How to crochet: A beginner's guide

If you have never crocheted before, those first few stitches can feel unfamiliar – but don’t worry. Every crocheter starts in exactly the same place. The secret is to take your time, practise each step and allow your hands to become comfortable with holding the hook and controlling the yarn.

Your first stitches don’t need to be perfect. As you continue, your movements will become more natural and your stitches more even.

One of the loveliest things about crochet is that you only need to learn a few basic techniques to get started. In this guide, we’ll show you how to make a slip knot, hold your hook and yarn, create a foundation chain and work a double crochet stitch. You’ll also learn how to turn your work at the end of a row, fasten off securely and weave in your yarn ends for a neat finish.

Before you begin, find somewhere comfortable to sit with good light. Try to keep your shoulders and hands relaxed, and don’t hold the hook or yarn too tightly.

Crochet has its own gentle rhythm, so work at a pace that feels comfortable to you. If a stitch doesn’t look right, simply undo it and try again – it's all part of learning.

First up, crochet is a craft technique where yarn or thread is looped together using a single hooked needle, called a crochet hook, to create fabric. It is commonly used to make items such as blankets, clothing, accessories, and decorative pieces, and can range from simple stitches to intricate patterns.

It's really easy to get started with crochet, you just need:

• Yarn (the pattern you're using will specify the type of yarn you need)
• Crochet hook
• Yarn needle
• Scissors

Particularly when you're still learning, make sure you use the type of yarn and size of crochet hook specified in the pattern. There are different size crochet hooks: generally, the bigger the crochet hook, the chunkier the yarn you will need to use.

• 2.00 mm – 3.25 mm: Lace, 2-ply, or 4-ply yarn
• 3.50 mm – 4.50 mm: Sport or 5-ply to light Double Knitting (DK) yarn
• 4.00 mm – 5.50 mm: Standard Double Knitting (DK) and Aran yarn
• 6.00 mm – 9.00 mm: Chunky and super chunky yarn
• 9.00 mm and above: Jumbo and mega-chunky yarn

Slip knot

To create your first crochet stitch, you’ll need to start with a slip knot.

How to hold a hook and yarn

Finding a comfortable way to hold the yarn and hook is essential for crochet, though it might feel strange at first. The goal is to have the yarn winding smoothly off the ball and over the top of your finger, with the right amount of tension. You will hold your hook in your dominant hand.

Chain stitch

Chain stitches are the foundation of many crochet projects and this is why some designers call the first row of chain stitches the foundation chain. When making your chain, keep your stitches nice and loose so you create an elastic edge.

Double (US - single) crochet stitch

This stitch is widely used across many crochet patterns. The terminology for stitches can be different depending on which country you are in, or in which country the pattern has been designed – in the US, this stitch is called single crochet.

Starting another row – turning your work

Here’s how to turn at the end of a row when working double (US single) crochet.

Fastening off

When you have crocheted the number of rows required by your pattern, you need to secure your yarn so that all of your hard work doesn’t unravel. Here’s how to fasten off at the end of a row.

Weaving in the ends

You will find that at the end of each project, you will have ends to weave in. While the temptation is to complete this part super-quickly, it really does pay to spend time making sure the ends have been woven in neatly. It finishes off your project so nicely.

Once you've completed your final row, fastened off and carefully woven in the ends, take a moment to appreciate what you have made. You started with a ball of yarn and a crochet hook and turned them into something you can wear – and that is something to feel proud of!

Don’t worry if your first stitches aren’t completely even. Crochet becomes easier and more natural with practice. The important thing is that you've learned the essential techniques and completed your first project.

Now that you understand the basics, you can use these same skills to explore many more crochet patterns and continue your creative journey.

Find crochet kits from Wool Couture and explore the haberdashery section of the Oxfam Online Shop to help you get started on your first crochet project.

Claire Gelder is the founder of Wool Couture Company and the author of eight craft books, including Crafting the Wheel of the Year, Mabel Bunny & Co, and the Pocket Book of Crochet.

© Wool Couture Company Limited 2026. All rights reserved.

This pattern, its written instructions, photographs, illustrations and supporting materials are the intellectual property of Wool Couture Company Limited. They are licensed to Oxfam solely for use in connection with the Oxfam Crochet Your Own Headband project. The materials may not be copied, adapted, translated, reproduced, distributed, republished or used for any other commercial purpose without the prior written permission of Wool Couture Company Limited.