🧶 What Are the Basic Crochet Stitches? (Beginner Guide with Tips)

Just getting started with crochet? Yay! 🎉 You’re about to enter a relaxing, creative, and super satisfying world. But before you can start whipping up scarves, hats, and blankets, there’s one thing you need to know:

What are the basic crochet stitches?

Great question—because these beginner stitches are the foundation for almost every crochet project out there. Learn these few and you’ll be amazed at how much you can create!

🧵 1. Slip Knot (The Starting Point)

Before you can stitch, you need to get your yarn on the hook. That starts with a slip knot—the very first loop you make.

🔹 Why it matters:

It anchors your yarn to your hook so you can begin chaining.

🔗 2. Chain Stitch (ch)

This is usually your first real stitch and is used to create the foundation row of many crochet patterns.

✨ How it works:

Yarn over, pull through the loop. Repeat!

Tip: Practice making even chain stitches—they set the tone for your entire project.

🧶 3. Single Crochet (sc)

This is one of the most essential stitches. It creates a tight, dense fabric that’s perfect for things like washcloths, amigurumi (stuffed animals), and cozy wearables.

✨ How to do it:

Insert hook into stitch → yarn over → pull up a loop → yarn over again → pull through both loops on the hook.

💨 4. Half Double Crochet (hdc)

Think of this as the “middle child” of crochet stitches—taller than a single crochet, shorter than a double. It works up quickly and creates a lovely texture.

✨ How to do it:

Yarn over → insert hook → pull up a loop → yarn over → pull through all three loops.

🌿 5. Double Crochet (dc)

This stitch gives you height and drape. It’s perfect for scarves, shawls, and light blankets.

✨ How to do it:

Yarn over → insert hook → pull up a loop → yarn over → pull through two → yarn over → pull through last two.

🧸 6. Slip Stitch (sl st)

This isn’t really a building stitch—it’s more of a joining stitch. You’ll use it to connect rounds, finish off your work, or move across stitches without adding height.

✨ How to do it:

Insert hook → yarn over → pull through both the stitch and the loop on the hook.

📘 Quick Reference Chart

🧶 Want to Practice?

Start with a small swatch sampler—try chaining 10–15 stitches, then do a few rows of each stitch to see how they look and feel. This builds muscle memory and gives you a mini stitch library to reference!

🎯 The Bottom Line

Learning the basic crochet stitches is your gateway to endless projects and creativity. Once you’ve got these down, you’ll be amazed at how patterns start to make sense—and how fast your skills grow.