How To Crochet

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How-To Crochet

materials source: Craft Yarn Council of America

Click on the desired subject title below to connect to the directions.
Holding The Crochet Hook
Slip Knot and Chain Stitch (ch)
Foundation Row
Single Crochet (sc)
Double Crochet (dc)
Half-Double Crochet (hdc)
Triple Crochet (tc)
Increasing (inc)
Decreasing (dec)
Joining A New Yarn
Fastening Off

Also see Chart for Crochet Turning Chains and Working In Rounds.

Holding The Crochet Hook
There are two methods of holding a crochet hook. Try them both to see which
one feels most comfortable to you.

	Place the hook in your right hand, holding it between your index finger and thumb, as you would hold a pencil.
	Hold the hook in an "overhand" clutch, similar to the way you might hold a tennis racquet, or a spoon while making cake batter.

Slip Knot and Chain Stitch (ch)

To Chain Stitch, first make a Slip Knot as shown above.
	Hold the hook in your right hand while keeping an even tension on the yarn with the left hand. This diagram illustrates a common method of keeping control of yarn tension.
	Pull yarn from back of the hook over and around the front of the hook, pulling yarn through the loop to form the first chain.
	Note that the loop on the hook is not counted as a chain stitch on a foundation row. Chains should be as large as the shank of the hook and uniform.

Foundation Row
The first row of any crochet stitch must be worked into a chain stitch.

	Through the front loops: The most common way is to hold the chain with loops facing, working under two loops of the chain. This leaves the third loop of the chain.
	Through the back ridge (Japanese Method): Roll chain so the back center loop is facing you. Work crochet stitch through this loop only. This leaves the remaining two chain loops at the beginning of the work making it look like the last row.

Single Crochet (sc)

	Foundation Row: 1. Holding the chain in the desired position, insert hook into the second chain from the hook.
	2. Wrap yarn from behind the hook, over the top and to the front of the hook.
	Note: For SC in Back Ridge of Chain (Japanese Method): Work each sc into ridge at back of each chain.
	3. Pull yarn toward you through the chain (2 loops on the hook).
	4. With yarn around the hook again, pull it through the two loops on the hook for a single crochet. To make the next stitch, insert the hook into the next chain stitch (at arrow in diagram) and follow steps 2, 3, and 4 above for each stitch.
	Counting stitches (sts) as shown in the diagram, you should have one less chain stitch than you chained. Before beginning Row 2, chain 1 and turn your work like a book pages so the yarn is on the right end of the work.
	Row 2: Slide the hook under the top two strands of the first stitch to begin. (The hook should be under loops forming a "heart".)
	Yarn over hook and proceed using steps 2-4 for single crochet (Diagram to left shows where to place hook for 2nd stitch.)
	Be sure to finish the row as in diagram to left; count stitches at the end of every row for a completed square.
	You do not count the turning chain as a stitch nor make a stitch into it.

Double Crochet (dc)
This stitch should be the same gauge as single crochet, but "taller". It is formed
by a "yarn over", which is wrapping yarn from back to front, BEFORE placing
hook in the stitch.

	1. Holding foundation chain in desired position, yarn over and insert hook into the 4th chain from the hook.
	2. Yarn over (yo), pull through chain. You should have 3 loops (lps) on hook.
	3. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops.
	4. Yarn over, pull through 2 loops,
	and one double crochet (dc) has been made.
	Work one dc in each chain to the end, then count stitches (sts).
	At the end of dc rows, chain 3 to achieve the same height stitch as dc. The turn chain counts as the first dc on the next row, so the first dc is actually worked in the SECOND stitch.
	The last dc is worked into the top of the turning chain to complete the row.

Half-Double Crochet (hdc)
A heavy, tight stitch, the half-double crochet (hdc) is appropriate for projects
which will get hard use, such as slippers, jackets, and mittens.

	To work the half-double crochet: 1. Yarn over, hook into 3rd chain from hook.
	2. Yarn over, pull through chain to form 3 loops on hook.
	3. Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops. At the end of row, chain 2 and turn.
	The first stitch on the 2nd row is worked into the first stitch as shown in diagram to the left.
	The last stitch is worked into the last hdc of the previous row, ignoring the turn chain as shown in the diagram to the left.

Triple Crochet (tc)

	1. Make a foundation chain.
	2. Insert hook in fifth chain from hook.
	3. Draw up a loop on hook, 4 loops on hook. Yarn over and draw through 2 loops, yarn over and draw through 2 loops again. Yarn over and draw through last 2 loops. You have completed the first two triple crochet stitches, as the turning chain counts as the first stitch. Work a triple crochet into each stitch across row.
	Chain 4, turn. Yarn over twice and insert hook in 2nd stitch to start a new row. The chain 4 will be counted as the first stitch of the new row. The last stitch should be worked into the top of the turning chains of the previous row.

Increasing (inc)
To increase stitches:
1. One Stitch - work two stitches into one stitch.
2. Single or half-double crochet, beginning of the row - work twice into
the first stitch.
3. Single or half-double crochet, end of row - work two stitches into the
last stitch of the previous row.
4. Double of triple crochet, beginning of the row - work into the first stitch.
5. Double or triple crochet, end of row - work 2 stitches into the top of
the turning chain.

Decreasing (dec)
To decrease single and half-double crochet:

	1. Insert hook in the next stitch, yarn over and pull yarn through.
	2. Instead of completing the sc, insert hook into the next stitch, yarn over and pull through for 3 loops on hook.
	3. Yarn over and pull yarn through all 3 loops. One decrease (dec) is made.

To decrease double crochet:

	1. Work the first dc until only 2 loops are on the hook.
	2. Yarn over, place hook in next stitch, yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook).
	3. Yarn over, pull yarn through all 3 loops for a completed decrease.

Joining A New Yarn
When making a project needing more than one ball of yarn, add at the end
of the rows so joining is not visible. This method should also be used
when changing colors at the end of a row.

1. Crochet to the last stitch of the row. 2. When the final 2 loops of the last stitch are on the hook, drop the old yarn. 3. Draw up a loop with the new yarn to complete the last stitch. Be sure to leave at least 3" on both the old and new yarns to secure and weave in later.

Fastening Off
To end your work, cut the yarn leaving at least a 3" tail. Draw the yarn
through the last loop; tighten gently. This will prevent unraveling.

Weave in the tail as shown in the diagram to the right.