How to Crochet - Step Two - Learn to Make The Single Crochet Stitch - Plus Free Beginner Patterns
77My step-by-step photo tutorial can help make it easy for you to learn how to make a single crochet stitch; a stitch which is commonly used in crochet patterns, making it an essential basic stitch to know, for making items with crocheting. After you've followed the steps for learning the single crochet, you can practice your newfound knowledge with the easy single crochet square pattern directions that I have given.
To Begin, You Will Need a Starting Chain to Work Into
To follow this tutorial for making a single crochet stitch, you will need to make a starting chain first, so that you have something to make the stitches in. If you do not already know how to make a starting chain, my step-by-step photo tutorial can help you to easily learn how (see crocheted chain how-to link below).
When Working Into a Starting Chain - Step 1
You will be making the first single crochet in the second chain from the hook. This photo illustrates which chain is considered to be the second one (you do not count the chain already on the hook, when determining which chain is the second chain from the hook).
When Working Into a Starting Chain - Steps 2 and 3
When you are making a single crochet in a starting chain, after you have inserted the hook through the top loop of the chain, you will wrap the yarn over the hook and pull that yarn through that loop (these steps are also shown in the steps 2 and 3 photos below).
See steps 4 and 5 below for completing a single crochet that is made into a starting chain.
How to Single Crochet - Steps 1 and 2:
When Working Into Stitches - Steps 1 - 3
The two photos above illustrate the same first steps (that were made in a starting chain) being made in a row of single crochet. When you are making single crochet in stitches (instead of in a starting chain), you will insert the hook under the whole top loop as shown in the photo marked 1. The photo marked as 2. (shown above) shows the yarn being wrapped over the hook.
The photo on the right (marked as 3, to show the third step) shows the single crochet step of pulling the yarn through the stitch.
This step of pulling the yarn loop through the stitch is done the same way, whether you are working into a starting chain or working into a stitch.
Step 4
Wrap the yarn over the hook again.
Step 5 Photo:
Step 5
Pull the yarn through both loops on the hook (you have just made one single crochet).
Repeat steps 1 - 5 for each additional single crochet that you wish to make. The row is worked in the direction of right to left, so when you have made a single crochet, you will be making the next single crochet in the next chain or stitch to your left.
A First Pattern - Making Rows of Single Crochet
I've written the directions for this simple square in full words (instead of abbreviating crochet terms) to make it easier for a very beginner to follow. Later, you can learn about crochet abbreviations.
All the crochet knowledge that you will need to make this single crochet square is shown in my tutorial for Learning How to Make a Crocheted Chain and in my Single Crochet tutorial above.
Single Crochet Practice Square Pattern For Very Beginners
Pattern Directions
Materials
About 2 ounces any brand worsted weight yarn, any color (a light color is easiest for a crochet beginner to use because you can see the stitches more easily, as opposed to a very dark color of yarn)
US Size H crochet hook
To start:
Leave about five or six inches of yarn before the first loop of your starting chain.
Leave this length hanging while you are crocheting the square. You will weave part of this length in when the square is finished. (This is a good way to secure the end so it won't unravel with use or when the item is washed.) Although you will only be weaving in a few inches of the length that is left at the beginning and end of the square, you will need the extra inches of the yarn end length to be able to navigate the sewing needle through the stitches, while doing the weaving in of the ends.
Starting chain: chain 30.
Row 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, single crochet in each chain across. (There are 29 single crochet in this row.) Chain 1, then turn the work around to start the next row.
Row 2: Single crochet in each single crochet across. (29 single crochet in the row) Chain 1, then turn the work around to start the next row.
Row 3 to about Row 33: Repeat row 2 for each row, until the square is one row away from being as tall as it is wide.
Last Row: Single crochet in each single crochet across. (29 single crochet in the row)
End off, leaving a length of about 5 - 6 inches for the weaving in.
End off (also called fasten off) means to draw the last length of yarn through the loop remaining on the hook. Draw this tight.
Weave in the ends on the back of the square, using a large-eye yarn needle (as shown in the photos below).
How to Weave in Yarn Ends
Step 1: Using a large-eye yarn needle, thread the yarn end through the eye of the needle and weave the needle under stitches for at least two inches (on the back of the crocheted piece, being careful to not have the woven end showing on the front of the crocheted piece). Pull the yarn all the way through.
