The Ultimate Guide for Beginners: Understanding Crochet Stitches

Are you new to crochet and want to expand your skills? With yarn, crochet hooks and some basic skills, you can create anything from simple dishcloths to intricate lace shawls, garments to home décor and lovely Amigurumi. If you're just starting out, learning the fundamental stitches is the key to building your skills. In this blog, we'll explore the basic crochet stitches. The stitches are the foundation of any project and every beginner learns in their crafting journey. You only need to gather crochet yarn, the right crochet hook and accessories.

Before you dive into the world of crochet, our guide on crochet basics: the ultimate beginner’s guide is a good start. Remember to focus on the benefits of crocheting so that you overcome the initial hassles that come your way.

In this blog we’ll cover:

1. What materials you will need
2. Yarn
3. Crochet Hook
4. Slip Knot
5. Chain Stitch
6. Single Crochet
7. Half Double Crochet
8. Double Crochet
9. Treble Crochet
10. Slip Stitch

What you’ll need:

Yarn - You can crochet with lightweight fingering yarn to chunky weights depending on the fabric you want to make. Hand-dyed yarn is inspiring for beginners. However, merino wool is a good choice for beginners. Regarding yarn weight, you can explore lightweight fingering yarn, versatile DK and chunky yarns. DK weight yarns are preferred for all kinds of projects from granny squares to winter blankets.

Crochet Hook - Choose any single-ended crochet hooks that match the yarn weight. You can also work with double-ended crochet hooks or Tunisian crochet hooks, however as beginners, a single-ended hook is the best option.

Basic Crochet Stitches for Beginners

Let’s explore the fundamental stitches used in most crochet projects. The terms we have mentioned in this blog are US crochet terms, however, keep in mind that the very stitches are referred to by different names in UK crochet patterns. To know more details, explore our guide on UK vs US crochet terminology and for a quick glance, here’s a table.

As per standards from the Craft Yarn Council:

1. Slip Knot

The slip knot is the foundation of most crochet projects, and even for knitting projects. It’s not a stitch but one of the essential techniques to make an adjustable yet secure yarn knot on the crochet hook. However, always remember the slip knot is not counted as a loop for any crochet stitch.

How to Make a Slip Knot:

1. Hold the yarn tail in your left hand and form a loop.
2. Pass the working yarn (the yarn attached to the skein) through the loop to create a second loop.
3. Insert your crochet hook into the second loop and pull tight.

Once your slip knot is secure, you’re ready to move on to the foundation chain.

2. Chain Stitch (ch)

The chain stitch is the starting point for most crochet patterns, creating a base row from which other stitches are worked.

How to Make a Chain Stitch:

1. Yarn over (wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front).
2. Pull the yarn through the loop on the hook.

Repeat until you have the desired number of chain stitches.

Used for: Projects such as scarves, blankets, and even lacework.

Single Crochet (sc)

A single crochet stitch creates a firm and dense fabric. The shortest in the family of crochet stitches, it is one of the most commonly used stitches.

How to Make a Single Crochet:

1. Insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through the stitch (two loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook.

Used for: Washcloths, amigurumi, and cozy winter accessories.

3. Half-Double Crochet (hdc)

The half-double crochet stitch is a versatile stitch. It adds to the height without being too open.

How to Make a Half-Double Crochet:

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through the stitch (three loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over again and pull through all three loops on the hook.

Used for: Baby blankets, scarves, and sweaters.

4. Double Crochet (dc)

One of the most popular stitches used in all kinds of yarn projects, the double crochet stitch creates a fabric that has a drape without being stiff. It strikes a balance between height and ease of execution.

How to Make a Double Crochet:

1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through the stitch (three loops on hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops on the hook.
4. Yarn over again and pull through the remaining two loops.

Used for: Blankets, shawls, and garments.

5. Treble Crochet (tr)

Treble crochet is the tallest of the basic crochet stitches and creates an open, lacy effect.

How to Make a Treble Crochet:

1. Yarn over twice and insert your hook into the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through the stitch (four loops on the hook).
3. Yarn over and pull through the first two loops.
4. Yarn over and pull through the next two loops.
5. Yarn over again and pull through the final two loops.

Used for - Airy shawls, lacy scarves, and decorative borders.

6. Slip Stitch (sl st)

The slip stitch is essentially not counted among the stitches but a crochet technique. It is often used to join rounds, create decorative edges, or move across a row without adding height to make surface designs.

How to Make a Slip Stitch:

1. Insert your hook into the stitch where you want to place the slip stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the yarn through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion.

Used for - Seaming pieces together or adding finishing details to your projects.

With practice, these basic crochet stitches will come naturally to you. For inspiration refer to quick and easy crochet projects for beginners.

Always remember to choose comfortable crochet hooks. For yarns, choose premium quality yarns from Symfonie. The extrafine merino wool and blends of merino-silk and merino-polyamide are available in various hand-dyed semisolid and variegated shades. Explore fingering yarn from Terra or DK weight yarns from Viva and Luna for your crochet projects.