The Crochet Guild of America (CGOA) welcomes you to the wonderful world of crochet. We hope that these lessons will get you started, and that you will soon be as hooked on crochet as we are!
These are the basic crochet stitches with instructions for left-handers and right-handers. Click on the name of the stitch for step-by-step instructions for making the stitch.
See also crochet techniques for explanations of holding and working with the hook, or check out our video lessons for right-handers and left-handers.
Start with a loop on the hook. Hook yarn and pull through. (One chain completed.)
Insert hook into foundation chain or stitch, yarn over. Draw yarn through both the chain (or stitch) and the loop on the hook. (One slip stitch completed.)
Insert hook into foundation chain or stitch, yarn over and pull through chain or stitch (2 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through both loops. (One single crochet stitch has been completed.)
Yarn over, insert hook into foundation chain or stitch, yarn over again and pull yarn through chain or stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through all 3 loops. (One half double crochet stitch has been completed.)
Yarn over, insert hook into foundation chain or stitch, yarn over again and pull yarn through chain or stitch (3 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops again. (One double crochet has been completed.)
Yarn over twice, insert hook into foundation chain or stitch, yarn over again and pull yarn through chain or stitch (4 loops on hook). Yarn over and pull through 2 loops. Yarn over and pull through 2 loops again. Yarn over and pull through the last 2 loops for a third time. (One triple crochet has been completed.)
Crochet Lessons ©1997 Crochet Guild of America, Diagrams ©1990 TNNA