Basic Crochet Stitches + Hooks For Beginners
The world of crochet is full of warmth and love. It’s fluffy, it’s snuggly, it’s cutesy, and most importantly, it’s versatile. Whether you have a baby blanket in mind, a dress, some home decor items, or even some cuddly dolls, you name it and crochet can make it. And the best part? Crochet is timeless - whether it's spring or autumn, winter or summer, crochet statement pieces will be a head-turner in every way. With just one hook and some yarn, you can truly create magic!
The chic and cutesy world of crochet is not just comforting but also very welcoming. It’s not just restricted to experts, but it also invites newbies to dive right into the fun and fluff of crochet. No doubt crochet may seem a bit daunting at first, but as you step into this realm, you’ll be surprised by the simplicity. And we’re here to help! In this blog, we’ll talk all about the basic crochet stitches and the ideal crochet hook size needed for beginners. As an added bonus, we’ll share our secret of the most beginner-friendly yarn that can make your crochet journey easy peasy. So let’s get right into it!
Which Hook Size is Perfect For Beginners?
One of the most frequently asked questions among newbies in crochet is “Which hook size to use?” And trust us, we know how confusing that can be! With an infinite number of crochet hook sizes available (yes, you heard us right, they go as far as counting goes) choosing the one to begin your crochet journey becomes quite stressful. There is no wrong answer to this question, in fact, the answer is interlinked with your comfort. But before giving you the promised number, there are a few tips you need to keep in mind for choosing the ideal hook size:
1. Prioritize Your Comfort:
Crochet is a healthy addiction. You’ll unknowingly spend hours crocheting once you get in the groove. So the comfort of your fingers is extremely important. Go for a hook size that is easier to hold. As a beginner, you need a hook size with a good grip to practice the stitches. Plastic crochet hooks are the king in this game as they are very lightweight, grippy, and they do not strain the fingers. Make sure to check out KnitPal’s exclusive range of plastic hooks.
2. Know Your Yarn Weight:
The size of the crochet hook you use is directly related to the yarn weight. If you’re working with bulky yarn, then using a smaller hook size will give you crochet trauma. It will take forever and the yarn will get stuck on the hook. The same is the case if you use a bigger hook size on thin yarn. So get to know your yarn. Take into consideration the yarn weight and then appropriately select the right size.
3. Double Check the Yarn Label:
85% of the time the suitable hook size for the yarn is mentioned on the yarn label. This is extremely helpful as it leaves no room for size mistakes. But it has one catch - sometimes the recommended hook size might not be compatible with the yarn. An easy solution to avoid this problem is to always go for a slightly bigger hook size as recommended on the label. For example, if the label says 4.5mm, go ahead and get a 5mm crochet hook.
The Best Hook Size:
The above discussion brings us down to the final answer. For beginners, a hook size of 5mm is ideal. The 5mm hook is medium-sized, making it perfect for beginners. It’s light, it’s easily applicable to medium yarn weights, and it’s super simple to hold. This hook size does not cause any stress on your fingers so brownie points! So to begin your crochet journey, get yourself a 5mm crochet hook to really get into the rhythm of crochet stitches. KnitPal has a wide variety of crochet hooks available that are perfect for beginners. The circular crochet hooks are great to get you in the groove!
What Are The Basic Crochet Stitches?
The best thing about crochet is that you only need to master a few basic stitches to become an expert. All the beautiful patterns and unique designs you see are made by altering the sequence of these basic stitches. And you know what the good news is? They are super beginner-friendly! Even if you have never held a crochet hook before, there’s a fair chance that you can still become a pro.
These basic stitches are listed below:
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Slip Knot
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Chain Stitch
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Single Crochet
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Half Double Crochet
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Double Crochet
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Slip Stitch
Let’s take a quick overview of how to perform these stitches.
1. Slip Knot:
To begin any crochet project, be it a blanket or a simple granny square, you need to start with a slip knot. It builds the base for your project. A slip knot is slightly different than a regular knot. There are multiple techniques to make a slip knot but the easiest one is the X-technique.
To make a slip knot, follow the steps given below:
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Grab the tail end of the yarn and bring it above your first two fingers.
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Now grab the strand attached to the skein and bring it above your fingers from below. You’ll get an X. Pinch it with your fingers.
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Now take your crochet hook and insert it in the loop behind your fingers.
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Grab the yarn strand and pull it through the loop.
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Now remove your fingers and pull the two strands and you’ll get a slip knot.
