Crochet Basics: Mastering the Five Foundational Stitches
Welcome to your beginner crochet stitches guide! If you’re new to crochet, mastering a few basic stitches is a great way to get started. In this guide, we’ll walk you through five essential crochet stitches: the slip stitch. single crochet, half double crochet, double crochet, and treble crochet. By the end, you’ll know how to crochet these stitches step by step and understand how many turning chains each requires.
Before we start, this is part 2 of my Crochet Basics series, where you'll learn how to crochet or refresh the basics if you're already familiar. If you missed part 1, be sure to check it out first: Crochet Basics – How to Make a Foundation Chain for Beginners.
Also, don’t forget to save this tutorial for later by pinning it!
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Video Tutorial
NOTE: In crochet, every stitch incorporates a yarn over (abbreviated as "yo") at some point in its formation. To make a yarn over, wrap the yarn around your hook from back to front. This simple movement is a foundational technique that helps create loops on your hook, forming the basis of crochet stitches.
Slip Stitch (sl st)
The slip stitch is one of the simplest stitches, but it’s also one of the most useful. It doesn’t add height to your project, making it ideal for joining pieces, closing rounds, or moving your working yarn to a different spot without creating bulk.
How to Crochet a Slip Stitch:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Yarn over and pull through both the stitch and the loop on your hook.
Turning Chains:
No turning chain is needed for slip stitches.
Single Crochet (sc)
Single crochet is the smallest and simplest of the basic stitches. It creates a dense, tight fabric, which makes it perfect for projects that require structure, such as amigurumi, washcloths, or small accessories. This stitch has minimal height and provides a smooth, solid texture.
How to make a Single Crochet:
Insert your hook into the next stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop.
Yarn over again and pull through both loops on the hook.
Turning Chains:
1 chain for single crochet.
Half Double Crochet (hdc)
The half double crochet stitch is a great middle ground between the single and double crochet stitches. It’s taller than a single crochet but shorter than a double crochet, offering a nice texture with a bit more height without being too open.
How to Make a Half Double Crochet:
Yarn over, then insert your hook into the next stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop (you’ll have 3 loops on your hook).
Yarn over again and pull through all 3 loops on the hook.
Turning chains:
2 chains for half double crochet.
Double Crochet (dc)
Double crochet is one of the most versatile stitches, commonly used for a wide range of crochet projects. It creates a looser, more open fabric compared to single or half double crochet. Double crochet works up quickly, making it a go-to stitch for blankets, shawls, and garments.
How to make a Double Crochet:
Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
Yarn over again and pull up a loop (you’ll have 3 loops on your hook).
Yarn over and pull through the first 2 loops on the hook (you’ll have 2 loops left on your hook).
Yarn over one last time and pull through the remaining 2 loops.
Turning Chains:
3 chains for double crochet.
Note: If you crochet with a tighter tension, you may prefer using only 2 turning chains instead of 3 to prevent the sides your work from “sticking out” from too many turning chains. I personally use just 2 turning chains, unless I'm working with super bulky yarn, in which case I stick to the standard 3 turning chains.
Treble (or Triple) Crochet (tr)
The treble crochet stitch is the tallest of the basic stitches, making it ideal for creating airy, open fabrics. It's great for projects like lightweight shawls, wraps, or decorative borders where you want an elongated, lacy look.
How to make a Treble Crochet:
Yarn over twice and insert your hook into the next stitch.
Yarn over and pull up a loop (you’ll have 4 loops on your hook).
Yarn over, pull through the first 2 loops on the hook (you’ll have 3 loops left on your hook).
Yarn over again, pull through the next 2 loops (you’ll have 2 loops left on your hook).
Yarn over one last time and pull through the remaining 2 loops.
Turning Chains:
4 chains for treble crochet.
Note: If you crochet with tighter tension, you may prefer using 3 turning chains instead of 4 to maintain the proper stitch height and texture.
Tip:
You can add even more loops before inserting your hook in step 1—each additional yarn over (such as a "double treble" or "triple treble") increases the height of the stitch, creating an even more dramatic and airy effect. This allows for an infinite number of height variations to suit your project!
Conclusion
Each of these stitches builds on the last, so take your time and practice until you’re comfortable with each one. Don’t be discouraged if you don’t get everything perfect right away—the more you practice, the easier it becomes.
