You’ve bought your yarn, maybe something turquoise and soft. And you chose the hook for a basic scarf or wash cloth project. Now it’s time to master these most basic stitches of crochet. Read on.

Basic Stitches of Crochet

The first set of stitches you’ll need to learn are a Slip Knot, Chain stitch (ch), and the Single Crochet stitch (sc). There is also turning your yarn as you complete each row. You will usually chain one extra chain stitch to compensate for turning and the “bend” in your work. Sometimes you will chain more at the end before you turn depending on the project.

Watch this video done by Naztazia, a YouTube crochet master. She goes through the slip knot, chain stitch, turning, and a single crochet. Her video is the best one I’ve seen out there, complete and thorough.

How to Crochet

The next set of stitches to learn are Half Double Crochet stitch (hdc), Double Crochet stitch (dc), and Triple Crochet stitch (tc or tr). It’s good to learn all these stitches, but I have to say the one I use the most is a double crochet. I find projects go a little faster if you use double crochet stitches over single crochet stitches. And the double crochet stitch looks like a lot as you first learn, but I promise, you’ll get the hang of it fast and your fingers won’t be able to catch up with your brain!

As you turn your yarn with a double crochet stitch, you’ll actually chain stitch 3 extra chain stitches, turn, and then skip those 3 chains, starting to crochet in the 4th loop. Your 3 extra chain stitches become your “first” double crochet. It sounds confusing, but see the below video.

Again, watch Naztazia’s part 2 in her basic video series. You’ll learn the half double crochet, double crochet, turning your yarn, and the triple crochet.

Basic How-to Crochet

There is also a Slip Stitch (sl or st) to learn when doing a circle or joining stitches in most granny squares. You don’t yarn over at all, you simply slip your hook through the chain you wish to adjoin to and pull yarn all the way through. See this video below for a slip stitch.

If  you can master these stitches above, you’re on your way to a whole new world of crochet! I’m betting it will become your obsession too!