Today I’ll be showing you how to get started with Crocheting. You’ll learn the what tools you need as well as three basic stitches that will get you started creating! More instructions on different stitches coming up in future blog entries, but these will enable you to make a lot of things to get some practice.

Supplies Checklist:

• Crochet Hook – Sizes vary based on the size of the gaps you want, however a standard 1/9-5.50MM needle will work well. Another good needle is the N-9.00MM
• Yarn – The choices are limitless, but for this tutorial I will be using a very basic black yarn.

Part 1: Making a Slip Knot

• When starting off any crochet project, you’ll need to make a slip knot. First hold your crochet hook in your hand like you would a pencil.
• Leave about a 4″ tail and flip the tail over the yarn coming off of the yarn ball.
• Flip the tail under the loop that was created so that it is going down the center of the loop from behind.
• Pull the tail slightly through the loop.
• Place your hook into the new top look created (the smaller of the two loops).
• Pull the loop tightly around the hook and this is your slip knot, ready to create your first chain stitch.

Part 2: Creating the Starting Chain

• Once you have your slip knot created and on your hook, you need to create the starting chain, which will be the sae in any crochet project. This gives you something to work from on the first row.
• Yarn hooked over the crochet hook.
• Hook the yarn and pull through the loop on the crochet hook.
• You should now just have one loop on the crochet hook.
• Repeat this, counting along the way until you’ve created the starting chain long enough for the project you’re working on.
• Once you’ve created the chain long enough, flip around so that you are now working from the right to the left again.

Part 3: Single Stitch

• Now that you have your starting chain created, flip the row around so that you are working from the right to the left for the first row.
• Insert the hook into the second loop on the starting chain (not counting the loop on the hook).
• After pushing through the loop, wrap the needle under the yarn (that is coming from the yarn ball).
• Pull the yarn through just the first loop on the hook.
• Once that is puled through the first loop on the hook, wrap the needle under the yarn again.
• This time pull it through both loops on the hook.
• Now there should be only one loop on the crochet hook.
• Continue the method above, inserting the hook into first loop next to the last stitch. An easy way to remember this is if the loop looks like it is being stretched by the loop that is on the hook, then go through the loop next to that one.
• Once you get to the end of a row, flip around so you are working from the right to the left each time and following the guidelines above.
• As you continue this, you’ll form a square (or whatever other shape/pattern you’re working on).

Part 4: Half-Double Stitch

• To create the half double stitch place the hook behind the yarn (that is coming from the yarn ball).
• Insert into the first loop (second if on a new row).
• Push through the loop like with the single stitch and wrap around the yarn.
• Pull through all of the loops on the hook so that when you pull it out it will only have one loop on the hook.
• Continue this down the row, flipping like above for each new row.
• Continuing this method will gives you a bit of a differnent pattern than the single stitch.

Part 5: Double Stitch

• For the double stitch, place the hook behind the yarn (that is coming fromt the yarn ball).
• Insert into the first loop (second if on a new row).
• Push through the loop (like above) and wrap around the yarn.
• This time, only pull through the first loop on the hook and the yarn that was on top, leaving you with two loops on the hook.
• Wrap the hook behind the yarn again.
• Pull it through both loops on the hook this time.
• Now you should have just one loop on the hook.
• Repeat the above steps down the entire row.
• Like in the above stitches, flip over at the end of each row in order to keep working from right to left.
• You will start to see a different pattern than the two above.

That’s how you get started with your crocheting hobby. I hope this helped you and feel free to post your comments and questions!