Learn How to Crochet.
How to make a chain and single crochet
Have you been searching the internet and don't know where to start, so many blogs and videos. Now you are here and would like to help you learn the art of crocheting. I want to make this as easy as I can, so this blog will show you step by step how to get started, even if you have never tried crocheting before, by the end of this blog you will have learned the basics to crocheting, so you can get started showing your creativeness.
First lets talk about the tools you will need to start. There is a mass variety of crochet hooks and yarn out there that you can get from the store or offline. Other blogs talk about finding the right hook or the right type of yarn to use for beginners. In my opinion this is not true, all you need is a hook and yarn regardless brand, type or cost. You can get you a beginners kit HERE, it has a book with some easy patterns, a few common hook sizes, and a few little accessories that will be helpful. Now the yarn you don't need much to get started and practice with, If you know someone that crochets ask them if you can get some scrap yarn from them to learn with. This will save you some money on buying a skein of yarn just to practice with.
Now that you know what you need. LETS GET STARTED!!!!!
Skip - Sk
Single Crochet - Sc
Yarn Over - Yo
First lets talk about the tools you will need to start. There is a mass variety of crochet hooks and yarn out there that you can get from the store or offline. Other blogs talk about finding the right hook or the right type of yarn to use for beginners. In my opinion this is not true, all you need is a hook and yarn regardless brand, type or cost. You can get you a beginners kit HERE, it has a book with some easy patterns, a few common hook sizes, and a few little accessories that will be helpful. Now the yarn you don't need much to get started and practice with, If you know someone that crochets ask them if you can get some scrap yarn from them to learn with. This will save you some money on buying a skein of yarn just to practice with.
Now that you know what you need. LETS GET STARTED!!!!!
Abbreviations US Terminology
Used in this blog.
Hook - Hk
Chain - Ch
Slip Stitch - Sl StSkip - Sk
Single Crochet - Sc
Yarn Over - Yo
Step 1: How to make a slip knot
You will use a slip knot to start your projects. Take the end of the yarn and pull it our of the skein, take the non working end ( the tail ) hold between your thumb and pointer finger. Wrapping the working end ( the end going to the skein ) and wrap it around your finger to making a loop. As shown in picture below..
Now holding your thumb and pointer finger where the yarn crosses, pull the loop off your finger and tuck the yarn into the loop from the back. You will see in picture below.
Now pass the working behind the loop and you will have a pretzel shape, push the working end through the loop.
Now holding the loop firmly pulling the tail, you will pull the knot snug. You do not want to make it to tight or your loop can't move easily when you pull on the working end of the yarn. This is the beginning loop that you will use to start your projects. is what you want to have if you done this step correctly. Shown in the photo below.
Now bring your hook and working end placing it behind your pointer and middle finger. Your pointer will be the finger you'll use to control your tension.
Now you are ready to make your first chain, you'll want to hold your tail with your thumb and middle finger. You want your hook to move easily in the loop. To make your first chain you want to yarn over catching your yarn with your hook.
While pulling the yarn through the loop, rotate your hook downward so the hook will pass through the loop. This will be one chain you will want to continue this process until you reach the desired chain count.
One thing to remember while you are working your chain you will want to count how many you made. The longer the chain you can use stitch markers to mark your count, but if count as you go so you won't have to come back and count your chains after you make them. It gets hard after making 200 chains and going back to count them . Each pattern will start out with chain (ch) so many chains first. Then go into row 1.
Now that you got how to start you will need a stitch to use so you can build your work from a chain.
In the figure 4 below the arrow shows you where you want to put your hook through, this will be the bottom bar of the chain, next you will yarn over (yo) like you did making your chain, and taking all the same steps as you did to pull the yarn through to pull up a loop (lp). At this point you will stop and if done correctly you should have two loops on your hook like the third image of figure 4 shows. Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook leaving you with only one lop oh hook. Continue in this manner until you have worked all of your chains you made. Picture 5 in figure 4 shows you what you should end up with.
