If you're learning how to crochet, start by breaking everything down into repeatable basic movements. In our guide to crocheting for beginners, we'll go from choosing a hook and yarn to making a foundation chain, practising your first crochet stitches and reading a simple pattern.
Key Takeaways
- Keep your first kit simple: a suitable hook, easy-to-see yarn, and a few basic finishing tools are enough to get started.
- Learn the movements in order: Practice the slip knot and foundation chain before moving on to US double crochet, half treble and treble crochet.
- Check your terminology: US and UK crochet patterns use different names for several of the same stitches, so identify which system a pattern follows before starting.
This guide uses US crochet terminology. A US single crochet (sc) is called UK double crochet (dc), a US half double crochet (hdc) is a UK half treble (htr), and a US double crochet (dc) is a UK treble (tr).⁵ Always check which terminology a pattern uses before you begin.
What You Need to Start Crocheting
Your basic crochet setup can fit into a small project bag. To get started, get the basic, comfortable materials. A hook, yarn, and a few finishing tools are enough for most beginner crochet practice.²
Make your first stitches easy to see. Choose a smooth yarn in a light or medium color and pair it with the hook size recommended on the ball band. Very dark, fluffy or heavily textured yarn can make it harder to identify individual loops while you're learning.
Crochet hooks in the UK are typically sold by metric diameter (4mm, 5mm, etc.) or by hook size (B-1, H-8, etc.), so you can easily match the hook to the recommendation on your yarn.⁸ Start with a practical combination. You can always add other hook sizes when your projects require them.
Essentials
Start with a crochet hook and yarn. Check the yarn band for the recommended hook size, and choose a smooth yarn in a light or medium color so you can see your stitches clearly.
Finishing Tools
Keep a pair of sharp scissors and a yarn needle nearby. You'll use them to cut the yarn, fasten off your work and weave loose ends neatly into your finished project.
Useful Extras
Stitch markers and a tape measure aren't essential for your first few rows, but they quickly become useful. Markers help you keep track of stitches and rounds, while a tape measure helps you check the size of your work.
How Do You Start Crocheting?
To start crocheting, think of it as a sequence. Most projects use the basic core skills, from creating the starting loop to repeating rows of crochet stitches.⁶ Learn the movements individually before connecting them together.
Step 1.
Choose Your Hook and Yarn
Pick a smooth yarn in a light or medium color and check the ball band for a suitable crochet hook size.
Step 2.
Learn How to Hold the Hook and Yarn
Try the pencil and knife grips, then choose whichever feels most comfortable while keeping the yarn moving smoothly through your other hand.
Step 3.
Make a Slip Knot
Create a slip knot and place it on your hook. This forms the adjustable starting loop for your crochet.
Step 4.
Crochet a Foundation Chain
Yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop on your hook. Repeat this movement to create a row of chain stitches.
Step 5.
Work Your First Row
Practice US single crochet, by working stitches into your foundation chain.
Step 6.
Turn and Continue Crocheting
At the end of the row, turn your work and continue practising. Focus on keeping your stitches even and maintaining a consistent stitch count.
Step 7.
Follow a Beginner Pattern
Once the basic movements feel comfortable, learn a few common crochet abbreviations and use them to follow a simple beginner project.
How to Hold the Hook and Yarn
For any crochet project, one hand manoeuvres the hook while the other feeds the yarn. Don't copy another crocheter's hand position if it feels uncomfortable. Instead, find a relaxed setup that lets you form stitches repeatedly without fighting the yarn.³
Two Common Hook Holds
How to Control Yarn Tension
Aim for even tension rather than tight stitches. Your yarn should move smoothly through your fingers, and the hook should pass through each stitch without being forced. If your hands begin to ache or the hook is difficult to insert, try relaxing your grip.
How to Make a Slip Knot and Foundation Chain
A slip knot is the adjustable starting loop on your hook. The foundation chain creates the base for most projects to begin. These are often the first two techniques for beginners to learn in crochet because they introduce the basic yarn-over and pull-through movements.¹ Both are easily undone if you make a mistake, and you can practice several times.
Start with a Slip Knot and Foundation Chain
Begin by making a slip knot and placing the adjustable loop onto your crochet hook.
Hold the working yarn securely but not too tightly, then yarn over and pull the yarn through the loop on your hook.
Each time you repeat this movement, you create another chain stitch.
