How to Do Single Crochet Stitches

Single crochet stitches are the most simple to create. They are also the smallest, but are extremely popular in patterns both because they’re great for beginners and in specialty patterns like Amigurumi, which are stuffed animals and dolls made using nothing but single crochet stitches.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Things You’ll Need:

• Crochet Hook (Size G, H, or I)
• Worsted Weight Yarn

1. Begin the single crochet stitch by making a chain of 15 (or more) stitches. To begin, you will need a foundation row. The foundation row is nothing more than a series of chains made with the chain stitch. Begin with a foundation row of about 15 chains. (In a pattern, this would read: Ch 15)
2. On the first row, skip the first chain. You won't skip the first stitch again unless instructed to in a pattern. Your very first row of single crochet stitches work off the foundation row. Because of this, we have to adjust which chain we go into, or the pattern will be lopsided.
   
   After your first row of single crochet, you will not “skip” a stitch unless told to in a pattern. This step is only for your first row of single crochet stitches.
   
   So … that out of the way, this step is simple: insert your crochet hook in the 2nd chain from the hook, skipping the first chain.
3. Snag yarn closest to your ball, and catch it with the hook. Using the hooked part of your hook, twist your wrist in a clockwise motion to snag yarn from the fingers in your left hand.
   
   Or, in different terms, wrap yarn from behind your hook, over the top and to the front of your hook.
4. Pull the yarn you snagged through the chain. Two loops remain on your hook. Keeping your yarn snagged, pull it toward you through the chain you just inserted your hook in. Two loops are now on the hook.
5. Wrap yarn around your hook and pull it through both the loops on your hook. One stitch is made, and one loop remains on the hook. We want to get back to 1 loop on the hook. Snag yarn around your hook again (from behind – this is called “Yarn Over”, or YO), and pull it through both loops that are on the hook.
   
   One single crochet is made, 1 loop is left on the hook.
   
   Start your next stitch now. Insert your hook into the next chain and follow steps 2, 3, and 4. You’ll do this for each single crochet stitch across the row. Easy, right?
6. You should end a single crochet row with one less single crochet than the number of chains you started with. When you count your first row of single crochet stitches (sts), you should have one less single crochet than the number of chains you originally made. If you have the same number, you’ve made too many single crochet stitches. If you have less, you have missed a chain. Count your stitches and turn your work like a book, so that your yarn is again at the right-hand side to begin your next row.
7. Let’s take a quick look at how you will read “single crochet” in a pattern. We’re going to combine it with the last stitch we learned – the chain stitch. A pattern might read like this:
   
   With a G Hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 41.
   Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across. (40 sc)
   Rows 2-14: Ch 1, turn; sc in next st and in each st across. (40 sc)
   
   What does all that mean? Let’s break it down:
   
   With a G Hook and worsted weight yarn, ch 41 = Use a size G crochet hook and make 41 chains.
   
   Row 1: Sc in 2nd ch from hook and in each ch across (40 sc) = The first row of this pattern tells you specifically to skip that first chain. Some patterns won’t tell you that – but it is a given. So, single crochet in the 2nd chain from your hook and in each remaining chain across the foundation row … which will end with 40 single crochet stitches in this row.
   
   Rows 2-14: Ch 1, turn; sc in next st and in each st across (40 sc) = This step will be repeated until you have 14 rows of single crochet. It is instructing you to make 1 chain, and then single crochet in each stitch across your row. Each of these rows will end with 40 single crochet stitches.

Tips & Warnings

• You will work your next row by doing 1 chain (ch 1), and then repeating steps 2, 3, and 4. At the end of this row, you should have exactly the same number of single crochet stitches as you did in the last row. The only time you end up with a smaller number (except when your pattern calls for it), is during the first row.
• Practice counting your single crochet stitches as you go along, so that you can catch when you’ve missed a stitch.