How to Crochet
Hi there! I’m so happy you’re interested in learning to crochet… it’s a versatile hobby and a great activity to do while watching TV! (And therefore a great excuse to start a new TV show!)
You can make anything from stuffed animal toys to cardigans, and once you know the basics of crochet, it’s easy to make lots of different items! I like making baby things because they’re quick and easy.
In this post, I’ll break down everything you need to get started. Let’s jump right in!
How crocheting “works”
Using a crochet hook, you’ll form yarn into different “stitches”. Different stitches create different looks, enabling you to form different shapes and textures. The stitches have different names, such as “single crochet”, “double crochet”, “half double crochet” and more. Once you know the stitches, you can create basically anything by following a pattern that uses the stitches you know (makes it nice and easy to determine if you’ll be able to tackle a pattern!).
In this post, you’ll learn how to attach your yarn to your hook with a slip knot, how to do a "foundation chain", and how to “single crochet”. These are the first three steps a beginner should take for crochet.
What you’ll need to get started
To learn to crochet, you’ll need:
A crochet hook (This is a great starter kit so that you have several sizes on hand)
Yarn (I recommend using this one to get started – don’t try to start with a textured or fluffy yarn! You want to be able to easily see the individual “stitches”, and this yarn makes it easy to do so).
Scissors (Sharp is best! These are my favorites).
This post contains affiliate links to products I love, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase (at no extra cost to you). Thank you for your support!
You can't use any hook with any yarn.
Well, you can try. But your project might be a little wonky, or might simply not work at all. That's because you need to match the size of your hook to your yarn size. The thicker your yarn, the thicker crochet hook you will use.
When you purchase yarn, its label will tell you what size hook is recommended. Or, if you are following a pattern, the pattern will tell you what size hook to use. This will help to keep your stitches from being too tight or too loose.
First you'll need to learn how to slip knot and foundation chain:
And then continue on to learn the basic single crochet stitch:
Woohoo - you now know the basics of how to crochet!
Now that you can slip knot, foundation chain, and single crochet, you can make lots of different items. You can create a blanket or a scarf without a pattern if you would like - just chain the width you would like and then single crochet for as long as you want your project to be. Or, you can hop onto Pinterest to find free patterns.
We'll have more crochet tutorials coming soon - we hope you enjoy!