These stitches form the foundation chain that you can work your first row of crochet into.
The working loop on your hook is not a completed chain stitch. When counting your foundation chain, count the V-shaped chains below the hook instead. Keeping track from the beginning makes it much easier to start your first row with the correct number of stitches.
The First Basic Crochet Stitches
Once you've made a foundation chain, you can start turning individual loops into fabric. Three stitches'll let you create progressively taller structures while using the same basic actions: inserting the hook, wrapping the yarn, and pulling it through the loops.³ We've used US terminology first, but we've also included the UK equivalent as patterns and tutorials from around the world may use them.
Start by practicing US single crochet, known as double crochet in UK terminology. It has fewer yarn-over movements than half-treble or treble crochet, making it a straightforward stitch for practicing hook placement, counting stitches, and keeping your tension consistent.
| US equivalent | US abbreviation | UK equivalent | UK abbreviation | Relative height | How it is worked |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single crochet | (sc) | Double crochet | dc | Short | Insert the hook, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over again and pull through both loops. |
| Half double crochet | (hdc) | Half treble crochet | htr | Medium | Yarn over, insert the hook, pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through all three loops. |
| Double crochet | (dc) | Treble crochet | tr | Tall | Yarn over, insert the hook and pull up a loop, then yarn over and pull through two loops twice. |
Three Basic Crochet Stitches to Practice
Start with single crochet (sc), the US term for what UK patterns call double crochet (dc). It creates a relatively short, firm stitch. It is a useful place to begin practicing even tension and accurate hook placement.
Next, try half treble crochet (htr), which adds an extra yarn-over movement and creates a slightly taller stitch. Once that feels comfortable, move on to double crochet (dc), which is taller again and is known as trebet crochet in UK terminology.
Learning these three stitches gives you a strong foundation for following a wide range of beginner crochet patterns.
Single Crochet (US) or Double Crochet (UK)
Half Double Crochet (US) or Half Treble Crochet (UK)
Double Crochet (US) or Treble Crochet (UK)
How to Read a Basic Crochet Pattern
Just like with knitting, in crochet, you can get patterns. Patterns are basically shortened instructions. They tell you which stitches to make, where to place them and how often to repeat them. They often use abbreviations, so it's worthwhile learning the common crochet terms used in beginner patterns.⁴
| US Abbreviation | US Meaning |
|---|---|
| ch | Chain |
| ch-sp | Chain space |
| sc | Single crochet |
| hdc | Half double crochet |
| dc | Double crochet |
| sl st | Slip stitch |
| st / sts | Stitch / stitches |
| rep | Repeat |
| rnd | Round |
| yo | Yarn over |
What would you like to crochet first?
References
- Gelder, Claire. “How to Crochet for Beginners UK | Easy Step-by-Step Guide.” Wool Couture, 17 Mar. 2026, https://www.woolcouturecompany.com/blogs/knitting/how-to-crochet-for-beginners-uk-easy-step-by-step-guide. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- Hobbycraft. “Get Started in Crochet.” Hobbycraft, https://www.hobbycraft.co.uk/ideas/get-started-in-crochet.html. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- LoveCrafts. “How to Crochet for Beginners.” LoveCrafts, https://www.lovecrafts.com/en-gb/c/article/how-to-crochet. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- Skuse, Becky. “How to Read Crochet Patterns!” Simply Yarn, 15 May 2023, https://simply-yarn.com/guides/how-to-crochet/how-to-read-a-crochet-pattern. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- Spiers, Matt. “Crochet Abbreviations and UK to US Crochet Terms.” Simply Yarn, 10 Nov. 2025, https://simply-yarn.com/guides/how-to-crochet/simply-crochet-abbreviations-and-conversions. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- Spiers, Matt. “How to Crochet for Beginners Guide.” Simply Yarn, 11 Mar. 2025, https://simply-yarn.com/guides/how-to-crochet/crochet-for-beginners-guide. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- TOFT. “TOFT Patterns FAQ.” TOFT, https://www.toftuk.com/Article_Pages_toftpatterns.aspx. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
- Woolly Worker. “UK or US Crochet Terms, So What’s This All About?” The Craft Room, Wool Warehouse, 10 July 2024, https://blog.woolwarehouse.co.uk/2024/07/10/uk-or-us-crochet-terms-so-whats-this-all-about/. Accessed 31 Aug. 2026.
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