Rewards
Every crochet stitch is a variation on one move: yarn over, pull through. The hundreds of named stitches are combinations of how many times you yarn over, where you insert the hook, and how many loops you pull through at once. Learn five and you can read most patterns. Learn fifteen and you can make almost anything.
Here are the fifteen, grouped by what they're for, in the order most people learn them.
The five basics (learn these first)
1. Chain (ch). The foundation of everything. Yarn over, pull through the loop on your hook. Your starting row is a chain, and chains make the spaces in every lace stitch. Keep them loose; a tight foundation chain is the reason beginner blankets curl at the bottom.
2. Slip stitch (sl st). Insert the hook, yarn over, pull through everything at once. No height. Used to join rounds, move across stitches without adding height, and make a firm edge.
3. Single crochet (sc). The shortest working stitch and the densest fabric. Insert, yarn over, pull up a loop (two loops on hook), yarn over, pull through both. For amigurumi, baskets, dishcloths and anything that needs to hold its shape. Tutorial.
4. Half double crochet (hdc). Yarn over first, insert, pull up a loop (three loops), yarn over, pull through all three. Taller than single, softer, faster. The best all-round blanket stitch. Tutorial.
5. Double crochet (dc). Yarn over, insert, pull up a loop, then pull through two loops twice. Tall, quick, slightly open. The workhorse of scarves, shawls and granny squares. Tutorial.
Once these five are comfortable, you can read a pattern. Our crochet abbreviations list decodes the shorthand.
Two more basics you'll meet in the first month
6. Treble crochet (tr). Yarn over twice before inserting. Very tall, very open, very fast. Used in lace and in open summer pieces, and held with chains it's one of the most yarn-efficient stitches there is.
7. Magic ring. Not a stitch so much as a start: a tightenable loop for working in the round, so hats and amigurumi have no hole in the middle. How to make one, plus easier alternatives.
Stitches for blankets
8. Granny stitch. Clusters of three double crochets separated by a chain, worked into the chain spaces of the row below. The most-made stitch in crochet: forgiving, scrap-friendly, and it works flat in rows or in the round as a square. Tutorial.
9. Moss stitch (linen or granite stitch). Single crochet, chain one, skip one, repeat; next row, work the single crochets into the chain spaces. A woven-looking, flat fabric with no curl. Slower, but the texture is worth it for a throw you'll keep.
10. V-stitch. Two double crochets with a chain between them, worked into one space. Light, quick and drapey; the stitch for a summer blanket or a limited yarn supply.
11. Waffle stitch. Double crochets alternating with front-post doubles that stand off the fabric in a grid. Thick, squishy and warm. Free washcloth pattern to learn it on.
Choosing between them for a specific blanket? How to crochet a blanket has the size chart and yarn math.
Stitches for lace and drape
12. Shell stitch. Five double crochets fanned into one stitch, anchored with a single crochet between shells. Scalloped, pretty, classic for baby blankets and edgings.
13. Trellis stitch. Arches of chain-5 caught with single crochets. Mostly air; the lightest scarf you can make, and the fastest.
14. Larksfoot stitch. Long spike stitches worked down into rows below, over a double crochet base. Open, textured and striking in stripes. Tutorial.
One texture stitch
15. Puff stitch. Several loops pulled up into the same stitch and closed together. Plush bumps for hats, cowls and cushion covers. Hungry for yarn, so plan for it.
How to practice a new stitch
- Chain 20 plus the turning chain, in a smooth, light worsted yarn on an H-8 or I-9 hook.
- Work ten rows. The first three will be wrong; that's the point of the swatch.
- Keep the swatch. A folder of 6-inch squares, labeled, is the most useful crochet reference you'll ever own.
A monthly skein with a small pattern is a good way to meet new stitches one at a time. Yarn of the Month sends three hand-dyed skeins with a crochet and knit pattern written for them, $29 a month plus shipping.
Crochet stitches FAQ
What are the basic crochet stitches?
Chain, slip stitch, single crochet, half double crochet and double crochet. With those five you can follow most patterns; treble crochet and the magic ring come soon after.
What is the easiest crochet stitch for beginners?
Single crochet, because it's short and each step is visible. Half double crochet is the best second stitch: faster, softer, and the one most beginner blankets use.
Which crochet stitch is best for a blanket?
Half double crochet for a dense, warm throw; granny stitch for scraps and color changes; V-stitch for a light blanket from less yarn.
