Crochet Stitches, Simplified: Free Stitch Guide for Beginners

Learning a few crochet stitches is the quickest way to make your projects look beautiful. This free guide starts with the basic stitches every beginner needs, then teaches 13 stitches step by step, from simple seed and shell stitch to cables, popcorns and Tunisian crochet.

Each stitch below has short written steps and photos. The free printable PDF has the full tutorials with all the step photos, plus 10 patterns to put your new stitches to work.

The basic stitches

Almost every crochet stitch is built from these five. This guide uses US terms.

Chain (ch)

1. Make a slip knot and put it on the hook.
2. Wrap the yarn over the hook from back to front: this is a yarn over.
3. Pull the yarn through the loop on the hook. That is one chain.
4. Repeat for as many chains as you need. When you count, do not count the loop on the hook.

Slip stitch (sl st)

1. Insert the hook in the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull the yarn through the stitch and the loop on the hook in one go.

Slip stitches add no height. Use them to join rounds and to move along a row.

Single crochet (sc)

1. Insert the hook in the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop: 2 loops on the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull through both loops.

Half double crochet (hdc)

1. Yarn over, then insert the hook in the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop: 3 loops on the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops.

Double crochet (dc)

1. Yarn over, then insert the hook in the next stitch.
2. Yarn over and pull up a loop: 3 loops on the hook.
3. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops: 2 loops left.
4. Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.

The stitch library

Picot stitch

A little loop used as a pretty edging on blankets, sleeves and hems.

1. Work along the edge of a finished piece, or along a chain or a row of sc.
2. Sc in the first stitch, ch 3, sc in the next stitch: that is the first picot.
3. Then repeat across: sc in the next 3 stitches, ch 3, sc in the next stitch.
4. Medium picot: work the same with ch 5. For an edge that flares a little, make sc, ch 5, sc all in the same stitch.
5. Bauble picot: ch 7 instead of ch 3, sl st in the 6th ch from the hook, sl st in the last ch, then sc in the next 3 stitches.

Seed stitch

Single and double crochet side by side, for a firm, bumpy fabric that looks like knitted seed stitch.

1. Start with a chain. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook.
2. Then repeat across: dc in the next stitch, sc in the next stitch.
3. Turn. If the row ended with a dc, sc in the first stitch. If it ended with a sc, sl st in the first stitch and ch 2 (it takes the place of the first dc), then sc in the next stitch.
4. Keep alternating across: always a sc in a dc and a dc in a sc of the row below.

Crochet in the round

Circles and tubes, for hats, coasters and amigurumi.

1. Ch 5 and sl st to the first chain to make a ring.
2. Ch 2, then make 10 dc in the ring.
3. Sl st in the top of the ch 2 to join the round.
4. Ch 2 to start the next round. Turn to work back the other way, or keep going in a spiral without turning.
5. Work the stitches for the round. Most rounds add stitches, so the circle stays flat.
6. Join each round in the right stitch: the hook should pass under two strands of yarn at the top of the ch 2. Joining in the wrong stitch is the most common mistake in the round.

Basketweave stitch

Also called waffle stitch: blocks of front and back post double crochet, for a thick texture that looks woven.

1. Ch 22. Dc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in each ch across.
2. Ch 2 and turn: it takes the place of the first stitch. Work 3 front post dc: yarn over, insert the hook from the front around the post of the next dc below, and finish the dc.
3. Work 4 back post dc: the same, but insert the hook from the back around the post.
4. Keep alternating 4 front post and 4 back post dc to the end of the row. Ch 2 and turn.
5. Start each row with the same kind of post stitch as the last 4 stitches of the row before.

Cable stitch

Crossed double crochet stitches that look like a knitted cable. Each cable uses 4 stitches.

1. Ch a multiple of 4, plus 3: for 4 cables, ch 19. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across.
2. Ch 3 and turn.
3. Skip the next stitch and dc in each of the next 3 stitches.
4. Insert the hook from front to back in the stitch you skipped, pull up a long, loose loop to the top of the last dc and finish the dc. This crosses the cable.
5. Repeat the last 2 steps across, and end the row with a dc in the last stitch.
6. Ch 1, turn and sc in each stitch across. Repeat these 2 rows.

Checkerboard stitch

Blocks of double crochet and chain spaces, for a light, open grid. One square makes a dishcloth, and several squares make a blanket.

1. Start with a chain. Dc in the 3rd ch from the hook and in the next ch.
2. Then repeat across: ch 3, skip the next 3 stitches, dc in each of the next 3 stitches. End with a dc in the last stitch.
3. Ch 3 and turn: it takes the place of the first dc. Make 2 dc in the ch 3 space below.
4. Then repeat across: ch 3, make 3 dc in the next ch 3 space.

Crazy shell stitch

Little fans of double crochet that all lean the same way, for a lacy, textured fabric.

1. Ch a multiple of 4, such as 16, 20 or 24. Make 3 dc in the 4th ch from the hook, skip the next 3 ch and sc in the next ch.
2. Then repeat across: ch 3, make 3 dc in the same stitch as the sc, skip the next 3 ch, sc in the next ch. End with a sc.
3. Row 2: ch 3 and turn. Make 3 dc in the sc below, the same stitch as the ch 3, then sc in the next ch 3 space.
4. Then repeat across: ch 3, make 3 dc in the same ch 3 space, sc in the next ch 3 space.
5. Repeat row 2.

