Basic Crochet Stitches

In Crochet, there are only a few basic crochet stitches that you need to learn, but many, many, ways to combine those stitches to form different patterns. If you have never crocheted before you have quite a bit to learn!

This means learning how to hold the hook while you are working, and how to form the basic stitches.  Starting with how to form a slip knot to begin your piece and forming a chain, to make a single crochet, double crochet and trebles.

Unlike knitting, you do not have to cast on or cast off your work. But you will need to know how to finish off your piece by weaving in the ends of your yarn.

Getting Started with Basic Crochet Stitches

I suggest that for your first attempts at learning how to crochet you find yourself some scraps of wool that you have left over from other projects to practice with. Crochet cotton is probably too fine for someone who is not familiar with the hand movements involved in crochet. It is not as forgiving as wool. You will be able to see every twist in your yarn and every bump and lump in your crocheting.

While you want to be able to see your mistakes so that you are able to correct them with practice, you don't want to be completely disheartened by a few first-time disasters!

Double knitting or 8-ply wool is reasonably easy to work with for a beginner using a 4.0 mm or 4.5 mm crochet hook.

Forming a Slip Knot

Most of your crochet pieces will start with a simple slip knot which forms the first chain stitch.

There are a couple of ways to do a slip knot, you can either use your fingers to make the knot and then slip it onto the crochet hook before you tighten it, or you can use your hook to form the knot.

Without a Crochet Hook

Form a loop with your yarn - make it large enough to get one or finger fingers through it - and cross the yarn behind the loop. From the front, pull the yarn through the loop and pull to form a knot.

With a Crochet Hook

Make a loop and insert the crochet hook through the loop. Use the end of the hook to pick up the yarn coming from your ball and pull it through the loop. Pull the yarn tight to form the slip knot against the hook.

Chain Stitches

Now that you have your slip knot on the hook it is time to create a chain of stitches using the chain stitch!

Do you remember doing any finger knitting when you were a kid? Chain stitch in crochet is basically the same as finger knitting. Except instead of forming the stitches over your finger you use a crochet hook.

Other Basic Crochet Stitches

Now that you know how to form a slip knot and create a 'chain of stitches' the next step is to learn a few of the basic crochet stitches. Stitches like single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet and trebles.

Single Crochet (US) / Double Crochet (UK)

Single crochet in the US version is the same stitch as the double crochet in the UK version and it looks something like this.

Before you start you would need to form a slip knot and work the required number of chain stitches as the base for your Single Crochet (US) / Double Crochet (UK).

Half Double Crochet (US) / Half Treble Crochet (UK)

I use this stitch a lot, for making outfits for my crochet doll projects, so I have used it extensively. As indicated above the half double crochet in the US version is the same stitch as the half treble in the UK version. 

The half double crochet is started the same way as a double crochet, but it has one less step at the end. 

Double Crochet (US) / Treble Crochet (UK)

Double crochet in the US version is the same stitch as the treble crochet in the UK version. 

Before you start you would need to form a slip knot and work the required number of chain stitches as the base for your Double Crochet (US) / Treble Crochet (UK).