How To Do The Basic Crochet Stitches  

Crochet patterns use a variety of stitches. These basic stitches used in various ways can turn a piece of work in to a beautiful crochet work to be admired by many of your friends. Once you have mastered crocheting the basic stitches the rest will flow on from there. 

Chain Stitch (ch):     

Learning how to make a foundation chain is the first step in learning how to crochet as most crochet patterns begin with a number of chain stitches.

Chain stitches are used:

Making a foundation chain stitch:

1. Yarn over (yo) hook and draw yarn through to form a new loop (do not crochet the chain stitches to tight).

2. Repeat to form as many chains as indicated in the pattern. The majority of patterns give the required number of chain stitches plus one. Do not count the slipknot as a chain stitch.

Slip Stitch (sl st):

Slip stitches are used to:

• Join the last stitch made to another part of a row/round
• Join crocheted pieces together as an alternative to sewing the pieces together.
• Carry the yarn over to another part of a row/round, when needing to skip stitches as part of the pattern
• Give a finished look to the edge of a crocheted piece of work.

Making a slip stitch:

1. Insert crochet hook into work, yarn over hook, and draw the yarn through both work and the loop on hook at the same time. 

2. To join chains into a ring with a slip stitch, insert hook into first chain, yarn over, and draw through both work and yarn on the hook at the same time.

Single Crochet (sc):

The most basic stitch for crochet pattern is the single crochet. All other crochet stitches are variations of this stitch.

Making a single crochet:

1. Insert hook in the next stitch of your work

2. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through work only

3. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through 2 loops on hook at the same time.

Double Crochet (dc):

One of the most versatile and most used stitches in crochet designs is the double crochet. (In the UK the term used for Double Crochet is Treble which can be confusing if you are not aware that you are using a European pattern. The Treble we are using is what in the UK is called a Double Treble).

Making a double crochet:

1. Yarn over hook and insert hook into work

2. Yarn over hook and draw through work only

3. Yarn over hook and draw through first 2 loops only

4. Yarn over hook and draw through last 2 loops on hook.

Repeat steps in every next stitch till the end of the row or as indicated by pattern.

Note : At the beginning of a new row the Double Crochet is replaced by 3 chain stitches. This brings the work up to the correct hight for the next double crochet stitch.

Half Double Crochet (hdc):

Making a half double crochet:

1. Yarn over hook and insert hook in the next stitch to be worked

2. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through work only

3. Yarn over hook and draw yarn through all 3 loops on hook at the same time.

Treble (tr):

Trebles are made like double crochets with the difference that you have extra yarn over, hence more loops.

Making a treble:

1. Yarn over hook twice and insert hook in the next stitch to be worked

2. Yarn over hook and draw through work only – 4 loops are on the hook

3. Yarn over hook and draw through first 2 loops on hook – 3 loops remain on hook

4. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 2 loops remain on hook

5. Again yarn over hook and draw through the last 2 remaining loops on hook.

Repeat steps 1-5 in every next stitch till the end of the row or as indicated by pattern.

Note : At the beginning of a new row the Treble is replaced by 4 chain stitches. This brings the work up to the correct hight for the next treble stitch.

Double Treble (dtr):

Making a double treble:

1. Yarn over hook three times and insert hook in the next stitch to be worked

2. Yarn over hook and draw through work only – 5 loops are on the hook

3. Yarn over hook and draw through first 2 loops on hook – 4 loops remain on hook

4. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 3 loops remain on hook

5. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 2 loops remain on hook

6. Again yarn over hook and draw through the last 2 remaining loops on hook.

Triple Treble ( tr tr):

Making a triple treble:

1. Yarn over hook four times and insert hook in the next stitch to be worked

2. Yarn over hook and draw through work only – 6 loops are on the hook

3. Yarn over hook and draw through first 2 loops on hook – 5 loops remain on hook

4. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 4 loops remain on hook

5. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 3 loops remain on hook

6. Yarn over hook and draw through next 2 loops – 2 loops remain on hook

7. Again yarn over hook and draw through the last 2 remaining loops on hook.