Popcorn stitch

Round bobbles of double crochet that pop out of the fabric.

1. Ch a multiple of 4 plus 3, such as 15, 19 or 23. Sc in the 2nd ch from the hook and in each ch across.
2. Ch 1, turn and sc in the next 2 stitches.
3. Popcorn: make 5 dc in the next stitch, keeping the last loop of each dc on the hook. Yarn over and pull through all 6 loops.
4. Sc in the next 3 stitches. Repeat the popcorn and 3 sc across.
5. Ch 1, turn and sc in each stitch across, with the sc for each popcorn in its center stitch.
6. Repeat the last 3 steps, starting each popcorn row with ch 1 and 2 sc.

Shell stitch

Five double crochet in one stitch make a shell: the classic stitch for blankets and edgings.

1. Start with a chain. Make 5 dc in the 3rd ch from the hook.
2. Then repeat across: skip the next 3 stitches and make 5 dc in the next stitch.
3. At the end of the row, turn, sl st in the first 3 stitches, ch 2 and make 4 dc in the same stitch. Then repeat across: skip 3, make 5 dc in the next stitch.
4. Repeat the last step for every row.

Treble crochet (tr)

A tall stitch, one step taller than double crochet.

1. To start a row, ch 3. In this guide the ch 3 counts as the first treble, so work the next treble in the 2nd stitch.
2. Yarn over twice: 3 loops on the hook.
3. Insert the hook in the next stitch, yarn over and pull through the stitch: 4 loops.
4. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops: 3 loops left.
5. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops: 2 loops left.
6. Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops.
7. At the end of the row, ch 3 and turn.

Magic circle

A way to start a round that pulls closed with no hole in the middle, for hats and amigurumi. A ring of chains leaves a small hole; the magic circle does not.

1. Make a loop with the yarn.
2. Insert the hook in the loop, pick up the yarn and pull it through.
3. Yarn over and pull through the loop on the hook to make a chain.
4. Work sc into the big loop, as many as your pattern says.
5. Pull the yarn end to close the hole, then carry on with your pattern.

Reverse single crochet

Also called crab stitch: single crochet worked backwards along the row, for a firm, twisted edge on blankets and placemats.

1. After a row of sc, do not turn.
2. Insert the hook in the stitch before the last one you made.
3. Yarn over and pull through the stitch, then yarn over and pull through both loops.
4. Insert the hook in the next stitch back along the row and repeat to the end.

Tunisian crochet

Also called the afghan stitch: the loops stay on the hook and are then worked off again, for a dense fabric that looks woven. With an ordinary hook it suits small pieces like headbands and belts; a long Tunisian hook allows wider pieces.

1. Chain as many stitches as you need.
2. Forward: work back along the chain, pulling up a loop in each chain and keeping it on the hook. A chain of 13 gives 12 loops.
3. Return: do not turn. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops, and repeat until 1 loop is left.
4. Next forward pass: insert the hook through each upright stitch, pull up a loop and keep it on the hook. Count the loops, because the last stitch is easy to miss.
5. Repeat the forward and return passes.

Inside the PDF

The free PDF has every tutorial with all its step photos, plus 10 patterns to make with your new stitches:

• Beginner Granny Afghan: a colorful granny blanket with flowers
• Blush Rose Afghan: an intermediate blanket, 127 by 160 cm (50 by 63 in)
• Soft Bobble Afghan: bobbles in soft bouclé yarn, finished with tassels
• Squares Throw: an easy throw of bright squares
• Broomstick Lace Shawl: a triangle shawl with a floral motif border
• Daisy Bag and Poncho: a bright spring set with flower motifs
• Elegant Sport Shawl: an easy shell stitch shawl
• Tiny Crochet Cat: a little amigurumi cat
• Princess and Frog: a toy pair for acting out the fairy tale
• Year of the Tiger: a cute amigurumi tiger in cotton

Questions

How many basic crochet stitches are there?

There are five basic stitches: chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet, with treble crochet as the next, taller step. Almost every other stitch, like the shell, popcorn or seed stitch, combines these.

What is the easiest crochet stitch?

The chain is the first stitch everyone learns, and single crochet is the easiest way to make a fabric. For a first texture, try seed stitch: it only alternates single and double crochet.

Which stitches should I learn first?

Start with the chain, single crochet and double crochet, then the magic circle and crochet in the round if you want to make amigurumi. After that, try seed, shell and checkerboard stitch, and save cable, popcorn and Tunisian crochet for when you feel confident.

What is the difference between US and UK terms?

The same stitches have different names. US single crochet is UK double crochet, US half double is UK half treble, and US double crochet is UK treble. This guide uses US terms.

Can I sell what I make?

Yes. You are welcome to sell the finished items you make from this guide, and a credit to Crochet Simplified with a link to crochetsimplified.com is appreciated. Please do not share, copy or sell the guide itself.

Is there a printable version?

Yes. The free PDF has all 13 tutorials with their step photos and the 10 patterns. Download it, open it on your phone or print the pages you need.

Using this guide

This guide is for your personal use. You may not copy, share, translate, resell or publish this guide or its photos, in print or online, in whole or in part, free or paid.