Be Crafty: Learn to Crochet

By:  Joanne Jones

One of the best feelings is to snuggle under a handmade blanket on a cold night. The feeling of knowing that someone cared enough about me to make sure I was warm and thought of at the same time. There is something almost magical being wrapped in something handmade, but being able to make something handmade is just as magical.  One of the easiest ways to learn to handmake an article is using crochet.

There is nothing like the satisfaction of being able to make something that is not only useful, but beautiful, and therapeutic to do. When you look at a piece of work, a piece of art, that was created by you, there is a joy that not much else can bring.

Welcome to the world of crochet. The world where strings and hooks can make beautiful items. Beautiful items that are also useful. The world that you can get lost in for hours. The world where people will marvel at your ability to manipulate yarn. This is also the world of a skill that can be useful when times are desperate.

When you know the basics of crochet, it opens a world of possibilities. You can make everything from scarves to socks, to washcloths, to blankets. You can make things to give away or keep them for your family.

If you have ever wanted to learn how to crochet, then let me help you!

Before we get started with learning how to crochet, you will need to familiarize yourself with some crochet terms. Below I have a list of commonly used terms, their abbreviations, and a description of each. One thing to keep in mind is that different countries will have different terminology. The terminology that I use is American terminology.

Common crochet terms:

st – stitch
yo – yarn over: drape the yarn over the hook from back to front.
ch – chain: yo, pull through the loop on the hook.
sl st – slip stitch: insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull through st and loop on hook.
sc – single crochet: insert hook in indicated st, yo, pull yarn through st, yo, pull yarn through both loops on hook
hdc – half double crochet: yo, insert hook in st indicated, yo, pull yarn through st, yo, pull through all 3 loops on hook
dc – double crochet: yo, insert hook in st indicated, yo, pull yarn through st, yo, pull through two loops, yo, pull through remaining two loops
trc – trebble (tripple) crochet: yo, insert hook in st indicated, yo, pull yarn through st, (yo, pull through two loops) x2, yo, pull through remaining two loops

In this post, I will be showing you how to do a chain stitch and a single crochet.

Supplies

The supplies you will need for this is a crochet hook. I recommend using a size I/5.5mm hook. You will also need yarn. You can use yarn like I Love This Yarn by Hobby Lobby, Red Heart Super Saver yarn, or Vanna’s Choice from Lion Brand. The last two things you will need are scissors, a blunt needle to weave in the tails.

Getting Started

To start, you will need to make a slip knot. To make a slip knot, pull out about six inches of the yarn from the skein. Cross the tail (the loose end) over the part attached to the yarn making a loop. With the tail end of the yarn, pull a loop through the already created loop. Once this is done, pull the yarn attached to the skein to tighten the loop. Pulling the tail end will make the loop smaller. Most patterns will not tell you to make a slip knot. The pattern will start by telling you how many chain stitches to make. For example, to make a scarf, the pattern should start out simply as “Chain 51”, or how many chain stitches you need to make.

To make the chain stitch, insert the hook into the loop, do a yarn over, and pull this yarn through the loop. When you pull the yarn through the loop, make sure the hook catches the yarn to pull through the loop. You have now completed a chain stitch (ch). Make sure you do not make the stitches too tight. If you make them tight, you will have problems when you make your crochet stitch.

Next Step

When you have a string of chain stitches, one side will be smooth, and the other side will have bumps. When you make the single crochet stitch (sc), you will want to use the bumpy side.  Insert the hook into a stitch, unless otherwise noted, it will be from the front.

To make a single crochet, insert hook into the stitch indicated, yarn over, pull up a loop. You will now have two loops on your hook. Yarn over, and pull through both loops on the hook.

So, how do you go from the chain stitch to the single crochet? It’s not as hard as you think. If you follow this simple pattern, you should be able to move from the chain stitch to making a row of single crochets. For this simple pattern, I am going to use the abbreviations to help get you familiar with them.

Ch 21. Remember, use the bumpy side of the chain. Skip the first bump. Sc in each of the rest of the bumps. You should have 20 sc sts

Congratulations! Yes, celebrate your craftiness!

Now, on to the next row.

When you make these stitches, you will go under both loops on the top of the single crochet of the row you just made.

Ch1, and turn your work so you can go across the row you just made. Sc in the first st (the last st you made in the previous row, not in the ch st). Sc in each st across. You should have 20 sc sts in this row.

Repeat this row until you have the length that you want. That’s it!

Once you have made your last stitch, ch 1, and pull this tight. This will make a slip knot. Cut the yarn so you have about a 6-inch tail. Using a blunt needle, weave in both tails.

Now, it’s time to put this into practice.

I have a simple pattern to try out. For this pattern, you will need:

Worsted Weight Yarn (like Red Heart Super Saver, I Love This Yarn or Vanna’s Choice Yarn)
size I/5.5mm crochet hook
blunt needle for weaving in the tails.
Scissors

Row 1: Ch 13, skip first ch (bump), sc in each chain across, ch 1, turn. 12 sts
Row 2: Sc in each st across, ch 1, turn.

Row 3-16: Repeat row 2. Finish off (tighten the ch, cut yarn)

Weave in the ends. This should be about 4 inches by 4 inches. If it’s not exact, that it okay. If it’s too big, or too small, you can add or subtract how many chains you begin with. Just remember to have one more chain than the stitches you need for this pattern.

You now have a coaster.

Do not be afraid to experiment with the stitches. You never know what you will create when you just let loose and go. Sometimes that is the best way to create. There have been many times that I have just grabbed a hook and yarn not knowing where it was going to take me.

If you want to make a scarf, the pattern would be the same. Instead of starting off with 13 chains, start with 51. This will give you a scarf 50 stitches wide. You can make it any length you want. I normally make mine at least 60 inches long.