A beginner's guide to crocheting
- Ellie Cole-Calderon
- 6 days ago
- 5 min read
Do you want to learn how to crochet? Are you too intimidated by difficult-looking patterns and hard-to-follow tutorials? Starting a project may seem daunting, but all you need is a push to begin. I’ve split this article up into 3 sections of beginners. Follow along to see how you can progress!
Level 1 Beginner:
The first step to learning to crochet is to learn the basic motions. Chains, single crochet, and slip stitches are some of the basic stitches you need to know to be able to make anything. (Others include increase and decrease stitches.)
Now comes my most important piece of advice. When starting to crochet for the first time, I recommend starting with a stuffed animal. Not only will this teach you all of the stitches you need to know, but it will also teach you the mindset to be in while crocheting. At first, it will feel difficult to count stitches and keep track of your work, but after you practice, it will become easy to crochet while watching a show or listening to something. I suggest getting a kit for your first project; it comes with all of the required materials so you don’t have to endlessly search Michael’s, and it will come with step-by-step instructions. A Woobles kit is a great way to start because their videos explain how to make basic stitches and follow a pattern. Another resource is ERHS’s crochet club. It really helps to have a teacher in person, so this is a great club if you want to start. It gave me motivation to learn on my own, and after just a couple months, I’ve made a lot of small things.
After making your first project, whether it’s a square or a plushie, you’ll be able to move on to the next step.
Level 2 Beginner:
Once you’ve mastered Level 1, you can move onto Level 2. This is what most people classify as a true “beginner”. Start by thinking about what you might want to make that doesn’t sound too complicated. Projects like beanies, scarves, bookmarks, and amigurumi stuffed animals are great because there are lots of tutorials on them. I would start with something small, so in case you mess up, it’s easy to start over and you won’t lose motivation. If you look up tutorials for these things and include “beginner” in your search, you’re sure to find at least one tutorial that helps you make exactly what you want to. Thanks to the internet, crocheting has never been easier to learn! You’ll also want to learn more stitches at this stage: double, half-double, and treble are basics that will be important to make pretty designs. Learning the appropriate abbreviations is also important, as most patterns use abbreviated language.
When you master these skills, you can move on to video tutorials from other creators with “beginner” in the name. Try not to seek out patterns unless you’re very confident in your stitches or find one that explains things very simply. Video tutorials are more helpful for me because I can see what they’re doing during each step. I’ve linked some small creators at the end that you should check out!
Level 3 Beginner:
Once you can reach Level 3, you’re ready to follow patterns and expand your knowledge! Experiment with different shapes and size yarn. Bags, coasters, scrunchies, leg warmers, and other clothes and accessories are great for this stage! You can learn even more stitches, like double-treble, and learn how to make things like mesh. Granny squares are also important to learn, even if they’re not as fun. If you’re at a loss for ideas, there are plenty of YouTube channels that I recommend to give you ideas, like this one. You can also make a Pinterest board or a bucket list to keep you inspired and ready to create things! Some other fun ideas are to make birthday and holiday gifts for people, or room decor for yourself. Make sure you don’t get carried away, though. Always read through patterns before starting them, and make sure you’re fully capable of doing everything stated.
Intermediate:
You’ve made it to intermediate! Now your true crochet journey can start. Branch out and make whatever you want, because the majority of projects are open to you. Want to make something more advanced like a blanket or a sweater? Go for it! Seek out patterns to challenge yourself and learn how to make your work look pretty. By this point, you should be able to crochet with a consistent grip, or tension, and you should be able to work with different types of yarn, like wool, acrylic, and bulky. Have fun with it, because in the end, crocheting is a hobby.
I asked a couple people around school that crochet about their experience as beginners, and they had some good suggestions. Here are some quotes from them, as well as their current finished projects.
“I’ve been crocheting for three years and I think the hardest part about learning to crochet would be learning how to recognize and count different patterns and stitches. Crochet is very time consuming, and if you make a mistake early on it can feel discouraging to undo your work to fix it. I would recommend always double checking your work: Take measurements, do a little sketch. You don’t want to crochet a whole sweater only to put it on and realize it doesn’t fit you.”
June Hoffman, 8th grade
“I’ve been crocheting since 2023, where I first got my inspiration at the Threads arts and crafts club. From there, I followed YouTube tutorials on different types of stitches and how to make different things. For me, it was very difficult to maintain an even tension, but with more practice, my stitches started to look a lot more even and clean.”
Rio Fisher, 8th grade
Finally, there are some other things worth mentioning if you’re going to start fresh. Crocheting can be an expensive hobby, and if you want to get the right materials, you should be prepared to buy what you need. Get stitch markers, a few yarn needles, scissors, and hooks ranging from 4mm to 6mm to begin with (once you find your tension, it will be helpful to test out different-sized hooks). Make sure to check what yarn you need in your tutorials before going to a craft store or ordering online, just to know exactly what to look out for. Do extra research! The more you know about your pattern, stitches, and terminology, the better you’ll be when you start your project. Get a good place to store all of your materials, like a bag or bin. It’ll take time and effort, but this is your sign to start!
Resources
Small Creators:
Patterns: