Updated: 30 October 2026 by Sylwia (MyCrochetory)
I learned my first crochet stitches for beginners in 2016, when my daughter was 10 months old. Every free moment I had went to my hook and a YouTube tutorial.
Hard things have always pulled me in, and I knew almost right away that I wanted to design my own pieces. But there was no shortcut, because to get to the hard stuff I had to learn the basics first.
My first finished project was a granny square blanket for my daughter. It was built from the same basic stitches you’ll learn here.
This guide covers the slip knot, the chain and the five basic stitches, each with a small practice swatch. Every stitch links to my full photo and video tutorial, and the whole list is on my free crochet tutorials for beginners page.
Join my Facebook Group and Ravelry Group to ask questions and share your first swatches. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest.
Tools you need to learn crochet stitches for beginners
My first hooks were the cheapest ones I could find, and I learned every basic stitch on them. So don’t let anyone talk you into an expensive kit before your first chain.
Pick a smooth, light-colored worsted weight yarn, marked as #4 or medium on the label. Cotton and acrylic both work well, and acrylic is usually the cheapest.
A 5 mm (US H-8) hook goes well with that yarn. Today I like Clover and Tulip hooks, but they can wait until you know crochet is your thing.
Add a pair of scissors, a tapestry needle for the yarn ends and a few stitch markers. That’s the whole kit.
Start with a slip knot and a chain
Every crochet project starts with the same two things, and neither of them is a real stitch yet. First comes the slip knot, which ties the yarn to your hook.
Make a loop with the yarn, pull the working yarn through it and tighten the knot on your hook. My slip knot tutorial shows three ways to make it.
For the chain, yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop on your hook. Repeat until you have as many chains as you need, and keep them loose enough to work into later.
Uneven chains are normal at first, and they get even with practice. My chain tutorial has photos of every step.
The 5 basic crochet stitches for beginners
Five stitches. That’s all you need to read almost any crochet pattern, because every pattern mixes these crochet stitches for beginners in its own way.
For each one, chain 15 and work about 10 rows. A small swatch like that is the fastest way to learn a stitch and see how tall it is.
Single crochet (sc)
Single crochet is the shortest of the main stitches, and it makes a dense, firm fabric. It’s great for coasters, bags and neat edges.
- Insert your hook into the 2nd chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (2 loops on the hook).
- Yarn over and pull through both loops.
Full photo and video steps are in my single crochet tutorial.
Half double crochet (hdc)
Half double crochet is a bit taller than single crochet and feels softer. It works up fast, so it’s lovely for scarves and hats.
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the 3rd chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook).
- Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.
Here’s my half double crochet tutorial with photos and a video.
Double crochet (dc)
Double crochet is the stitch you’ll see in most shawls and blankets. It’s tall, so your work grows quickly, and it leaves small gaps that make the fabric drape.
- Yarn over and insert your hook into the 4th chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (3 loops on the hook).
- Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, then yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
More help is in my double crochet tutorial.
Treble crochet (tr)
Treble crochet, also called triple crochet, is the tallest of the five. It’s often used in lace, where it makes long, open stitches.
- Yarn over twice and insert your hook into the 5th chain from the hook.
- Yarn over and pull up a loop (4 loops on the hook).
- [Yarn over and pull through 2 loops] 3 times.
Step-by-step photos are in my treble crochet tutorial.
Slip stitch (sl st)
The slip stitch has almost no height, so you won’t build fabric with it. You’ll use it to join rounds, for example when you start a circle with a magic ring, and to move across stitches without adding height.
- Insert your hook into the next stitch.
- Yarn over and pull through the stitch and the loop on your hook in one go.
My slip stitch tutorial also shows four ways to use it.
Turning chains and straight edges
If your swatch slowly turns into a trapezoid, look at the edges first. Most of the time the turning chain is the reason.
At the start of each row you chain a few stitches to reach the height of the new row. The usual counts are below.
- Single crochet, 1 chain
- Half double crochet, 2 chains
- Double crochet, 3 chains
- Treble crochet, 4 chains
For single crochet the turning chain usually doesn’t count as a stitch, but for double and treble crochet it often does. Always check the notes of your pattern, and if your edges still wander, try the tricks in my straight edges guide.
Tips for practicing crochet stitches for beginners
Tight stitches, loose stitches, a row with 14 stitches instead of 15. Every new crocheter meets these, so here’s how to handle them.
If you can hardly push the hook into your stitches, you’re pulling the yarn too tight. Let each new loop sit on the thick part of the hook, and if it’s still too tight, go up one hook size.
Count your stitches at the end of every row while you learn. Put a stitch marker in the first and last stitch, so you always know where the row starts and ends.
And keep your first swatches. Lined up next to each other, they show how much your stitches change in just a few days.
Crochet abbreviations and US vs UK terms
The first time you open a crochet pattern, it can look like someone spilled letters on the page. Most of them are just short names for the stitches you’ve learned above.
| Abbreviation | US term | UK term |
|---|---|---|
| ch | chain | chain |
| sl st | slip stitch | slip stitch |
| sc | single crochet | double crochet (dc) |
| hdc | half double crochet | half treble (htr) |
| dc | double crochet | treble (tr) |
| tr | treble crochet | double treble (dtr) |
See the trap? A UK double crochet is a US single crochet, so the same word means a different stitch. Most patterns say at the top which terms they use, and all my patterns use US terms.
When you’re ready for patterns with symbols instead of words, my guide on how to read crochet charts walks you through them with real examples.
Want this guide close at hand next time you pick up your hook? Save it to your Pinterest board.
Your first projects with crochet stitches for beginners
Swatches are good practice, but nobody wears a swatch. These patterns of mine use only basic stitches, so they make a great first real project.
- Filip’s Blanket. A moss stitch baby blanket in two colors, and the size is easy to change.
- Triangle Moss Stitch Shawl. A moss stitch triangle shawl worked from the top center, in four colors.
- Valentina Infinity Scarf. Single and double crochet in a one-row repeat, worked flat and sewn into a loop.
- How to Crochet the Moss Stitch. Single crochet and chain 1, the stitch behind the blanket and the shawl.
More crochet tutorials for beginners
Five stitches down? These tutorials take you one step further.
- How to Crochet a Magic Ring. Three ways to start a project in the round.
- Why Is My Crochet Circle Curling?. Five fixes for circles that cup or ruffle.
- How to Join Yarn Ends. Four ways to add a new ball or a new color.
- How to Read Crochet Charts. Symbols, rows and rounds, with photos of every step.
- Free Crochet Tutorials for Beginners. All my tutorials in one place.
Crochet stitches for beginners FAQ
Which of the crochet stitches for beginners should I learn first?
Start with the chain, then single crochet. Of all the crochet stitches for beginners, single crochet is the shortest and the easiest to see, so it helps you learn how to hold the hook and the yarn.
What does “2nd chain from the hook” mean?
Don’t count the loop that sits on your hook. The first chain below it is the 1st chain, and the next one is the 2nd.
Which yarn is hard for beginners?
Fuzzy yarn like mohair, very dark colors and thin lace weight yarn. The stitches are hard to see, and mistakes are hard to undo.
Made your first swatch? Share it with #mycrochetory or tag me @mycrochetory.
Stuck on a stitch? Ask in my Facebook Group or Ravelry Group, or email me at mycrochetory@gmail.com.
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