Crochet: A Primer

In this crochet tutorial, I'll show you the ropes so you can make anything you can imagine.

If you're looking at this sweater and thinking, "There's no way I could ever pull that off," hear me out: You'll have no trouble learning to knit this sweater if you follow the instructions carefully. I swear to you

Related: Even if you've never crocheted before, you can learn to make a sweater.

Part 1: The Fundamentals of Crochet for Absolute Novices

Let's go back to the start of things today. You can learn this from me in just three simple steps.

The first step is to create a loop.

Next, wrap the yarn around the hook and pull it tight.

Third, master the linkage

What's Required Is

Items Needed: 1. Crochet Hook (Knitpro's Waves Hooks are recommended)

Yarn (available at many craft supply stores, including Love Crochet, Knit Picks, Wool Warehouse, Annie's, Amazon, Etsy, and many more!) )

These days, it doesn't matter what kind of yarn you use or how big your crochet hook is. Nonetheless, if you're just starting out, the best tools are a large crochet hook and a fairly thick yarn.

Read on for info about the yarns and hooks I recommend using to crochet.

Relatedly, this article will teach you how to select the appropriate crochet hook and yarn weight for your project.

Get some yarn and a hook, and we'll start the crocheting tutorial right away.

First of a Two-Part Series: A Photo Tutorial for Crochet Novices

1. Tie a Slip Knot

For this, I followed a 6-step process and went into extensive detail. This may be the easiest thing you've ever done, and for others, it may be something totally novel. My boyfriend, who had never done anything like this before, followed the steps I laid out for him and completed them all successfully.
Now, let's get this going by following the pictures.

How to Tie a Slip Knot in Crochet has all the info you need.

To begin, thread your yarn onto your crochet hook and tighten it.

All that's left to do now is attach the loop to the hook. Very soon, you will be able to begin crocheting. Follow this simple three-image procedure.

See How to Slip a Crochet Knot for further information.

Third, GET ON THE CHAIN

If you only learn one stitch, make it this one. This is the first step in any crochet pattern. In crochet patterns, "chain" is frequently abbreviated as "ch" to save space.

It is common to refer to a row of chains (ch) as a "chain row" or a "foundation row" when there is more than one chain in the row.

1. String the yarn onto the hook and start crocheting.
2. Yarn over
3. Slide the loop of yarn through the slider.
4. Crochet additional chains by repeating step 2.

INTRODUCTION TO CROCHET, PART 1: WHERE TO START WITH A VIDEO TUTORIAL

Here are two videos I made showing you how to "make a loop" and "chain." Here, you can learn the specifics of the process.

INSTRUCTIONAL CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS, PART 2: THE SINGLE CROCHET

The "Single Crochet," abbreviated "sc," is the crochet stitch covered in the second installment of the beginners' guide to crochet. In order to make this more manageable, I have broken it down into seven stages:

1. Keeping tally of your "Chains"

Two, insert hook into third chain from hook and next stitch.

3 Turn the yarn over

Fourth, make a loop

Fifth, cross over yarn

(6) Thread yarn through hook's two loops

7 You're all set to start the next single crochet.

Everything you used in Part 1 is required again:

Crochet Hook (Knitpro's Waves Hooks are recommended)

Yarn (you can get yarn at places like Love Crochet, Knit Picks, Wool Warehouse, Annie's, Amazon, Etsy, and so on) )

Similar to before, it doesn't matter what kind of hook or yarn you use, but a large hook and thick yarn will work best.

In a similar vein, check out my links page to learn more about my go-to yarns and crocheting implements.

Relatedly, this article will teach you how to select the appropriate crochet hook and yarn weight.

Get your yarn and hook ready, because we're about to dive into the second half of the beginner's crochet guide.

This is Part 2 of "The Beginner's Guide to Crochet," which consists entirely of photo instructions.

One: You're Just Keeping Score

Learning how to count your crochet chains is a prerequisite for beginning any crochet project. This picture illustrates how to tally your links.

See the article How to Chain Stitch Crochet if you want to learn more.

