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Crochet Basics

Author: Alison  –   Updated: November 2024

Crochet Basics

Getting Started

About Crochet

Crochet is a vast subject. and you really need to know a few of the basics before you can really get into it. This post is just to go over a few of the basic points and in crochet with links to other topics as well.

 

History

The history of crochet is rich and fascinating, though its exact origins remain unclear. Unlike knitting, which dates back to ancient times, crochet as we know it likely emerged in Europe during the 16th century. The term crochet comes from the French word for “hook.” Early crochet was often used to create lace-like decorations, especially in France, Italy, and Ireland. In the 19th century, Irish crochet became a source of income during the Great Famine. By the 20th century, crochet evolved from delicate lacework to practical and decorative items like blankets, garments, and accessories, making it a beloved craft worldwide.

 

Hooks

Learn more about crochet hooks.

Yarns

Learn more about yarns you can use.

Stitches

When it comes to crochet, there are a few fundamental stitches that form the building blocks of nearly every pattern. These stitches—simple on their own—can be combined in endless ways to create beautiful textures, intricate designs, and stunning pieces of handmade art. Whether you’re crafting a delicate lace doily, a cozy granny square blanket, or a textured sweater, mastering these essential stitches is key to unlocking your full creative potential in crochet. From the basic chain stitch that starts most projects to the versatile single and double crochet stitches, each stitch plays a unique role in shaping patterns, adding depth, and bringing your creative vision to life. By learning how to mix, modify, and layer these stitches, you can explore an infinite world of possibilities, designing everything from classic motifs to modern masterpieces.

Here is more on the five stitches that you need to know.

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Author Bio

Alison is a passionate crochet enthusiast and dedicated business blogger. She combines her love for crafting and entrepreneurship to inspire and connect with others.

With a knack for transforming yarn into beautiful creations and a flair for sharing valuable insights about running a successful crochet business, Alison embodies the perfect blend of creativity and practicality.

Read more about Alison’s crochet journey.

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Triangle Shawl Crochet Design

Shawl and Wrap Shapes

Wraps are rectangles and shawls are triangles.

This is the general consensus.

You can get semi-circle wraps as well. But in this post I’m discussing the structure of crocheted triangles.

 

Triangles

A triangle has three sides and three corners.

Typically there is one long side and two shorter sides both the same length. This is known as a scalene triangle and is the most popular shape for triangle shawls.

 

Crochet Designs for Triangle Shawls

If you are making a shawl in a solid piece as opposed to granny squares or other motive shapes then it will be made in one piece.

The starting point sets the stage for the design and there are only a few ways to construct a triangle shawl in crochet.

Any type of stripe or pattern stitch can be used but the way the shawl grows will be the same.


Point Up – Horizontal

This is a popular method where you work from the bottom point and go up in rows which increase each row. In this design you can stop or keep going once the size is suitable.

An example of this design is the Lancashire Shawl. 

 


Wide Top Down – Horizontal

In this design the full-width of the top side is set, typically as a chain length, and cannot be adjusted later. Here you work rows down towards the point. Each row is shorter than the previous as you decrease at the start and end of each row.

Here you work rows down towards the point. Each row is shorter than the previous as you decrease at the start and end of each row.

 


Center Top to Sides – Both Diagonal

In this design you start at the center top and make a triangle immediately. This can be seen in the half granny style. Each row adds to the sides and the point grows downwards.

 

The center top to sides design can be adjusted when the size is reached or you can continue to add more rows.

The Cumbria Shawl is a good example of this design.

 


Left to Right – Vertical

In this design you start at the left side and work vertical rows towards the right side. Which increases on one side only and the top side remains the same. At the

At the point you start to decrease on the lower side again and the rows get shorter.

The image below is the first half of the shawl as the rows grow vertically towards the point. When I’ve finished it I’ll get the completed image in here for you.


Centre to Sides – Vertical

Here the base chain is from the top center to the point. You work first the left side to the side point and then the right side to the side point. Care needs to be taken to get both sides the same.

Each row is vertically from the center chain and reduces at the bottom whilst keeping the top edge straight.

In this design the depth of the shawl is determined at the start but you can make the width wider if you do a shallower decrease.

 

Your Choice

All shawl designs have their pros and cons. Personally, I like the point up and the center top to side methods as the triangle shape it set from the start.

It is a personal choice and the stitch pattern and the colour choices used will help determine the type of design you should choose.

Alison

Author Bio

Alison Heathcote, a passionate crochet enthusiast and dedicated business blogger, combines her love for crafting and entrepreneurship to inspire and connect with others.

With a knack for transforming yarn into beautiful creations and a flair for sharing valuable insights about running a successful crochet business, Alison embodies the perfect blend of creativity and practicality.

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5 Basic Crochet Stitches You Need to Know


The Five Basic Crochet Stitches

You can start crocheting very quickly with a few basic stitches.

You may already know how to do the stitches but not know their name.

Or you may know how to do them and their name but not know their abbreviation which is used in crochet patterns.

