I’m Learning How To Crochet and You Can, Too

Whoa, I know what you’re thinking. She’s at it again with a new special interest. It’s true, I am. I’ve always wanted to learn how to crochet or knit. I went to my friend’s hen party a few weeks ago and met a wonderful Spanish woman. She told us that she had started crocheting a few months ago. She showed us photos of all the things she had made. I was shocked that in just a few months, she had been able to create cute plushies and professional-looking items. 

So I bought myself a crochet starter kit from Amazon and got to work. Like many new crocheters, I began by using basic stitches, such as chain stitches and the single crochet stitch. Within three weeks, I had made Halloween-themed granny squares, hats, a headband and a shawl. I’m now making myself a crochet top! 

Many people were surprised to discover how quickly I learned to crochet. I think that’s just because it’s really hard for the first few days, while you’re still learning how to hold the hook’s handle, how to achieve the correct tension, and what the finished product is supposed to look like. Once you push through that initial pain, things get considerably easier. 

So here’s a step-by-step guide that will show what you need to do to get started, from making your first slip knot to finishing your first project. 

I will post some videos at the bottom which I used to get started, these will show you how to hold your hook, make a slip knot and how to get started!

Tools You Need to Start Crocheting

To start crocheting, you need a few simple tools.

Yarn and Crochet Hook

Choosing the right yarn is a good idea for your first crochet project. Choose a light colour so you can see each stitch more clearly – it’s much harder to see your work when you use black and dark colours. Cotton yarn or acrylic works well because they do not split much and are easier to handle.

Yarn comes in different weights, such as DK (double knit), worsted, or chunky; check the yarn label for this information, as it affects the size of your project and the type of stitches you use. Thicker yarns make projects grow quicker, but they can feel bulky to hold.

A crochet hook is also called a hooked needle. They come in many sizes, measured in millimetres or in UK terms, such as G/6 (4 mm). Select a size that matches the type of yarn you use—if you work with thick yarn, choose a larger hook.

Beginners often start with a 5 mm hook and medium-weight (worsted) yarn, as these are easy to work with while practising basic crochet stitches. Hold both tools comfortably, using your dominant hand for the crochet hook and your left hand to guide the working yarn, unless you prefer another way.

I am left-handed, but I actually crochet right-handed, as it’s most comfortable for me that way.

Scissors and Yarn Needle

You will also need scissors to cut the tails of the yarns clearly at the end of your row, and a yarn needle or tapestry needle. 

A yarn needle has a large eye for threading thick yarn weights through it with ease. You use this tool to weave in loose ends after you finish up. This conceals the tails of the yarns inside your stitches, making your work look tidy. 

Stitch Markers

Stitch markers are a lifesaver! Don’t skip them like I did. They can help you count stitches and let you know when to stop or start your rows. They’re great when you’re learning specific stitches and still aren’t sure what you’re looking at. It can also save time counting when you are making items that have long rows. For example, I’ll put a stitch marker every 5th or 10th stitch to keep count. 

My Crochet Starter Kit

I got a starter kit from Amazon that cost around £16. It came with some small balls of yarn, different crochet hooks, stitch markers, scissors, clips and more. It’s a great place to start, as you can use the yarn to practice before spending money on yarn you actually want to use for a project. 

I also bought a yarn bowl, which came with some wooden crochet hooks. They had some larger sizes than in my kit, so I used those instead for my chucnky yarn projects that needed a 9mm hook. I’ve also purchased more stitch markers, as I use them frequently. 

How to Hold Your Crochet Hook

Holding your crochet hook correctly can make a significant difference in your yarn craft. It helps you crochet faster and with less strain on your hands. The key is to find a few different ways and stick to the one that feels natural to you.

