Master the Basics: The Ultimate Crochet Guide for Newbies and Beginners

Crochet so is much more than an “old lady craft,” it’s a relaxing, creative outlet for people of all ages that can bring out the artistic side in anyone and everyone. Whether you’re looking for a new hobby to start off the new year or want to make handmade gifts for loved ones this year, crochet the craft is for you. In this beginner’s guide, I’ll walk you through the basics to get you started on your crafty journey.

Why Crochet? My Journey and Inspiration

Allow me to introduce myself. I’m Nicole, the founder and crafter behind Fawn & Fern Crochet, where I create and sell handmade crochet products from plushies to home decor. My passion for crochet began when I was a kiddo and my grandmother decided to teach me to crochet so that I would stop being annoying at family gatherings. It was the most frustrating thing I have ever learned to do and my first ever crochet project turned out AWFUL. From there, I gave up… until Covid. I started to expand my knowledge on crochet and fix all the millions of mistakes I made along the way. Eventually, years later (in 2023) I opened my small business, Fawn & Fern Crochet, and began to create adorable plushies as well as wearables that beginner me could never dream of. Now, I am a huge advocate for crochet, not only because of my passion for the craft, but also because of how much crochet has affected my life (from my mental health to my finances).

What You Need to Start

Getting started with crochet requires a couple materials and of course an intent to learn. Nobody is good at crochet when they first learn.

1. Yarn: Beginners should begin with a medium-weight yarn. I recommend acrylic yarn - as it is a cheap option that traditionally comes in worsted weight (medium/4 weight). This type of yarn is versatile and is commonly utilized in blankets, hats, and some amigurumi.
2. Crochet Hook: A size 5mm hook is one of my favorite sizes. It is a great starting point for beginners and works well with worsted weight yarn.
3. Scissors: The most common material on the list - anything sharp able to cut your yarn will do!
4. Tapestry/Yarn Needle: Used for weaving in loose ends and finishing projects. Some people prefer to use crochet hooks instead - but I find needles to be easier.

Basic Crochet Stitches

These are some basics to learn. There are plenty of tutorials on YouTube and TikTok that break down each stitch and how to hold the yarn step by step.

1. Slip Knot: commonly used to start a crochet project. An adjustable knot to fasten the project to the hook.
2. Chain (ch): the foundation of most crochet projects that will determine the width of the final project in most cases.
3. Single Crochet (sc): simplest and most versatile crochet stitch.
4. Double Crochet (dc): taller basic stitch that allows projects to work up faster, but is loser than the single crochet stitch.
5. Slip Stitch (ss): commonly used to join rows or pieces together.

Learning these stitches is essential when learning to crochet. Everything builds essentially off of these stitches. These are just a few of the many stitches out there, but are by far the most common and easiest to understand.

Pro tip: When looking up tutorials for these stitches ensure that the creator is using US terminology, as UK terminology is entirely different.

Choose your first project

For your first project, start small and keep it simple. Coasters, dishcloths, and small figures are the best first projects. Notably anything that begins with a magic ring may be trickier to start than working in a flat row. There are plenty of free patterns online. I would recommend a YouTube beginners tutorial, as for me, videos are much easier to follow.

Tips for beginners:

1. Practice, practice, practice: Your stitches may look uneven at first, and that’s okay! Tension and consistency comes with time. The most important thing is to get the motion of the stitch correct and build some muscle memory!
2. Don’t be afraid to start over: Mistakes are a HUGE part of the process. Crochet is a fairly forgiving medium, as mistakes are not super noticeable (when you learn how to fix them), but frogging (the act of pulling the working yarn to undo previous stitches) is natural with your first couple tries.
3. Join the Community: The online presence of crocheters is currently so vast. There is a presence on essentially every single social media site. Get involved, ask questions, get inspired!

I hope this guide has inspired you to pick up a hook and give crochet a try. It’s a hobby that’s relaxing, creative, and endlessly rewarding. If you’re looking for more inspiration or ready-made crochet creations, explore my shop. Thank you for supporting my small business and helping keep this craft alive and thriving!