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Pink yarn, beginner crochet swatch and crochet hooks on a sunlit cream table

THE BEGINNER'S CROCHET GUIDE

Start crocheting
with confidence.

A gentle, step-by-step guide to learning crochet from scratch. Meet your first stitches, understand your tools, and make something beautiful—one row at a time.

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YOUR FIRST FIVE STEPS

Your beginner roadmap.

If you're wondering how to crochet for beginners, you don't need to learn every technique at once. Follow this beginner crochet roadmap, practice each step at your own pace, and build confidence with small wins.

01

Gather your crochet supplies

Choose smooth, light-coloured medium-weight yarn, a suitable hook, scissors, a yarn needle and removable stitch markers. Start with comfortable tools—not a huge shopping list.

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02

Learn to hold the yarn and hook

Practice a slip knot, foundation chain and the single crochet stitch (US terms). Focus on relaxed, repeatable motions before trying to work quickly.

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03

Count every stitch and row

Learn to spot the V at the top of each stitch and use a marker at the edge. Counting prevents accidental increases, shrinking rows and uneven sides.

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04

Fix common beginner mistakes

Crochet circle curling? Edges getting wider? Use our crochet troubleshooting guides to identify the cause and change one thing at a time.

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05

Finish a small practice project

Make a simple swatch or coaster before tackling a complex blanket or toy. Learn to weave in yarn tails and check the finished size.

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Beginner crochet supplies arranged with pink yarn, a hook, scissors and stitch markers
CHOOSE THE SIMPLE THINGS

What do you need
to start crocheting?

For your first crochet lesson, use yarn that lets you see each stitch clearly. Smooth, medium-weight yarn and a hook recommended for that yarn are easier to learn with than very fluffy or very dark yarn.

  • Yarn: light-coloured, smooth, medium weight
  • Hook: comfortable size for your chosen yarn
  • Extras: stitch markers, yarn needle and scissors
HOW TO CHOOSE A CROCHET HOOK ↗
THE FOUNDATIONS

Little skills, lovely progress.

Start with the basic crochet stitches, a steady rhythm and simple stitch counting. These are the skills you'll use in almost every beginner project.

Hands holding a crochet hook and making a beginner foundation chain with pink yarn

Make your first chain

Learn a slip knot, hold the hook and work an even foundation chain.

Pink crochet swatch with green stitch markers marking individual stitches

Find and count stitches

Spot the top V of a stitch and check your count at the end of each row.

Small, neat rectangular pink crochet swatch on a cream table

Keep your edges even

Use consistent tension and turning chains to keep your fabric straight.

YOUR FIRST LITTLE MAKE

One stitch
at a time.

Ready for a simple crochet practice project? Chain 16, then work 15 single crochet stitches in each row (US terminology). Make one turning chain and turn. Repeat until your swatch is almost square.

Count your 15 stitches after every row. The turning chain does not count as a stitch for this particular practice method. See a beginner guide before starting if you're unsure where to place your hook.

READ THE FULL BEGINNER GUIDE ↗
Finished pink single crochet practice swatch beside a ball of matching yarn
KEEP LEARNING

Read these first.

Handpicked tutorials to help beginners master crochet stitch counts, correct uneven rows, and find a hook that works with their yarn.

Close-up of beginner making a crochet chain with pink yarnBEGINNER BASICS

Crochet for Absolute Beginners

Follow the first steps from slip knot to easy single crochet rows.

READ GUIDE ↗Pink crocheted rectangle with removable stitch markersLEARN YOUR STITCHES

How to Count Crochet Stitches

Identify the stitches in each row and avoid accidentally adding or missing one.

READ GUIDE ↗Pink and green beginner crochet practice swatches laid on a cream tableCROCHET TROUBLESHOOTING

How to Keep Crochet Edges Straight

Learn why rows widen or narrow and how to correct their shape.

READ GUIDE ↗
EVERY STITCH COUNTS

You don't need
to learn everything
at once.

Choose one skill, give it time, and enjoy the progress you make.

EXPLORE CROCHET TUTORIALS ↗