Learn How To Crochet – Free Resource Guide

Here’s a collection of step-by-step resources available online (for free!) that will teach you how to crochet.

I’ve included both videos and illustrated tutorials and more than one example of each learning step to help you understand easier.

All of the resources below are for beginners, there are a few crochet dishcloth patterns toward the bottom that both beginner and advanced crocheters may find useful.

Step One – Getting Started With Crochet

The first thing you need to know how to do is making a slip knot and attach the yarn to the crochet hook as well as how to hold the yarn and crochet hook.

You’ll also need to know how to make chain stitches, these are “chains or loops” that you’ll use to get your crochet stitches started. If you’re a knitter, the chains serve a similar purpose to “Casting On”, they’re the foundation of the crochet project.

Slip Knots & Chains How To

• Slip Knot Tutorial: This page has two different series showing you how to make a slip knot, both are very good. Basically you make a loop and pull yarn up through the loop, then slide the knot snug against your hook.
• How to Make a Crochet Slip Knot – Video
• Crochet Chain Stitch – Video
• How to Crochet : How to Make a Crochet Chain Stitch – Video
• Making a chain stitch: Picture tutorial
• Learn to Chain Stitch: Another illustrated tutorial

How To Hold The Yarn And Crochet Hook

• How to crochet: lesson 1 – Video: Shows one method of how to hold the yarn & hook
• Grasp Proper Holding Techniques (pdf)
• How to Properly Hold Yarn to Crochet – Video

Step Two – Basic Stitches

With your foundation chain made, now you’re ready to practice a few stitches. At this point why not make a chain of 20 and then practice each of the stitches below, a row for each stitch or until you understand how to do them.

Here are tutorials for the most basic and commonly used crochet stitches:

Getting Started With The Foundation Chain

• Into the Foundation Chain

How To: Single Crochet Stitch:

• Single Crochet Stitch: Illustrated Tutorial
• Learning To Crochet – The Single Crochet
• Crochet Single Crochet – Video

How To: Double Crochet Stitch

• Double Crochet Stitch – Video
• Double crochet – Tutorial
• Crochet Instructions: How to do a Double Crochet stitch – Illustrated Tutorial

How To: Half Double Crochet Stitch

• Half Double Crochet Stitch – Video
• Half Double Crochet – Picture Tutorial

How To: Treble/Triple Crochet Stitch

• Treble Crochet – Picture Tutorial
• Triple Crochet Stitch – Video

How To: Slip Stitch

• Slip Stitch – Tutorial
• How to do Slip Stitch – Video

More Stitch Tutorials

The slip, single and double crochet stitch are the basics in crochet and are used most often. Sometimes though you’ll be working on projects with more involved or complicated stitches. Here is an online resources for stitches: Crochet Stitches Directory. You might also like to check out Stitch Diva’s Tutorials: Crochet Tutorials.

Tip: It’s worthwhile purchasing a book of crochet stitches, I’ve found a few at yard sales for just a couple dollars and they’re life-long resources–keep your eyes out for these treasures. If there’s a stitch that you just can’t figure out, do an online search for it (ie. “Double Crochet Stitch How To”)…you can also search on video sites like YouTube, plenty of tutorials available. Another idea is to print off online tutorials as you find them and make your own binder or book to have as a reference.

Step Three: Working With Crochet

Chances are you’ll run out of yarn in the middle of a project and need to start a new ball, or you may need to change yarn colors. Here are two tutorials showing you how to do that:

• Changing Colors at the Beginning of a Row or Round
• How To Change To Different Colour Yarn In Crochet – Video (suggests making a slip knot on the new color before adding–not everyone agrees this is necessary but it can be done)

Step Four: Finishing Up Your Crochet Project

After a project is complete, you’ll have some loose ends of yarn to clean up (both from the beginning and end of a project). Clean up is simple, here are a few tutorials:

• Fastening Off
• The Invisible Finish Off
• Crochet Weaving the ends – Video

Working With Crochet Patterns

Now that you know how to start crochet and the basic crochet stitches, it’s time to work with patterns.

First you need to learn how to interpret or read patterns, here are a couple resources:

• Learning to read crochet patterns
• How To Read A Pattern

Next, work with basic crochet patterns at first until you’re comfortable holding the yarn and working the stitches. This also gives you practice reading simple patterns. Whip up a few dishcloths and you’ll have the various stitches down pat in no time! Here are some free & basic crochet dishcloth patterns available online:

• Dishcloth and Pot Holder (membership required–free)
• Basic Crochet Dishcloth/Washcloth
• Quick, Easy Dishcloth Free Pattern

Finding Help

Just like I mentioned in the learn knitting resource guide, yarn & wool shops are staffed with very knowledgeable knitters and crocheters that are normally happy to help anyone stuck on a project. You can also find help in online groups and forums like the Crochet Happy Forum.

And Now You Know How To Crochet…

Once you’ve conquered the dishcloths and are comfortable with the basics of crocheting, you can start on larger projects such as afghans or more complicated projects like sweaters, hats, vests and more. There are a tonne of free crochet patterns online for you to start with, try choosing projects that teach you new stitches as you go, once you learn the basics the more advanced stuff comes easy. Have fun!

Don't Miss These Tips:

• Learn How To Knit – Free Resource Guide
• Sunscape Throw: Free Crochet Pattern
• Free Video Library: Hand Embroidery Stitches