Simple crochet has been used in most of my projects and here I’ll give you a brief rundown of the instructions for the required techniques that you will encounter on my patterns.

But first things first, what are the materials needed and how do we hold the crochet work?

MATERIALS NEEDED. You only need a few materials to get started in crochet. The two most important are the hook and yarn. On most yarn we buy, the suggested hook size should be right on the label. The size of hook will be dependent on the type of yarn. The thicker the yarn, the larger the hook and vice versa.

HOLDING THE WORK. There are different ways of holding the hook and yarn, this is the most popular way.

Hold the hook in your right hand as if holding a pencil and grip the end of the yarn between the finger and thumb of your left hand. Wind the yarn around your little finger and over the other fingers of your left hand to tension it. As you progress, always pinch the work just below the stitch that you are working on to hold it.

As I’ve mentioned, there are different ways to do this. There are no rules. As long as you’re holding the work in a way that allows you to crochet comfortably, then that’s the best way for you!

Now, let’s go ahead and check out the basic crochet stitches and their corresponding abbreviation. Note: Terms used in below techniques are US crochet terms.

START WITH A SLIP KNOT: Almost all crochet works begin with a slip knot, but keep in mind this does not count as the first chain.

Pull out about 6 inches of yarn from your yarn ball or just enough amount you can work with comfortably. Make a loop by tucking the end of the yarn under the rest of the yarn (somehow making a pretzel shape). Pick up the yarn inside the loop then pull it gently and evenly to tighten the loop. Slide the knot up to the hook so you can start making your first chain.

MAKING A CHAIN (ch):

To make one chain, wrap the yarn from back to front over the hook to catch the yarn (this movement is also known as “YARN OVER” in crochet terms and is usually abbreviated as “yo”) and draw it back through the slip knot. Repeat pulling the caught yarn through the previous chain loop until you reach the required number of chains.

SINGLE CROCHET (sc):
This is the simplest crochet stitch and used mostly when making amigurumi (crocheted dolls or toys) projects.

Make a foundation chain one chain more than the number of single crochet stitches the pattern calls for. Insert hook into the 2nd chain from hook, yarn over and pull it through the chain, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through both loops on hook. One loop remains on the hook and the stitch is complete (Figure 1-4 above).

To complete another stitch, insert hook in the next chain, yarn over and pull through the chain. Catch yarn again and pull through 2 loops on the hook. Repeat across to end of the foundation chain (Figure 5-8 above).

To begin the next row, turn your work. Chain one (this chain does not count as a stitch, it is made for height only in addition to the first stitch), insert hook into the two top loops of the first single crochet stitch in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through, making two loops on the hook. Catch yarn again and pull through both loops on the hook which completes the first single crochet (Figure 1-4 above).

For subsequent stitches, insert hook into the two top loops of the next single crochet stitch in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through. Catch yarn again and pull through 2 loops (Figure 5-8 above).

 

HALF DOUBLE CROCHET (hdc):
This is used to add stitch height by adding a loop on the hook.

Make a foundation chain two chains more than the number of half double crochet stitches the pattern calls for. Yarn over then insert hook into the 3rd chain from hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the chain only, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through three loops on the hook so that one loop remains. The first half double crochet stitch is complete (Figure 1-4 above).

To complete another stitch, yarn over then insert hook into the next chain. Yarn over and pull a loop through the chain only, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through three loops on the hook. Repeat steps across to end of the foundation chain (Figure 5-8 above).

To begin another row, turn your work. Chain two (counted as the first half double crochet stitch), yarn over then insert hook into the two top loops of the 2nd half double crochet in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through three loops on the hook to complete the first half double crochet stitch (Figure 1-4 above).

For subsequent stitches, yarn over then insert hook into the two top loops of the next half double crochet stitch in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through. Catch yarn again and pull through three loops (Figure 5-8 above).

 

DOUBLE CROCHET (dc):
This is a very common crochet stitch and is about twice as tall as a single crochet.

Make a foundation chain three chains more than the number of double crochet stitches the pattern calls for. Yarn over then insert hook into the 4th chain from hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the chain only, making three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops on the hook, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the two loops on the hook so you are left with just one loop on the hook. The first double crochet stitch is complete.

To complete another stitch, yarn over then insert hook into the next chain. Yarn over and pull a loop through the chain only, making three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops on the hook, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the remaining two loops on the hook to complete the second double crochet stitch. Repeat across to end of the foundation chain.

To begin the next row, turn your work. Chain three (counted as the first double crochet stitch), yarn over then insert hook into the two top loops of the 2nd double crochet in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through, making three loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops on the hook, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the remaining two loops on the hook to complete the first double crochet stitch.

For subsequent stitches, yarn over then insert hook into the two top loops of the next double crochet stitch in the previous row below, yarn over and pull through. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops on the hook, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the remaining two loops on the hook.

 

TREBLE (tr):
This stitch follows the same principle as double crochet and more loops are added on the hook for a longer crochet stitch.

Make a foundation chain four chains more than the number of treble crochet stitches the pattern calls for. Wrap the yarn twice around the hook then insert hook into the 5th chain from hook. Catch the yarn and pull a loop through the chain only, making four loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops, making three loops on the hook. Yarn over again and pull a loop through the next two loops, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the final two loops so that just one loop remains, and this completes the first treble crochet stitch.

