Crochet looks complicated, but almost everything is built from the same handful of stitches. With one hook, one ball of yarn and an evening or two, you can go from "never tried" to a finished first project.
What you need to start
- Yarn: a smooth, light-coloured worsted-weight yarn (labelled weight 4, or "medium"). Light colours make stitches easier to see, and smooth yarn is easier to work with than fluffy or dark yarn. Acrylic is affordable; cotton is great for dishcloths.
- A hook: a 5 mm hook (labelled H-8 in the US) matches worsted yarn well. Hooks with a soft handle are comfortable for longer sessions.
- Scissors for cutting yarn.
- A tapestry needle (a blunt needle with a big eye) for weaving in the ends when you finish.
- Stitch markers, optional but handy for marking the start of a row. A paper clip works in a pinch.
Most yarn labels list the recommended hook size, so if you choose a different yarn, check the label.
How to hold the hook and yarn
There are two common grips. The pencil grip holds the hook like a pen. The knife grip holds it from above, like a dinner knife. Neither is more correct; try both and use whichever feels natural.
Your other hand controls the yarn. Most people wrap it over the index finger and hold it loosely with the other fingers, which keeps the tension even. Expect this to feel awkward at first. It becomes automatic surprisingly quickly.
US vs UK terms (this confuses everyone)
US and UK patterns use the same names for different stitches. A US "single crochet" is a UK "double crochet", and a US "double crochet" is a UK "treble". Before starting any pattern, check which system it uses. This guide uses US terms.
The five stitches that make almost everything
1. Slip knot
This attaches the yarn to your hook. Make a loop, pull a second loop of yarn through it, put that loop on your hook and tighten gently. It should slide, not choke the hook.
2. Chain stitch (ch)
Wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front (called a "yarn over") and pull it through the loop on your hook. That's one chain. Repeat to make a row of chains, which is the foundation of most projects.
3. Slip stitch (sl st)
Insert the hook into a stitch, yarn over, and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook in one motion. It's used to join rounds and move along a row without adding height.
4. Single crochet (sc)
Insert the hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (two loops on the hook). Yarn over again and pull through both loops. This makes a short, dense stitch that's perfect for dishcloths and amigurumi.
5. Double crochet (dc)
Yarn over first, then insert the hook into a stitch, yarn over and pull up a loop (three loops on the hook). Yarn over and pull through two loops, then yarn over and pull through the last two. It's taller and grows fabric quickly, which is why blankets and scarves use it so often.
Once these feel comfortable, the half double crochet (between single and double in height) is an easy next stitch.
Beginner tips that save frustration
- Count your stitches at the end of each row. Edges that slowly lean or grow usually mean a stitch was added or skipped.
- Remember the turning chain. At the start of a new row, chain 1 for single crochet or chain 3 for double crochet so the edge stays straight.
- Loosen up. Tight stitches are the most common beginner problem. If it's hard to get the hook in, relax your yarn hand.
- Practice on a swatch of 15 chains and 10 rows before starting a real project.
- Watch a slow video for any stitch that doesn't click from the written description. Seeing the hand movement helps.
Three easy first projects
A cotton dishcloth
A small square of single crochet in cotton yarn. It's quick, useful and forgiving of uneven stitches.
A simple scarf
Rows of double crochet in a soft yarn. It teaches consistency and grows fast enough to stay motivating.
A granny square
The classic crochet motif, worked in rounds from the centre. Once you can make one, you can join them into cushions, bags and blankets.
Quick recap
- Start with light-coloured worsted yarn and a 5 mm (H-8) hook.
- Learn the slip knot, chain, slip stitch, single and double crochet.
- Check whether a pattern uses US or UK terms, and count your stitches.
- Make a dishcloth or scarf first, then try a granny square.