Beginning Crochet: Part 4
Now that you can do the basic crochet stitches, here a few thing you need to know for making your crocheted item, including how to correct errors.
Slip stitch (sl st)- A slip stitch is used to join two ends of crochet, to join round crochets in a circular pattern, or switch to another stitch. With the loop on your hook, insert your hook through the desired stitch, yarn over, and pull the loop through both the stitch and the loop on your hook. Here’s a great video on how to do the slip stitch:
Adding Another Row- To add another row, chain a stitch at the end of your row of crochet. Flip the piece over, skip the chain you made and put your hook through the first stitch. Be sure to put your hook through the whole stitch and not just the top loop. Yarn over and you are ready to continue with crocheting another row.
Adding/Decreasing Stitches- Adding/decreasing stitches is important in shaping garments such as hats or sweaters.
Add (abbreviated inc for increase)- To add a stitch, create a second stitch in the same stitch before moving on to the next chain link. This is one single crochet increase.
Drop (dec for decrease)- Basically, you are working one stitch over two or three stitches to decrease. To drop or decrease a stitch, insert the hook into stitch, YO, and pull the yarn through, just like a single crochet. Move to the next stitch, insert your hook, YO, and pull the loop through. Then YO again and pull your yarn through all three loops to drop the stitch. This is one single crochet decrease. To decrease in double crochet, YO and insert hook into the next stitch, YO and pull up loop. Yarn over and draw yarn through the first 2 loops on your hook, leaving two remaining on hook. YO and insert the hook into the next stitch, YO and pull up loop. YO and draw yarn through next 2 loops on hook, with 3 loops remaining. Yarn over and draw through all three loops on hook. This is one double crochet decrease.
Beginning Crochet: Part Five- How to Finish
Read NextLearn to Read Crochet Patterns
Your Recently Viewed Projects
Thanks for your comment. Don't forget to share!
mariselagonzalez11 68 2739744
Apr 26, 2013
I am a beginner can you show me how to do this ch 90 sc in 15th ch from hook (beginning ch counts as 5 foundation chains,tr,ch 5) *ch 5,sk next 4 ch, sc in next ch very confusing.
dilly202
Nov 09, 2011
I am trying to teach my adult daughter how to crochet and was copying the steps for her (I confess some of the abbrev I had forgotten) and I clicked on the link to "Beginning Crochet: Part Five- How to Finish" and I could not find it. I know how to finish my way but I wanted to show her the proper way. She saw me crocheting a sweater for our taco bell dog and she said show me, well I was doing a blanket stitch for approx 6 rows then switched to a double and going in the round the blanket stitch was to allow room for his pee pee area before going in the round for the rest of the outfit. As the result she was totally confused.
lollipop2281 83963 41
Dec 21, 2010
would be helpful to have help in reading patterns...maybe it's just me but they are confusing
gyngersf
Dec 17, 2010
I love these posts ( beginning crochet 1, 2, 3, ect.) but I'm still a bit confused about decreasing stitches. Could anyone help me?
PERKI
May 07, 2010
These instructions are great. Anyone can learn to crochet from these instructions. Thank you so much
gretchen Millingto n
Jan 29, 2010
Thanks,I to hope it works,now I need the basic granny square stitch.please and PICTURES simply ones thanks again,gretchen
Crafter 3023164
Nov 28, 2009
Hi, I think this article is great, being I'm a new member, However I am also just beginning to crochet. I would like to know as simple as it is I still have a bit of confusion with "adding stitches". Is there a video or a little bit more of how to so I can clear my confusion? Thank you for your help and patience I. Salazar
Report Inappropriate Comment
Are you sure you would like to report this comment? It will be flagged for our moderators to take action.
Thank you for taking the time to improve the content on our site.
