Beginner's Guide to Crochet: Learn Basic Stitches & Tips

Choosing Crochet Hooks and Yarn

The first step when learning to crochet is selecting the right tools for the job. The two essential items you'll need are a crochet hook and yarn.

Crochet Hooks

Crochet hooks come in a range of sizes and materials like aluminum, wood, plastic, and steel. As a beginner, an aluminum hook sizes H, I, J (5-6 mm diameter) will be easiest to work with.

Yarn Weight

Yarn for beginners should be a medium weight #4 category yarn. Good options include worsted weight or Aran weight yarns. Stay away from bulky or super fine yarns in the beginning.

Choosing Your First Yarn Color

Opt for a solid, light color yarn as you learn. This will make it easier to see your stitches as you work. Start with white, beige, gray or pale pastels.

How to Hold a Crochet Hook

Now that you’ve got your crochet supplies, it’s time to learn how to hold your hook and yarn:

Basic Crochet Hook Grip

Hold the hook lightly between your thumb and index finger, as you would hold a pencil. Keep your other fingers relaxed underneath to help control the hook.

Yarn Tension

Wrap the yarn around your pinky finger and hold it lightly with your ring finger and palm. This keeps the right amount of tension on the yarn so it glides easily as you crochet.

Relaxed Hands

Try to keep your hands and shoulders relaxed as you crochet. Tension or cramping can cause hand pain or injuries over time.

How To: Basic Crochet Stitches

Once you’ve mastered how to hold the hook and yarn, you’re ready to learn some crochet stitches. Let’s start with the two most fundamental skills.

How to: Crochet Chain Stitch

The basis of all crocheting is the humble chain stitch. It's the foundation for starting projects and makes strands, cords or ropes.

To make: Wrap yarn over hook and draw through loop on hook. Repeat, drawing through one loop at a time only.

How to: Single Crochet Stitch

After chaining comes single crochet, often abbreviated as "sc". This builds the rows of flat crochet fabric to make squares for washcloths, blankets and more.

To make: Insert hook in stitch, yarn over and draw loop through (2 loops on hook). Yarn over again and draw through both loops.

Increasing Your Crochet Skills

Once you’ve mastered the single crochet you can move on to other beginner stitches like the half double, double and treble crochet. Each stitch creates slightly different looking fabric textures and densities.

Crochet in the Round

Working “in the round” allows you to make tubular crochet fabric without seams for hats, socks, mittens and more. Hooks with circular ends make this easy for beginners to learn.

Tunisian Crochet

Using an elongated Tunisian hook gives a unique, woven look to your crochet. Basic Tunisian stitches like Tunisian simple stitch are a good next step after regular hook crochet.

With some practice you’ll soon be crocheting creatively to make your own scarves, blankets, hats, dish cloths and more. It’s incredibly fulfilling watching your skills improve over time. Share your crochet journey and homemade projects online using #foryou, #foryoupage, #crochet, #crochettiktok, #howtotiktok, #howto and #tutorial.

Happy crocheting!

FAQs

What is the easiest stitch for a beginner to learn?

The easiest beginner crochet stitch is the chain stitch. Making chains allows you to practice tension and holding the hook and yarn before moving onto more complex stitches.

How long does it take to learn crochet?

Learning the very basics like chaining, single crochet and double crochet can be picked up in a few hours or days. However becoming skilled at crochet takes weeks or months of practice to build speed, consistency and the ability to read patterns.

What can a beginner crocheter make?

Great first crochet projects include dishcloths, scarves, hats or blankets just working in basic stitches. Following beginner-friendly free patterns for these and starting with a simple small project sets you up for success.

What causes my crochet to curl up?

Curling crochet fabric is usually the result of inconsistent tension while working your stitches or by accidentally increasing/decreasing stitches across rows. Work slowly and consciously until your tension is even across stitches to prevent curling.