5th chain from the hook. The stitch on your hook is not counted
3. wrap your yarn around the hook once
4. pull your hook back through pulling the loop with you. You will have four loops on your hook
5. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through two loops leaving three loops left on your hook
6. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through two loops leaving two loops left on your hook
7. wrap your yarn around the hook once and pull through two loops leaving one loop left on your hook.

The stitch is complete.

Why US terms make more sense to me.

Earlier on I mentioned that the US terms make more sense to me. Now that you have gone through all the stitches I can now explain why. If you look at the process for creating a single crochet, once you have pulled your hook back through to complete the stitch you wrap your yarn around and pull through two loops . This is a ‘single’ move. The double crochet you have to pull through two loops twice, hence, double and the treble you pull through two loops three times. The half double crochet starts off like you would a double crochet but you only pull through half the number of times.

This was how I learn the stitches and it just stuck for me. I taught myself the difference between US and UK terms but have to think a little bit more when using UK terminology.

Reading Crochet Patterns.

Being able to read patterns is a very useful skill to have.

Crochet patterns are written in a type of shorthand to make its easier to read. These are know as abbreviations. All patterns will have a list of which ones they have used.

In the table below are the most common abbreviations that are used.

I have also included the stitch symbols because they are useful for reading some pattern charts. Some rows have more than one stitch name and abbreviation however only one symbol, this is due to the difference between US and UK terms.

An example of a line in a pattern may be:

Row 2: CH2, DC3, CH1, SK1, DC3. This is the same as

Row 2: Chain two, double crochet three, chain one, skip one stitch, double crochet three.

The second of the two examples is longer and a lot more difficult to read especially in longer instructions. The use of abbreviations allows the pattern to be shorter and therefore more easily readable.

It is just about becoming familiar with the abbreviations and working through each part row by row, round by round or even stitch by stitch, taking your time and enjoying the process.

I hope you find this information helpful. If you have any questions I’m always happy to help.