You can also check out this tutorial by The Wobbles to make a slip knot.
2. Chain Stitch:
The most basic stitch that sets the tone for every crochet project is the chain stitch. It builds the foundation as all the other stitches are performed on these chain stitches. They have a V-like shape. To make a chain stitch, follow the following steps:
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Make a slip knot.
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Take your crochet hook and scoop the yarn strand with the hook.
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Pull it through the loop of the slip knot.
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Congratulations! Your first chain stitch is all done.
Repeat this process a couple of times to create a series of chain stitches. For a video description, check out Craftsy tutorial.
3. Single Crochet:
The first fundamental stitch in crochet is the single crochet. It gives your project a very dense and tidy look and is perfect for small patterns such as amigurumi, socks, gloves, etc. It also works great for baby projects for which you’ll need our extremely soft and cutesy baby yarn.
For making a single crochet, follow the steps given below:
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Make a few chain stitches.
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Insert your hook in the V of the chain stitch.
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With the same hook, grab the yarn strand and pull it through the V stitch. You will have 2 loops on the crochet hook.
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Again take your hook and wrap up a yarn strand.
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Bring this yarn strand through both the 2 loops on your hook.
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Your first single crochet is all done!
Practice it all along the rest of the chain stitches to fully master it. You can also watch the Crochet Guru tutorial on single crochets.
4. Half Double Crochet:
In the crochet family tree, the half-double crochet is the next sibling. It’s slightly different than single crochet but follows the same technique. It also gives your project a flexible look and is bigger than single crochets, making you finish your project earlier compared to single crochets.
The technique for making a half-double crochet is listed below:
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Make a few chain stitches.
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Wrap your yarn around the crochet hook (do this before inserting your hook in the V stitch)
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Next up, insert your hook in the V stitch.
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Grab the yarn strand again and pull up a loop. You will now have 3 loops on your crochet hook.
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Scoop up the yarn again on the hook and pull this yarn through all 3 of the loops.
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Your half-double crochet is all done!
Try it out a few more times in the remaining chain stitches to develop a rhythm. The Wobbles offer a great tutorial on half-double crochets.
5. Double Crochet:
The double crochet stitch is the building block of many cardigans and sweaters. The stitch’s size is the biggest as compared to all and gives your project a breezy trendy look. Projects with double crochets end at the earliest compared to other stitches.
This stitch is an extension of the half-double crochet. Follow the steps given below to make a double crochet:
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Make a few chain stitches.
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Wrap your yarn around the crochet hook before inserting it in the V stitch.
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Now insert your yarn in the V and pull up a loop. You will now have 3 loops on the hook.
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Grab your yarn again with the hook and pull it through only the first 2 loops. You will now have 2 loops on the hook.
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Wrap the yarn one more time and pull it through the remaining 2 loops.
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Your double crochet is all done!
Practice it a few more times to become an expert. Check out the tutorial by Crochet Guru for a video explanation.
6. Slip Stitch:
Slip stitch is the most basic yet the most important stitch in crochet because it is used to close a project. This stitch is also used to join the different parts of your project together. To make a slip stitch, follow the steps listed below:
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Make a single crochet or any other stitch.
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Insert your hook in the next stitch.
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Grab the yarn strand and pull it through the stitch.
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Now, instead of grabbing the yarn again, take the same loop and pull it through the loop already on your crochet hook.
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The slip stitch is all done!
Repeat this process a couple of times to build a muscle memory of the slip stitch. This tutorial by HappyBerry Crochet will also help you out!
Which Yarn is Best for Beginners?
We promised you a bonus at the beginning of the blog and here it is! Mostly beginners offer wonder which yarn to purchase to begin their crochet journey. And we get it, with so many yarn options out there, it’s quite overwhelming to choose the ideal one. But we’re here with a solution! As a beginner, you’re bound to make mistakes. You also need a yarn that’s simple to hold and easy to work with. Acrylic yarn is the answer!
It’s soft, it’s grippy, it’s cheap, it ticks all the boxes for a beginner yarn. No matter how much you practice with it, it won’t wear out. Our Retro Glam is the best acrylic yarn out there. It’s lightweight, breezy, and silky, and comes in a range of colors that you can pick from. Trust us, you can’t go south with this one!
And that’s all folks! We’re sure you must be all set to start your new project! Do share your creative creations with us.
We hope you found this blog helpful. For more fun yarny tips and tricks, stay tuned!
