New to crochet? This page gives you everything you need to go from your first chain to your first finished project, in order.
1. Get the right supplies
- Yarn: one skein of smooth, light-colored medium weight yarn (weight #4, called worsted in the US and aran in the UK), in acrylic or cotton. Light colors make stitches easy to see.
- Hook: a 5 mm (US H-8) hook, the size most worsted/aran yarns recommend.
- Scissors and a yarn needle for weaving in ends.
- Stitch markers (optional, but helpful).
2. Learn the basic stitches in this order
- Slip knot
- Chain (ch)
- Single crochet (sc; UK double crochet)
- Half double crochet (hdc; UK half treble)
- Double crochet (dc; UK treble)
- Slip stitch (sl st; same in UK)
- Magic ring (for working in the round)
Practice each stitch in rows of 15 to 20 stitches until your rows look even before moving on.
3. Learn to read a pattern
Patterns use abbreviations like sc, dc, sk and rep. US and UK patterns use the same names for different stitches: a US single crochet is a UK double crochet, and a US double crochet is a UK treble. Every pattern on this site is written in US terms and includes a US to UK conversion box, with sizes in inches and centimeters and yarn in yards and meters.
- Check whether a pattern uses US or UK terms before you start (look for “sc”: only US patterns use it).
- Gauge (US) and tension (UK) mean the same thing: how many stitches and rows fit in 4 in / 10 cm.
4. Make your first projects
- A dishcloth or coaster: straight rows of one stitch
- A simple scarf: same stitch, longer rows
- A headband or ear warmer: your first piece joined in a loop
- A beanie: working in the round
- A baby blanket or small throw: your first big project
5. When you get stuck
- Edges uneven? Count your stitches at the end of every row.
- Work too tight? Try a hook one size bigger.
- Lost your place? Put a stitch marker in the first stitch of each row.
Still stuck? Email us at contact@mycrochethaven.com. We are happy to help.