To complete another stitch, wrap the yarn twice around the hook then insert hook into the next chain. Catch the yarn and pull a loop through the chain only, making four loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the next two loops, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the final two loops to complete the second treble crochet stitch. Repeat across to end of the foundation chain.

To begin another row, turn your work. Chain four (counted as the first treble crochet stitch), wrap the yarn twice around the hook then insert hook into the two top loops of the second treble crochet in the previous row below, catch the yarn and pull through, making four loops on the hook. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the next two loops, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the final two loops to complete the first treble crochet stitch.

For subsequent stitches, wrap the yarn twice around the hook then insert hook into the two top loops of the next treble crochet stitch in the previous row below, catch the yarn and pull through. Yarn over and pull a loop through the first two loops, making three loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the next two loops, making two loops on the hook. Catch the yarn again and pull a loop through the final two loops.

SLIP STITCH (sl st):
This is used for joining, shaping, or to move along a crocheted edge without adding stitch height.

Insert the hook into the chain, or into the stitch on the previous row. Catch the yarn and pull a loop through the chain and through the loop on the hook.

MAGIC RING (mr):
Also known as the adjustable ring or magic loop and is used to begin crochet projects like hats, amigurumi and other projects worked in rounds. I love using this technique because of the even and neat look it gives to the closed hole and stitches in the center of the first round.

The steps shown below are for the Standard Magic Ring.

Wrap the yarn around the index finger of your left hand as shown (you can wrap the yarn twice if you want to do the double magic ring for greater durability).

Holding the crochet hook in your right hand, insert the hook under the yarn loop (or loops, if you’re doing a double magic ring) then catch the yarn from the working end of the yarn (yarn from the skein or ball) and pull a loop through. Catch the yarn again then pull a loop through the loop on the hook, 1 chain made. (You can add as many chain stitches as the pattern calls for, but on my illustration a single crochet stitch was made. Also, note that the chain(s) does not count as the first stitch).

To make your first single crochet, insert hook in the ring then catch the yarn and pull a loop through the ring. Yarn over and pull a loop through the two loops. Create the number of single crochet stitches indicated in the pattern.

Lastly, pull on the short yarn end/tail gently to close and complete the magic ring.

This method works great for hdc and dc rings, too. Just wrap the yarn over, put it under the ring, wrap the yarn over and proceed to finish the stitches normally. It is very handy for hdc and dc based beanies!

S H A P I N G:
Through increasing and decreasing the number of stitches you can shape a crochet piece like amigurumi, hats and other wearable items.

INCREASE (inc):
This involves adding stitches in a round or row to make the crochet piece wider/longer.

Simply work two stitches in one stitch to increase one stitch in a single, half double, double or treble crochet.

The photo above will show you how to do a single crochet increase, and we follow the same principle when increasing on other crochet stitches.

DECREASE (dec):
Basically, this involves reducing the number of stitches in a round or row to make the crochet piece narrower.

Other terms for this technique are “crochet two together” or “sc2tog” (two single crochet together) “hdc2tog” (two half-double crochet together) “dc2tog” (two double crochet together).

The above photo shows how to decrease in a project that uses a single crochet stitch. Insert your hook into the next stitch. Catch the yarn and pull through that stitch (two loops on hook). Insert your hook into the next stitch. Catch the yarn again and pull through that stitch (three loops on hook). Catch the yarn and pull through all the loops on your hook.

INVISIBLE DECREASE (inv dec):
This decrease technique is recommended for single crochet amigurumi projects. As its name implies, it makes the decrease unnoticeable, thinner and less bumpy than a regular decrease hence giving the work a more tidy and professional look.

Normally, when working on a crochet stitch we insert the hook in both top loops of a stitch in previous row/round but with invisible decrease we work through the front loops only.

Here’s how the crochet loops look like from top view:

Here’s how we do the invisible decrease:

Again, the above photo shows how to do this in a project that uses a single crochet stitch: Insert the hook into front loops only of next two stitches, catch yarn and pull through two loops on hook, catch yarn again then pull through final two loops on hook. Now you have two single crochet together, counts as one single crochet.

FASTENING OFF:
Here I’ll show two methods of fastening off. The first method is the most usual way and is the most secured. The second method makes a neat finish, especially when making motifs.

Method 1: After the last stitch, pull another loop through and then cut the yarn and pull the end through the loop.

Method 2: After the last stitch, just cut the yarn and pull the end through. Weave in loose end very securely.

BRACKETS [], PARENTHESIS (), or ASTERISKS **
If you see these symbols in a pattern, it means you have to repeat instructions between these, the number of times indicated. Parenthesis would also indicate the total number of stitches required in a row or round.

I hope this post will make everything easier and smooth sailing from here on out, especially for those of you who just started crocheting. There are still a lot of crochet stitches to learn but don’t worry I will provide step-by-step pictures of every new and special stitch that you will encounter as I go along sharing my projects and patterns with you.

To set your expectation, I am not doing video tutorials yet. I tried once but the file crashed on me, and being the only person managing this blog and running the household with a super energetic toddler I decided not to push myself too hard to learn the techie stuff. Alternatively, I’ll be referencing video tutorials from talented DIY bloggers that I’ve been following in case you need additional guide especially with difficult stitches.

Have fun learning!