How to Make Crochet

This is a wonderful hobby isn't it?

From making your first misshapen square to creating clothing, shoes, and toys...

Becoming an expert is a rewarding journey. I remember the first few years of crocheting when my passion drove me to read book after book and practice pattern after pattern to become good enough that I could truly create rather than copy.

Less than a year ago I found a guide that taught me how to crochet and helped push me to expert in just a few days. The book has a different way of explaining things so that you don't have to read them again.

I now refer to the guide from time to time to pick up a new one of their free patterns. I wish you as much success and joy as I have had with this wonderful art.

Good luck and happy crocheting!

When making the first single crochet in a starting chain:

Insert the hook under the top loop of the second chain from the hook. Do not count the loop already on the hook when determining which chain is the second chain from the hook.

To begin a single crochet in a stitch that was already made in a previous row:

1) Insert hook through under loop of stitch.

2) Wrap the yarn over the hook.

3) Use the crochet hook to pull the yarn through the stitch.

4) Yarn over hook. At this point, you have two loops on the hook plus the yarn wrapped over the hook.

5) Pull yarn through the two loops on the hook. Working your way across a row, repeat steps 1 through 5 for each additional single crochet you want to make.

When you have reached the end of a row:

To begin a second row in single crochet, chain 1, to turn, then single crochet in each single crochet across the row.

For more help learning how to make crochet stitches, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

1) Take the yarn and wrap it around your finger in a circle.

2) Take the needle and wrap the yarn around it once and pull through once.

3) Once you have your first loop, continue to wrap the yarn around the needle until you have the desired length.

4) Once the desired length is acquired, turn it around and continue to loop the yarn around the needle and go back over the chain from the way that it was started.

1) Chain stitch the number of stitches specified in pattern.

2) Make a slip stitch in top chain to make the chain form a ring.

3) Chain three. This is the first of three double crochets. Make two double crochets, chain two, make three double crochets in ring.

4) Wrap yarn over hook and draw through three loops on hook with one loop remaining on hook.

5) Continue three double crochets with two chains between them.

6) Switch yarn colors between rounds.

For more help learning how to make crochet squares, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

Ch. 3, join to make a ring.

1) Row 1: Ch. 3 (counts as 1 dc), 11 dc in ring, join.

2) Row 2: Ch. 3, 2 dc in each dc all around, join. (24 dc)

3) Row 3: Work 12 popcorn stitches in every other dc all around. Popcorn stich: 9 trs in same stitch, remove hook and join first and last tr with ss. Ch. 3.

4) Row 4: This row is worked on the back of the flower. *Ch. 4, 1 tr in Ch. 3 space, 1 tr in join of tr petal.

5) Repeat all around, join with ss in 3rd chain.

6) Break yarn leaving an eight inch string, work yarn loosely in and out of the tr stitches and tighten like a draw string to complete the back.

7) Complete by sewing on a small crochet circle (repeat row 1) button.

For more help learning how to make crochet flowers, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

Make sure you keep your yarn to the wrong side when changing colors.

1) Row 1: Chain 25, sc in second chain from hook and remaining chains. 24 sc.

2) Row 2: chain 1,sc across, turn.

3) Rows 3-12 : ch 1, 10 sc MC, 4 sc CC, 10 sc MC turn.

4) Rows 13-18; ch 1, 4sc MC, 16sc CC, 4 sc MC turn.

5) Rows 19-28: repeat rows 3-12.

6) Rows 29-30 repeat Row 2.

For more help learning how to make crochet afghans, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

1) Start your foundation chain. Create a slipknot around your hook and wrap the yarn around the hook, moving toward your body.

2) Push your hook and yarn down through the slipknot loop.

3) Continue until you have created the size you want.

1) With A, ch 4. Join with sl st to first ch to form a ring.

2) Ch 1. 6 sc in ring. Join B with sl st to first sc.

3) With B, ch 1. 2 sc in each sc around. Join C with sl st to first sc. 12 sc.

4) With C, ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in next sc) 6 times. Join D with sl st to first sc. 18 sc.

5) With D, ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 2 sc) 6 times. Join A with sl st to first sc. 24 sc.

6) With A, ch 1. (2 sc in next sc. 1 sc in each of next 3 sc) 6 times. Join B with sl st to first sc.
30 sc. Last 4 rnds form stripe pattern.

7) Keeping cont of stripe pattern, inc 6 sts on every row, as before to 48 (54-60) sts, then every following alt row to 60 (66-72) sts. Cont in stripe pattern, work 9 (10-12) rows even.