Step 2: Skipping half of the last stitch woven under, weave back through the same stitches for at least one inch or so. Pull the yarn through. You can weave back again in the other direction, if you want to secure the end even more. Cut the yarn close to the last stitch that was woven under, so the end of the yarn strand will be hidden under this last stitch.
Second Pattern For Beginners
With this pattern, you can learn a few more basics, such as how to skip a stitch, how to follow directions for repeats that are shown between asterisks (*) and can practice making more than one single crochet in a same place.
These basics are shown in my photos below, that go along with the pattern, to give you close looks, making it easier to understand how these crochet techniques are done.
Single Crochet Texture Square Pattern
Materials: About 2 ounces worsted weight yarn, any brand, any color
U.S. Size H crochet hook
How to Skip a Stitch: Pass over the chain or stitch that is to be skipped, without doing anything with it and work into the next chain or stitch that follows the skipped stitch.
When the Pattern Says to Make a Chain 1: Wrap the yarn over the hook and pull the yarn through the loop already on the hook (the same way that you made each chain of the starting chain). After the chain is made, it will be referred to as a chain-1.
Repeats Indicated by * and ** - When the pattern says to repeat the directions between * and **, go back to the * and begin following the directions again that are after the *; keep going until you come to the **.
The Beginning of Row 1 - First 3 Stitches Made, Shown on Photo:
Abbreviations, used on the photos:
ch = chain, sc = single crochet
To Start: Leave about five or six inches of yarn before the first loop of your starting chain (this will be used for weaving in the end later, to secure it).
Starting Chain: chain 30.
Row 1: Single crochet in the second chain from the hook, single crochet in the next chain, * make a chain 1, skip next chain of the starting chain, make one single crochet in each of the next 2 chains of the starting chain ** (refer to the photos).
Repeat the directions between * and ** eight more times to go all the way across the row. At the end of the row, chain 1 (to turn) and turn the square around to start the next row.
The Beginning of Row 1 - First 4 Stitches Made, Shown on Photo (I've Outlined Each Separate Stitch With a Different Color):
The Beginning of Row 1 - First 5 Stitches Made (Each SC is Made in 1 Chain of the Starting Chain):
Row 1 in Progress, Working Along the Starting Chain:
The next photo below shows the beginning of Row 2, with stitches marked on the photo. It can be helpful to refer to this photo, as you begin crocheting Row 2.
Photo - Row 2 in Progress
Row 2: Single crochet in the first single crochet, single crochet in the next single crochet, make a chain 1, * skip next chain-1 of previous row, skip next single crochet, make 2 single crochet all in the next single crochet, make a chain 1 **.
Photo - 2 sc made in next sc:
Repeat the directions between * and ** seven more times, then skip next chain-1 of previous row, make one single crochet in each of the last two single crochet of the row. Then chain 1 (to turn) and turn the square around to start the next row.
Rows 3 - 34 (or until the square is as tall as it is wide): Repeat row 2.
End off, leaving a length of about 5 - 6 inches to weave in. Weave in the ends, using a large-eye yarn needle.
Copyright, Terms of Use
This tutorial and the patterns were written by Sandi Marshall. Photos in the tutorial and patterns photographed by Sandi Marshall, copyright by Sandi Marshall. Per copyright law, do not copy the contents of this page to another web site, blog or elsewhere. Do not distribute by reproduced copy, in any form (even if it would be distributed for free). Instead, you may link to this page or give others the url for this page so that they may come to this tutorial page for themselves. Further info on copyright law can be read at www.copyright.gov
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Simone, please let me know which part you found to be confusing. That way, I can add other photos and more explanation for that part. Was it some of the steps for making a single crochet stitch or was it some part of the Second Pattern for Beginners? There may be other people who found the same part confusing too, but didn't let me know, so if you will let me know which exact part, please, I can add more to help you (and others) with it.
Thanks,
Sandi
after the first single chain, i do not understand how to get the next row(the skip and take up 2 chains.. Pluss how tight should the chains be?
Kashema,
I'm glad that you asked so that I can help you with this. I'll explain it in several ways, to try to be sure that I'm coming across in a way that is clearest and easiest for my explanation to 'click' for an understanding of the process.
On the photo that shows right below the words "Starting Chain: chain 30", that photo shows the starting chain, with Row 1 only partly done and in progress on that starting chain.