When turning your work to add another row and you can add as may as you like be creative. You will chain 1, turn and work one single across the top of previous row, until the end making sure you place last single or stitch of that row into your turning chain. This can be hard to get a stitch in there but without doing this your work will not be straight up the side.
Keep track of your stitches by counting them every few rows or every row, doing this will insure that you keep the same number of stitches as your first row. Unless the pattern tells you to decrease you will have the same number as the first row every time.
Okay just to recap how to work a single crochet stitch (sc)
Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope this helps you in starting your journey. Have fun, and be creative.
Now pass the working behind the loop and you will have a pretzel shape, push the working end through the loop.
The picture below is what you want to have.
Step 2: Making a Chain (ch)
Now that you have a slipknot you can now make a chain. You will need to take your hook in your dominate hand and hold your working end with your other hand. In the following photos I will show you how I hold my yarn. It's not the way but it's a way.
In the next photo you will see that I put the yarn between my ring and pinkie finger. If you decide to hold your yarn like I do, then you'll need to practice this palm up. Once you have it down pact then you'll be able to do it while holding your hook.
Once I have the yarn between my ring and pinkie finger, I will take the working end and place it behind my pinkie and will bring it over my ring finger.In the next photo you will see that I put the yarn between my ring and pinkie finger. If you decide to hold your yarn like I do, then you'll need to practice this palm up. Once you have it down pact then you'll be able to do it while holding your hook.
Now bring your hook and working end placing it behind your pointer and middle finger. Your pointer will be the finger you'll use to control your tension.
Now you are ready to make your first chain, you'll want to hold your tail with your thumb and middle finger. You want your hook to move easily in the loop. To make your first chain you want to yarn over catching your yarn with your hook.
While pulling the yarn through the loop, rotate your hook downward so the hook will pass through the loop. This will be one chain you will want to continue this process until you reach the desired chain count.
I only made a chain of five just for this demonstration, crochet patterns will start out telling you to chain x amount of chains before starting.
If you look between my thumbs you will see one chain. This is where you'll place the stitches of the first row at.
One thing to remember while you are working your chain you will want to count how many you made. The longer the chain you can use stitch markers to mark your count, but if count as you go so you won't have to come back and count your chains after you make them. It gets hard after making 200 chains and going back to count them . Each pattern will start out with chain (ch) so many chains first. Then go into row 1.
Now that you got how to start you will need a stitch to use so you can build your work from a chain.
How to work a Single Crochet (SC)
Note: You will skip (sk) first chain from hook and work in the second chain from hook. This skipped chain in some patterns will count as first stitch, unless stated that it don't. Example if you want your project to be 10 stitches wide and worked in all singles you will ch 11 and work your first single stitch in second ch from hook
The single stitch is simple and easy to learn. You can work up some very nice looking projects with just this stitch, and use in the right combination with other stitches you can make very elaborate pieces. Here is how you will start your first row with single crochet.In the figure 4 below the arrow shows you where you want to put your hook through, this will be the bottom bar of the chain, next you will yarn over (yo) like you did making your chain, and taking all the same steps as you did to pull the yarn through to pull up a loop (lp). At this point you will stop and if done correctly you should have two loops on your hook like the third image of figure 4 shows. Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook leaving you with only one lop oh hook. Continue in this manner until you have worked all of your chains you made. Picture 5 in figure 4 shows you what you should end up with.
When turning your work to add another row and you can add as may as you like be creative. You will chain 1, turn and work one single across the top of previous row, until the end making sure you place last single or stitch of that row into your turning chain. This can be hard to get a stitch in there but without doing this your work will not be straight up the side.
Keep track of your stitches by counting them every few rows or every row, doing this will insure that you keep the same number of stitches as your first row. Unless the pattern tells you to decrease you will have the same number as the first row every time.
Okay just to recap how to work a single crochet stitch (sc)
- Place hook through from front to back of the stitch
- Yarn over and pull up loop, so you have 2 loops on your hook
- Yarn over and pull through both loops on hook leaving only one loop on hook