How to Crochet

Series Summary

Crochet, similar to knitting, consists of pulling loops of yarn through other loops of yarn in order to create fabric. The difference between crocheting and knitting however, is that in crochet only one loop is active at a time, and a crochet hook is used instead of knitting needles. Crocheting became popular in Europe in the early 1800's and has gone through several periods of popularity in the recent past, with a revival of handcrafts and do-it-yourself projects. There are a variety of crochet stitches, and when combined with brightly colored or white yarn, a crochet fan can create a wide range of beautiful fabrics to decorate their home or give away as a unique gift. In this free video series on crochet, an experienced craftswoman demonstrates the basics of crocheting. Find out how to hold a crochet hook, how to start a project with a slip knot and how to chain stitch. Learn foundational stitches, like the single and double crochets, as well as decorative stitches, like the shell stitch and the popcorn stitch. Start a new crochet project today using these demonstrations as a guide.

Video Transcript

"Hi, I'm Natanya Nielsen in Saratoga Springs, Utah. Today we're going to talk about the basics of how to crochet. Crochet hooks are your tools. They come in various sizes, from very large down to very little that you would use for small threads. Your yarn also comes in various sizes. You can have bulky yarn, or worsted weight, right down to the small threads that we'd use to do a border on an afghan. We will pick a nice, big crochet hook to start with today, 'cause they're easier to use. To hold a crochet hook, there's several options. You can hold it like a pencil, this way. I prefer to hold mine just grasped in my fingers is a comfortable way for me. Whatever works individually for you. To find your yarn, always follow the instructions that tell you how to start your yarn. You want to pull it from the center of your skein, so that you don't end up with a big knot at the end. You'll start your project with a slip knot. Put your yarn over your little finger, and wrap it around the back of your hand. And you will grasp it between your middle finger and your thumb. Then you can take your hook and slide it underneath your yarn, twist it around, and pull through a loop. And you will have your slip stitch to start. Now that we have our slip knot, we can start our basic chain. This is the foundation stitch of all crochet projects. To start your chain, you're going to take your hook and wrap it around your yarn. Then your yarn will fall into the hook part of your crochet hook, and you'll pull it through the loop that was sitting on your hook. You just continue this same movement, nice and loose and controlled, and you will make a chain. And you can make it as long as you would like. As it progresses, slide your index finger and your thumb higher up onto your project to help hold it and stabilize it."