Welcome to your ultimate beginner guide! If you are brand new to the world of yarn, you have come to the right spot.
What is Crochet?
Crochet is a craft where you create fabric by using a single hook to pull loops of yarn through other loops. Unlike knitting, which uses two long needles and holds many open loops at once, crochet works with just one hook and one open loop at a time. This makes crochet very forgiving. If you make a mistake, you simply pull your yarn to undo the stitch and try again.
The 4 Basic Supplies You Need
You do not need a lot of expensive equipment to begin. You only need four simple items:
- A Crochet Hook: Hooks come in different sizes made of aluminum, wood, or plastic. A standard 5.0 mm (H-8) aluminum hook is perfect for beginners because it is comfortable and easy to handle.
- Yarn: Yarn comes in different weights, or thicknesses. Choose a medium weight (also called worsted weight or size 4 yarn) in a light, solid color. Smooth, light-colored yarn makes it easy to see your stitches.
- Scissors: A simple, sharp pair of small craft scissors to cut your yarn ends cleanly.
- Tapestry Needle: This is a blunt, wide-eyed needle used to weave your loose yarn ends into your finished project so it does not unravel.
The 3 First Stitches to Learn
Once you have your supplies, you only need to master three fundamental stitches:
Chain Stitch (ch): The foundation of almost every project. You wrap yarn over your hook and pull it through the loop on your hook to create a neat row of chain links.
Single Crochet (sc): The standard short, tight stitch. Insert your hook into a chain, wrap the yarn over, pull up a loop, wrap the yarn over again, and pull through both loops on your hook.
Double Crochet (dc): A taller, looser stitch. Wrap yarn over your hook first, insert into a chain, wrap yarn and pull up a loop, yarn over and pull through two loops, yarn over again and pull through the final two loops.
How to Use This Site
Take things slow and enjoy the process. Head over to our Pattern Library and look for projects marked Beginner. These patterns use short supply lists and basic stitches. Try a coaster or a dishcloth first. They build your muscle memory quickly and give you a complete, useful finished item in under an hour!