When you are doing Row 1, for the repeat pattern across the row: after you make one chain (a chain is made by wrapping the yarn over the hook and then pulling that yarn through the one loop already on the hook), then skip a chain of the starting chain (by passing over it, doing nothing with it), next you will make a single crochet in the next chain (I have an arrow on the photo pointing to the chain that is after the skipped chain). Next, you will make a new single crochet in the chain that is right after the chain that you just made the previous single crochet into.
Another way of explaining it: after the skipped chain, you will make two separate single crochet, with one single crochet in the chain after the skipped chain and the next single crochet in the chain after that.
Another way of explaining the repeat pattern of Row 1, fully spelled out in all detail: after the skipped chain, insert the crochet hook under the top loop of the next chain (as shown in the first photo at the top of this page, the photo beside the title "To Begin"), then wrap yarn over the hook, pull the yarn under the top loop all the way through so that it is now in front of the chain, wrap yarn over the hook again, then pull the yarn through the two loops that are on the hook (you have just completed a single crochet stitch). You are now done with that single crochet stitch and are done working in the chain that you just worked into. Next, you will work into the next chain of the starting chain, making another single crochet in the same way that you just made the other single crochet. I have photos showing how to do all the steps for making one single crochet stitch at the top of this page.
You asked how tight the chains should be. When you are doing your starting chain, don't make them too tight or they will be difficult for you to make the Row 1 stitches into. You can get a little idea about this from the amount of a hole showing in the center of a chain on my photo showing the starting chain on the first photo for the Second Pattern For Beginners (and on the first photo of the starting chain at the top of this page). After a little practice, you'll get a feel for the tightness or looseness that works best for you.
When you are making a chain that is in between other stitches in a row, that chain is generally about the width of what one single crochet stitch would be. In the Second Pattern For Beginners, the chain replaces any stitch that might normally have been made in the stitch that you are skipping, so that chain needs to be about the width of one stitch to keep the row flat (if a chain over a skipped stitch is way too tight or way too loose and this is repeated many times across a row, the row could begin to get a wavy or buckling appearance, because the "too tight" chains would be pulling the row narrower than other rows or the "too loose" chains would be pushing the row wider than other rows in the same crocheted piece).
I really hope that I've helped you be able to crochet this pattern. Crocheting is so very fun, once you get an understanding for how to do it and practice that a little bit. I hope you'll grow to enjoy crocheting as much as I do!
Please ask again, if there's a part of this pattern that you need more help with. And please let me know if you are able to crochet this pattern now. I'll be so happy to hear that!
Hi,
I am trying to understand how to do 2 single crochets in one stich could you explain it to me in more detail?
Thank you
Hi Liba,
You asked how to make 2 single crochet in one stitch.
To make 2 single crochet all in one stitch, insert the hook in the stitch to be worked, then make a single crochet in the usual manner. When that first single crochet is completed, insert the hook again back into the exact same place where you had inserted the hook to begin the single crochet that you just completed. Next, make the second single crochet in the same way that you made the first single crochet (in the usual manner, the same as steps 2 - 5 for making a single crochet that I show in photos and instructions at the top of this page). The only difference is, that you are making two single crochet in a same stitch (instead of making each new single crochet in a different place).
Does that help? You can also see the look of 2 single crochet made in one stitch, in my photo of Row 2 above. If you need more explanation for this, please ask again.
Kashema,
I added some additional photos, showing the making of the first five stitches at the beginning of Row 1. I marked the abbreviated names of the stitches right on each photo, so you can see what each stitch is and where that stitch is made in the starting chain. On the photos, ch = chain and sc = single crochet. I have a line pointing from each abbreviated name to the stitch that goes with it. I hope these extra photos will be helpful.
i am confused my patter tell me to sc in smae scsc, I can't find the sc i am to sc in. my row starts of ch 1, sc in same sc, where in this single sc, under the ch 1 or the next st. pease help me
Carrie Mathews cmm2958@gmail.com thank you
i'm learning how to make socks.. this was very helpful by the way but I'm confused. I have a pattern here that says to stitch 29, then turn and stitch 1, then for each 29, chain 1. what on earth does that mean? do I just turn and stitch?
Oh no cannot see some of the photos!!
Im trying to do squares where u do triple trebles and a chain in a corner. Im having problems in the beginning could you please provide photos of this sort of crochet to make squares for a blanket.... ? ty
simone 2 years ago
This is really confusing......you need to have your pics from a different angle and make your patterns looser..if you know what i mean!!!!!