Basic Crochet Stitches Every Beginner Needs

Learning to crochet (like any new skill) takes a little time and patience – and a few carefully selected crochet stitches! Here are 7 basic crochet stitches for blankets, shawls, scarves, cardigans, and more. Once you learn them, the world (of crochet) is your oyster!

I’m listing the first stitches that you’ll want to learn, but there are a ton of YouTube tutorials if you are more of a visual learner. You can just pop these into the search, and you will find many great videos to walk you through each one.

You probably have some idea of how much I love to crochet. It’s a fun activity that’s also relaxing and produces a lovely finished product that’s practical too.

Unfortunately, no one is born knowing how to crochet, so I like to recommend a few basic beginner crochet stitches to anyone who wants to learn how. They are simple, easy-to-learn stitches that form the building blocks of more advanced stitches. Once you know them, the crochet possibilities are nearly endless! 

When you’re ready to begin your crochet journey, take some time to practice and learn these 7 basic crochet stitches that are perfect for beginners. I feel confident that you’ll master them faster than you may think. 

Crochet Supplies You’ll Need To Get Started

One of my favorite things about crocheting is that you don’t need a large number of supplies to do it. However, you do need two key things: a great hook and yarn! 

Before you try to start learning crochet stitches, make sure you gather these items. Then, when you’re ready, start following the tutorial below.

I like to suggest using a US size H hook and worsted weight yarn to get started. A great first project is a basic washcloth with single crochet stitches. You only need to know how to chain and make a single crochet stitch.

Once you have a few stitches down, this is a fun and simple pattern! There’s a free video tutorial as well for this Textured Washcloth.

7 Basic Crochet Stitches BeginnerS CAN LEARN

Are you ready to start your own amazing crochet journey? I hope you’ll follow along with me as I go over each of these beginner crochet stitches! Once you know these, you can come back to the blog and check out all the fun patterns and projects you can make with my free crochet patterns.

How To Make The Chain Stitch Crochet Stitch

Let’s start at the very beginning with the crochet chain stitch. It’s the most basic and the first one that beginners learn since it’s also the first stitch used when starting new crochet patterns. Most crochet patterns start with a certain number of chain stitches, and the rest of the project builds onto them.

Pattern abbreviation: ch

How to use the chain stitch to make a starting chain:

  1. Create a slip knot.
  2. Insert your crochet hook into the slip knot.
  3. Yarn over and pull through to make a new loop. This is your first chain stitch.
  4. Repeat to make the next chain stitch, then continue until you have the correct number of crochet stitches for your foundation chain.

If you are brand new to crochet, this may feel confusing at first, but this easy stitch will become second nature with just a little practice. That’s helpful because chain stitches can also be used to connect other types of crochet stitches.

How To Make Single Crochet Stitches

Once you’ve gotten more comfortable with the chain stitch, it’s time to tackle single crochet stitches. This stitch is nearly as easy as the chain stitch and is quick and easy to make.

It creates a smooth texture that works well with scarves, baby blankets, and hats.

Pattern abbreviation: sc

Single crochet stitch instructions:

  1. Once you have your starting chain, insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over and pull through to create a loop. You will now have two loops on your hook.
  2. Yarn over again and pull through both loops. You should end with only one yarn loop on your hook.

How To Make Double Crochet Stitches

This basic stitch is next on the list once you’ve become comfortable with the single crochet stitch. The double crochet stitch is taller than the single crochet stitch and is often used in various crochet patterns.

It will create a texture that’s more flexible than the single crochet stitch makes. And, you can also use it to create more complex crochet stitches, such as the granny stitch.

Pattern abbreviation: dc

Double crochet stitch instructions:

The difference between this stitch and the single crochet stitch is that you yarn over before inserting your hook into the next stitch.

  1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch. Yarn over again and pull through. You will have 3 loops on your hook.
  2. Yarn over again and pull through 2 loops. You will still have 2 loops on your hook.
  3. Repeat one more time and pull through both loops to create one single loop.

