How To Crochet As An Absolute Beginner

Why Learn to Crochet?

When learning how to crochet as an absolute beginner, a slip knot and foundation chain are just the humble beginnings of something wonderful. Why? Because you were made in the image of a creator God and you too can create beautiful and useful things. Crocheting slows you down, teaches patience and delayed gratification. Learning a new skill feeds your mind and the rhythmic comfort of crocheting nourishes your soul.

Crocheting has become more than just a hobby for me, it is a passion. In 20 years, through the transitions of my life, my love for crocheting has evolved. In this phase of motherhood it has helped me to preserve a time for mother culture. Within the Handicraft of crochet I have found rest, presence and rekindled the pursuit of knowledge. We were formed with an innate impulse towards beauty, let’s lean into it!

While I crochet I love to rejuvenate my soul through great literature via audio books, music and podcasts that feed the mind. As your just learning I suggest some classical music in the background. Once you get started on a repetitive pattern, cue up the audio books!

“Education is a life; that life is sustained on ideas; ideas are of spiritual origin, and that we get them chiefly as we convey them to one another” Charlotte Mason.

What you will Learn

In this tutorial you will learn:

Materials

I’m just going to give you enough information here to get you started. There are so many different Yarns and helpful crocheting supplies out there and it’s fun to learn that as you go. For now, I just want you to get hooked. The more you crochet the more you will be introduced to the variety of tools.

  • Yarn – You can learn to crochet with any yarn, but a medium weight/#4 yarn (sometimes called worsted weight) in a light color is often easiest to work with and see. You will find the yarn size/weight on the label.
  • Crochet hook – Hooks also come in various sizes and you will use them based on yarn weight and project requirements. The label of your yarn will indicate the size hook to use, this is usually found next to the yarn weight. After over 20 years I still mostly use the cheapest stainless steel hooks you can buy, but I’ve heard the ergonomic ones are the way to go. If you already have hooks, use those today, you can decide to switch it up later.
  • Scissors – some sharp fabric scissors are best, but I’ve been known to use a key or my husbands teeth in a pinch.
  • Tapestry/yarn needle – These also come in a variety of sizes and materials. I suggest having both plastic and stainless steel, as they are both better for different uses. For this tutorial any one needle will do.

Slip knot

Most Crochet patterns start with a Slip knot or magic circle. I will show you how to create a slip knot today because it is used more often in beginner friendly projects. There are many different ways to do many different things in crochet. I will teach you the way I know best, and as you go you will find the way that works best for you.

To get started, find the end of the yarn. The outside strand is usually tucked into the center at one end of the skein. You can pull that out and start crocheting with that end or (after pull the outer strand free of the center) pull the inner strand from the other side of the skein.

One Way to Make a Slip Knot:

  1. Create a loop with the working yarn over the tail end. (The working yarn is the end coming from the yarn ball.)
  2. Form a loop with the working yarn, pinching it between your fingers.
  3. Feed the loop in your fingers under and through the center of the first loop you created.
  4. Pull tail and the working yarn together.

Another Way to Make a Slip Knot

  1. Wrap the yarn around your pointer finger. Start with your palm facing you and loop the yarn around your finger as shown in the picture below.
  2. Pull the 2 ends together and secure between your middle finger and thumb.
  3. Pull the back loop over the front loop and set it down.
  4. Pull the new back loop over the new front loop and continue pulling it off your finger.

Now you can insert the hook into the loop formed and pull the working yarn to tighten around the hook.

How to Hold the Yarn and Hook

There are different ways to hold the yarn and hook. None are right or wrong. I will show you the way I do it and a couple other ways.

The Yarn

Holding your palm facing you, weave the yarn through your fingers, laying it on top of your pinky and under your ring finger, over your middle and under and around your pointer finger.

Grip the slip knot or tail between your middle finger and thumb and use your pointer finger and finger weave to hold the working yarn with tension.

Here is the way I just described and a couple more options.

The Hook

I’m sure there are many ways to hold a crochet hook, but here are the two most common options I’ve seen.

  1. The pencil hold is much like holding a pencil gripped between the pointer and thumb. The hook rests against the middle finger that helps to control and guide the hook.
  2. For the knife hold, grip the pencil overhand like you would a knife about to cut into dinner.

Foundation Chain

The foundation chain is the anchor to which you will attach your first row of stitches. it is also used to create spaces and other stitches within patterns.

  1. With the slip knot tightened on the hook, wrap the working yarn over your hook from front to back.
  2. Catch the yarn with your hook’s groove and rotate the hook down, pull through the slip knot.
  3. You have made one chain and have one loop on your hook.
  4. Yarn over again.
  5. Pull through the loop on hook and the second chain is created.

Continue until desired number of chains.

If this is your first time, I suggest practicing the slipknot and chain stitch until you feel comfortable holding your hook and yarn, yarning over and pulling through.

What’s Next?

I recommend learning one of these stitches next.

How to Crochet The Single Crochet Stitch

Thank you for visiting The Restful Stitch!

My name is Heather and I have been crocheting for over 20 years and making up my own patterns for almost as long. As a home school mother, heavily influenced by Charlotte Mason, I have a passion for mother culture – that is the continued self education of mothers. Through learning useful skills, creating art and reading great literature, all who so desire can continue to grow in wisdom and virtue. I believe that for mothers this is especially important as an example to our children and for the nourishing of our souls.

Through these free crochet tutorials and free crochet patterns I hope to share the joy and rest that I find in this art. In this space I pray to form a community of like minded woman, who are inspired to live up to their potential as whole people formed in the image of a wise, creative and good God.

Please leave a comment below or find me on facebook and Instagram. Share what you have created and let me know if this pattern was helpful!

-Heather