Learn How To Crochet

The Basis of Crochet is a slip loop. Which is tightened by a knot and forms the first stitch of your work. This loop must be loose enough to allow the crochet hook to slip in and out easily.

CROCHET

Position of the hands

Hold the work in the left hand, between the thumb and forefinger, yarn is taken over the forefinger and middle finger, under the third finger and around the little finger. The crochet hook is held in the right hand (as you would hold a pencil) between the thumb and forefinger and pressing on the middle finger.


To Make A Chain

With the first loop on hook, pass the hook under the yard on the left hand and pull through a loop (making another stitch). This operation is called wool round hook (wrh) and is repeated until the chain has the number of stitches required, with one loop on the hook.


Double Chain

Make 2 ch, insert hook into first stitch, * wrh draw through a loop, wrh draw through both loops on hook *. To continue insert the hook into the left loop, then work from * to *.


Slip Stitch

On a length of ch skip the first ch, * insert hook into top loop of next ch, wrh draw through ch loop and st on hook *. In this way a new chain is formed.


Single Crochet

Skip l ch, * insert hook into next ch, wrh draw through loop, wrh draw through 2 loops *. Turn with l ch.


Twisted Single Crochet

Miss 1 ch, * insert hook into next ch, wrh (purlwise) taking hook over yarn draw through loop, wrh (purlwise) draw through 2 loops *. Turn with l ch.


Half Double Crochet

Skip 2 ch, * wrh, insert hook into next ch, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh draw through 3 loops on hook *, 2 ch, turn.


Double Crochet

Skip 2 ch, * wrh, insert hook into next ch, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops *, wrh, draw through last 2 loop, 2 ch, turn. Treble Crochet

Skip 3 ch, * wrh twice, insert hook into next ch, wrh, draw through a loop (wrh draw through 2 loops) , twice, wrh, draw through last 2 loops *, 3 ch, turn.


Double Treble

Work as a Treble Crochet taking yard 3 times round hook in the first instance and draw through 2 loops 3 times, wrh draw through last 2 loops, 4 ch, turn.


Double Crochet in relief

Work a row of double crochet, 2 ch, turn.
Row 2: *Wrh, insert hook between 1st and 2nd sts horizontally and bring it out between 2nd and 3rd sts, wrh draw through loop, wrh draw through 2 loops, wrh draw through last 2 loops *, 2 ch, turn.


PATTERN IDEAS

Albanian Stitch
Work a row of single crochet on the foundation, Ch 1, turn.
Row 1: * Work 1 sc into each st inserting hook through front horizontal yarn at head of st of previous row *, 1 ch, turn.

Ridge Stitch
Work a row of single crochet on the foundation chain, 1 ch, turn.
Row 2: * Work 1 sc, inserting hook into back yarn at the head of each st of previous row *, 1 ch, turn.

Rose Stitch
Work a row of single crochet on the foundation chain, ch 1, turn.
Row 1: * Work 1 sc inserting hook under both horizontal loops of each st of previous row * 1, ch, turn.

Russian Stitch
This stitch is worked like Rose Stitch, with this difference, it is worked on the right side on every row, the yarn being cut at the end of each row.

Rumanian Stitch
This stitch is worked like Ridge Stitch with this difference, it is worked on the right side on every row, the yarn being cut at the end of each row.

Aligned Stitch
Row 1: 2 ch, *(wrh,insert hook wrh, draw through loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops) twice in one stitch; wrh, draw through 3 loops on hook * Repeat this one row, working one stitch in each stitch of previous row.

Cock's Head
Worked over an uneven number of stitches
Row 1: 2 ch, * wrh, insert hook, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops, wrh, insert hook in next st, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops, wrh, draw through 3 loops, 1 ch * 1 dc.
Row 2 and every following row: 2 ch, * wrh, insert hook in dc, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops, wrh, insert hook in st. which drew together 3 loops on previous row, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops, wrh, draw through 3 loops, 1 ch. Rep from * inserting hook first of all in same stitch. Finish row with 1 dc.

Waffle Stitch
Worked over an uneven number of stitches.
Row 1: 1 ch, * insert hook in st, wrh, draw through a loop, insert hook in next st, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops,wrh, draw through last 2 loops, 1 ch,* 1 dc. Repeat this one row, inserting the hook first before the vertical yarn, then after it.

Palm-Leaves
Multiple of 3 + 1.
Row 1: 1 ch, * 1 sc, 2 ch, miss 2 sts * 1 sc. Row 2: 3 ch 1 dc in 1st sc, then 3 dc in every following sc, and 2 dc in last sc.
Row 3: 1 ch, 1 sc in 1st dc, * 2 ch, 1 sc in central dc of group *,2 ch, 1 sc in 3 ch.
Rep from row 2.

