Crochet is a creative and relaxing craft that uses a single hook and yarn to make fabric one stitch at a time. With a few basic techniques, you can create blankets, garments, bags, toys, accessories and decorative items for the home.
This beginner-friendly guide explains how to hold your hook and yarn, make a slipknot and foundation chain, work the main crochet stitches, crochet in rows and rounds, shape your fabric and finish your first project neatly.
This guide uses UK crochet terminology. Where helpful, the equivalent US terms are also provided.
Contents
- Getting Started
- Essential Crochet Tools
- Choosing Yarn and a Crochet Hook
- How to Hold the Crochet Hook
- How to Hold and Tension the Yarn
- Working Left-Handed
- How to Make a Slipknot
- How to Crochet a Foundation Chain
- How to Count Chain Stitches
- Understanding the Parts of a Crochet Stitch
- Slip Stitch
- Double Crochet (UK)
- Half Treble Crochet (UK)
- Treble Crochet (UK)
- How to Crochet in Rows
- How to Count Crochet Stitches
- Increasing
- Decreasing
- Joining a New Colour
- Understanding Tension and Gauge
- Working in the Round
- Chain Ring
- Working into a Short Chain
- Adjustable Ring (Magic Ring)
- How to Fasten Off
- Weaving in Yarn Ends
- Common Beginner Mistakes
- UK and US Crochet Terms
- Common Crochet Abbreviations
- Understanding Crochet Charts
- Beginner Crochet Project Ideas
- Choosing Yarn for Your First Project
- Next Steps
- Find Yarn for Your First Crochet Project
Getting Started
Before beginning your first crochet project, prepare a comfortable workspace and choose a simple pattern. Crochet becomes easier as your hands learn the movements, so allow yourself time to practise. Uneven stitches are normal at the beginning.
Essential Crochet Tools
You will usually need:
- a crochet hook
- smooth, suitable yarn
- scissors
- a tapestry or yarn needle
- stitch markers if required
- a simple beginner pattern
Choosing Yarn and a Crochet Hook
Choose a smooth yarn in a light or medium colour so that individual stitches are easy to see. DK or aran yarn is often comfortable for beginners. Avoid very dark, fluffy or highly textured yarn until you are confident recognising stitches.
Use the hook size recommended on the yarn label or in the pattern. A larger hook creates looser stitches; a smaller hook creates tighter stitches. For your first practice swatch, a 4 mm or 5 mm hook with suitable yarn is often manageable.
| Tip: The yarn label is the best starting point. Hook-size charts are only general guides. |
How to Hold the Crochet Hook
Hold the hook in your dominant hand with a relaxed grip. There are two common methods, and neither is more correct than the other.
Holding the Hook
How to Hold and Tension the Yarn
Hold the yarn in your non-dominant hand. The aim is not to pull it tightly, but to feed it consistently as you make each stitch.
Holding the Yarn
Forefinger Method
Wrap the ball end of the yarn around the little finger of your opposite hand, pass it under the next two fingers, and over the forefinger. Hold the work steady with your middle finger and thumb, then raise your forefinger when working to create tension.
Middle-Finger Method
Wrap the ball end of the yarn around the little finger of your opposite hand, then over the other fingers. Hold the work steady with your forefinger and thumb, then raise your middle finger while crocheting to create tension.
| Tip: Comfort and consistency matter more than copying a particular hand position. |
Working Left-Handed
Left-handed crocheters can mirror right-handed instructions. Hold the hook in your left hand and tension the yarn with your right hand. When using diagrams or videos, mirror the direction of movement rather than changing the stitch itself.
Top Tip
It doesn’t matter if your stitches are slightly tighter or a little looser—what matters most is even tension throughout your work to achieve a neat, professional finish.
How to Make a Slipknot
A slipknot creates the first adjustable loop on the hook.
1. Make a loop in the yarn approximately 10-20 cm from the end.
2. Insert the hook through the loop and catch the strand leading to the ball.
3. Pull that strand through the loop.
4. Pull both yarn ends gently until the loop sits comfortably around the hook.
| Tip: Do not tighten the slipknot firmly against the hook. The loop should slide along the shaft. |
How to Crochet a Foundation Chain
Most crochet projects begin with a foundation chain. It is also an excellent way to practise your hook hold and tension.