• Pencil grip – Hold the hook like a pencil, with the handle resting against your palm and the tip pointing toward you. This grip works well for detailed work and gives reasonable control.
• Knife grip – Imagine holding a knife to cut vegetables. That’s how you hold the crochet hook in this method, with your hand over the handle and the tip pointing down. This grip is comfortable for long crocheting sessions.
• Place your thumb and index finger near the tip of the hook for maximum control.
• Rest your middle finger alongside the hook to support it from below. This also helps in moving the yarn smoothly.
• Use your ring finger and thumb to hold the yarn in tension. They don’t have to cling tightly, just enough to keep your yarn from slacking.
• Adjust your grip based on comfort. Everyone’s hands are different, so what works for one person might not work for another. Feel free to shift how you hold until it feels just right.
• Keep practising with a light colour yarn at first; it makes it easier to see where you’re inserting the hook.

Making a Slip Knot

Starting with a slip knot is one of the first steps in crocheting. It’s the foundation for your first chain stitch, and there are many different ways to make a slip knot. I prefer to make one by putting the yarn over my finger, wrapping it across and pulling other loop over the other, like in this video here. 

How to Hold Your Yarn

Holding your yarn right is key to crocheting smoothly. It affects how you make each stitch.

1. Use your dominant hand to control the yarn. Wrap the yarn around your fingers for a better grip.
2. Loop the yarn over your index finger. This helps guide it as you pull it through stitches.
3. Pinch the yarn with your thumb and middle finger. This gives you more control while working.
4. Keep a little tension on the yarn. Too loose or too tight can mess up your stitches.
5. Adjust where you hold the yarn based on what feels comfortable for you. Everyone has their own way of holding it.
6. For a slip stitch join, ensure that you have enough slack in the yarn, but still control it well.
7. Practice holding it while making a slip knot and starting a chain; this helps build muscle memory.
8. Work at your own pace so that you don’t strain your hand; take breaks if needed!
9. Trying different weights of yarn can change how it feels in your hands; explore to find what suits you best!

Creating Your First Chain

Creating your first chain is usually the start of any project, and you will quickly learn how to do this without even thinking! 

1. Start with a slip knot on your hook. This is the first loop that holds everything together.
2. Hold the yarn with one hand. Use your fingers to control the tension and keep it from being too tight or too loose.
3. Wrap the yarn around your hook from back to front; this is called a yarn over.
4. Pull the hook through the slip knot; this creates your first chain stitch.
5. Repeat the yarn over and pull through process. Each time you do this, you’ll make another chain stitch.
6. Keep counting each stitch as you go along, so you know how many you’ve made.
7. Use a comfortable pace; don’t rush, enjoy making those stitches.
8. Try different weights of yarn to see what feels best for you.
9. Aim for even tension; it will help when moving to different stitches later.

Understanding and Counting Chain Stitches

After you make your first chain, it’s time to understand those chain stitches. Counting them well is key to your crochet project.

1. Each chain stitch forms the foundation of your work. Think of it as the starting line for your pattern.
2. A chain stitch is created by pulling the yarn through a loop on the hook. This creates a new loop, which counts as one stitch.
3. The number of stitches in your foundation chain matters. It decides how wide your project will be.
4. Count carefully as you go; this helps keep everything even and neat. Counting mistakes can lead to problems later on.
5. Keep track of each stitch by saying the numbers out loud or using stitch markers. 
6. The turning chain is important if you’re moving to the next row. It can add height, so don’t forget to include it in your count.
7. Make sure you know where the last stitch is when ending a row; this ensures that you have enough stitches for the next row.
8. A good tip is to hold your yarn with two fingers while counting; this keeps everything stable and makes counting easier.

Learning the Single Crochet Stitch

The single crochet stitch is a great place to start. It’s simple but creates a nice, tight fabric.

1. Start with your chain of stitches. Make sure to create enough chains for your project.
2. Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook. This will be your first stitch.
3. Yarning over is next. Wrap the yarn around the hook, going from back to front.
4. Pull the yarn through the chain. You now have two loops on your hook.
5. Yarn over again and pull through both loops on your hook. Congratulations, you’ve made a single crochet!
6. Continue this process in each chain across your row; that’s a repeat step for every stitch.
7. To move to the next row, turn your work around and chain one before starting again.
8. Keep practising this stitch to improve its height and consistency; it’s essential for all patterns.
9. Check out video tutorials online if you need help or want to see how others do it; YouTube can be very useful!