The third possibility is that you don’t know how to do the stitches and didn’t even know that they had and name let alone a code in patterns.

The five basic crochet stitches are like the crochet alphabet. They are the letters that make up the words (the pattern), and the words when brought together in a certain way can make poetry. Crochet poetry.

There are other advanced crochet stitches as well and we will cover them later.

These stitches are in USA/Canadian crochet terminology which is different to UK/RSA crochet terminology.

There are five simple stitches in crochet; chain, single crochet, double crochet, triple (or treble) crochet and slip stitch.

I will explain each one in turn with pictures.


Chain Stitch

Put a starting loop on you hook and, hold the hook like a pencil (and not a shovel), with your thumb on top and fingers below.

IMG_2380 (1)

Put the yarn over the hook,

IMG_2381 (1)

and pull through.

IMG_2382 (1)

Repeat.

IMG_2383 (1)

This forms a chain and is often used as a base for items in crochet.

If you can get your chain to be even and not too tight this will be the basis for your tension or gauge in later projects.

Practice making a chain in varying thicknesses of wool and with bigger and smaller hooks until you get a smooth rhythm.

This may take a day or two.

In a crochet pattern the code for a chain is ch.


Single Crochet

On the chain you just made (in yellow) you can start making rows of different stitches.

First is the single crochet. This is the smallest crochet stitch and the simplest one to do. I have shown the single crochet in green yarn.

Insert your hook into the chain making sure you go through two threads of the chain (there are three threads for each chain).

IMG_2387

Yarn over your hook and pull through (two loops on hook),

IMG_2388

yarn over and pull through the two loops on your hook (one loop on hook). This image looks a bit mess as it is the first single crochet stitch on the chain but it will get better as you can see below.

IMG_2389

Continue making single crochets across the chain.

IMG_2390

Remember you have completed the stitch when you have only one loop left on your hook. Do not start the next single crochet stitch if you have more than one loop on your hook.

In a crochet pattern the code for a single crochet is sc.


Double Crochet

On a chain we can make double crochet stitches.

Yarn over and then insert the hook into the chain (the two top threads),

IMG_2401

Yarn over and pull through two loops (three loops on hook),

IMG_2404 (2)

Yarn over and pull through two loops on your hook (two loops on hook),

IMG_2406 (1)

yarn over and pull through the last two loops on your hook. Only one loop remains on you hook and the double crochet stitch is complete.

IMG_2407 (1)

In a crochet pattern the code for a double crochet is dc.


Triple Crochet

You can make a triple crochet into the chain you formed or the top of other stitches.

Yarn over twice (three loops on hook), insert your hook into the chain making sure to go through the two threads of the chain, yarn over and pull through (four loops on hook),

IMG_2411 (1)

Yarn over pull through two loops (three loops on hook)

IMG_2412 (1)

yarn over and pull through two loops (two loops on hook),

IMG_2413 (1)

yarn over and pull through last two loops on your hook leaving one loop on your hook and the double crochet stitch is complete.

IMG_2414

IMG_2415 (1)

In a crochet pattern the code for a triple crochet is tc.


Slip Stitch

On a base chain or, other row of stitches as we have triple crochets in the image below, insert hook into top two threads of stitches shown below.

IMG_2417 (1)

Make sure to pull the thread a bit more than usual (for ease as it can get tight) and pull through the two threads and the loop on the hook in one go (one loop on hook). The slip stitch is in white.

IMG_2418 (1)

A row of slip stitches when finished is low and flat. A slip stitch can be used to join rows when you work in a circle or to move the hook to a new position in a pattern. It can be used for edging as well.

IMG_2419 (1)

The slip stitch is similar a single crochet but you pull through all the loops at once to keep it low.

In a crochet pattern the code for a slip stitch is ss.

Basic stitches

These form the five basic stitches used in crochet and by combining them in many ways you get patterns of stitches.


Author Bio

Alison Heathcote, a passionate crochet enthusiast and dedicated business blogger, combines her love for crafting and entrepreneurship to inspire and connect with others.

With a knack for transforming yarn into beautiful creations and a flair for sharing valuable insights about running a successful crochet business, Alison embodies the perfect blend of creativity and practicality.

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Trellis Crochet Stitch

Trellis

images-1A trellis is a wooden frame found in a garden on which plants can grow. Typically climbers and roses grow well on a trellis.

it is usually squares turned on their side to look like diamond shapes.

Trellises are also used to separate sections of a garden and to add interest in the ‘garden room’ designs so used nowadays.

Back and forth to make the diamond

The trellis crochet pattern is an interesting stitch combination which is worked back and forth during the row.

 

IMG_2295

This means the work is turned during the creation of each block or diamond.

 

 

IMG_2296 (1)

 

 

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Granny Squares – Basic Pattern

by Alison

Crochet Stitch Diagram – Basic Granny Square

This is a basic Granny square

A Granny square is the building block of crochet work. Every crocheter can learn to make a Granny square and it is lots of fun.

