On this page you will find an introduction to the 4 essential crochet stitches. I have grouped them into one place for convenience. These basic stitches form the building blocks of any crochet pattern. Once you master them, you will be on your way!
Below you will find explanations for the Chain Stitch, Single Crochet (UK Double Crochet), Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble Crochet) and Double Crochet (UK Treble Crochet), including written instructions as well as left and right handed YouTube tutorials.
If you are a total beginner, it may also help you to understand these terms:
Yarning over: I use the term “Yarn Over” (yo) to indicate wrapping the yarn over the hook. You should wrap the yarn from back to front around the hook.
Some patterns describe this as “Yarn round hook” (yrh).
Pull up a loop: This means you use the crochet hook to pull the yarn through the stitch that you have inserted your hook into.
You can learn more about these stitches in the Back to Crochet Basics Blog series, which includes examples of how these stitches can be used.
1. Slip knots, chaining and single crochet
2. Double crochet and half double crochet (UK Treble and half treble)
3. Tall Stitches – Treble Crochet (UK double treble) and taller stitches
Below is a table outlining the basic stitches and their abbreviations in US and UK terms:
Other Stitch Combinations
You can find a glossary of other useful stitch techniques such as starting stitches, decreases, cabling and much more here
The Chain Stitch
This is the first stitch you will need to understand as it often creates the foundation of your piece.
For full details, see Crochet basics: Slip knots, chaining and single crochet.
How to Crochet the Chain Stitch
With a slip knot / loop on your hook, yarn over, pull through loop.
For a more advanced alternative to chaining, see Foundation Rows.
Slip Stitch
The slip stitch is used in a variety of ways in crochet. Most commonly it is useful for joining stitches together, for example at the end of rows or to join two ends of a chain to form a loop.
Slip stitches can also be used as stitches in their own right and create a thick textured fabric.
The US abbreviation for a slip stitch is ss whereas sl st is more commonly used in UK Terms
How to Crochet a Slip Stitch
With 1 loop on your hook, insert the hook into the stitch to be worked, yarn over and pull the loop through the stitch and through the original loop on your hook, leaving 1 loop on the hook.
US Single Crochet (sc) / UK Double Crochet (dc)
For a full tutorial, see Crochet basics: Slip knot, chaining and single crochet.
The image below shows what the single crochet stitch looks like.
How to work a Single Crochet (UK Double Crochet)
Insert hook into stitch you are going to work, yarn over, pull up a loop, yarn over, pull through 2 loops to complete the stitch (1 loop on hook).
Single Crochet (UK Double Crochet) Right Handed Tutorial
Single Crochet (UK Double Crochet) Left Handed Tutorial
US Half Double Crochet (hdc) / UK Half Treble Crochet (htr)
For the full tutorial, see Crochet basics: Double Crochet and Half Double Crochet Stitches.
The image below shows what the hdc stitch looks like.
How to work a Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble Crochet)
Yarn over, insert hook into the stitch you’re working in, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through all 3 loops to complete the stitch (1 loop on hook).
Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble Crochet) Right Handed Tutorial
Click here for the Left-handed Half Double Crochet (UK Half Treble Crochet) Tutorial
US Double Crochet (dc) / UK Treble Crochet (tr)
For the full tutorial, see Crochet Basics: Double and Half Double Crochet
Below is an image of what the double crochet stitch looks like
How to work the Double Crochet Stitch (UK Treble Crochet)
Yarn over, insert hook into stitch, yarn over, pull up a loop (3 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through 2 loops, yarn over (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops to complete the stitch (1 loop on hook).
Double Crochet (UK Treble Crochet) Right Handed Tutorial
Double Crochet (UK Treble Crochet) Left Handed Tutorial
US Treble Crochet (tr) / UK Double Treble (dtr)
How to work the Treble Crochet Stitch (UK Double Treble Crochet)
Yarn over twice, insert hook into stitch, yarn over pull up a loop (4 loops on hook). Yarn over, pull through 2 loops (3 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops (2 loops on hook), yarn over, pull through 2 loops to complete the stitch (1 loop on hook).
The tutorials below cover both Treble Crochet (UK Double Treble) and taller stitches. For the full tutorial see, Crochet Basics, Treble Crochet and Tall Stitches