How to Single Crochet

Co-authored by Sarah Stearns

Last Updated: January 23, 2024 Fact Checked

The single crochet is the simplest crochet stitch, and it is a good building block for learning the half-double crochet and double crochet stitches. If you've already mastered the chain, you're ready to move on to single crochet. This shows an American single crochet. In the U.K., this is called a double crochet.

Part 1

Part 1 of 3:

Doing a Basic Single Stitch

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Which loop you choose will partially depend on your pattern, but in a basic stitch, it should be the next loop over or the one after that. You can identify the loops by laying your work flat and looking at the bumps along the top edge where you are working. Your hook should be going in the front and out the back of the loop.^{[1]
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Hook the yarn so that the yarn is facing you.^{[2]
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Pull the yarn back through the loop. You should now see two loops of yarn on your hook.^{[3]
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Hook the yarn so that the yarn is facing you again.^{[4]
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Pull the yarn back through the two loops on your hook. You may need to turn the face of your hook down towards your piece. When you are done you should be left with a single loop again.^{[5]
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For the next stitch, avoid the loop which is pulled upward into your current stitch. Go for the next loop instead.^{[6]
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Part 2

Part 2 of 3:

Crocheting a Chain

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If you are starting a piece from scratch, you'll have to make a chain before you can single crochet. First, you'll want to chain the number of single-crochet stitches you'd like to create, plus one or two, depending on which stitch you will be using in the next row. Figure out how many you need and continue.^{[7]
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To crochet chain stitches, first tie a slip knot and poke the crochet hook through the knot.
Hold the crochet hook in one hand, and the end of the yarn that leads back to the skein in the other.^{[8]
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Wrap the end of the yarn around the hook once, starting behind the hook and coming up and over until the yarn lies beneath the hook itself.^{[9]
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Pull the hook through the slip knot, drawing the yarn you just wrapped along with it. You've just chained 1 stitch and have a new loop of yarn around the hook for making your next chain.^{[10]
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Repeat the process, wrapping the yarn around the hook and pulling it through the loop until you've chained the desired number of stitches.^{[11]
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Part 3

Part 3 of 3:

Crocheting the Second Row

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Turn your work. Once you've done your chain row, or a row of single crochet, you'll have to turn around and do another row. In other words, hold the hook still while you flip the chain you just made from either right to left, or left to right.^{[12]
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Identify the second chain stitch away from your crochet hook. In other words, skip the chain stitch and go on to the first single crochet stitch.^{[13]
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Poke the hook through the top of this stitch, from front to back. Continue as described in the first section.^{[14]
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At the end of each row, always chain 1 more stitch, turn your work, and repeat the process back across the row.^{[15]
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Expert Q&A

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Question

What is the easiest pattern to crochet?

Sarah Stearns
DIY Specialist
Sarah Stearns is a DIY Specialist, Artist, Maker, Blogger, and the Founder of SarahMaker.com. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in fun, approachable crafts like crocheting, making polymer clay jewelry, quilting, and creating Cricut projects. Her work has been featured in several publications, such as Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, and Apartment Therapy. Sarah holds a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University.

Sarah Stearns

DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

Crochet beginners can always start with small projects that are worked in flat rows, like potholders or scarves. Then, when you’re ready to learn to crochet in the round, try crocheting granny squares and hats.

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What is the best way to hold yarn when crocheting?

Sarah Stearns
DIY Specialist
Sarah Stearns is a DIY Specialist, Artist, Maker, Blogger, and the Founder of SarahMaker.com. With over ten years of experience, she specializes in fun, approachable crafts like crocheting, making polymer clay jewelry, quilting, and creating Cricut projects. Her work has been featured in several publications, such as Scientific American, Good Housekeeping, Vox, and Apartment Therapy. Sarah holds a BA in Psychology from Vanderbilt University.

Sarah Stearns

DIY Specialist

Expert Answer

Most people hold the crochet hook in their right hand, and the yarn in their left hand. You’ll want to hold the yarn tight enough to keep tension on the yarn, but loose enough that it can still slide through your fingers while you crochet. To start, loop the yarn over the pinkie, under the third and middle fingers, and over your index finger.

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When inserting the hook into the stitch below, does one go under the top of the stitch, i.e. 2 sections of yarn, or just one?

Michele

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Unless directed otherwise in pattern, you go under both loops of the stitch below. There are some patterns that will call for you to crochet into the back or front loop, but the norm is through both.

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Tips

You must make a chain before you start or it won't work.

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You can create a scalloped edging effect in the final row by single crocheting multiple stitches into the same chain as you work across the row.

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If you have two loops when you try to pull it through twice, it's okay, just pull to where you made the mistake.

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Warnings

This is an American single crochet. In the UK, this is called a double crochet.

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Don't yarn over twice.

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