Crocheting Instructions:
Chain (ch):
Every crocheting piece starts with a row of chain stitch.
Step 1: Make a slip knot by making a circle with your yarn and pulling another loop of yarn through. Make sure that the yarn you pull through comes from the end that is attached to the ball of yarn. pull the short end to finish the knot. Put the loop onto the crochet hook and pull the long end until the loop is only a little loose around the hook.
Step 2: Hold the hook in your right hand, your yarn in your left. If you are a lefty, do the opposite. Wrap the long end of yarn around the hook. This is also called "yarn over" and will often be abbreviated as "YO." It should now look like you have two loops of yarn on your hook.
Step 3: Pull the slip knot over the wrapped-around yarn and the hook. You should now have one loop on the hook and one loop hanging off the end. You have just made a chain stitch. Make as many stitches as required for the pattern. If you are just practicing, make about 15 or 20 stitches, then turn your work and go on to slip-stitch or single crochet.
Slip Stitch (sl):
Some people make the first row after the chain with slip stitch, and some don't. It can't hurt to know how, because it is often used elsewhere. Except for the first row, it is rare to do an entire row with slip stitch, because it isn't a very big stitch. It is more commonly used for joining things.
Step 1: If you are working off of your foundation chain, skip one stitch. (that is often abbreviated as sk 1 st, or sk next st) Insert your hook into the next stitch. You should have two loops on your hook: the loop that was originally on your hook, and the stitch you put your hook into.
Step 2: YO. Pull the bottom two loops over the top of your hook. There should be one loop remaining, and it should be the one that you wrapped around the hook at the beginning of this step. You have successfully done a slip stitch. Continue across and turn.
Single Crochet (sc):
This is the most common stitch. If you don't use slip stitch after the chain, you will probably use single crochet. If not, it is still very useful. I am going to give the instructions as if you had done a row of slip-stitch after the chain. If you haven't, then skip one chain like with the slip-stitch. Every stitch that you put your hook through should give you one loop on your hook, if you're working out of a chain. If you're working of of slip-stitch, or another stitch, you should end up with two more loops on your hook every time you put it through.
Step 1: Look for a row of V's on the top of your piece, the skinny side. The loop around your hook should be coming out from one of the first of those V's. Some people like to make a turning-chain stitch before turning their piece for the beginning of each row; some people don't. Either make an extra chain or not, but then put your hook through the V. It should go in on the side that is closer to you and come out on the other side. There should be three loops on your hook.
Step 2: YO. Pull the top two loops over your hook. (the two loops that are actually the stitch from the previous row) You should have two loops on your hook.
Step 3: YO. Pull the remaining two loops over your hook.You should have one loop left on the hook. You have just completed a single crochet stitch. Unless instructed differently, continue across and turn. Either continue your next row with single crochet, or use another stitch, depending on what the pattern says, or what you want.
Double Crochet (dc):
This stitch is very similar to single crochet, except that you YO once before putting the hook into the stitch.
Step 1: If you like making a turning-chain, make two chains instead of one. YO, insert your hook into the next stitch. (4 loops on the hook)
Step 2: YO, pull the top two loops (the stitch you just put your hook into) on the hook over the top. (3 loops on the hook)
Step 3: YO, pull the top two loops over the top of the hook (2 loops left on hook)
Step 4: YO, pull the remaining two loops over your hook (1 loop left on hook)
You have successfully made a double crochet stitch. Continue across the row and turn, unless directed otherwise.
Half Double Crochet (hdc):
This stitch is not very commonly used, but some of these patterns have it, so here it is.
Step 1: YO, insert hook into next stitch (4 loops on hook)
Step 2: YO, pull the top two loops over top of hook (3 loops on hook)
Step 3: YO, pull the remaining loops over hook (1 loop on hook)
Triple Crochet/Treble Crochet (tr):
These are two names for the same stitch. It's almost exactly the same as double crochet, except you YO twice in the beginning, adding another step.
Step 1: YO twice, insert hook into next stitch. (if you want a turning-chain, make four chains) 5 loops on hook
Step 2: YO, draw top two loops over hook. (4 loops on hook)
Step 3: YO, draw top two loops over hook. (3 loops on hook)
Step 4: YO, draw top two loops over hook. (2 loops on hook)
Step 5: YO, draw remaining two loops over hook (1 loop left)
You have just made a successful triple/treble crochet stitch. Unless instructed otherwise, continue across the row and turn.
Ending Your Piece:
When you want to finish your crocheting piece, the first thing to do is finish the row. Then make the loop that is on the hook really big, and take it off. Third, put the ball of yarn through the loop, pulling until the loop has turned into a knot. Finally, cut the yarn, leaving a long enough tail that you can weave in the edges with a yarn needle. Some people like to cut the yarn before pulling it through. It's just a matter of what you prefer. (Technically, finishing the row is not necessary, but if you're not careful when you stop in the middle of a row, you could very easily end up with a bump in your piece)
If you want to make a stitch even bigger than treble crochet, YO more times before inserting your hook into the stitch, and always pull two loops over at a time!!!!!!