8) With appropriate color, working from left to right instead of right to left as usual, work 1 reverse sc in each sc around. Join with sl st to first sc. Fasten off.

For more help learning how to make crochet beanies, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from being a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

Foundation row for handles (make 2)

1) Using 3.5mm hook make 90 ch,
Row 1 - Miss 2 ch (count as 1 dc), 1 dc into next and each ch to end.

2) Row 2 - Turn, change to 4mm hook, 1ch (counts as 1 dc), miss one st, 1dc into next and each st to end working last st into tch, turn.

3) Repeat 2nd row 4 more times (6 rows in total).

Foundation row for top of bag

1) Using 3.5mm hook make 120 ch, ss to form a ring, turn

2) Next Row - 1 ch, 1 dc into each foundation ch (120 dc), ending with ss into top of 1st dc, turn next rows.

3) Change to 4mm hook, 1ch (counts as 1 dc), miss one st, 1dc into next and each st continue working round the bag opening for 10 circular rows, ss into top of next dc to form a neat ending.

Start String Stitch as follows

1) Row 1 - (to accommodate the handles): 8ch, miss 7ch, 1dc into next st, 6ch, miss 3ch, 1dc into next st rep a further 5 times, 8ch, miss 7ch, 1dc into next st, 6ch, miss 3ch, 1dc into next st rep a further 4 times, 8ch, miss 7ch, 1dc into next st, 6ch, miss 3ch, 1dc into next st rep a further 5 times, 8ch, miss 7ch, 1dc into next st, 6ch, miss 3ch, 1dc into next st rep a further 3 times, 6ch, miss 3ch, 1 ss into next st.

2) Row 2 - Continuing in rnds, 8ch, 1dc into first 6ch arch, * 6 ch, 1 dc into next 6 ch arch: rep from * to completion of 18 further rnds, finishing the rnd with a dc into the ch space that is in line with the start of the first rnd. Keep yarn attached.

Complete the Construction

1) Lay bag out on a flat surface so that the holes made from 8 ch line up two at the front and two at the back, *3 ch, 1 dc through both ch arches that are in line with each other from the front and back of the bag; rep from * to end finishing with a dc into the last ch arches, fasten off and sew in the end of the yarn.

2) Line the bag with the lining cloth of choice.

3) Damp press the bag into shape.

For more help learning how to make crochet bags, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

To begin: ch 2, then join stitches with a sl st.

1) Round 1: 6 sc into second ch from hook.

2) Round 2: 2 sc in each of 6 sts of previous round. Mark end of round with scrap piece of yarn in contrasting color; move yarn to the end of each subsequent round as you finish it.

3) Round 3: *1 sc in next st, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

4) Round 4: *1 sc in each of next 2 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

5) Round 5: *1 sc in each of next 3 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

6) Round 6: *1 sc in each of next 4 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

7) Round 7: *1 sc in each of next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round. *1 sc in each of next 5 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

8) Round 8: *1 sc in each of next 6 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

9) Round 9: *1 sc in each of next 7 sts, 2 sc in next st*. Repeat from * to * to end of round.

10) Finish off.

11) To make the other half, epeat.

12) Join halves by threading yarn needle with good length of yarn. With right sides facing, sew halves together. Leave 1-inch opening. Turn ball right side out. Stuff ball through opening until firm. Thread needle with yarn. Sew closed with whipstitch. Secure with a knot. Weave in ends.

For more help learning how to make crochet balls, you can use the guide I used. It helped me go from a beginner to a near expert in a little over a week. Feel free to look for yourself here.

You can find thousands of free crochet patterns online. I first got started by buying countless books and practicing and practicing. I found a guide online that includes tons of free crochet patterns along with instructions and tips that showed me everything I needed to know. It is so well written and easy to follow that I was crocheting like an expert in just a few days.

I started crocheting a few years ago when I fell in love with a few pieces my friend had made. I am completely self-taught and I learned mostly from books and lots of practice.

It was hard when I first started and it remained difficult for a long time. I remember having patterns and books open while trying to hold my needle and yarn and dropping one or the other or the book page flipping. It was quite frustrating.

I found a fun guide that helped take me to the next level. I now consider myself proficient if not expert at crocheting but more than anything, I am finally able to just enjoy it!

This guide book helped teach me stitches that before were difficult to follow in the books I had. It has a different way of explaining the technical instructions most books make impossible to follow.

I personally still refer to it even today because it comes with tons of free patterns. I would highly recommend it because it will free you from the common problems people face when trying to make their beautiful crochet creations.

Check it out for yourself here!

Good luck and happy crocheting!