How To Crochet For Beginners: Free Step-by-Step Guide

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Stitch	Turning chain	Counts as stitch?
UK Double Crochet / US Single Crochet	Chain one	No
UK Half Treble Crochet / US Half Double Crochet	Chain two	Yes
UK Treble Crochet / US Double Crochet	Chain three	Yes

Where to place your first stitch

Let’s look at where you’re going to place your first stitch. As mentioned in the above section, your turning chain may, or may not count as a stitch (depending on the pattern instructions). Here’s where you can work in each situation. 

If the turning chain does not count as a stitch, you will place your first stitch in the ‘first stitch’. If it does count as a stitch, you will place your first stitch in the ‘next stitch’.

Step 7: Working row 2

Continue across this row working one UK Double Crochet (US Single Crochet) in each stitch. You will be starting in the first stitch.

Counting your stitches

Once you’re at the end of your row, it’s a good idea to count your stitches to ensure you have the same amount as row 1. You can do this by tilting your work towards you and finding the V’s.

Building your work

You can now continue to build your rows as in row 2 until you reach your desired height. You can then cut your yarn and secure (known as fasten off)

Step 8: How to fasten off

We can now go ahead and finish off your swatch, this is know as fastening off.

1. Chain 1.
2. Snip your yarn leaving a good tail end (this will help when sewing in your end).
3. Pull yarn through loop and remove hook.
4. Pull tight to secure.

Step 9: Sew in ends

The final step is to sew in a tail ends (or loose ends as some may call it). I like to use my ‘rule of 3’ method. This means were going to work back, forth and back again to ensure the tail end is full secure.

1. Thread up darning needle.
2. Weave needle in and out of stitches/fibres in one direction around 2-3 inches.
3. Weave back the opposite way catching different fibres.
4. Weave back once more catching different fibres.
5. Snip the remaining yarn.

Video tutorial (UK Double Crochet, US Single Crochet)

More Stitches

UK Half Treble Crochet Stitch (htr) | US Half Double Crochet Stitch (hdc)

1. Yarn over hook.
2. Insert your hook into the chain or stitch. 
3. Yarn over and pull through stitch (you will have three loops on the hook).
4. Yarn over and pull through all three loops on the hook.
5. Stitch completed.

Video tutorial (UK Half treble Crochet / US Hand Double Crochet)

Take a look at the videos below for the demonstration. Please make sure you are using the correct video i.e left or right handed.

UK Treble Crochet Stitch (tr) | US Double Crochet Stitch (dc)

1. Yarn over hook.
2. Insert your hook into the chain or stitch.
3. Yarn over hook.
4. Pull through stitch (you will have three loops on the hook) 
5. Yarn over hook.
6. Pull through two loops (you will have two loops on your hook) 
7. Yarn over hook.
8. Pull the yarn through both of the remaining loops on the hook.

Video tutorial (UK Treble Crochet / US Double Crochet)

Take a look at the videos below for the demonstration. Please make sure you are using the correct video i.e left or right handed.

UK Double Treble Crochet Stitch (dtr) | US Treble Crochet Stitch (tr)

1. Yarn over TWICE and insert your hook into the chain or stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through stitch (you will have four loops on the hook)
3. Yarn over and pull through two loops on the hook (you will have three loops on the hook)
4. Yarn over and pull through two loops on the hook (you will have two loops on the hook)
5. Yarn over and pull through the remaining two loops on the hook.

Take a look at the videos below for the demonstration. Please make sure you are using the correct video i.e left or right handed.

UK Slip Stitch (ss) | US Slip Stitch (sl st)

1. Insert your hook into the chain or stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull through stitch and loop on the hook.

Eager for more?

I’m proud to bring you my first book ‘You Can Crochet With Bella Coco’ which is a guide to crocheting and perfect for having in your crochet kit! Check it out here!

Ready for more techniques?

Here’s some more beginner crochet tutorials that you may find useful!

• Magic ring/Magic circle
• Tips for straight edges
• Tips for tension
• How to change colours in crochet

Ready for some stitch combinations?

Ate you ready for some more complex stitch patterns?

• Granny Stripe
• Granny Square
• Ripple Stitch
• Moss Stitch
• Block Stitch

Explore more in our Stitch library

Ready for a project?

Why not try a classic granny square? Or if you’re feeling a little more adventurous, you could try the Crochet Heart Coaster! Granny squares are great for making a multiple of projects by doing them together, there are some great joining methods available such as the Slip Stitch Join or something a little bit more decorative like the Zig Zag Slip Stitch join.

Now what?

Make sure you join us in our Facebook Group where you can get help and advice from other crocheters.

Subscribe to my YouTube channel to stay up to day with my latest tutorials and tag me on Instagram @bellacococrochet so I can see your progress!

How to crochet for beginners

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Total Time: 1 hour

Learn how to crochet step by step with this complete guide to crochet.

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Materials

• - Yarn
• - Hook

Tools

• - Scissors
• - Darning needle

Instructions

1. Create a slip knot

2. Hold you hook in your dominant hand and your yarn with your non dominant hand

3. Begin by chaining 11 (yarn over and pull though loop)

4. Row 1: Dc in the second ch from hook (missed ch does not count as a stitch) and dc across. You will have 10 stitches. Turn your work.

5. Chain 1 (does not count as a stitch)

6. Dc in first stitch and each stitch across

7. Repeat steps 5 & 6 until you get to your desired size.

8. Fasten off yarn and sew in ends.

Notes

You can find full step by step instructions including photos and videos in the post above.

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