How To Make Half Double Crochet Stitches

Next on the list are half double crochet stitches. It’s basically a cross between the single crochet stitch and the double crochet stitch that works well for blankets, scarves, textured bags, and more.

Pattern abbreviation: hdc

Half double crochet stitch instructions:

  1. Yarn over and insert your hook into the next stitch.
  2. Yarn over again and pull through. You will have 2 loops on your hook.
  3. Now yarn over again and pull through all three loops to create one single loop on your hook.

How To Make Treble Crochet Stitches

Next up: the treble crochet stitch. This stitch is the tallest of the stitches on this list (4 chains tall). It involves repetition and works up quickly, creating loose blankets with lace-like, open patterns. 

Once you become comfortable stitching it, you can build onto it and create double treble and triple treble crochet stitches.

Pattern abbreviation: tr

Treble crochet stitch instructions:

  1. Yarn over twice and insert your hook into the next stitch. 
  2. Then yarn over again and pull through. You will have 3 loops on your hook.
  3. Yarn over again and pull through the first 2 loops on your hook.
  4. Yarn over and pull through the next 2 loops.
  5. Repeat the process one more time, pulling your hook through the last 2 loops to create one single loop on your hook.

How To Make Slip Stitch Crochet Stitches

The slip stitch is a basic stitch that you can use in many different ways! One way is to use a slip stitch to connect the last stitch of a row to the first stitch of the same row so that you can work in the round. 

Another way to use slip stitches is to create flat invisible stitches so that you can move yarn across a row without adding height. You can also add slip stitches around the edges of your crochet fabric to give it a clean, finished look.

Finally, slip stitches can be used to decorate crocheted items.

Pattern abbreviation: sl st

Slip stitch crochet stitch instructions:

The method for making a slip stitch is basically a simplified single crochet stitch.

  1. Insert your crochet hook into the next stitch. 
  2. Yarn over, then pull it through the stitch and the loop that’s on the hook.

How To Make Moss Stitch Crochet Stitches

The moss stitch is also called the granite stitch, the linen stitch, and the woven stitch. It’s the most complex stitch on this list, but it’s really just a combination of two fundamental crochet stitches: the single crochet and chain stitches.

By combining these two stitches in an easy-to-learn pattern, you create the textured moss stitch, which lies flat but looks lovely on both sides and has a nice drape.

It’s one of my favorite crochet stitches and is a versatile stitch that’s perfect for blankets, scarves, sweaters, headbands, and more.

Moss stitch crochet stitch instructions:

  1. Chain an even number of stitches.
  2. Single crochet (sc) into the 4th chain from the end.
  3. Chain (ch) 1, skip the next chain (sk), single crochet 1.
  4. Repeat across the row: ch 1, sk 1, sc.
  5. At the end of the row: ch 2, turn your project, sc in chain 1 space. Repeat across the row.

More Advanced Crochet Stitches To Learn

After you learn these easy crochet stitches, you can add to them, use multiples, or combine them in different ways to create new eye-catching stitches. Here are a few stitches you may want to check out and learn once you get comfortable with the basic crochet stitches listed in this post. 

All of these crochet stitches are easy to learn, but they’re a little more complex than beginner-level stitches.

The Wattle Stitch
Cluster Stitch

Once you get to this point, the sky’s the limit for any crochet project! You can create a vast variety of items in tons of different ways. I hope this stitch tutorial on making the most basic crochet stitches helps you get started on your new (and enjoyable) crochet journey.

If you’re a visual learner, I encourage you to check out my YouTube channel and other channels as well to find crochet stitch tutorials on any stitch you want to learn.

More Crochet IDEAS TO MAKE

I hope this gives you an idea of the beginner stitches that you’ll want to learn, as well as some more advanced options! YouTube is amazing for seeing how all of these stitches are worked.

Happy crocheting!!

XO

Jessica

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