Each row is made with a different color yarn and there are four rows in total. You can add as many rows as you like.

Pattern tips for Granny squares

Turn your work

I make my Granny squares but I turn the work from the front to the back each row change.

This means that row 2 (and all even rows) are done with the wrong side facing (WSF) me as I start the row, and row 3 (and all odd rows) are done with the right side facing (RSF) me as I start the row.

I do this because if you continue on the right side all the time the square can easily become slightly out of shape as you are always going one way.

But, if you turn the work each row it creates a balance for the square as the stitches are worked first one way and then the other way.

It is like knitting on two needles where you knit one way and then the other way, but when you do circular knitting (all the same way) the work starts to creep in one direction.

Over time I have found that Granny squares made right-side-facing then wrong-side-facing keep their shape even after being washed for years.

How to Make Corners

Every corner is a 3 chain (3ch or ch3) corner. If you have 3 chains in the corner you have one on each side when you are sewing up. This helps to keep the squares well, square as you sew.

Sometimes I add add a 1 ch between the groups of 3dc on the sides.

Joining Granny Squares

I recommend sewing your squares together. I am not keen on crocheting them together as that can make a bulky seam and it is not always regular in tension.

When you sew your squares together the seam lies flat which is nice. In this particular Granny square pattern I will use the same black yarn that I used for row 4.

If every Granny has the same color on the last row it is easier to sew them together so it looks neat.



Crochet Terminology

Please note: This pattern used US/Canadian crochet stitch notation not UK or RSA. You can learn more about the difference between USA and UK crochet terminology and follow along.

 

Materials

    • 5mm crochet hook

    • I used Vanna’s Choice yarns in three colours. It is like a double knitting weight yarn and smooth when running over the hook. Weight [4]. See more on yarn weights.

    • Tapestry sewing needle to sew in the ends.

Basic Granny Square Pattern

First row

The first row is in a yellow.

Foundation chain: With yellow, ch 5, join with slip stitch (sl st).

Row1: Ch 2 (as 1st stitch), 2 dc, ch 3 (corner), 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, 3 dc, ch 3, join with ss. Sew in ends as you go.

First row in yellow.

Second Row

The second row is white.

Row 2: With white, wrong side facing, in a corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, in next corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, in next corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, in next corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, join with a sl st. Sew in ends.

Second row in white.

Third Row

The third row is pink. Row 3: With pink and right side facing, start in a middle gap, 3dc, in first corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, 3dc, in second corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, 3dc, in third corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, 3dc, in last corner gap 3dc ch3 3dc, join with sl st. Sew in ends.

Third row in pink.

 

Finished Granny Square

This particular Granny square is an example.

You can make this Granny square in any combination of color and the color choices depend on what you will be using the squares for.

See more about choosing colors for your crochet projects and make sure to select the best combinations for the projects you make.


 

https://mailchi.mp/247ca867b970/basicgrannysquare

Author Bio

Alison Heathcote, a passionate crochet enthusiast and dedicated business blogger, combines her love for crafting and entrepreneurship to inspire and connect with others.

With a knack for transforming yarn into beautiful creations and a flair for sharing valuable insights about running a successful crochet business, Alison embodies the perfect blend of creativity and practicality.

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Crochet Techniques – Chain-less Cast-On Method

Chainless Cast On

Base Chain Foundation

Typically the pattern will call for a chain of say, 40 or 100 chains, and the first row is built on the base chain.

In the chain-less cast-on method there is no chain.

 

I have also heard of this being called the chain less starting (crochet stitch) method CShdc, CSdc etc. which I may incorporate soon if that is the general term.

  

The chain-less cast on technique is used without a base chain so it provides some give in the item as a base chain can pull if not loose enough. Any tightness is only noticeable when you have worked up more of the item.

The first row is actually the base row and indicated as Row 1: on all patterns.

 

IMG_2061

Row 1: 3 ch,IMG_2062

yarn over, insert hook in first ch (but both loops),

pull through (3 loops on hook),

IMG_2063

yarn over, insert hook into bottom stitch two “V” and pull through (3 loops on hook),

IMG_2072

make 1 dc as normal inserting hook into both loops of previous loop pulled through.

IMG_2069 (1)IMG_2065

Each new double crochet is started in the one loop pulled through from the two on the base.

 IMG_2071

Continue for as many double crochets as required.

Where to Use the Chain-less Cast-on

This is great for waistbands on skirts and shorts. It also goes well for bag handles and straps for summer tops.

I don’t use it all the time but it does result in a really nice edge that has give and does not pull. In a way it is forgiving and I like that.

Author Bio

Alison Heathcote is a passionate crochet enthusiast and dedicated business blogger. She combines her love for crafting and entrepreneurship to inspire and connect with others.

With a knack for transforming yarn into beautiful creations and a flair for sharing valuable insights about running a successful crochet business, Alison embodies the perfect blend of creativity and practicality.

Read more about Alison’s crochet journey.

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