Second, Master the Art of the Single Crochet

Listed below are the 6 simple steps required to master the Single Crochet stitch. Crochet a single stitch by repeating this pattern once.

1. Make a knot in the end of the yarn and insert the hook into the next stitch or the one that was indicated.
2. Yarn over
3. Tighten a loop
4. Yarn over
5. Snaffle up the hook and thread it through each loop
6. You have just completed a single crochet.

How to Crochet a Single Crochet Stitch will teach you the ropes.

Check out this link for more information on the differences between crochet lingo used in the US and the UK.

CROCHETING FOR BEGINNERS, PART 3: ROW WORK AND SWITCHING DIRECTION

Two fundamentals to crochet's language are presented today.

A. Standing in lines

Turning your project into a Turing machine

I’ve broken this down into 4 simple steps so it’s easier to follow

Part 2 of the Beginner's Guide to Crochet continues from the previous post.

The second step in transforming your project

Beginning a new line

Performing Single Crochet (Sc) along the row 5 more times

To begin, you must have:

A Crochet Hook (we recommend Knitpro's Waves Hooks)

Yarn (available at many craft supply stores, including Love Crochet, Knit Picks, Wool Warehouse, Annie's, Amazon, Etsy, and many more) )

The size and type of yarn or hook used in crocheting today is irrelevant. However, if you're just starting out, the best tools for the job are a large crochet hook and a fairly thick yarn.

For more information on the yarns and crochet hooks I use and recommend, check out the links provided.

Connectedly, here you can find advice on what crochet hooks to use and how much yarn to use.

 

Get some yarn and a hook and let's begin this crochet tutorial for newbies.

Additionally, the complete photo guide worksheet is available for download at the link provided at the bottom of this page.

Part Three: Photographic Instructions for Beginning Crocheters

First, following on from the last entry:

You should have 10 chains in your "chain row" by this point. In the next stitches, you should "Single Crochet" (Sc).

At this point, you are prepared to make significant progress on your project.

The Second Step in Putting Your Project Into Action

This is simple, but it's also an area where newcomers might experience some confusion.
When you turn your project, you will crochet into each of the stitches from the row before.

The position of your hands while holding the crochet hook and yarn will remain consistent. The project is the one that will be moving forward while simultaneously flipping to the left.

ROWING TOGETHER 3. BEGINNING A NEW ROW

To begin a row in most crochet patterns, you will chain one or more stitches. The crochet pattern will typically specify the required number of chains. Using the appropriate number of chains for the height of the crochet stitch you are using will ensure the best possible appearance of the turn. To make a "Single Crochet," you only need one "Chain."

"Chain" one to begin the first row.

4 PROCEED ALONG THE ROW WITH SINGLE CROCHET (sc)

Single crochet along the row continues.

Finally, you'll get back to point 2 and carry on like this.

With this information, you can whip up a colorful square blanket or a "Single Crochet" headband in no time. Read on for some further amusing crocheting

Part 4 of the Beginner's Guide to Crochet Covers Increasing and Decreasing

By the end of this tutorial, you'll know how to add and take away space using single crochet stitches. This is a two-part explanation from me:

Elevate, No. 1, is the correct answer.

Two, lessen

Getting to this point is crucial if you want to be successful with crochet patterns.

THE MOST SIMPLE WAY TO RAISE OR LOWER:

Here, I've resorted to the simplest possible method of increment/decrement to make the task straightforward and trouble-free. I'd rather have you stick it out and learn all the skills than pull out your hair in frustration and give up before you've even begun! You can start crocheting the sweater featured in this tutorial once you've mastered the simple increase and decrease techniques covered here.

CROCHETING FOR BEGINNERS, PART 4: EQUIPMENT

Simply gathering the following items will be sufficient to finish the fourth section of this guide:

First, you'll need a Crochet Hook (we recommend the Waves Hooks by Knitpro).

