Crochet 101
Let’s Crochet!
I’m so excited that you want to learn how to crochet! It is such a fun and rewarding hobby but can be a little overwhelming at first. That is exactly why I put together this single page to help you get started. Believe me, this is exactly the information I wish I would have had when I was teaching myself from a book 30 years go. All the basics are laid out below, including a tutorial to practice your new skills while making a dishcloth.
And if you run into trouble or have any problems, I’m here to help! Just drop me a line and I’ll see what I can do.
First Things First… Shopping
Luckily it is pretty easy to begin crocheting and doesn’t take a lot of investment. All you need is a crochet hook, yarn and a pattern.
There are a lot of different sizes of crochet hooks, but you don’t need to buy all the sizes all at once. Just the size you need. And the size is determined by the yarn weight you are using.
Yarns are classified into 7 different categories based on their size. A size 0 would be thread or doily cotton. A size 7 would be super chunky yarn, some close to an inch in diameter! You’ll find the sweet spot for yarn is 4, a nice medium weight in a wide range of colors. This size will be in abundance at your local craft store.
Your crochet pattern will tell you what size hook and yarn you’ll need, along with how much yarn is needed to finish the project. But it doesn’t hurt to buy extra!
Crochet patterns seem to be everywhere these days. You can find lot of free ones online, purchase on Etsy or buy a book of patterns at your local craft store.
Beginner’s Shopping List
- Boye Crochet Hooks D-K
- Yarn Size 4 (Red Heart is very easy to work with as a beginner and can be found a lot cheaper at your local craft store.)
- Yarn Needle
- Scissors
- Pattern (Tutorials on this site have a free pattern following the post!)
Crochet Skills
The pages below have an in-depth photo tutorial and video tutorial for their crochet skill. Simply click on the image or title to view! If you are brand new to crochet, it is best to view the pages in order.
Crochet Stitches
Now let’s take a look at some of the basic crochet stitches. Click on the images below to view an in-depth video and photo tutorial.
Time To Make & Learn
The tutorials below will help you learn and practice the basics of crochet. These are easy patterns designed for beginners. For more tutorials, check out the Make & Learn page.
Difficulty: Basic | Make Time: 30 minutes | Finished Size: 10" x 10"