What if I've never touched a crochet hook before?

I recognize that many of you visiting my site have either never heard of crochet or have heard of it, but never done it. So I’ve put together this crash course to help you through the basics and get you off and running on your first project. Heads up; this will be a very long post, but I’ve put a list of contents here to better help you navigate the sections, as well as links to videos where I talk through the information I have provided here. If you have any questions on any of these topics (and others you stumble upon), don’t hesitate to reach out to me. I’m happy to help in any way that I can. :)

• What supplies do I need?

• Ok, I’ve got my supplies. Now what?

• What stitches should beginners learn?

• How do I finish my project?

What supplies do I need?

Every crocheter has their favorite type of yarn and hook size, dependent on the types of projects they do the most. As you become more experienced, and try out new projects, you will start to develop your own favorites. But today, I’m going to start you with the basics.

Yarn: Lily Sugar ‘n Cream, Premier Home Cotton, or Bernat Handicrafter Cotton (Choose 1)

I’m starting you off with some good ol’ cotton yarn. Cotton comes in a bunch of colors and can be used to make almost anything (e.g. bags, hats, potholders). It’s also machine washable / dryable, and you don’t have to worry about allergies like you do with wool and other fibers. For this crash course, you will need one ball of cotton yarn, any color you want - although I suggest something at the lighter end of the spectrum. I’ve listed a few brands above, at least one of which should be carried by your local craft store (i.e. Michael’s or JoAnn’s).

Hook: I/9 - 5.5mm

From what I’ve seen, the I/9 is the most popular size hook for crochet patterns, and it really is in the butter zone for beginners. As you practice more, and become more aware of your own crochet style and tension, you might find that you prefer to size down to the H hook (if you’re a loose crocheter) or size up to the J hook (if your stitches tend to be a little tighter). But we’ll discuss tension in a later post. For now, let’s stick with the I hook.

Scissors: whatever you prefer

It doesn’t really matter what kind of scissors you use, as long as they’re sharp. When you go to finish off your project, you want to make sure you have a clean cut on your yarn so it will be easier to weave in and hide the end.

Darning needle: plastic or metal (either works)

Darning needles are different from sewing needles in that they are larger and have a bigger hole for the yarn to fit through. I have a tendency to use metal because they’re a bit sturdier, but plastic works just as well. We will use the darning needle to weave in all of the yarn tails at the end of our project.

And that’s it! You can easily get all of these for under $10, and craft stores always have sales and great coupons. Now run to the craft store, pick up your supplies, and meet me back here for the next part of the lesson.

Ok, I’ve got my supplies. Now what?

Grab a comfy spot and let's get down to business. Let's take a look at your hook first. Take it out of the the packaging and hold it in your hands. This is your best friend, your tool to create. Play around with how you want to hold it - what feels comfortable to you. Many people hold theirs like a pencil. Others (like me) hold it like a steak knife. There are tons of options and no correct way to hold it, so do whatever feels best for you. And don't feel like you have to get married to one of those options. If you're working along and think another position feels better, then go for it! This is totally up to your personal comfort.

Now get your yarn. Ignore the label for now, I'll cover that in another post. Let's get straight to the fun. No matter which brand of yarn you got, all balls of yarn are spun relatively the same way. There is a loose end on the outside and one in the very center of the ball. You can choose which end you want to use. I personally like pulling from the center, so to get that end out of the middle of the ball, you stick your fingers in the end until you feel them in the middle. Then, grab a strand of yarn and pull it out one of the ends. If you’re lucky, you’ve got the end in your fingers. If not, you just keep pulling. And if you pull out the whole center of the ball, don’t worry. You’ll use it up anyway. Just pull the strand of yarn through your hands until you’ve got the end.

What stitches should a beginner learn?

Now before we go crazy with the patterns, we’re going to do a little bit of finger crochet and a practice swatch, so you can learn the two most basic stitches in crochet, and have an opportunity to practice them in an organized way. At this point, I’m going to direct you to the videos I’ve filmed for walkthrough and demonstrations, but I’ll provide a little cheat sheet below in case you need a refresher.

Slip knot: Okay, so this isn’t actually a stitch, but this is how you attach you yarn to your hook. Just wrap around your fingers and pull the long tail through the loop, pull tight, and stick it on your hook. You’ve got your slip knot.

Chain: This is how you will start most of your crochet projects. Hold the hook with the slip knot in your dominant hand (for me, that’s the right hand) and the yarn in the other hand. Use your hand to put the yarn over the hook from back to front (towards you) and pull it through the loop already on the hook. Do this for as many chains as the patterns indicates. Count your chains by counting the little v’s. NEVER count the loop that is on your hook.

Single Crochet: Insert your hook into the second chain from the hook. Yarn over the hook and pull up a loop through the chain. You should have 2 loops on the hook now. Yarn over and pull through both loops on the hook. You should be left with one loop. Insert your hook into the next chain and repeat. Single crochet in each chain across. At the end of the row, chain 1 before turning your work, then single crochet in each stitch across.

Double Crochet: Chain 3 (to get to the correct height) and turn your work. The last stitch from the previous row counts as worked because of the chain 3. Yarn over the hook and insert the hook into the second stitch. Draw up a loop. There should be 3 loops on the hook. Yarn over, pull through two loops. Yarn over and pull through the next two loops. You should be left with one loop on the hook. Yarn over the hook and insert into the next stitch. Repeat to the end of the row. Chain 3, then turn to do another double crochet row. Bonus tip: If you are doing double crochets into the foundation chain, start in the fourth chain from the hook to keep your project from warping.

How do I finish my project?

Properly finishing a project involves knotting off the yarn, snipping the yarn, and weaving in the end. To knot off your project, make 2 chains and cut your yarn about six inches from your project. Pull the cut end through the last chain and pull tightly to make a knot. To weave in your ends, grab your darning needle and weave it back and forth through the last few stitches of the last row you crocheted (see video). Make sure your weaving isn’t showing too obviously on the front of your work, and don’t pull too tight so it doesn’t scrunch up your work. When you’re satisfied, carefully snip the excess yarn close to your work. Remember to weave in the tail at the start of your project as well (where the slip knot is). You are now finished.