Moving to the Next Row

After you finish your first row, it’s time to move on to the next one. This part is quite tricky; many beginners stitch into the wrong stitch, making their work wonky. 

• Turn your work around. Hold your crochet piece so you face the last stitch made.
• Find the top of the last stitch in your first row. This is where you’ll be working for your next row.
• Chain one or more stitches, depending on the stitch used for this row. This adds height, preparing you for the new row.
• Insert your hook into the next stitch of the previous row. Make sure you’re in the right place for a smooth transition.
• Yarn over and pull through that stitch. You will have two loops on your hook now.
• Yarn over again and pull through both loops on your hook. This completes a single crochet stitch.
• Keep going until you reach the end of that row. Count each stitch as you go to stay organised.
• At the end of this row, chain one again if needed, especially for taller stitches like double crochet or treble crochet.
• Turn your work once more, ready to start another new row.

Finishing Off Your Crochet Project

Once you’ve finished your crochet piece, it’s time to tidy up. Cut the yarn and use a yarn needle to weave in those little ends—no one likes loose yarn tails!

Cutting the Yarn

Cut the yarn when you finish your last stitch. Leave a tail about six inches long. This helps for weaving in later. Use scissors to carefully snip through the yarn. Make sure you don’t cut too close to your work, as this can cause it to unravel.

After cutting, pull the end of the yarn through the last loop on your hook. This secures everything nicely. Now you’re ready for the next step of finishing off your crochet project! It’s all part of making that round crochet piece you’ve been working on, and it feels great to see it all come together!

Weaving in the Ends

Weaving in the ends is a simple but important step. After finishing your crochet project, you will see some loose yarn ends. Grab your yarn needle and thread it with these ends.

Now, weave the needle through the stitches on the back of your work. This hides the loose ends and keeps everything neat. A little tip: make sure to go back and forth for extra security. You want your hard work to last!

My Tips for Beginners to Improve Skills

Practice often. The more you crochet, the better you will get. Try different yarn weights and hook sizes to find what feels best for you. Don’t worry about making mistakes; they are a natural part of the learning process. Watching videos helps you see techniques in action.

​I started by making a simple square that was 10 by 10 stitches. It took me a few days to get there, starting with a chain, then building on that. I made many mistakes, such as not turning my work correctly, and the square would get smaller as I missed stitches. I told myself I would not move on to something else until I could make a perfect square! 

​This was the most challenging part of crochet for me. So, you have to keep trying until you are able to do it; then, everything else becomes easier. The biggest issue I found was that I struggled to count my stitches as I wasn’t sure what I was actually looking at when counting. But keep trying and you’ll learn what to look for, how to count correctly and make your perfect square. 

I also struggled with holding my yarn too tightly, making it difficult for me to get the hook through. This resulted in me splitting the yarn frequently, which was highly frustrating. But you just have to keep trying, and it will become muscle memory.

After completing this, I moved on to a simple granny square. 

Here are the videos I used to make my first square and then a granny square. After that, I began working on actual projects.

UK vs US crochet stitch terminology

The UK and US use different terminologies for crochet:

UK Term	US Term
Slip Stitch (ss)	Slip Stitch (sl st)
Double Crochet (dc)	Single Crochet (sc)
Half Treble (htr)	Half Double Crochet (hdc)
Treble (tr)	Double Crochet (dc)
Double Treble (dtr)	Treble (tr)
Triple Treble (trtr)	Double Treble (dtr)
Half Treble Treble (htrtr)	Half Triple Treble (htrtr)
Chain (ch)	Chain (ch)
Magic Ring / Magic Circle	Magic Ring / Magic Circle

Good luck in your crochet journey! It’s a lot of fun once you get the hang of it!

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