Learn to Crochet Easily - Step-by-Step Tutorial for Beginners
When I first started crocheting, I had no idea the best way to get started crocheting the right way. It took me more time than I would have liked because I had to Google every crochet term and figure out how it all fit together. That is exactly why I wanted to put together this step-by-step guide for beginners to show you how to start crocheting the easy way!
This tutorial will leave the guesswork out of learning how to crochet and make it a more simple and enjoyable process. Just take each step one at a time and you will be crocheting like a pro in no time.
Before you get started, make sure you download the Learn to Crochet for Beginners Checklist to keep track of your progress as you learn to crochet! You can access your checklist at the bottom of this post.
Crochet Materials
In order to learn how to crochet, we first have to gather a few materials. Some of these may be lying around your house already. We might have to go to the craft store or local yarn shop (LYS) to get the rest.
Here are the materials you will need to get started crocheting today:
- Crochet hooks
- Yarn
- Scissors
- Tapestry needle
- Tape measure
- Stitch markers
Mindset for Learning to Crochet
Now it may seem odd to even pay any attention to mindset when learning a craft. But the mindset that you have going into learning anything new will either help or hinder your efforts. I see a lot of people get stuck early on because they don’t have the right mindset. I don’t want that to happen to you.
YOUR APPROACH
First, I want you to pay attention is your approach to crochet. Those who fear messing up a stitch are likely to give up early on because they aren't mastering crochet yet. Those who are willing to continue trying despite the fact that they know they will mess up are far more likely to become great crocheters.
If you really want to learn to crochet, you need to go in with the mindset that messing up is inevitable. Don't let that stop you!
HOW TO OVERCOME ANY FEAR
If you are nervous about learning how to crochet, here are a few tips on how to overcome your fear:
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USE CHEAP YARN: Once you make it to the craft store or your LYS, you will be amazed at how many types of yarn there are. For now, I recommend avoiding the nicer yarn (although it may be tempting because it is so beautiful and soft). Instead, go for some cheaper yarn, whether it is acrylic, cotton or some other material.
You can often get a whole skein for just $2-$4 USD. This will be the perfect yarn to practice with because you know that if your whole project turns out wrong, you won’t be out a lot of money.
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CROCHET JUST TO PRACTICE: While you are learning the basics, don’t try to actually make anything. Instead, just practice doing the stitches. You can buy a whole skein just to practice your stitches without the pressure of making a nice finished object (FO).
Start by crocheting a chain, then once you get the hang of that, you can start practicing by crocheting stitches into the chain.
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REMEMBER IT IS EASY TO UNDO: Out of all of the crafts that I have tried (knitting, beading, sewing, polymer clay, candle making...), crocheting is the easiest to undo if you mess up (and I mess up all the time :) ).
If you realize you did something wrong, or if you just don’t like the way a certain stitch turned out, it is so simple to go back and fix your mistake. All you have to do is remove your hook and pull on the working yarn until you’ve reached the area that you want to fix. Then, just reinsert your hook into the working loop of your project and start crocheting again!
As you can see, there is absolutely nothing to be afraid of when learning how to crochet. Just follow the steps below using the materials that I recommend and it will all come together and make perfect sense.
LEARN TO CROCHET FOR BEGINNERS CHECKLIST
Okay, now that you have the correct mindset to learn how to crochet, let’s get started with the step-by-step tutorial.
Grab your yarn and the corresponding size of hook (noted on the yarn wrapper) to begin. Then all you have to do is follow the steps in this tutorial. You will be crocheting in no time!
- SLIP KNOT: Learn how to make a slip knot and place the slip knot on your hook. The slip knot is how you will attach the yarn to your hook. It is used for projects that are crocheted in rows. (Once you learn how to crochet in the round, you will use the magic circle for those projects.)
- HOOK & YARN: Take a look at both of the following tutorials and select the methods that feel most comfortable to you. These tutorials will help you figure out how to best hold your hook and yarn. This is very important when learning how to crochet. You want to find out what feels the most natural to you. That way, when you’re crocheting, you won’t have to worry about these things. Instead, you can focus on mastering the stitches.
- LEARN TO CROCHET A CHAIN: Once you have your slip knot on your hook and you feel comfortable holding your crochet hook and yarn, learn how to crochet a chain using the following tutorial.
What is a crochet chain / foundation chain? Chains, otherwise known as foundation chains, are the foundation of most crochet projects. You will start your project by crocheting a certain amount of chains. The amount of chains you begin with will determine the width of your project. Once you have crocheted the chain, the first row of stitches will be worked into the foundation chain.
- PRACTICE CROCHETING CHAINS: Now that you know how to crochet a chain, you should practice crocheting chains. You will be crocheting a lot of them when making projects.
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WORK ON YOUR TENSION: You will likely need help with learning how to control your tension when just starting out.
Keep in mind that the size of your hook is what will determine how loose or tight your stitches are. Do not pull your stitches tight or loosen them after crocheting (this is a mistake I made when I first learned to crochet).
Some people naturally crochet tight or loosely. We want to make sure that your tension is more neutral so that your finished projects are the correct size. Keep an eye out for my tutorial on how to control your tension in crochet coming soon!
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LEARN BASIC CROCHET STITCHES: Once you've learned how to crochet a chain (also known as a foundation chain), it is time to start stitching. The simplest crochet stitches are what you will want to learn first.
I recommend that you master the single crochet first. Then you can feel free to move on to the half double crochet, double crochet, and triple crochet stitches (tutorials for these 3 stitches coming soon). Also, take a look at this tutorial for how to crochet slip stitches. You will see slip stitches in many crochet patterns.
- PRACTICE YOUR NEW STITCHES: Once you've learned how to do each stitch, it's time to practice your new skills! Practice by making a swatch (a small rectangle) of each of the basic crochet stitches. This will help you get the hang of making each stitch as well as crocheting with straight edges & perfecting your tension.
It can be confusing to know exactly what to do when you are first learning how to crochet. But when you follow the steps that I laid out for you, I know that you will be crocheting in no time.
Now that you have a clear plan for learning how to crochet, it's time to get your Learn to Crochet for Beginners Checklist to keep track of your progress! Click here to get your free checklist.
As always, please feel free to reach out to me at kailey@crochetunraveled.com if you have any questions or need assistance.
Happy Crocheting!
Kailey, your crochet bestie <3
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