Pique Stitch
Worked on a loose foundation chain.
Row 1: 1 ch, * wrh, insert hook, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops , wrh, insert hook in same st, wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 4 loops on hook *Repeat this row, working each st between 2 sts of previous row, and finishing with a st in the 2 ch.

More Patterns To Come! Patterns in Bicolor and Tricolor.

Bicolor Fish-Scale Stitch
Row 1: light blue yarn;3 ch,2 dc in first st,* skip 2 sts, 1 sc, skip 2 sts, 5 dc in next st*, 3 dc in last st.
Row 2: Starting at beg of row 1; dark blue yarn: 1 sc in 3rd ch, * 2 ch, (wrh, insert hook,draw through loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops) five times in same st, wrh, draw through 6 loops on hook, 2 ch,2 sc *.
Row 3: light blue yarn: 3 ch,2 dc on ch;* 1 sc in center of motif, 5 dc on sc *; 3dc.
Row 4: dark blue yarn; as Row 2.

Bicolor Seed Stitch
Row 1: green: 1 sc, * 2 ch, skip 2 sts, 1 sc *.
Row 2: red; 3 ch; * 3 dc. in 2 ch space, 1 ch *.
Row 3: as Row 1,working sc on 1 ch space.Do not break yarn when changing color, but start row at same end as color.

Biocolor Rib
Rows 1 and 2: light: dc to end.
Row 3: dark: * 2 sc, l dc inserting hook from right to left behind corresponding sc of Row l*.
Row 4: dark: sc to end.
Row 5: light: * 2 sc,l dc inserting hook from right to left behind dc of Row 3*.
Row 6: light: sc to end.
Repeat from Row 3, inserting hook behind dc.

Bicolor Paving Stitch
Row l: dark: 2 ch,* 3 dc, wrh insert hook in next st,wrh, draw through a loop, wrh,draw through 2 loops; light: wrh, draw through last 2 loops, 3 dc,wrh, insert hook in next st,wrh, draw through a loop, wrh, draw through 2 loops; dark: wrh, draw through last 2 loops*.

Tri-Color Speckle Stitch
Row 1: blue: 2 ch; *2 dc,2 ch,miss 2 sts *; 2 dc.
Row 2: red: 3 ch; * 3 dc in 2-ch space, l ch *.
Row 3:as Row l, working sc on l ch space.
Do not break yarn when changing color, but start
row at same end as color.

Tri-Color Rib
Rows l & 2: blue: sc to end.
Rows 3 & 4: red: sc to end.
Row 5: start at beg, of last row; yellow; sc to end.
Row 6: blue: * 2 sc, l tr inserting hook from right to left behind corresponding sc of row
two *; 2 sc.
Row 7: blue: sc to end.
Row 8: yellow: sc to end.
Row 9: red: as Row 6, inserting hook behind tr.

Treble Stitch Rib
Row 1: red: 2 ch; * 5 dc,2 ch, miss 2 sts *, 5 dc.
Row 2: green; * l sl st in each of 5 dc, 2 dc in 2 missed sts of Row l to cover 2 ch space *,sl st in each dc.
Row 3: start at beg of last row; red: 3 ch, * 5 dc in 5 dc of Row l covering sl sts, 2 ch *,
5 dc.
Row 4: repeat from Row 2,working dc in dc of Row 2.

Fancy Stripes
Rows l &2: blue: sc to end.
Row 3: yellow: * 2 sc; l sc in corresponding st of lst row*.
Row 4: yellow: sc to end.
Rows 5 & 6: blue: sc to end.
Row 7: yellow: l sc; * l sc on corresponding st of row 5, 2 sc*.
Row 8: yellow: sc to end.

TEXTURE STITCHES

Loop Stitch
To make a Loop Stitch (lp st), with the wrong side of the work facing, insert the hook in the specified stitch. Wrap yarn over a ruler or your index finger to form a 1 inch high loop. Pick up the bottom strand of yarn with the hook and pull through stitch, keeping loop taunt. Yarn Over and pull through both loops on the hook to complete stitch as a single crochet(sc).

Front Post DC Stitch
To work a Front Post dc (FPdc), YO and insert the hook from the front to the back around the post of stitch on the previous row. Complete dc stitch as usual. Working a Back Post dc (BPdc) is done in the same manner, except you insert the hook from the back to the front around the post.


WHEN CHANGING COLORS
IN CROCHET-Work the last stitch to within one step of completion, hook new yarn (color B) and draw through all loops on hook. Cut old yarn (color A) and work over both ends.
When working in rounds, drop old yarn (color A) and join with slip-stitch to first stitch using new yarn (color B).
ANOTHER METHOD: When you are beginning a new color (color B), weave the yarn under a few stitches on the underside of the fabric and then poke up through the appropriate hole to begin the first stitch. Do not carry one color across an area of the afghan (or other project) that is more than a few stitches. Simply end the yarn (color A) by weaving under a few stitches, snip (cut), and begin again.

This page was updated December 5,2002

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