Note: These tutorials use UK crochet terms for stitches. Where necessary, the US terms for stitches will be given in brackets the first time they’re mentioned, then the UK terms will be used from then on.

Fundamental Crochet Stiches

Once you’ve learned how to cast on and off, you’ll need to know how to make the stitches that will make up the main body of your work. I’ll explain five of these here - the chain stitch, the slip stitch, the double crochet (US single crochet), the half-treble crochet (US half-double crochet) and the treble crochet (US double crochet).

General point:

When pulling yarn through a loop, it will help to turn the hook into the “corner” of the loop. This will allow the hook to glide through smoothly.

How to make a Chain:

This is a nice simple one, but very useful for forming the base of your work. First rows (or sometimes first rounds) of crochet will often be worked into chains.

Just loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through the original loop.

Hands holding a crochet hook with a slip knot and yarn wrapped around it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through a loop to make a chain stitch
A slip knot and chain stitch on a crochet hook

One chain.

Done!

Many chains!

How to make a Slip Stitch:

This special stitch is the shortest crochet stitch in height, but is also often used as a joining stitch, to close a loop or “sew” two pieces together.

Put your hook through the next stitch, loop the yarn over the hook and pull it through both the stitch and the original loop.

Hands working a crochet hook into a stitch of crochet to pull some yarn through it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull some yarn through a stitch of crochet
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through a loop to make a slip stitch
A completed slip stitch with rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Done!

How to make a Double Crochet:

Put your hook through the next stitch, loop the yarn over the hook and pull it through the stitch. You should have two loops on your hook.

Hands working a crochet hook into a stitch of crochet to pull some yarn through it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull some yarn through a stitch of crochet
Two loops of yarn and some rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through both remaining loops.

A crochet hook with some rows of crochet; two loops on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through two loops to make a double crochet stitch
A completed double crochet stitch with rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Done!

How to make a Half Treble Crochet:

Loop the yarn over your hook, then put your hook through the next stitch, loop the yarn over the hook again and pull it through the stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.

Hands holding a crochet hook with some rows of crochet; one loop on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands working a crochet hook into a stitch of crochet to pull some yarn through it
Three loops of yarn and some rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through all three loops.

Hands holding a crochet hook with some rows of crochet; three loops on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through three loops to make a half treble crochet stitch
A completed half treble crochet stitch with rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Done!

How to make a Treble Crochet:

Loop the yarn over your hook, then put your hook through the next stitch, loop the yarn over the hook again and pull it through the stitch. You should have three loops on your hook.

Hands holding a crochet hook with some rows of crochet; one loop on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands working a crochet hook into a stitch of crochet to pull some yarn through it
Three loops of yarn and some rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through ONLY two loops. You should now have two loops on your hook.

Hands holding a crochet hook with some rows of crochet; three loops on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands holding a crochet hook with three loops pulling yarn through two of those loops
Two loops of yarn and some rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Loop the yarn over your hook and pull it through both loops.

Hands holding a crochet hook with some rows of crochet; two loops on the hook with some yarn wrapped around it
Hands using a crochet hook to pull yarn through two loops to make a treble crochet stitch
A completed treble crochet stitch with rows of crochet on a crochet hook

Done!

Now you know how to do these, try learning how to Increase and Decrease, or maybe some next-level stitches.

Need to try something simpler first? Go back to basics and learn how to Cast On and Off.

Got a question? Get in touch at koalamea.crafts@gmail.com.