1. Hold the slipknot below the hook with your yarn-holding hand.
2. Bring the hook in front of the working yarn, move it under the yarn and catch it in the hook. This is called yarn round hook (yrh).
3. Rotate the hook slightly downwards and pull the yarn through the loop already on the hook.
4. Repeat to make the required number of chains.
| Tip: Keep each chain similar in size. A tight foundation chain makes the first row difficult to work. |
How to Count Chain Stitches
The front of a chain looks like a row of small V shapes. Each completed V counts as one chain stitch.
- Do not count the slipknot.
- Do not count the working loop currently on the hook.
- Count each complete V between the slipknot and the hook.
Count each completed V-shaped chain.
Understanding the Parts of a Crochet Stitch
The top of most crochet stitches forms a V with two loops: the front loop and the back loop. Unless a pattern says otherwise, insert the hook under both loops. You may also be instructed to work into a chain space, around a stitch post or into the front or back loop only.
Slip Stitch
Slip stitch (sl st) is a short joining stitch. It is commonly used to close a round, move the working position or join pieces.
1. Insert the hook into the stitch or chain indicated by the pattern.
2. Yarn round hook.
3. Pull the yarn through the stitch and immediately through the loop already on the hook.
Double Crochet (UK)
UK double crochet (dc), called single crochet (sc) in US terminology, creates a short, dense fabric. It is widely used for toys, baskets and firm accessories.
1. Insert the hook into the next stitch from front to back.
2. Yarn round hook and pull up a loop. Two loops are now on the hook.
3. Yarn round hook again and pull through both loops.
Half Treble Crochet (UK)
UK half treble crochet (htr), called half double crochet (hdc) in US terminology, is taller than double crochet and creates a softer fabric.
1. Yarn round hook.
2. Insert the hook into the next stitch and pull up a loop. Three loops are on the hook.
3. Yarn round hook again and pull through all three loops.
Treble Crochet (UK)
UK treble crochet (tr), called double crochet (dc) in US terminology, is a tall stitch that creates fabric with more drape.
1. Yarn round hook and insert the hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn round hook and pull up a loop. Three loops are on the hook.
3. Yarn round hook and pull through the first two loops.
4. Yarn round hook again and pull through the remaining two loops.
| Tip: Tall stitches can lean if the yarn feed changes. Work slowly and keep the height of each loop consistent. |
How to Crochet in Rows
After completing the foundation chain, work back across it to make the first row. At the end of the row, make the turning chain required by the pattern and turn the work so that you can crochet back in the opposite direction.
- Insert the hook into the chain or stitch specified by the pattern.
- Count the stitches after every row.
- Check whether the turning chain counts as a stitch. This varies by stitch and pattern.
- Identify the final stitch carefully so the edges remain straight.
How to Count Crochet Stitches
Each completed stitch usually forms a V on the top edge. Count these V shapes, not the loop on the hook.
Counting Double Crochet
Count each V across the row as one stitch. In many UK double crochet patterns, a chain-one turning chain does not count as a stitch, but always follow the pattern instructions.
Counting Treble Crochet
Count each top V as one stitch. Many patterns count a chain-three turning chain as the first treble, but some do not. Check before beginning the row.
Increasing
Increasing adds stitches and makes the fabric wider. Work two or more stitches into the same stitch or space, as directed by the pattern.
Working more than one stitch into the same place creates an increase.
Decreasing
Decreasing joins two or more stitches together so that they become one stitch. It is used for shaping sleeves, necklines, hats and toys.
Joining a New Colour
For a neat colour change, begin the final step of the last stitch with the old colour, then complete that stitch using the new colour. Leave sufficient tails to weave in securely.
Joining a new colour over UK double crochet.
Joining a new colour over UK treble crochet.
Understanding Tension and Gauge
Tension, also called gauge, is the number of stitches and rows within a measured area. It determines the finished size and drape of your project.
- Make a test swatch using the yarn, hook and stitch pattern specified.
- If you have too many stitches in the measured width, try a larger hook.
- If you have too few stitches, try a smaller hook.
- Wash and dry the swatch as the finished item will be treated before measuring again.
Working in the Round
Circular crochet is used for hats, toys, motifs, bags and granny squares. Rounds may be joined with a slip stitch or worked continuously in a spiral. Use a stitch marker to identify the beginning of a continuous round.
Chain Ring
Make a short chain, usually four to six stitches, then join the first and last chains with a slip stitch. Work the first round into the centre of the ring.