Supplies: 2. Yarn (available at many craft supply stores, including Love Crochet, Knit Picks, Wool Warehouse, Annie's, Amazon, Etsy, and many more!) )

Get out your crochet needles and some yarn. Parts 1-3 all look great, so I would recommend continuing to use the same hook and yarn. After that, I would go ahead and get the corresponding workbook for this crochet tutorial for newbies. Detailed instructions for a novice crocheter are included. To get the freebie, all you have to do is click the image below:

CROCHETING FOR BEGINNERS 4: A VIDEO TUTORIAL

FACTOR 1. GROWTH

Crocheters commonly work more than one stitch into a single stitch in the row below to work an increase.

An increase of one is achieved if the next row is worked in the same stitch as the previous row.

If you work more than two or three stitches into a single space while following a crochet pattern, you will quickly end up with a round or circular object.

SUMMER SLEEPING SEASON

In crochet, there is a wide variety of methods for decreasing the number of stitches. However, when first learning, skipping a stitch in the previous row is the simplest method.

The decrease can be more or less obvious depending on the yarn and hook size.

Once you've mastered basic stitches and techniques like increases and decreases, you can begin crocheting the Trio sweater featured in this beginner's guide. As stated in the freely accessible tutorial's parts 1-3. It is included in the crochet guidebook that can be downloaded here.

The tutorial continues with instructions on how to put the sweater together and add the final touches.

If you've never attempted to crochet a sweater before, I dare you to begin.

HOW TO FINISH YOUR CROCHET PROJECT (CHAPTER FIVE OF THE BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO CROCHET)

This short and final section of the crochet tutorial series will equip you with the knowledge necessary to complete the crochet sweater you've been working on. Since we first met 4 sessions ago, you've gone from knowing nothing about crochet to having the foundations for a sweater. Amazing

The "Beginners Guide to Crochet" concludes here. It's short and sweet, but it will give you a broad sense of how to complete a crochet project with multiple components. I will also provide some guidance on finishing techniques, such as weaving in ends and maintaining your work. Get going with it

Crocheting Together, Part 5 of the Beginner's Guide to Crochet

Infinite combinations are possible when crocheting with another person. To complete your projects, I suggest crocheting the final seams instead of sewing. In my experience, this is the simplest and quickest solution. It was my recommendation that "Slip Stitches" be used to join the pieces of the sweater crocheted for this blog series and any other sweaters you might like to make from my designs. Among the most fundamental crochet techniques, this is the double crochet stitch.

Once you have all the pieces of your sweater knitted, you will sew them together using the chart. To do this, fold the pieces so that they overlap and lie inside out on top of one another. First, make sure the slip stitches run evenly through both pieces.

Part 5 of a Basic Crochet Tutorial: Weaving in Ends

There is a wide variety of methods for tying off loose threads. Most of the time, you should focus on finding stealthy places to tuck away any loose threads of yarn. Thus, to avoid wasting time weaving in ends, I frequently let the new and old thread trail behind me as I crochet. In this link, you can find a more comprehensive explanation of the weaving-in process.

Shaping Your Projects: A Beginner's Guide to Crochet, Fifth Edition

Care for crocheted items is slightly different from that for store-bought clothing. In most cases, the label of the yarn you used will tell you how to wash your finished garment. Here, I've outlined what the instructions on a ball of yarn look like.

The garment would need to be reshaped after washing. To ensure that I get the desired result, I like to let it dry flat.

WHEN THE TUTORIAL IS COMPLETE, WHAT DO YOU DO NEXT?

I want to say how proud I am of anyone who follows this blog's instructions to make their first crocheted sweater. Congratulations

But where do we go from here?

If you're enjoying this and want to keep crocheting, there are countless options available. There is ONE sweater you should crochet if you want to keep making sweaters. 'The Summer Sweater' I've designed a lot of sweaters, but this one has sold the most.

This is one of the quickest knit sweaters you can make, and it uses a basic crochet stitch that anyone can pick up.

Related: Master the basics of sweater crocheting even if you're just starting out.

Read the posts linked below for more crochet inspiration, and feel free to email me if you have any questions or comments. In addition, I'd be thrilled to see photos of your first sweater and hear from you. Finally, if you're working on a crochet project and need some supplies, check out what I've compiled for you on the crochet resources page.