Working into a Short Chain
Make two to four chains and work all first-round stitches into the first chain. This creates a firm centre, although a small opening may remain.
Adjustable Ring (Magic Ring)
The adjustable ring, also called a magic ring, creates a centre that can be pulled closed. It is especially useful for amigurumi and round motifs.
1. Form a loop of yarn, leaving a tail.
2. Insert the hook through the loop, yarn round hook and pull up a loop.
3. Make the starting chain required for your stitch.
4. Work the required stitches over both the ring and the tail.
5. Pull the tail gently to close the centre.
How to Fasten Off
After completing the final stitch, make one chain unless the pattern directs otherwise. Cut the yarn, leaving a tail of approximately 10-15 cm. Pull the tail through the loop on the hook and tighten gently.
Pull the cut yarn tail through the final loop.
Weaving in Yarn Ends
Thread the tail through a tapestry needle and weave it through several stitches on the wrong side of the work. Change direction once or twice to improve security, then trim the excess. Avoid pulling tightly enough to distort the fabric.
Common Beginner Mistakes
Foundation chain too tight: Use a larger hook for the chain or consciously leave more space in each loop.
Accidentally adding stitches: Count every row and avoid working twice into the first or last stitch unless instructed.
Missing the final stitch: Mark the first and last stitch of each row with stitch markers.
Confusing UK and US terms: Check the pattern terminology before beginning. UK dc and US dc are different stitches.
Uneven tension: Relax your hands and practise a small swatch before starting the project.
Using the wrong hook size: Check both the yarn label and the pattern.
Working into the wrong loop: Unless instructed otherwise, work under both top loops of the stitch.
Ignoring whether the turning chain counts: Read the pattern note and count the row carefully.
UK and US Crochet Terms
| UK term | UK abbreviation | US equivalent |
| Slip stitch | sl st | Slip stitch, sl st |
| Double crochet | dc | Single crochet, sc |
| Half treble crochet | htr | Half double crochet, hdc |
| Treble crochet | tr | Double crochet, dc |
| Double treble crochet | dtr | Treble crochet, tr |
| Tip: Always check whether a pattern uses UK or US terminology before you begin. |
Common Crochet Abbreviations
| Abbreviation | Meaning |
| beg | beginning |
| BL | back loop |
| ch | chain |
| ch-sp | chain space |
| dc | double crochet (UK) |
| dc2tog | double crochet two together |
| dec | decrease |
| dtr | double treble crochet |
| FL | front loop |
| htr | half treble crochet |
| inc | increase |
| patt | pattern |
| rem | remaining |
| rep | repeat |
| rnd | round |
| RS | right side |
| sl st | slip stitch |
| sp | space |
| st | stitch |
| tog | together |
| tr | treble crochet |
| tr2tog | treble crochet two together |
| WS | wrong side |
| yrh | yarn round hook |
Understanding Crochet Charts
Crochet charts use symbols to show stitches and their placement. Symbols are read in the direction indicated by arrows or round markers. Because symbol conventions can vary slightly between publishers, always check the key supplied with the pattern.
| Common symbol | Typical meaning |
| ○ | chain |
| • | slip stitch |
| × or + | UK double crochet |
| T | UK treble crochet |
| V | increase |
| Λ | decrease |
| { } | repeat section |
| ⟲ | adjustable or magic ring |
Beginner Crochet Project Ideas
Choose a small project with a simple shape and only one or two stitch types. Suitable first projects include:
- a practice square or dishcloth
- a straight scarf
- a simple headband
- a granny square
- a small tote bag
- a rectangular blanket made from repeated rows or squares
Choosing Yarn for Your First Project
Look for smooth yarn that is easy to handle and clearly shows each stitch. A light or medium colour is easier to see than black or very dark yarn. Check the fibre content, yarn weight, ball length, care instructions, recommended hook size and dye lot before buying.
Next Steps
Once you can make a chain, work the main stitches, turn rows, increase, decrease and fasten off, you are ready to follow many beginner patterns. Your next steps could include learning granny squares, textured stitches, simple shaping, colour changes and reading charts.
Find Yarn for Your First Crochet Project
For your first project, choose smooth yarn in a light or medium colour so that the stitches are easy to see. DK or aran yarn is often comfortable for beginners when paired with the hook size recommended on the yarn label.